Usually researchers start out with a broad topic then narrow down to a question. Here are some strategies for generating a good research question.
Think about what questions you have or that currently exist about your topic. For example, when researching the local food culture, you could ask "Why do people buy local?"
"What specific food items are people more likely to buy local and why?"
"What are the economic aspects of buying local? Is it cheaper?
"Do people in all socio-economic strata have access to local food?"
Think about the 5 W’s –who, what, when, where, and why– to help you brainstorm different ways you might narrow your question to be more specific.
Do some background reading to help you find a great research question. Reference sources may provide a new angle on your topic and identify an interesting question. If you are focusing on a particular academic discipline, like psychology, education, or business, then it is worth taking time to do background reading in subject-specific encyclopedias and reference sources in your field. You can find them in our Reference Sources databases.
CQ Researcher (Provides comprehensive background on current issues--legislative activity, historical background, current developments, and a bibliography for further research)
Create a concept map of your topic that consists of all of the possible aspects and angles of your topic. See this great video on concept mapping: