MODULE RESEARCH QUESTION

1. Created by Noveera jaffar

2.  A research question is a question that a study or research project aims to answer. This
question often addresses an issue or a problem, which, through analysis and
interpretation of data, is answered in the study’s conclusion. In most studies, the research
question is written so that it outlines various aspects of the study, including the
population and variables to be studied and the problem the study addresses.
 As their name implies, research questions are often grounded on research. As a result,
these questions are dynamic; this means researchers can change or refine the research
question as they review related literature and develop a framework for the study. While
many research projects will focus on a single research question, larger studies often use
more than one research question.
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 The research question lies at the heart of every piece of academic writing. The
research question determines the sources to be quoted, how to structure the argument,
and what a paper aims at.
 The research question narrows down the topic and makes sure that the paper has a
common thread. Moreover, the research question gives the reader a clear idea of what to
expect from the paper.
 You cannot start writing without having a research question in mind. It is easiest to think
of a research question as a Wh-question. Finding an answer to the research question
you formulate is your personal contribution. You must state your research question right
at the beginning, as part of the introduction.

3.  A research question is the question around which you center your
research. It should be:
 clear: it provides enough specifics that one’s audience can easily
understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
 focused: it is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly
in the space the writing task allows.
 concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
 complex: it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no,” but
rather requires synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources prior
to composition of an answer.
 arguable: its potential answers are open to debate rather than
accepted facts.
 You should ask a question about an issue that you are genuinely
curious and/or passionate about.

4.  Choose an interesting general topic. Most professional researchers
focus on topics they are genuinely interested in studying. Writers
should choose a broad topic about which they genuinely would like to
know more. An example of a general topic might be “Slavery in the
American South” or “Films of the 1930s.”
 Do some preliminary research on your general topic. Do a few quick
searches in current periodicals and journals on your topic to see what’s
already been done and to help you narrow your focus. What issues are
scholars and researchers discussing, when it comes to your topic? What
questions occur to you as you read these articles?
 Consider your audience. For most college papers, your audience will
be academic, but always keep your audience in mind when narrowing
your topic and developing your question. Would that particular
audience be interested in the question you are developing?

5.  art asking questions. Taking into consideration all of the above,
start asking yourself open-ended “how” and “why” questions
about your general topic. For example, “Why were slave
narratives effective tools in working toward the abolishment of
slavery?” or “How did the films of the 1930s reflect or respond
to the conditions of the Great Depression?”
 Evaluate your question. After you’ve put a question or even a
couple of questions down on paper, evaluate these questions to
determine whether they would be effective research questions or
whether they need more revising and refining.
◦ Is your research question clear? With so much research available on any
given topic, research questions must be as clear as possible in order to be
effective in helping the writer direct his or her research.
◦ Is your research question focused? Research questions must be specific
enough to be well covered in the space available.

6. ◦ Is your research question complex? Research questions should not be
answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” or by easily-found
facts. They should, instead, require both research and analysis on the
part of the writer. They often begin with “How” or “Why.”
 Begin your research. After you’ve come up with a question,
think about the possible paths your research could take.
What sources should you consult as you seek answers to
your question? What research process will ensure that you
find a variety of perspectives and responses to your
question?


7.  it's important that your research question is focused on
one single research topic, or a few interdependent
topics.
 If your research question is too vague, then you will
find it difficult to stay on topic whilst writing. It’s a
good idea to focus on an unresolved problem- a
problem that you never found a solution/many
solutions for in your research. Your goal will be to
resolve this problem in your paper

8.  The hypothesis states your educated prediction
regarding what you will find during your research. A
hypothesis is used mostly in experimental or
correlational research. It is your preliminary answer to
your research question.
 On the other hand, your research question states the
aim of your paper and it is connected to your thesis
statement. Throughout your paper, the hypothesis will
be supported or contradicted with the collection and
analysis of data.

11.  There are many different types of research questions.
However, the most common types are:
 Descriptive questions
 Relationship-based questions (explanation)
 criticism/improvement-based questions
 Already refine your research question? Then you’re
ready to begin writing your research proposal . It’s a
long process, but stick with it and your paper will be
done before you know it!

12.  Research questions can be classified into different
categories, depending on the type of research to be
done. Knowing what type of research one wants to
do—quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods
studies—can help in determining the best type of
research question to use.
 Doody and Bailey (2016) suggest a number of common
types of research questions, as outlined below.

