Question

ritas research question for her marine systems class is focused on habitat protection of the channel catfish living in the columbia river. however, as she begins to search for information to support her thesis, she is unable to find more than two sources. which step of the research question development process did rita most likely skip?

identifying relationships between different elements of her topic

listing and brainstorming different aspects or angles of her topic.

choosing which aspects of her topic interest her the most.

exploring general background information on her topic through encyclopedias or websites.

Explanation:

When developing a research question, exploring general background information (e.g., via encyclopedias or websites) helps in understanding the topic's scope and existing literature. If Rita only found two sources, it's likely she skipped this step. Identifying relationships, brainstorming aspects, and choosing interests are steps that come after having a basic understanding of the topic from background research.

Answer:

Exploring general background information on her topic through encyclopedias or websites.