A good research question could be seen as the narrowing scope of a magnifying glass:
- Find a clear focal point within a larger topic. An ideal question converges the ambiguity of a broad topic down to a scope that is focused and arguable.
- Seek to clarify a complex issue—with no obvious answer—through the lens of a timely and relevant question. Deeper understanding can be found by spending time exploring a topic of interest, and looking for the edge cases that are not clearly defined.
References
George Mason University Writing Center (2018). How to Write a Research Question. Retrieved from https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question
Royal Roads University (n.d.) Identifying your research question. Retrieved from https://library.royalroads.ca/infoquest-tutorials/how-start/identifying-your-research-question
Great post and great analogy with the magnifying glass. Having that focused image helps to set the boundaries for the research as well.