Research question: What is it and how do you do it correctly?

The Research question is the cornerstone of any study, whether it is market research or academic research in any field.

Although it is part of any research process, the aspects that allow it to be carried out correctly are not always known. That's why in this article we've put together everything you need to know when formulating the research question for your next project.

What is a research question?

The research question is the central question that a study aims to answer. It is at the heart of systematic research and helps to clearly define the path for the research process.

The research question is usually the first step in the research methodology. It is the main point of the survey and determines the pace of the work.

This question usually refers to a problem or question that is answered by data analysis and interpretation in the conclusion of the study.

In most studies, the question is phrased in a way that highlights the various aspects of a study, including the problem the study is addressing, the population, and the variables being examined.

The research questions are often only determined during the course of the study. Therefore, these questions are dynamic, meaning researchers can change or refine the research question as they review the relevant literature and develop a framework for the study.

While many research projects focus on a single research question, larger studies may use more than one question.

Types of research questions

The type of research question depends on the focus and direction of the study being conducted and can therefore be different:

Quantitative research question

Quantitative research questions aim to understand processes that take place in specific contexts and locations. They generally fall into three types:

• Descriptive: They aim to obtain information about a variable or several variables in order to assign a size to the variable.
• Comparative: A comparison is made between two or more groups based on one or more reliable variables.
• Relational: These questions aim to understand the association, trends and causal relationship between two or more variables.

These questions are precise and typically include the population to be studied, the dependent and independent variables, and the research design to be used. They are usually formulated and defined at the beginning of the study.
Check out these examples of quantitative questions for a survey

Qualitative research questions

These questions may cover broad areas of research or more specific areas of study. Like quantitative questions, these questions are also linked to the research design.

Unlike quantitative questions, qualitative research questions tend to be adaptive, non-directive, and more flexible, so studies with these types of questions generally aim to “discover,” “explain,” or “explore.”

Mixed methods questions

Mixed methods research requires a range of quantitative and qualitative questions. Separate research questions are appropriate when mixed studies focus on the importance and differences between quantitative and qualitative methods rather than the integrative factor of the study.

What is the significance of the research question?

The primary reason for asking a research question is that it narrows a broad topic of interest to a specific area of ​​inquiry.

The research questions, along with the hypotheses, serve as a framework that guides the research. These questions also reveal the limitations of a study by establishing its boundaries and ensuring that it is coherent.

Most importantly, the research question has implications for the rest of the study and influences factors such as research methods, sample size, data collection and analysis.

How do you formulate a research question?

Now that you know what a research question is and how important it is, here are the key steps to consider when formulating a research question in a project:

1. Start with a broad topic

A broad topic provides researchers with a number of options to explore in finding a viable research question.

Brainstorming and concept mapping are some techniques that help develop a topic into subtopics and potential research questions.

These techniques help you organize your thoughts so you can identify relevant connections and subtopics within a broad topic.

When researching a topic, it makes sense to choose a subject area that really interests you, because your interest in the topic will affect your motivation during the research.

It is also worth considering the interests that have recently been expressed by the research community, as this may influence the chances of your research being published.

   |  See also: How to formulate a Research problem?

2. carry out an initial review of the relevant literature

Once you have decided on a topic, you can begin to create a preliminary review of the relevant literature. With this first phase of research you can achieve two goals:

1. You can find out what topics are currently being discussed by scientists and other researchers. In this way, you gain current and relevant knowledge on your topic.
2. You identify gaps or limitations in existing knowledge about your topic. With some degree of fine-tuning, you can later use these gaps as the focus of your research question.

3. Narrow down your topic and identify possible research questions.

Once you have accumulated enough knowledge about the topic you want to work on, you can begin to focus on a more specific area of ​​inquiry.

One option is to focus on gaps in existing knowledge or recent literature. This method involves developing research questions based on limitations identified in the literature that have been neglected in the past.

Similarly, researchers may choose research questions that extend or complement existing literature findings.

4. Evaluate the strength of your research question

The initial research and review of the relevant literature you have undertaken will have revealed some interesting questions that seem worth addressing.

However, are Not all interesting questions are also good research questions. Remember that research questions draw their answers or conclusions through an analysis of the evidence.

When formulating the research question, it is important to first consider relevance. A good strategy for this is to use the acronym FINER:

Feasible

A good research question is feasible, meaning the question is within the researcher's capabilities.
Researchers should be realistic about the scope of their research, as well as their ability to collect data and conduct the research within their skills and available resources.

Interesting

The ideal research question is interesting not only to the researcher, but also to his colleagues and the community.
Novel
The research question should be formulated in such a way that it provides new knowledge in the area under study.

Ethical

The question and the subsequent study should be approved by the examination committees and the relevant authorities.

Relevant

The research question should be relevant to the scientific community and the people working in your field of study. If possible, the question should also be relevant to the interest of the general public.

Recommendations for the appropriate formulation of a research question

Research questions should be appropriately structured to ensure clarity. There are several frameworks that can be used to correctly formulate a research question, the two most common are:

PICOT model

The PICOT framework allows research questions to be constructed to address important elements of the study, including the population to be studied, the expected results, and the time needed to achieve the result.

P: population, patient or problem.
I: Intervention or indicator to be studied.
C: Comparison group.
O: Result of interest.
T: Time frame of the study.

With these elements, the framework is commonly used in clinical research and evidence-based studies.

Example of a question constructed using the PICOT framework

Are children aged 5 to 20 of parents with addiction problems at a higher risk of developing depression or anxiety than children of parents without diagnosed mental health problems?

This question reflects the PICOT framework as follows:

P (population examined): Children
I (indicator or intervention): Parents with addiction problems
C (comparison group): Children of parents without addiction problems.
O (result of interest): Increased risk of depression
T (interesting time frame): Between the ages of 5 and 18

PEO frame

Like the PICOT framework, the PEO framework is also commonly used in clinical trials. However, this study is more suitable for conducting qualitative research questions.

This framework includes the following elements:

P: Population studied.
E: Exposure to pre-existing conditions.
O: result of interest.

Example of a question constructed using the PEO framework

How does exposure to classical music affect the development of emotional expression in infants and children under 8 years of age?

P (population examined): Infants and children under 8 years old
E (exposure to given conditions): exposure to classical music
O (result of interest): Effects on the development of emotional expression

Conclusion

As you can see, the research question is the step you should pay the most attention to when conducting a study, as it will guide you for the rest of your work.

Once you have defined your research question, you can use QuestionPro's online surveys, which specialize in solving quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research questions, to initiate the next phases of your project.

If you don't know them yet, we invite you to create a free account and explore all the options available to you by clicking the link below. We hope this article was of interest to you!

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Research question | Research | Question