ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the importance of formulating research questions that are unanswered, yet answerable, and the processes that could be used to address them. It is essential that the development of research questions and refining of a research topic occur after, and are informed by, a thorough literature review. Frequently, undergraduate students’ initial suggestions for film research topics tend to be either much too broad or too narrow in scope, and a literature review would quickly reveal this. If a question can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” answer, it isn’t appropriate for a research study. When formulating a research question, it is advisable that film students communicate with a professor outside of their discipline, who can offer a different perspective. Such co-mentorship broadens the base of expertise from which students can draw.
