Most academic studies are centered around a research question. A research question, like a hypothesis, is one of the most important parts of a project, thesis, or dissertation because it narrows down a broad topic into a specific one, identifies exactly what the researcher wants to find out, gives their work a clear focus and purpose, sets the limits of the study, and ensures cohesion. The research question also affects other factors such as the research methodology, sample size, data collection, and data analysis.
Despite its importance, adapting a legitimate, relevant topic into a sound research question can often be a challenging process. The difficulty is aggravated by the absence of information or support on how to formulate a good research question. This article aims to guide researchers by clearly laying out the process of constructing a good research question, identifying the characteristics of a good research question with examples, and looking at the different types of research questions.
The Process of Constructing a Research Question
There are several steps involved in constructing a good research question:
1. Choosing a Broad Topic
Professional researchers start by identifying a broad topic pertinent to their area of interest; this should be something they would genuinely like to know more about.
2. Carrying out Preliminary Research
This involves perusing current journals and periodicals on their chosen topic in order to narrow down their focus and to see what has already been done. This preliminary reading also allows researchers to know what their fellow scholars and researchers are discussing and to formulate questions as they read.
3. Identifying the Audience
For most research papers, the audience will be academic. The interests and inclinations of the audience must be borne in mind while formulating a research question.
4. Asking Questions about the Topic
Taking the above points into consideration, the researcher must now start asking open-ended “how” and “why” questions about their chosen topic.
5. Evaluating Questions
After noting down a few open-ended questions, the researcher must determine whether the questions can work as effective research questions and revise or refine them if necessary.
6. Beginning the Research
After the research question has been formulated, the next step is to think about all the possible paths the research project could take. Researchers must begin looking for sources to consult as they seek answers to their question. They must also identify a research process that will bring forth a variety of responses and perspectives to their question.
Characteristics of a Good Research Question
A good research question must have:
1. Clarity: It provides sufficient details to enable the audience to understand its purpose without requiring additional explanation.
- Bad research question – Do children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) benefit from the use of concrete materials in mathematics?
- Good research question – Do children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show increased levels of engagement when concrete materials are used in mathematics?
2. Focus: It specifies the focus of the research and enables the researcher to answer it thoroughly within the span of the paper or thesis.
- Bad research question – Does maintaining good nutrition help alleviate lactose intolerance in children? And does alternative medicine help?
- Good research question – Does maintaining good nutrition help alleviate lactose intolerance in children?
3. Conciseness: It expresses its aims and goals using the fewest possible words.
- Bad research question – Do children learn more effectively in science in practical lab sessions compared to classroom lessons using worksheets and textbooks?
- Good research question – Does scientific inquiry improve children’s learning in science?
4. Complexity: It cannot be answered by a simple “yes” or “no.” The researcher must synthesize and analyze their sources and ideas before answering it.
- Bad research question – Does air conditioning improve the quality of air we breathe?
- Good research question – In what ways does air conditioning improve the quality of air we breathe?
5. Feasibility: It can be answered within the timeframe and practical constraints of the paper.
- Bad research question – Why do corporations pollute water in the absence of government regulations?
- Good research question – How do government regulations prevent corporations from polluting water?
6. Researchability: It should be possible to answer it using primary and/or secondary sources.
- Bad research question – Does God exist?
- Good research question – What factors affect people’s belief in a higher power?
7. Openness to debate: It allows the answer(s) to be open to debate instead of holding them up as accepted facts.
- Bad research question – Which theme park is the best?
- Good research question – What features do popular theme parks have in common?
8. Relevance: It should be pertinent to the researcher’s field of study and/or, more broadly, to society.
9. Reflection of the researcher’s curiosity: It should be about an issue that the researcher is genuinely curious or passionate about.
Types of Research Questions
Research questions are commonly categorized into 2 different types, depending on the type of research to be done.
1. Qualitative Research Questions
These questions could be related to a broad area of research or a more specific topic. Qualitative research questions are flexible, adaptable, and non-directional in nature. They generally seek to explain, discover, or explore aspects of the topic being researched.
- Example 1 – How do Americans aged 65 to 85 use social media?
- Example 2 – What is the experience of African-American teenagers from low-income households while making a career choice?
2. Quantitative Research Questions
Quantitative research questions are precisely worded questions formulated and finalized at the beginning of the study. They generally include the population being researched, the dependent and independent variables, and the research design to be used. Quantitative research questions seek to address specific social, familial, or educational processes or experiences that occur in a particular location or context.
- Example 1 – How does gender affect rates of mental health diagnosis among adopted teens?
- Example 2 – What proportion of Americans aged 65 to 85 use social media?
A research paper or essay is usually guided by a single research question. The answer that the researcher develops is known as the thesis statement – the main assertion or position that the paper or essay will argue for.
A larger research project can have multiple research questions, but they must all be clearly connected to and focused on a fundamental research problem. Because research questions are based on research, they are dynamic in nature; this means they are subject to change as the researcher reviews related literature and develops a framework for study.
