​When you do background research you can find:
Narrowing a topic requires you to be specific about your research interest and can help you to develop a thesis. Ask yourself "How can I make my question more specific?"
Think about whether your question accounts for the "people, places and things" at stake.
Who? Who is the specific person/group to which you would like to limit your research?
What? What specific aspect, theory or technique of the broad topic idea is interesting to you?
Where? To which specific geographic area or region would you like to limit your research?
When? On what time period would you like your research to be focused?
Why? Why is it important to study this topic?
Broad topic: mental illness
Narrowed topic: mental illness and teenagers
Related topics: depression anxiety eating disorders self-harm
Research question: What is the current prevalence of depression among teenagers in the United States?
Broad topic: technology
Narrowed topic: social media
Related topics: Facebook TikTok Instagram X
Research question: Has TikTok negatively affected young women's perception about body image?