Information Literacy Tutorial | 2d TOPICS: Broaden

2. Topics

d. Broadening a Research Question

A question that is too narrow or specific may not retrieve enough information. If this happens, broaden the question. Most questions have multiple contexts and varying levels of specificity.

The underlined terms below represent broader ways of asking without changing the basic meaning. If you find sources that treat a subject broadly, use the index or table of contents to locate useful sections or chapters. Or ask yourself, "How might the arguments made here support my argument?"

INSTEAD OF	Should Makah whaling rituals be permitted despite endangered species laws?
TRY	Should Native Americans practice religious and social customs that violate local and Federal laws?

INSTEAD OF	What are the economic impacts of sweat shops on development in South Asia?
TRY	What are the impacts of U.S. labor practices on developing countries?

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