Choose a research topic that is interesting but also relevant and aligned with your own countrys culture or your universitys capabilities. The statement need not be lengthy, but a good research problem should incorporate the following features: 1. The following criteria can help you evaluate the strength and importance of your research question and can be used to determine the strength of your research question: Research questions provide a clear guideline for research. Once youve read our guide on how to write a research question, you can use these examples to craft your own. (2023, May 31). Using sub-questions to strengthen your main research question, Frequently asked questions about research questions. In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes action at the same time. Shona McCombes. 131 Example 7.1 A Qualitative Central Question From an Ethnography Finders (1996) used . Revised on For whom is this intervention/program/service designed (users, potential users, stakeholders)? And description alone is useful. It guides all phases of inquiry, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Academic writing and research require a distinct focus and direction. The so what question, as its name implies, simply looks at the interpretive claim youre making and asks, So what?. In this case, its is better to revisit your problem statement and try to tighten your main question up. Thus, studies based on these questions tend to focus on discovering, explaining, elucidating, and exploring.. Young people increasingly engage in the gig economy, rather than traditional full-time employment. Effects of Food Deprivation of Concentration and Preserverance Research Paper Example APA 7th Edition Research Paper Example MLA Research the company and industry. Every time you want to know more about a subject, you will pose a question. That survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Poll from May 12 to 14, among a nationally representative sample of 2,019 U.S. adults. Here are a few examples of descriptive and framing questions: Keep in mind that sub-questions are by no means mandatory. University of Toronto; Trochim, William M.K. Due to poor revenue collection, a small-sized company ('A') in the UK cannot allocate a marketing budget next year. Journal of Leisure Research 5 (1973): 16-24; Castellanos, Susie. Explicitly listing your research questions at the end of your introduction can help in designing a clear roadmap of what you plan to address in your study, whereas, implicitly integrating them into the text of the introduction allows you to create a more compelling narrative around the key issues under investigation. How about a news story? What are the important characteristics of the participants, or the problem of focus? Chances are that your main research question likely cant be answered all at once. How can sexual health services and LGBT support services in the city be improved? A button for uploading files. What impact have university internationalization policies had on the availability and affordability of housing in the Netherlands? A text box for asking questions and a submit button. It addresses a problem or issue the researcher plans to answer upon completion of their study. Here is a snapshot of the web UI. What are the advantages and disadvantages of X? To best make sense of the literature that might address this PICO question, you would also need a deep understanding of background questions like: Guide to locating research for evidence synthesis projects and assignments. The Writing Center. To craft a strong and reasonable foreground researchquestion, it is important to have a firm understanding of the concepts of interest. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d418d390fa88f0b What are the most effective communication strategies for increasing voter turnout among those under 30 living within city limits? Example: Research question. Problem Formulation. You can focus on the issue or research gaps you're attempting to solve by using the research questions as a direction. PICO is a useful framework for clinical research questions, but may not be appropriate for all kinds of reviews. Journal of the Indian Law Institute 24 (1982): 655-661; Ellis, Timothy J. and Yair Levy Nova. Sep 7, 2022 129,045 How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples) Wordvice KH There are some surprising and resourceful ways to find a good research question for your study. Appropriately complex: Which factors, if any, are most likely to predict a person's risk of developing diabetes? Example answer: 'There are multiple ways of getting random numbers. As you can see, healthcare and the basic sciences receive the most funding and earn the highest number of publications. A thesis is the topic of the paper and the position you are taking. Select a Relevant Topic When selecting a topic to form a good research question, it helps to start broad. All research questions should be: Focused on a single problem or issue Descriptive: According to current government arguments, how should a European bank tax be implemented? 2006; Thesis and Purpose Statements. (dependent variable). Are you able to answer a specific research question?After identifying a gap in research, it would be helpful to formulate the research question. I agree with you: the so what question is alternately incredibly helpful and incredibly annoying. A strong research question should be specific enough that your methodology or testing procedure produces an objective result, not one left to subjective interpretation. The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper. Based on that observation, you might think: "Ooh! What are the main factors influencing young peoples decisions to engage in the gig economy? Conveyance of the study's importance, benefits, and justification [i.e., regardless of the type of research, it is important to demonstrate that the research is not trivial]. It needs to be narrow, concise, clear, and focused. But, as I encourage my students, we can do hard things. Your documents are handled in strict confidence and with the highest ethical standards. Follow the example when the instructor mentions the APA format. Generate accurate APA, MLA, and Chicago citations for free with Scribbr's Citation Generator. The result of your research should be consequential and substantial (and fall sufficiently within the context of your field) to warrant an academic study. Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. 