Title: Define and Refine Your Topic (Module 2)
Course: Library ResearchPath, Fall 2021

Q: According to this tutorial, how can developing a good research question help you during the research process?
- The main concepts in your research question can be used to search the catalog, databases, and the internet.
- A good research question helps you earn more points on your class project.
- A good research question often leads to a more focused paper.
- A good research question is all you need for writing a well-informationed paper.
A: The main concepts in your research question can be used to search the catalog, databases, and the internet.; A good research question often leads to a more focused paper.

Q: Which of the following represents an appropriate topic for college level research?
- How does Google work?
- How do Amazon's studies of customer behavior on their website improve the online shopping experience for future customers?
- Online privacy
- What is the internet security protocal of incoming freshmen students at Idaho State University?
A: How do Amazon's studies of customer behavior on their website improve the online shopping experience for future customers?
If right: Good work! A good research question often leads to a more focused paper. The main concepts in your research question can be used to search the catalog, databases, and the internet.

Q: Which of the following best describes the beginning process of productive research at the college level?
- Receiving a topic assigned by your instructor
- Creating a compilation of your own research
- Writing or restating a topic
- Learning about a specific aspect of a topic that you want to learn more about
A: Learning about a specific aspect of a topic that you want to learn more about
If right: Correct! keep in mind what specific areas of your topic interest you. It is easier to write about something you care about. Be creative and original with your topic.

Q: According to the tutorial, once you have chosen a broad topic you care about, how can you brainstorm ideas for sub-topics and refine your question?
- Ask your instructor.
- Ask other students in your class.
- Use a journalistic approach by asking what, why, when, where, who or how about your topic.
- Look at course readings including your textbook.
A: Use a journalistic approach by asking what, why, when, where, who or how about your topic.
If right: Yes! Brainstorming for sub-topics will help you refine your research topic and make it more manageable, relevant and interesting.

Q: What are some of the ways to find relevant keywords for your topic?
- Look up synonyms of your keywords
- List alternate spellings of your keywords
- List any alternate endings of your keywords
- Look at the headlines of today's newspaper
A: Look up synonyms of your keywords; List alternate spellings of your keywords; List any alternate endings of your keywords

Q: Why is the process of generating synonyms for your keywords important?
- Synonyms are synonymous with symmetry
- Synonyms provide balance to a search query
- Authors and databases may be using other keywords to describe your concept
- To increase the number of relevant sources in your search results list
A: Authors and databases may be using other keywords to describe your concept; To increase the number of relevant sources in your search results list
If right: Yes, that is the right answer. Generating synonyms for your keywords is important because authors and databases may be using keywords describing your concept that does not match your keyword.

Q: How should researchers choose keywords to search in a database?
- Copy and paste your thesis statement in the search box
- Identify the main concepts of your topic and then brainstorm for keywords based on those concepts
- Write a thought-provoking, rhetorical question based on a related topic
- Stick to the best two words that desribe your topic and only use those two words in the search box
A: Identify the main concepts of your topic and then brainstorm for keywords based on those concepts
If right: Correct! Once you have created your keywords, a list of synonyms and begun searching, it is best to be flexible with your keywords, and adapt your keywords based on your search results.

Q: Choose the best research question below that is not too broad.
- Currently how can a TV ad campaign versus a social media ad campaign increase Coca-Cola soda sales in the United States?
- What is the Coca-Cola Company’s future marketing plan?
- How did the Coca-Cola Company’s marketing strategy help them in the past?
- Which marketing strategies does the Coca-Cola Company currently employ?
A: Currently how can a TV ad campaign versus a social media ad campaign increase Coca-Cola soda sales in the United States?

Q: Which of the following research questions is too narrow?
- What impact has deregulation had on the airline industry?
- What percentage of Alaska Airlines’ crashes can be traced to negligent maintenance during the ten years immediately preceding and following deregulation?
- What impact has deregulation on U.S. airlines had on commercial airline safety?
- Why is deregulation on commercial airline safety the best way?
A: What percentage of Alaska Airlines’ crashes can be traced to negligent maintenance during the ten years immediately preceding and following deregulation?

Q: Determining names, places, dates, and relevant vocabulary in connection with our main topics are the ways in which we can focus and create the best research questions.
- True
- False
A: True