13.  Quantitative research questions are precise. These questions
typically include the population to be studied, dependent and
independent variables, and the research design to be used. They
are usually framed and finalized at the start of the study (Berger,
2015).
 Quantitative research questions also establish a link between the
research question and the research design. Moreover, these
questions are not answerable with “yes” or “no” responses. As a
result, quantitative research questions don’t use words such as
“is,” “are,” “do,” or “does.”
 Quantitative research questions usually seek to understand
particular social, familial, or educational experiences or
processes that occur in a particular context and/or location
(Marshall & Rossman, 2011). They can be further categorized
into three types: descriptive, comparative, and relationship.

14.  Descriptive research questions aim to measure the responses of a
study’s population to one or more variables or describe variables
that the research will measure. These questions typically begin
with “what.”
 Comparative research questions aim to discover the differences
between two or more groups for an outcome variable. These
questions can be causal, as well. For instance, the researcher may
compare a group where a certain variable is involved and another
group where that variable is not present.
 Relationship research questions seek to explore and define trends
and interactions between two or more variables. These questions
often include both dependent and independent variables and use
words such as “association” or “trends.”

15.  Qualitative research questions may concern broad areas of
research or more specific areas of study. Similar to quantitative
research questions, qualitative research questions are linked to
research design. Unlike their quantitative counterparts, though,
qualitative research questions are usually adaptable, non-
directional, and more flexible (Creswell, 2013). As a result,
studies using these questions generally aim to “discover,”
“explain,” or “explore.”
 Ritchie et al. (2014) and Marshall and Rossman (2011) have also
further categorized qualitative research questions into a number
of types, as listed below:
 Contextual research questions seek to describe the nature of what
already exists.
 Descriptive research questions attempt to describe a
phenomenon.

16.  Emancipatory research questions aim to produce knowledge that allows for
engagement in social action, especially for the benefit of disadvantaged
people.
 Evaluative research questions assess the effectiveness of existing methods
or paradigms.
 Explanatory research questions seek to expound on a phenomenon or
examine reasons for and associations between what exists.
 Exploratory research questions investigate little-known areas of a particular
topic.
 Generative research questions aim to provide new ideas for the
development of theories and actions.
 Ideological research questions are used in research that aims to advance
specific ideologies of a position.
 The following table illustrates the differences between quantitative and
qualitative research questions. Example: Factors that increase the
likelihood of childhood anxiety include peer pressure, genetics, and
higher intelligence levels.

17. Mixed-methods studies typically require a set of both
quantitative and qualitative research questions.
Separate questions are appropriate when the mixed-
methods study focuses on the significance and
differences in quantitative and qualitative methods
and not on the study’s integrative component
(Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2010).
Researchers also have the option to develop a single
mixed-methods research question. According to
Tashakkori and Teddlie (2010), this suggests an
integrative process or component between the
study’s quantitative and qualitative research
methods.

18.  “The research question is also the question why you
should delight the world with another pile of printed
paper” (cf. Winter 2004: 28).
 A bachelor’s or master’s thesis is not something you
write just for the sake of writing something. The aim
is to create new scientific knowledge or to test and
newly interpret existing theories. To achieve this aim,
a thorough literature research is necessary to find
an under-researched topic having new aspects you
can focus on – a gap in scientific literature, so to
speak.
 To be even more precise: you can pose a very specific
research question that nobody has asked before.

19.  Unclear: How should social networking sites address the harm they
cause?
Clear: What action should social networking sites like MySpace and
Facebook take to protect users’ personal information and privacy?
The unclear version of this question doesn’t specify which social
networking sites or suggest what kind of harm the sites might be
causing. It also assumes that this “harm” is proven and/or accepted.
The clearer version specifies sites (MySpace and Facebook), the type
of potential harm (privacy issues), and who may be experiencing that
harm (users). A strong research question should never leave room for
ambiguity or interpretation.
Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global
warming?
Focused: What is the most significant effect of glacial melting on the
lives of penguins in Antarctica?

20.  The unfocused research question is so broad that it couldn’t be
adequately answered in a book-length piece, let alone a
standard college-level paper. The focused version narrows down
to a specific effect of global warming (glacial melting), a specific
place (Antarctica), and a specific animal that is affected
(penguins). It also requires the writer to take a stance on which
effect has the greatest impact on the affected animal. When in
doubt, make a research question as narrow and focused as
possible.

Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the U.S.?
Appropriately Complex: What main environmental, behavioral,
and genetic factors predict whether Americans will develop
diabetes, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the
medical community in prevention of the disease?

21.  Broadly, a good research question should be relevant,
decided, and meaningful (Stone, 2002). Creating a research
question can be a tricky process, but there is a specific
method you can follow to ease the process. The steps to this
method are outlined below:
 1. Start with a broad topic.
 A broad topic provides writers with plenty of avenues to
explore in their search for a viable research question.
Techniques to help you develop a topic into subtopics and
potential research questions include brainstorming and
concept mapping. These techniques can organize your
thoughts so you can identify connections and relevant
themes within a broad topic.