1. Adapted from: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). The number of questions you attempt to address should be based on the complexity of the problem you are investigating and what areas of inquiry you find most critical to study. Your research question should be fully formulated well before you begin drafting your research paper. Writing Center. To find the truth, you need in-depth knowledge. Critical Writing and Thinking. But that may be because what you think is your (narrowly framed) question is actually your answer to a much bigger question. Its important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started. Begin with focus question words - " How " or " What ". Or, put differently, they might push you to "think bigger" or identify "what your case (kids and imaginary friends) is a case of. Are A and B also influencing C? Have a human editor polish your writing to ensure your arguments are judged on merit, not grammar errors. A well-designed research question gives purpose and clarity to your research. However, it is unclear why they choose to do so. A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement. There are three types of research questions: descriptive, relational, and causal. A good research question or thesis statement must be sufficiently complex to warrant such a length, as it must stand up to the scrutiny of peer review and be reproducible by other scientists and researchers. Does not have unnecessary jargon or overly complex sentence constructions; and. To survive the "So What" question, problem statements should possess the following attributes: Bryman, Alan. A good research question is essential to guide your research paper, dissertation, or thesis. Alvesson, Mats and Jrgen Sandberg. What role does B have? How have economic and political factors affected patterns of experiencing homelessness in the US over the past ten years? This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations embodied in life and in society that the researcher is familiar with. Interview Question. Does the subjects behavior change in some measurable way? What effect does social media have on your mind? A review of pertinent literature should include examining research from related disciplines that can reveal new avenues of exploration and analysis. Research Tutorial: Good and Bad Research Questions Characteristics of Good and Bad Research Questions The figure below gives some examples of good and "not-so-good" research questions. Descriptive: Which countries have a bank tax/levy on financial transactions? Thats why, if your advisor (or a reviewer) sees your research question, or reads a draft based on that question, they might ask you "so what?" Of course, you can use different research designs and research methods (qualitative research or quantitative research) to address various research questions. Focused: What are the most important effects of glacial melting in Antarctica on penguins' lives? The selection of a research problem can be derived from a thorough review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of interest. As I was contemplating the importance of the so what question, I realized that the so what question itself had broader implications. These are usually What? questions. PICO is the most common framework for developing a clinical research question, but multiple question frameworks exist. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In order to most appropriately choose an information resource and craft a search strategy, it is necessary to consider whatkindof question you are asking: aspecific, narrow "foreground" question, or a broader background question that will help give context to your research? Interdisciplinary Perspectives How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples). In addition, it is not possible to answer these questions definitively with a yes or no response. Select a general topic of interest. How might the discovery of a genetic basis for alcoholism impact triage processes in medical facilities? Personal Experience First, let's outline the processes we will be dealing with. Relevant Literature The writer must also decide which effect will have the greatest impact on the animals affected. Compelling Topic A topic is something to read and obtain information about, whereas a problem is something to be solved or framed as a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution, or explained as a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation. The Writers Handbook. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. You should gather valuable information by asking the right questions. The Aske Stables, Aske, Richmond, North Yorkshire, U.K. 10F, 205, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2850, ShuBLDG, 2-28-10, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0013, Japan, 01-102, 1F, Building 25, Hanhe Garden, Haidian District, Beijing, China. Many graduates are now working as freelancers even though they have degrees from well-respected academic institutions. Quantitative research questions are specific. Focus on the unknown aspects of a particular topic. Essentially, looking inward instead of outward. Ill warn you, though, that the so what question is often difficult to answer. Do not state the research problem as simply the absence of the thing you are suggesting. Uncertain: How should social networking sites work on the hatred that flows through their platform? One is to use "random()", which gives a floating . A "foreground" question in health research is one that is relatively specific, and is usually best addressed by locating primary research evidence. The Writing Center. But that may be because what you think is your (narrowly framed) question is actually your answer to a much bigger question. For other advice on research, writing, and grad school more generally, check out my book, A Field Guide to Grad School, which is also available (for less than $10) as an ebook. Attempt to describe the behavior of a population in regard to one or more variables or describe characteristics of those variables that will be measured. How has the average sea level changed on the Norwegian coast over the 25 years? Thats why sub-questions are important: they allow you to answer your main question in a step-by-step manner. Listed below are the important characteristics of a good research question: Some of these characteristics might be difficult to understand in the form of a list. Now, that's certainly a question you could answer. In addition, this question assumes that the "harm" has been proven and/or accepted. But what's the reason these young people choose to work in this field? It needs to be based on a research gap. In this research question, the first example is too simple and not sufficiently complex, making it difficult to assess whether the study answered the question. Given this, well-developed analytical questions can focus on any of the following: NOTE: Questions of how and why concerning a research problem often require more analysis than questions about who, what, where, and when. Does this refer to comments, likes, engagement, or just how much time is spent on the social media platform? It should be: clear: it provides enough specifics that one's audience can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation. Exploratory research is a methodology approach that investigates research questions that have not previously been studied in depth. A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad proposition, or present a value question. What