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Estimated time to complete: 25-30 minutes

Supported Objective: CO1: Develop three clearly-written, well-researched, persuasive papers which demonstrate both critical reading and critical thinking skills.

Developing a good research question is one of the first critical steps in the research process. The research question, when appropriately written, will guide your research project and assist in the construction of a logical argument. The research question should be a clear, focused question that summarizes the issue that you will investigate.

How to develop a good research question

You should begin by identifying a broader subject of interest that is worthy of investigation. For example, you may be interested in childhood obesity.

The next step is to do preliminary research on the general topic to find out what research has already been done and what literature already exists.

How much research has been done on childhood obesity?
What types of studies?
Is there a unique area that yet to be investigated or is there a particular question that may be worth replicating?
Then begin to narrow the topic by asking open-ended "how" and "why" questions. For example, you may want to consider the factors that are contributing to childhood obesity or the success rate of intervention programs. Create a list of potential questions for consideration and choose one that interests you and provides an opportunity for exploration.
Finally, evaluate the question by using the following list of guidelines:
- Is the research question one that is of interest to you and potentially to others? Is it a new issue or problem that needs to be solved or is it attempting to shed light on previously researched topic.
- Is the research question researchable? Consider the available time frame and the required resources.
- Is the research question too broad or too narrow?

Examples of research questions

Too narrow: What is the childhood obesity rate in Pheonix, AZ?

This is too narrow because it can be answered with a simple statistic. Questions that can be answered with a "yes" or a "no" should also typically be avoided.

Less narrow: How does the education level of the parents impact childhood obesity rates in Pheonix, AZ?

This question demonstrates the correct amount of specificity and the results would provide the opportunity for an argument to be formed.

Unfocused and too broad: What are the effects of childhood obesity in the United States?

This question is too broad to be discussed in a typical research paper.

More focused: How does childhood obesity correlate with academic performance in elementary school children?

This question has a very clear focus for which data can be collected, analyzed, and discussed.

Too objective: How much time do young children spend doing physical activity per day?

This question may allow you to collect data but does not lend itself to collecting data that can be used to create a valid argument because the data is just factual information.

More Subjective: What is the relationship between physical activity levels and childhood obesity?

This is a more subjective question that may lead to the formation of an argument based on the results and analysis of the data.

Too simple: How are school systems addressing childhood obesity?

This information can be obtained without the need to collect unique data. The question could be answered with a simple online search and does not provide an opportunity for analysis.

More Complex: What are the effects of intervention programs in the elementary schools on the rate of childhood obesity among 3rd - 6th grade students?

This question is more complex and requires both investigation and evaluation which will lead you to form an argument that may be discussed.

Adapted from: https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/tutorials/question

Prefer to watch?

From Northern Kentucky University's Steely Library

Developing a Research Question

From Laurier University's Library

Developing a Research Question

Your turn

Here is a flowchart which you can use to help narrow and refine your research question. Need to print a copy? Click here: Refining Your Research Question

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Adapted from an exercise created by Karen Best.