“Unraveling the Mysteries: How to Craft a Research Question That Won’t Put Your Readers to Sleep (Hopefully)”

A good research question is crucial because it sets the foundation for the research process. A well-crafted research question not only defines the scope and direction of the study but also guides the selection of appropriate methodologies and ensures the relevance and significance of the research findings. It should be clear, specific, and address an important issue or gap in knowledge. A good research question stimulates critical thinking, promotes investigation, and ultimately contributes to the advancement of knowledge.

Chapter 3 of Research Practical Research and Evaluation: A Start-to-Finish Guide for Practitioners suggests that questions should flow logically from the purpose and not divert the research in different directions. (Dahlberg & McCaig, 2010)

Dahlberg and McCaig (2010) state that understanding the ‘why’ and ‘how’ is crucial for developing meaningful and effective inquiries. This demonstrates the methodology’s principles and will always link to ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions.

Why Importance:

The “why” addresses the significance or relevance of the research question. It involves understanding why the topic or issue is essential to study. This helps to justify the research’s potential contribution to knowledge or practice.

Consider the potential impact of finding answers to the research question. This impact can be academic, practical, or societal, influencing policies, practices, or theories in the field. This potential for significant impact should inspire and motivate research.

How Importance:

The ‘how’ aspect is not to be overlooked. It focuses on the feasibility of answering the research question, guiding how the question can be operationalized into specific research methods, data collection techniques, and analysis procedures. This awareness and preparedness for the practical aspects of research are crucial for success.

I discovered that, crafting good research questions requires careful consideration of the topic, framework, and intended outcomes, ensuring the study is meaningful, and ethically conducted.

References:

Dahlberg, L., & McCaig, C. (2010). Practical research and evaluation: A start-to-finish guide for practitioners. SAGE Publications Ltd. Chapters 1,2,3,7, & 8