What Makes a Good Research Question?

After reading Dahlberg and McCaig’s Practical Research and Evaluation, I have gained a better understanding of how academic research is planned and conducted. There are many different kinds of research and theories behind it, and it is crucial to understand what kinds of questions are best suited for qualitative or quantitative research. Importantly, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

One important message I understood from Dahlberg and McCaig was the importance of the questions being informed by the purpose of the investigation. The purpose of research questions is to pose what you want to learn, not simply what you don’t know, but what you actively want to know. Below I have focused on the four most important characteristics of a good research question.

1. Purpose-Driven: When formulating a research question, it is essential to have the purpose at the heart of the question. The question should be clear and focused on the purpose, thereby helping “to focus the study and give guidance on how to conduct it” (Dahlberg & McCaig, 2010, chap. 3; Maxwell, 1996).
   
2. Researchable: A research question should be researchable, meaning that there should be an answer or findings to be discovered at the end of the research. As Monash University Library Centre (n.d.) advises, the question should be something you can investigate through verified sources, literature, and other reliable means.
   
3. Significant: A good research question should investigate something worthy of investigation. It should address an important issue within the field, contribute to the existing body of knowledge, and potentially influence practice or policy.
   
4. The Scope: As Bow Valley University Library Guide (n.d.) suggests, it is important that research questions are neither too narrow nor too broad. If a question is too broad, the research may become unmanageable due to the vast amount of information and potential directions the study could take. It will lack focus and purpose.  On the other hand, a question that is too narrow may not provide enough scope for meaningful research or may limit the significance of the findings. 

Thus,  it is essential to consider these four main points to create high-quality research questions that will yield strong results. While there are additional factors to consider, focusing on these four aspects provides a solid foundation for developing effective research questions. By ensuring your question is purpose-driven, researchable, significant, and appropriately scoped, you set the stage for a successful and impactful research project.

References

Bow Valley College. (n.d.). Choose & Develop Your Research Topic. Bow Valley College Library Guide. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://bowvalleycollege.libguides.com/research-help/topics 

Dahlberg, L., & McCaig, C. (2010). Practical Research and Evaluation: A Start-to-Finish Guide for Practitioners. SAGE Publications.

Graduate Programs. (2023). Woman researching at a desk [Photograph]. Graduate Programs.org. Retrieved from https://www.graduateprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Jan-28-Graduate-School-Strategies-What-is-Academic-Research_web-1024×705.jpg
Freepik. (2024). Altered version of photo by Graduate Programs [Digital image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com

Monash University Library. (n.d.). Developing research questions. Monash University Library. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.monash.edu/library/help/assignments-research/developing-research-questions#:~:text=The%20research%20question%20states%20the,for%20a%20good%20research%20question