It is difficult to pare down the decisions that go into drafting a strong research question. There are any number of steps before you start to work on your question.
For example, deciding on what type of research you will be doing – quantitative or qualitative?
- What interests you? The topic should be something that you are curious about, excited about, wondering about.
- What is its value
- The answer to the research question cannot be “yes,” otherwise the question is simplistic?
- The conclusion should be new information or updating old information or another take on a topic that has been researched.
- Are you being realistic or are you taking on more than you are able?
- Along with the question prior – do you have enough time to complete the research?
- Is there a problem to be solved, a noticeable change in X?
- What is the outcome you (or think) are interested in?
- Are you comfortable with the setting or what is the setting?
Once you have satisfied some of those questions move on to forming the research question itself.
The question should be:
- (Must) be ethical and the ethics board manages that piece
- Focus – tighten up the question. Start broad and keeping paring down.
- Complex vs simplistic
- Relevant
- Are you able to analyze, evaluate it, explore it, assess it?
I did note many of the articles were not about forming a strong research question itself but forming a research question for a particular field: Art History, Clinical research for plastic surgery, for a multi centre database. However, there was a consistency around the type of questions or elements a strong research question has as listed above.
Did anyone else notice that?
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1057/9780230239517_2.pdf
https://library.royalroads.ca/writing-centre/writing/structure/thesis-statements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71-GucBaM8U
https://methods-sagepub-com.ezproxy.royalroads.ca/project-planner/developing-a-researchable-question
Hi Katia
Your summary of what creates a good research question and noting how the readings gave some about explicit field examples but not a general definition or guidelines is also something I noticed.
One of the questions that really helps me from this post is the question “Are you being realistic?” I tend to be someone who thinks everything is realistic which sets me up for stretching myself way beyond what I can achieve within constraints and bonking at the end of my projects. I am keeping this question at the top of my page for my research notes to filter the research questions I am accumulating. Thanks!
Hi Karen-
I am the same. I can do this. I can do that. Keeping the question at the top of your notes is a good idea. I will do the same. I feel that will help guide me through the work. When I teach TV News, I tell the students to keep their focus statement at the top of their page and anything that does not fit, do not include it.