US Research Process--Plan, Do, Review: The Research Question

A research question guides your research. It is formed after you've chosen a topic of interest and done some initial reading and research, often in current periodicals and journals, to see what research may have already been done on the topic. The answer to your research question should end up being your thesis statement (or main argument). 

Your question should, ideally, address something you care about or in which you have an interest. Sometimes your teacher will assign a question to be researched. 

Steps to take:

• Find an issue of interest
• Explore the issue
• Start asking questions
• Refine and focus your question

Things to remember:

• Avoid asking yes/no questions. Ask a question that might have multiple answers/opinions
• Ask a question that will require you to explain/defend your answer
• Ask a question that can be tackled within your page limit

A good research question allows the writer to argue a position while NOT leaving room for ambiguity.

Checklist of Potential Research Questions in the Humanities (from Vanderbilt U. Writing Center)

• Is the research question something I/others care about? Is it arguable?
• Is the research question a new spin on an old idea, or does it solve a problem?
• Is it too broad or narrow?
• Is the research question researchable within the given time frame and location?
• What information is needed?

(for examples of good research questions, see the link below to the Writing Studio link from Duke University)

All research questions should take a stand, but additional requirements are in order for questions in the sciences. They need to have repeatable data. If the data isn't reliable in the original research it doesn't allow for a strong argument or question.

You must also know what kind of problem you're addressing. Is your research attempting to accomplish one of these goals?

• Define or measure a specific fact or gather facts about a specific phenomenon
• Match facts and theory
• Evaluate and compare two theories, model or hypotheses
• Prove that a certain method is more effective than other methods

(for more, see the link below to the Writing Studio link from Duke University)