Unless you are writing for a more expert audience or the topic revolves around information that is common knowledge, assume your readers know very little about your topic. The goal of your paper, and thus, your research, is to educate readers. Gathering information with this in mind, then, includes providing the necessary background information.
For example, factual questions you might want to answer for a research paper about President Lyndon B. Johnson and his impact on the Civil Right Movement might include the following:
Who was Lyndon B. Johnson?Where and when was Lyndon B. Johnson born?What was his political party affiliation?When did he serve as the president?How did his political views or upbringing influence his stance on civil rights?How did he impact the Civil Rights Movement?What important contributions or pieces of legislation are attributed to him?These are just some of the factual questions you might seek to answer while conducting research.
