Refining Your Research Question
When crafting your research question, think about what you aim to explore and what you're most passionate about. If you're looking to contribute to ongoing academic discussions, consider whether your question will fill gaps in the existing research.
- Define commonly used terms
- Choose your topic
- Create a thesis
- Evaluate thesis and sources found; explore a variety of sources (primary, secondary, and tertiary)
Your research question should not be easy to find, but not too difficult for you to answer within the allotted time for your assignment. For your readers, your research question should be one that your readers explore for themselves. Being strategic, be sure your question is concise, focused, and analytical.
Example of weak research questions:
- How did the Orangeburg community respond to massacre in 1968?
- What is the importance of the development of Title IX in SC?
Examples of strong research questions:
- How might the effects of prohibition in SC in 1920 inform today's politicians on potential legal ramifications to expect if they do not address rising insurance costs forced on SC bars and lounges?
- Considering the sociopolitical changes within today's military, how might this impact the women in service and/or their contributions on Fort Jackson?
How to Search Using Library Databases
Searching using Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) to broaden or narrow results
Capitalize Boolean Operators
Nest common words and phrases
Utilize database filters based on your instructor’s assignment instructions
Use indexed keywords from the database to build your keyword map
Use wildcards that are native to the databases you are using
Glossary of Terms
Primary sources- documents or objects that were created by an individual or group as part of their daily lives. 
Secondary sources- summaries, second hand accounts, and analyses of events created by someone who did not witness the event, but may have read or heard about it.
Mixed sources- documents that are primary sources may contain both first person testimony and second hand testimony.
You may wonder what makes primary source different from a secondary source.
Time
Remember, primary sources are eyewitness accounts of an event. Secondary sources are summaries of historical events, disseminated at a later time for readers.
Questions to Consider When Critically Evaluating Sources
- What is the document type? Based on the definition above, is this document considered a primary source?
- Who produced this document?
- What was the occasion?
- Did they witness the event or was it shared with them by the witness?
- Why was this document created?
- Who was the intended audience?
- What biases might the creator have had when this document was created?
- How reliable is the creator of this document? If not, what sources can you use to justify why not?
- How does this document support your research topic or interest? Does it tell you anything new about your research?
- How does it compare to what you've learned in class, your class or personal readings, or oral histories?
- Is the evidence clear, reliable, first person or second hand/hearsay?
- Does this document help you better understand your research topic or interest?
Libraries and Archives, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. “Smithsonian Learning Lab Resource: How do you Evaluate a Primary Source?.” Smithsonian Learning Lab, Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, 9 Aug. 2021, https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/MhkNadPOAl59VFw1#r/1229132