"Historians learn that if one search through a library catalog does not work, you can try another. Computers are very fast, but they are very dumb, for they answer exactly the question you asked, not the question you meant to ask" (Nelson, Scott Reynolds. Ain't Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. 2008, p. 50).
Asking Good Questions
We do research to gain knowledge, but how do you know what you need to know? All research begins with a question. Often, this question will lead to other questions. Your questions guide your research.
So, how do you come up with a good research question? Here are some steps to help you find the big question at the core of your inquiry process.
What is the topic you are studying? Colonial furniture? Lives of children during the Holocaust? The Montgomery Bus Boycotts? Turn your topic into a question. This question should not have a "yes or no" answer or one that could be answered with one Google search. If Siri can answer your question, it's not a good question.
A good question is open-ended. It doesn't have one specific, correct answer. To answer a question like this, you will need to do some research and critical thinking to connect the information you find.
Example: What does furniture design and construction during the American colonial era tell us about the daily lives and values of the people at that time and place?
This question considers not just the facts about colonial furniture, but why they are important in their historical context. It leads to other questions. How did people in colonial America use furniture? Were there differences in type or style of furniture by social class? Sometimes the answers to closed questions like these will help you see the full picture and discover your answer to your research question.
