Writing a quality research question is something I have little experience with, but I am excited to practice. Through my readings I have found a number of attributes that make for a good research question, but these are the two that I found most useful:
- Focus on something I am are interested in.
- Focusing my topic and objective can help direct my research methodology.
- Interest can help me persevere through the tough times.
- Find a balance between complexity and specificity.
- Complexity gives me the room to explore a topic, with the potential to refine my question as I progress.
- Specificity, but not too much, can help narrow my research down to avoid wasted time. Defining specific variables early on will also help reduce scope creep.
Helpful Resources
Scribbr. (2019, April 18). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/
Southern State Community College. (n.d.). LibGuides: Research Guide: 3. Research Question. https://sscc.libguides.com/c.php?g=18253&p=102734
You have to do research that you enjoy. That way you can really put your heart into it. I was given the same advice when I was questioning which Masters program to pick. “Which one would enjoy the _most_”? … and this is why I picked RRU!
Any research I would ever want to lead or be a part of (voluntarily) would need to keep my attention indefinitely. Your idea of having that room to play with and develop your thoughts, especially along the way the research leads you, is another excellent point. I would also incorporate it into my definition. – Cheers!