What makes a good research question?

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

One thought on “What makes a good research question?

  1. Great post and great analogy with the magnifying glass. Having that focused image helps to set the boundaries for the research as well.

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