Library Guides: GNED 219 Canadian Workplace Experience: Developing a Research Topic

Research as Inquiry

Research as Inquiry refers to an understanding that research is iterative and depends upon asking increasingly complex or new questions whose answers prompt additional questions or lines of inquiry in any field.

Formulate questions for research appropriate to scope and based on information gaps
Evaluate information from a variety of perspectives in order to shape your own knowledge base

Group Activity: Developing a research topic

In groups, brainstorm topic using background information, knowledge, and critical thinking questions in GNED500 course textbook. Each group shares findings as a concept map. Try answering questions such as:

what interested you in the topic?
what about the topic do you know already?
what are potential subtopics?
who, what, where, when, how
perspectives, ideaologies, social analysis

Developing a Research Question

Turning your topic into a Research Question...

Helps to narrow it to a manageable scope
Allows you to identify a problem that can guide your searching

Check out the video at right for advice on how to develop an appropriate topic for a research paper (University of Victoria, 2012).

Broad Topic:

Homegrown Terrorism

Narrow Topic:

Homegrown terrorism in Canada and the need for public surveillance in order to protect civilians.

General Question:

Will mass surveillance of the public help in protecting civilians from homegrown terrorism?

After further research, the question may evolve and so will your thesis.

Thesis:

Mass surveillance Bill C-51 will not protect civilians from homegrown terrorism and threaten the Canadian Charter of Rights.

Perspectives:

Point:
Bill C-51 will protect Canadians from terrorism

Counterpoint:
Bill C-51 threatens the Charter of Rights of Canadians and is not an effective means to fight terrorism

Canada and Terrorism

Using Social Analysis, brainstorm your topic. Think about ideologies, assumptions, perspectives, and critical thinking questions (p. 28-49 of course textbook) Brainstorm your ideas and thoughts using a mind map (Bubbl.us).