To get a better overview of the process of developing a research question, consider the following steps that constitute this process (George Mason University, 2018; Research.com, 2023; Monash University, n.d.):

• Step 1: Find a broad or general topic;

• Step 2: Perform preliminary research on this topic (identify gaps or issues);

• Step 3: Narrow down the topic to potential research questions;

• Step 4: Evaluate the soundness of your research question;

• Step 5: Properly formulate your research question.

 

In formulating a research question, the process of moving from a broad topic to a specific, focused area of study is crucial. 

 

Step 1. The search for a research question starts with exploring the general scientific fields of study, reading prior literature, discussing ideas with peers and/or teachers, and using techniques such as brainstorming (Research.com, 2023). 

 

Step 2. Once you have found an area of interest, it is important to dive into the topic and to do preliminary research (e.g., read articles about the topic, discuss it with colleagues and peers, write a literature review) in order to gain knowledge, find an issue or a gap/limitation in the existing findings on the topic that is interesting and relevant to investigate (Research.com, 2023). 

 

Step 3. From there, what is left to do is to narrow it down to a specific and focused research question that is feasible for you to study and to find answers to. In other words, is there a specific methodology available to answer this question? This also means that you need to be realistic, and not overly ambitious when you formulate a research question. 

 

Step 4. Now that the initial steps of the process of finding a research question are clear, one of the questions remaining is: how do you know whether the research question you identified actually is a good one? (Step 4). In this context, one of the frameworks that you can use are the “FINER”-criteria created by Hulley et al. (2007) (Research.com, 2023). These criteria should help you to evaluate the soundness of your research question (Research.com, 2023):

• Feasible: a good research question is practicable, meaning that the researcher has the necessary resources and skills to investigate the question and that completing the research project with useful findings and results is achievable.

• Interesting: why investigate a certain question if it is not interesting to the intended audience? In other words, a research question should be captivating and through-provoking not only to the researcher but also to the audience that will learn about the research project.

• Novel: a research question should add something new to the academic field that it is part of. This may for instance imply filling up a gap in literature or confirming the findings of prior research. Please mind that the research you conduct during your bachelor program does not yet have to meet this criterion.

• Ethical: a must for a research question and the subsequent study is to be ethically acceptable. Usually, a review board determines whether this is the case and whether a research project may be performed.

• Relevant: not only must a good research question be interesting and novel, it should also be relevant to the scientific community and your field of study. Ideally, a research project makes a contribution to both academia and practice (i.e., academic and practical relevance). In academia, your research should complement the existing literature and potentially open up new directions. In practice, research should be applicable. For example, socially relevant research should focus on exploring, describing, or explaining social issues (e.g., civil rights, discrimination, social media, health etc.).

 

If your research question has passed your evaluation of its soundness, the last step is to properly formulate it (Step 5). Here, clarity is crucial to make sure the audience easily understands the purpose of your study. To make your research question as clear as possible, try to be specific and concise in the way you express your research question. Avoid the use of vague concepts like ‘social media’ and ‘people’ and instead make it specific and focused, such as ‘Twitter’ and ‘children aged under 16’ (Research.com, 2023). Also make sure your research question is not answerable by a simple “yes” or “no”: To find an answer to your question, one must gather data, conduct data analysis, and put forward an argument that leads to further discussion (George Mason University, 2018; Research.com, 2023). 

 

Always take a last look at your research question and evaluate it. Above we discussed how to find and formulate your research question. When evaluating its formulation, take into account these criteria of a good research question:

• It focuses on a single problem: Your research can have multiple focuses, but each research question should focus on a single problem. Do not combine separate issues into one.

• It is relevant: This was also explained above, but it is always good to take another look. Your research questions should closely connect to the field of study (e.g., it is difficult to conduct and publish research on the flu virus in a psychological context/journal, even though both pertain to general health).

• It is specific: A good research question cannot be vague. The reader should immediately understand what the research is going to be about.

• It is complex: Your research question should not be trivial. For example, asking ‘What is sand made of?’ is a question one may find the answer to on the internet.

• It is researchable: This criterion is again about feasibility. When evaluating your research question, always make sure you can carry out the research. A good practice is to ask yourself: what is the end product that can answer my question? If the answer is ‘a book’ but you only have one course to finish your research, it might be too complicated or broad.

• Formulated as a question: This may seem trivial, but a good research question is asked. Problem statements or thesis statements identify what the paper might be about or where the gap is in the research, but it is the research question that clarifies what the study does. It also makes it easier to come back to it in the conclusion of your investigation. All you have to do is answer the question you asked at the beginning!

 

References

 

George Mason University. (2018, August 8). How to write a research question. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/research-based-writing

 

Monash University. (n.d.). Developing research questions. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://www.monash.edu/library/help/assignments-research/developing-research-questions

 

Research.com. (2023, May 12). How to write a research question: Types, steps, and examples. https://research.com/research/how-to-write-a-research-question