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Developing A Research Question

The document provides guidance on developing a research question including: 1) Defining the topic area and describing a problem within that area to address 2) Specifying what is unknown or unresolved about that problem and justifying further investigation 3) Creating the research question by brainstorming questions, drafting a primary question, and identifying secondary questions to gather information to answer the primary question. The research question will guide the research project from beginning to end.

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RAHMA JUMILA
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60 views

Developing A Research Question

The document provides guidance on developing a research question including: 1) Defining the topic area and describing a problem within that area to address 2) Specifying what is unknown or unresolved about that problem and justifying further investigation 3) Creating the research question by brainstorming questions, drafting a primary question, and identifying secondary questions to gather information to answer the primary question. The research question will guide the research project from beginning to end.

Uploaded by

RAHMA JUMILA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DEVELOPING A

RESEARCH QUESTION
Your research question guides your project from beginning to completion. Unlike your topic, which may
be fairly general, your research question will define the specific scope of your project. In other words,
the research question tells readers what you’re trying to find out.

DEVELOP YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION


1. DEFINE THE TOPIC AREA
In a sentence or two, describe your broad topic or area of research. (Example: “Smoking cessation.”)

2. DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM


In a sentence or two, describe a problem that could be addressed in your topic or area of research.
(Example: “Smokers often relapse because of complex physical and psychological factors.”)

3. SPECIFY THE GAP & JUSTIFY THE INVESTIGATION


What is unknown or unresolved? Why should we bother investigating it? (Example: We don’t know what
combination of physical and psychological factors is most often associated with smoking relapse.)

4. CREATE THE RESEARCH QUESTION


(1) Brainstorm as many questions as you can think of that relate to your research topic/problem/gap.
Try starting questions with what, why, when, where, who, and how; in general, avoid questions that will result in only
“yes” or “no” answers.

(2) Draft a primary question: Do you see one main question emerging from the list above? If not, try doing some
additional reading or thinking, or talk to your supervisor or instructor (Example: How do the physiological and
psychological effects of smoking make it difficult for young adults to quit smoking?)

(3) Draft secondary research questions: What information do you need to gather to answer your primary
question? (Example: Before we can answer the question of “how” physiological and psychological effects
make it difficult to quit smoking, we need to identify what the key effects are.)

ASSESS & REFINE


Evaluate your research question. Ask yourself Talk it over. Use this worksheet to talk with your
the following questions: will readers understand it supervisor or instructor about the scope and
on first reading? Is it feasible given your time and direction of your research plan.
resources? Does it contribute to a wider academic
conversation? Revisit often! Keep your research question in mind
throughout the research and writing process.
Tighten your focus. Look at every word in your
question. Replace as many as you can with You may find that you need to adapt your research
more specific language or ideas (e.g., instead of question as you learn more.
“students,” say “Grade 9 students in Ontario”).

lib.uoguelph.ca
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
DEVELOPING A
RESEARCH QUESTION
1. DEFINE THE TOPIC AREA
In a sentence or two, describe your broad topic or area of research.

2. DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM


In a sentence or two, describe a problem that would be addressed in your topic or area of research.

3. SPECIFY THE GAP & JUSTIFY THE INVESTIGATION


What is unknown or unresolved? Why should we bother investigating it?

4. CREATE THE RESEARCH QUESTION


(1) Brainstorm as many questions as you can think (2) Draft a primary question. Do you see one main
of that relate to your research. question emerging from the list above?

(3) Draft secondary research questions. What


information do you need to gather to answer your
primary question?

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