Sociology

Five W’s Research Topic Brainstorming

The questions below can help you think through your topic as you start your research, locate evidence, and put it all together in a final project. Not every question will apply to every topic.

Who

• Is there a specific group of people who are affected by this topic? (Does the group of people most affected have a voice in policy, research, or other changes that could be made? Who does have the power?)
• Who might be invested in researching this topic? Are there other disciplines or majors that would also be interested in this topic/question (political science, criminal justice, psychology, etc.)?

What

• Are you familiar with the basic concepts and background of your topic/question?
• Are there different positions or perspectives on this topic? What proof do the different sides offer?

When

• How long has this been an issue/ problem/ concern/ occurrence?
• When will information need to be published to be of value to your topic/question? When has it been studied in the past?

Where

• Is there a specific geography or location that applies to this topic/question?
• Where can you look (Google, library sources, professional organizations, local government or groups, etc.) for more information?

Why

• What makes this topic/question worth exploring? What are the implications of finding an explanation/answer/ solution?
• Why are you personally interested in this topic/question?
• Why have others researched this topic/question?

How

• How do you know what you already know about the topic? Personal experience, books, classes, magazines, social media, etc.?
• How does this topic/question fit in to a larger context?
• How might others have researched this topic before?

These resources are great for getting background information, focusing your research, and finding viewpoints!