Research
Questions
How to come up with a good one
What is it?
A research question should guide your
research. It is the question you ask yourself
about your topic.
A good research question:
Needs information from sources other
than yourself
Can be researched
Is not too narrow
Potential Problem #1: You Don’t Care
If you don’t care about the
topic you choose, chances are
that your audience won’t
either.
Good topics will be things that
you - and others - may be
interested in.
Think about your topic. Look at your
brainstorm sheet and decide if you
are really committed to it. Do you
really like the controversial issue you
have chosen? Are you excited to do
more in-depth research regarding
that topic?
If not, you may want to switch topics.
Potential Problem #2: Too Broad
EX: “How does rainfall
affect the earth?”
Where on the earth?
How much rainfall?
What qualifies as
“earth?”
Let’s Fix It!
EX: “How does rainfall
affect the earth?”
To fix this, we need to
be more specific with
the “who,” “what,”
“where,” “when,”
“why,” or “how” of our
question.
Try narrowing it down
My example:
How does rainfall
affect native plants in
warm climate deserts?
Potential Problem #3: Too Narrow
The question can be
answered in a couple
of sentences or a one
word answer like yes
or no.
EX: “How many
presidents owned a
piano?”
The question cannot
be answered by
anyone because there
is not enough
research or data to
back it up.
EX: “Is there really a
God?”
Let’s Fix It!
EX: “How many
presidents owned a
piano?”
We need to broaden
the topic itself.
My example: What
role did music play in
the White House?
EX: “Is there really a
God?”
We need to choose a
different aspect of this
topic. Try narrowing it
down again.
My example: Does
believing in God affect
work ethic?
Potential Problem #4: No Tension /
Common Knowledge
Some questions are
common knowledge
answers.
EX: Why is snow
cold?
Some questions have
no tension.
EX: Should we go
running every day?
Let’s Fix It!
EX: Why is snow cold?
EX: Should we go
running every day?
Keep the topic, but
change the
perspective.
Keep the topic, but add
some tension to it.
My example: How can
snow save someone
from getting
hypothermia?
My example: Should
running everyday be a
requirement in P.E.
classes?
Now it’s your turn!
Come up with at least 2 questions that
you could use to guide your research.
Evaluate the strength of each question
by asking these 3 questions:
1. Is it too broad or too narrow?
2. Is it a common knowledge
question, or a question that can be
answered easily or through a few
words?
3. Does it have tension?
You will decide which question you like
the most at the end of the exercise.