Ultimately a research question should guide your research. It is the question you are seeking to answer, but many factors lie behind the creation of a good question. To begin with, a research question probes a specific area of interest to the researcher the question must be broad enough to allow for varied research, but focused enough to yield specific qualitative and quantitative data that will either inform future action, or provide new answers on the topic.
In my classroom, we used a version of the Socratic method to drive critical thinking. I present a topic, and then I ask the students to come up with as many questions about that topic as possible. We then turn those questions into statements as possible and rank them in order of importance to our interests. We have a fair bit of discussion as a class and in smaller groups especially when we get to the open ended statements. Through this process, you can ultimately arrive at a deep thinking and purposeful question that can guide further inquiry. This inquiry can and is often supported by the dozens of questions you had asked previously to get at to the final question. Gradually the more questions you ask, and answer the more narrowed your focus becomes to the point where you can hone in on a specific topic.
At this level, you will need to consider the type of research your question will yield, and what methods you will employ. I have already come to the realisation that primary research, may be a challenge for me just because I may have difficulty getting ethical approval for research in Colombia, so this too will have an impact on the type of research question I pursue.
These are my perceptions so far at any rate, I expect I will learn more and expand my understanding and alter research questions accordingly.
