What is a Research Question?
A research question is a specific and well-defined question that directs your research. It helps you investigate a topic you’re curious about and forms the foundation for your thesis or project. A strong research question should be detailed, thought-provoking (not answerable by just "yes" or "no"), and something you can build an argument around. Keep in mind—your question may shift as you learn more through research!
How Do You Develop a Research Question?
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you get started. You don’t have to follow these steps in order—they’re just a jumping-off point:
- Choose a subject that interests you. Start with a broad idea, like “body image” or “literacy,” then narrow it down.
- Do some initial research. Look at articles, journals, or books to see what others have already said about your subject. This can help you find gaps or fresh perspectives to explore.
- Start posing questions. Ask yourself “how” or “why” questions to go deeper. For example
- Review your question. As you move along, pause to look at your question again. Is it still useful? Is it helping you stay on track
What Makes a Strong Research Question?
- Engaging: Pick something you genuinely care about—you’ll be working with it for a while!
- Specific: Avoid unclear terms. Instead of “Why are social media sites bad?” try “How are users handling privacy concerns on platforms like Facebook and Twitter?”
- Narrow: Keep it realistic. “How can we fix illiteracy?” is too wide. Try something like “How can an online tool support reading skills in Canadian boys aged 6–10?”
- Challenging: Your question should require more than a simple fact or yes/no answer. “How many women are obese?” is too basic. Instead, try “How can early education tools help prevent obesity among young women in Canada?”
- Debatable: Your question should let you take a stance and support it with evidence. Design research especially benefits from beginning with a real-world issue your work can help improve.
- Clear-cut: As you revise, try to make your question as straightforward and easy to understand as possible.