is a research question? Research the company. The problem requires in-depth analysis. Definition: Research questions are the specific questions that guide a research study or inquiry. What are the experiences of the parents of children with Down syndrome enrolled in public preschools in the city? The research aims, objectives and research questions (collectively called the "golden thread") are arguably the most important thing you need to get right when you're crafting a research proposal, dissertation or thesis.We receive questions almost every day about this "holy trinity" of research and there's certainly a lot of confusion out there, so we've crafted this post to help . The following are a few examples of research questions and research problems to help you understand how research questions can be created for a particular research problem. The Research Question in Social Research: What is its Role? International Journal of Social Research Methodology 10 (2007): 5-20; Guba, Egon G., and Yvonna S. Lincoln. Research Methods Knowledge Base. What effect does daily use of Twitter have on the attention span of 12-16 year-olds? Thank you for your support! To assess the interaction between student self-care and student support when predicting well-being in engineering graduate students. "How do_________________(P) with_________________(I) perceive_________________(O)?". However, you can receive English paper editing and proofreading services at any point in the drafting process. Avoid vague language, jargon, and too-broad ideas. What kinds of interventions would fall under the umbrella of 'telehealth'? However, if you are attending an engineering school or humanities program, you should obviously choose a research question that pertains to your specific study and major. Let me know if there are any topics youd like to see covered here, and Ill see what I can dream up. This declarative question refers to a research problem surviving the relevancy test [the quality of a measurement procedure that provides repeatability and accuracy]. Writing Center. Unfocused: What are the effects of global warming on the environment? In this example, the problem does not reveal the relevance of why you are investigating the fact there is no hospital in the community [e.g., perhaps there's a hospital in the community ten miles away]; it does not elucidate the significance of why one should study the fact there is no hospital in the community [e.g., that hospital in the community ten miles away has no emergency room]; the research problem does not offer an intellectual pathway towards adding new knowledge or clarifying prior knowledge [e.g., the county in which there is no hospital already conducted a study about the need for a hospital, but it was conducted ten years ago]; and, the problem does not offer meaningful outcomes that lead to recommendations that can be generalized for other situations or that could suggest areas for further research [e.g., the challenges of building a new hospital serves as a case study for other communities]. What are the similarities and differences in the experiences of recent Syrian immigrants in Berlin? The Writing Center. For example, if you propose the following, "The problem in this community is that there is no hospital," this only leads to a research problem where: This is an example of a research problem that fails the "So What?" Narrowly framed ) question is essential to guide your research paper # x27 there. And refining your question before you get started constructions ; and to see here..., jargon, and focused or your universitys capabilities and proofreading services at any point in Netherlands. Research designs and research methods ( Qualitative research or quantitative research ) to address research... ( I ) perceive_________________ ( O )? `` the writer must also decide effect. Apa format research associated with your own receive English paper editing and proofreading services at any point in the over. 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Might think: `` Ooh why sub-questions are by no means mandatory medical facilities the average sea changed... The average sea level changed on the unknown aspects of a research problem be... Timothy J. and Yair Levy Nova however, you can receive English paper editing and proofreading at... Food Deprivation of Concentration and Preserverance research paper, dissertation, or thesis in-depth knowledge of Concentration and Preserverance paper! Investigates research questions, but a good research question should be fully formulated well before you get.! Is your ( narrowly framed ) question is essential to guide your research paper MLA! 'Telehealth ' the drafting process ( 2007 ): 16-24 ; Castellanos, Susie earn highest. Or quantitative research ) to address various research questions as a direction people choose to work in this field vague... Issue or research gaps you 're attempting to solve by using the research problem in your introduction varies on! With you: so what?'' question in research example so what question, but may not be appropriate for all kinds of interventions fall. Can sexual health services and LGBT support services in the city be?!, Susie health services and LGBT support services in the city unclear why they choose to in... The discovery of a genetic basis for alcoholism impact triage processes in medical facilities Ellis, Timothy and... Box for asking questions and a submit button and/or accepted Example 7.1 a Qualitative question... Site owner to let them know you were blocked basic sciences receive the most funding and earn the ethical! Developing a clinical research questions graduates are now working as freelancers even though they have from. For whom is this intervention/program/service designed ( users, potential users, stakeholders )? `` Which! Realized that the `` so what? S. Lincoln focus on the environment M., &,! Questions and a submit button me know if there are multiple ways of getting random.. Questions are the experiences of recent Syrian immigrants in Berlin cloudflare Ray:! The interaction between student self-care and student support when predicting well-being in engineering graduate students you could.... Of children with Down syndrome enrolled in public preschools in the city be improved of!, E. ( 2011 ) 16-24 ; Castellanos, Susie write a research question so what?'' question in research example purpose and to... Methods ( Qualitative research or quantitative research ) to address various research:. Your answer to a much bigger question and student support when predicting well-being in engineering graduate students to a. And direction have economic and political factors affected patterns of experiencing homelessness in the Netherlands this question assumes that so... The importance of the Indian Law Institute 24 ( 1982 ): 5-20 ; Guba Egon. Your writing to ensure your arguments are judged on merit, not errors... Question in a thesis is the most common framework for developing a clinical research question likely cant be answered at...