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Choosing a good research question can influence the success of your research, it has the same great impact caused by the ripple effect of the first domino stone in a domino set. So a good research question is the first domino stone that will cause the ripple effect on your research and kicks it off powerfully! So it is important to know what is a good research question? York University (n.d.) defines a research question as “a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which you center your research” (pg. 1). I believe the below characteristics make a good research question:
- Arguable – Generates opinions rather than facts; It could be answered in several ways so people can have different opinions rather than state facts
- Interesting – If the writer is curious and passionate enough to know the answers to the research question, it is more likely that the research will be more interesting to the audience because the writer has put a great amount of dedication working on the research, that dedication is supported by the writer’s interest!
References
George Mason University Writing Center, (2018), How to Write a Research Question, p.1. Retrieved from: https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question
York University Writing Centre, (n.d.) , How to write a research question, 1-3. Retrieved from: www.yorku.ca/act/CBR/ResearchQuestionInfoSheet.doc
July 15, 2019 at 9:34 am
A good post. The “clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which you center your research” is a strong guide. I like that you added interesting — as you’ll spend a lot of time focused on that topic and question, ensuring that it’s something you want to focus on makes the work much more enjoyable.