Use a question stem, such as those below, to help write a clear, focused research question:
What is/was the role of ... in ...
What are/were the effects/results of ...
Who/what influenced ... to ...
What is/was the relationship between ... and ...
How does/did ... change ...
For quick, reliable background information on your topic, check subject encyclopedias and handbooks. These are also a good way to discover keywords for your topic.