WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION

Understanding the Important Elements of a Research Question

Introduction

A strong research question creates a roadmap for your work. How do you construct a solid research question? As you read this section, take notes on the important factors to consider when developing your question, as well as the necessary steps to transition into your topic.

Overview

This lesson focuses on determining the nature and extent of the information needed to answer research questions. It involves evaluating the content and purpose as well as the different sources relevant to the research question. To work toward this objective, it is necessary to review four main points about research questions: 1) what a research question is; 2) why a research question is important; 3) how to develop a research question; and 4) how to move from a research question to a topic. These initial steps of the research process can be daunting; however, if you spend time on these steps to develop a manageable research question, you will have a solid research project.

A research question is a narrow, clear, and arguable question that guides your research. For example, the following research question reflects these qualities: Are the current security methods employed by the TSA effective? Think of a research question as a path that directs the research and writing process. It marks where you have come from as well your intended future direction in your efforts to learn about a topic. In an effective research project, the research question, hypothesis (or working thesis statement), the purpose of the research project, and the goals of the project are related. A research question helps you anticipate which kinds of relevant resources to explore, and it also influences how you evaluate and analyze sources so that they support the thesis. In addition, a research question seeks a solution to a problem that you—as well as other scholars—think is valuable. For these reasons, research can be extremely rewarding as you contemplate and present information that is personally meaningful. Research is not simply finding information; its true power is in the evaluation and application of the information.

Some researchers also call the research question the problem or problem statement. Such statements clearly explain the problem, and they keep researchers on track during the research process. Often a research problem reflects a lack of knowledge about the topic. In fact, researchers will identify gaps in a body of scholarship in order to develop a research question that will shed new light on the topic. This approach also ensures that a researcher is not duplicating existing research. Researchers engage in a literature review, which involves summarizing the current knowledge and findings in a field based on primary and secondary sources. A literature review is helpful for identifying gaps. Here is an example of a sentence describing a research topic and a brief acknowledgement of the related research gap:

While there is a substantial amount of research about social interactions of younger dolphins in their original pod, few studies have explored the social interactions of older dolphins when they join a different pod.

Noting the gaps in research helps to develop the rationale and the focus of a research topic. Addressing the research gaps also builds on previous research by others. It shows how you will contribute to knowledge about a topic, so make sure you review the research pertaining to your topic as you formulate your research question.

A conscientious researcher knows that a good research question may change throughout the research and writing process. Be prepared to refine your question as you proceed with your research, so you do not get boxed into using a research question that might not yield a wide range of relevant resources. The best research essays are written by researchers who constantly read over their research questions throughout the research and writing process to assess whether they are still on course. Many researchers revise their questions as their work progresses in order to strive for fair and reliable research design and methodology. As you gather more information, your expanding knowledge base shapes the research question. Consider the following example as an illustration of revising the research question after evaluating and analyzing sources from the initial search.

A researcher named Betty began her research process with the following question: What are some dominant voting patterns among young adults? After she reviewed the available statistics on voting patterns and conducted interviews with young adults, she realized she needed to refine her research question so that it narrowed the focus. The initial research question was too broad and vague, and as a result, Betty mainly found data that was too general.

She then revised her research question based on her impressions from the initial review of sources (statistics and interviews). Betty noticed a significant pattern in the interviews and statistics: young adults expressed great concern about job opportunities and access to affordable health insurance. Therefore, she realized her sources revealed the research subjects (young adults) were focused on specific political issues. As a result, she decided to investigate the relation between voting patterns and the concerns about specific issues.

Given this development in Betty’s understanding of the topic, a possible example of her revised research question might be: What do the voting patterns of young adults reveal about the political issues that are essential to them? A potential secondary thesis statement would be: What do the concerns of young people indicate about their perception of political candidates or parties? This example shows how and why developing a research question is a fluid process, shaped by the researcher’s ongoing evaluation of information.

Like Betty and many other researchers, you most likely will find that you must continue to refine your research question, especially after conducting some initial research. As you revise, make sure your question is open-ended versus closed; in other words, ask a question that will result in a thorough and elaborate response as opposed to a question that will elicit a minimal “yes” or “no” response.

Also eliminate any unnecessary jargon. It is productive to use some key terminology used in your field of study, but do not overdo it. Even though you are writing about a specific topic that will have implications for other researchers in your field or discipline, you also want to present your research question and related research in a way that makes this information accessible for individuals outside of your field. Also avoid any value-laden language that signals your personal values or assumptions. Such language interferes with an objective approach to gathering sources and can skew the results of your research. Revising your research question does not mean starting over; it just means you have clarified the future path you are taking in your research endeavor. As you proceed with the research process, note when and why a source makes you rethink your research question. and thats it