The initial stage in writing a research project is usually the most intimidating. You have a good topic you are passionate about but when you get the pen and paper, the paper remains blank. Why? Your problem is not about the research topic; but your research question(s). Your research question is your guide in the world of research. In the absence of an effective, precise research question, you are bound to end up lost in the ocean of data, as you will spend weeks reading irrelevant material.
A well-written research question can be created in 3 steps, and the following is a tested, proven method to writing a solid research question, whether you are writing a capstone project, a thesis in your master studies or a first report on a lab.
Step 1: Broaden, Then Slice (The Funnel Method)
The majority of the students begin with a Big Idea, for example: “I want to study climate change” or “I am interested in remote work.” Such examples are not research questions, but encyclopedias. They are just general ideas. In order to make them researchable, you have to slice the topic with certain variables. Imagine it as a funnel: the beginning will be broad and then trim it down with the following questions:
- Who? (Specific population: Gen Z, workers in healthcare, small business owners)
- Where? (Place: rural Nigeria, urban technological centers, primary school)
- When? (Specific timeframe: in the 2024 elections, the first half of 2026, after the pandemic)
The Transformation:
- Broad Topic: Remote Work.
Slicing Remote work + Software developers + Mental health + During the first year of employment. - Focused Area: The effects of working remotely on the mental health of the junior software developers in the first year.
Step 2: Pass the “FINER” Test
After you have a narrowed down idea, you must be able to make certain that it is a viable idea. The FINER criteria is applied by professional researchers to stress-test their questions:
- Feasible: Are you able to answer this in terms of time, money and access to data? (The problem with surveying 5,000 people is that it will take you two weeks to do it).
- Interesting: Does the answer really have anything to do with you and your peers?
- Novel: Are you writing something new, or what 100 other papers have already told?
- Ethical: Does this mean that you can do this study without causing any physical or psychological harm?
- Relevant: Does this question address a knowledge gap or a problem?
Hint: When your research question can be answered with a simple yes or no it is a failure. Good research question needs to be analysed, compared or evaluated.
Step 3: The Research Question Formula.
Now we shall sum it all up into a plug and play equation. In case you find it difficult to phrase your question, follow this structure:[Question Word] + [Variable A] + [Action/ Relationship] + [Variable B] + [Specific Context]?
Let’s look at two examples:
Example 1: Social Sciences
- Question Word: To what extent…
- Variable A:…daily use of Tik Tok…
- Action: …correlates with…
- Variable B:…reduced attention spans…
- Context:… in 11-13 year old children of middle school?
Final Question: To what degree does the usage of Tik Tok daily in the middle school students aged 11-13 correspond with shorter attention spans?
Example 2: Business & Tech
- Question Word: How does…
- Variable A:… AI-based project management software…
- Action: …impact…
- Variable B:…team productivity…
- Situation:… in startup workplaces (less than 50 employees)?
Final Question: What is the effect of the introduction of AI-based software in the project management of teams in the startup that has less than 50 employees?
The “Check Your Work” Checklist
You must not ask any question before first passing through this little 30-second audit:
- Is it neutral? (Also never use words such as better or worse-because this will mean that you have already formed an opinion).
- Is it specific? (Is it a name of a particular group or condition?)
- Is it complex? (Does it involve data and argument to answer it?
Conclusion: Your Research Question May or May Not Change
This is one of the secrets that most professors use and they do not want you to know. Your research question is not fixed but flexible. When you begin to write your literature review, you may discover that your question is too broad or it has been answered very well by someone else.
Don’t panic. It is not bad to refine your question as things become clearer, that shows you’re a good researcher.
What are you currently studying? Drop your “rough” research topic with our expert writers via email (see contact us page), and let’s work together to turn it into a solid question!