22.  When searching for a topic, it’s wise to choose an area
of study that you are genuinely interested in, since your
interest in a topic will affect your motivation levels
throughout your research. It’s also wise to consider the
interests being addressed recently by the research
community, as this may affect your paper’s chances of
getting published.


23.  Once you have picked a topic, you can start doing preliminary
research. This initial stage of research accomplishes two goals.
First, a preliminary review of related literature allows you to
discover issues that are currently being discussed by scholars and
fellow researchers. This way, you get up-to-date, relevant
knowledge on your topic.
 Second, a preliminary review of related literature allows you to
spot existing gaps or limitations in existing knowledge of your
topic. With a certain amount of fine-tuning, you can later use
these gaps as the focus of your research question.
 Moreover, according to Farrugia et al. (2010), certain institutions
that provide grants encourage applicants to conduct a systematic
review of available studies and evidence to see if a similar, recent
study doesn’t already exist, before applying for a grant.

24.  Once you have gathered enough knowledge on the topic you want to
pursue, you can start focusing on a more specific area of study. One
option is to focus on gaps in existing knowledge or recent literature.
Referred to by Sandberg and Alvesson (2011) as “gap-spotting,” this
method involves constructing research questions out of identified
limitations in literature and overlooked areas of study. Similarly,
researchers can choose research questions that extend or complement
the findings of existing literature.
 Another way of identifying and constructing research questions:
problematization (Sandberg & Alvesson, 2011). As a methodology for
constructing research questions, problematization aims to challenge and
scrutinize assumptions that support others’ and the researcher’s
theoretical position. This means constructing research questions that
challenge your views or knowledge of the area of study.
 Lipowski (2008), on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of
taking into consideration the researcher’s personal experiences in the
process of developing a research question. Researchers who are also
practitioners, for instance, can reflect on problematic areas of their
practice. Patterns and trends in practice may also provide new insights
and potential ideas for research questions.

25.  Our initial research and review of related literature will have
produced some interesting questions that seem like they’re worth
pursuing. However, not all interesting questions make for sound
research questions. Keep in mind that a research question draws
its answer or conclusion through an analysis of evidence.
 Hulley et al. (2007) suggest using a set of criteria- known as the
“FINER” criteria-to find out if you have a good research
question. The FINER criteria are outlined below:
Feasible
A good research question is feasible, which means that the
question is well within the researcher’s ability to investigate.
Researchers should be realistic about the scale of their research
as well as their ability to collect data and complete the research
with their skills and the resources available to them. It’s also
wise to have a contingency plan in place in case problem arise

26.  I – Interesting
The ideal research question is interesting not only to the researcher but also to
their peers and community. This interest boosts the researcher’s motivation to
see the question answered.
 N – Novel
Your research question should be developed to bring new insights to the field
of study you are investigating. The question may confirm or extend previous
findings on the topic you are researching, for instance.
 E – Ethical
This is one of the more important considerations of making a research
question. Your research question and your subsequent study must be something
that review boards and the appropriate authorities will approve.
 R – Relevant
Aside from being interesting and novel, the research question should be
relevant to the scientific community and people involved in your area of study.
If possible, your research question should also be relevant to the public’s
interest.

27.  Here are some research question examples to help you brainstorm your own:
 What effect does the daily playing of video games have on the engagement
levels of those under 16 years old?
 What are the long-term effects on the environment of using bamboo
toothbrushes in place of regular plastic toothbrushes?
 How does divorce cause students to perform on standardized tests?
 What educational strategies help encourage safe driving in young adults?
 How does listening to music while you work affect your overall performance?
 In what ways do visiting grandchildren improve the quality of life for older
individuals?
 How impactful is having a friend for children under two years old?
 What factors affect people's beliefs in religion?
 What makes a grocery store easy for shoppers to navigate?
 How does restricting electronic usage help encourage socialization in
teenagers?

28.  What techniques can teachers use to engage students in a virtual
classroom setting?
 What influences affect homelessness in major cities?
 What genetic factors predict if someone will develop hypothyroidism?
 How has the rise of streaming services changed how individuals watch
television shows?
 What are ways consumers can address privacy issues with online
stores?
 How does working a night shift affect a parent's relationship with their
child?
 What is the most significant effect of daylight savings?
 How does daily exercise impact the stress level of college students in
the United States?
 What factors have influenced more companies to provide eco-friendly
packaging for their orders?