Notes for Instructors: *This document provides an important conceptual framework for students
when they are trying to develop a general research topic into an effective research question.
Students will likely have challenges with this along the way, so sharing this content with students
serves as a good starting point for discussion about what constitutes a good research question.
*The accompanying Research Question vs. Research Topic documents listed on the Libguide site
under Developing Research Questions are for use in an engaging activity where students are 1)
provided with an example grid of developing a research question from a general topic and then 2)
work with a partially completed grid, in order to practice developing research questions.
About Research Questions
I: Forming a Research Question
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By asking a research question, you are keeping an open mind about
what the research may reveal.
As you develop a research question, consider these criteria.
If you have an existing research question, see if your question is TRUE
for these five criteria. If so, then your research question is probably
workable.
Criteria:
Your research question ...
1. is not easily answered with a simple yes or no.
It has some substance and
requires explanation.
2. has an underlying problem with social significance
(local, national or international).
It is important to someone other
than just you!
3. poses a genuine question and aims for neutrality.
It avoids using loaded language or
suggesting a pre-determined
answer.
4. can be answered with reliable evidence.
It is re-searchable. Others have
already been contributing to this
conversation.
5. has appropriate scope.
It is not too narrow, nor too broad; it
does not leave you with too much
or too little information.
Together: You will have to do some preliminary research to really discover if all of these statements
are TRUE for your proposed research question.
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II: Testing Research Questions
Instructions:
Look at each research question below. Can you answer TRUE for statements #1-3? Do you think
you could answer TRUE for #4-5 even though we haven't done any research yet?
Together:
Research Question A: Are there health risks for teens who only eat convenience foods (fast
food)?
Research Question B: Do genetically modified foods endanger the health of those who
consume them?
In Groups:
Research Question C: Should aluminum bats be banned from high school baseball and teen
leagues?
Research Question D: What are the most effective ways to reduce racial profiling in police
departments?
Research Question E: Should the United States government make it more difficult for
individuals to buy a gun if they have a documented mental illness?
Research Question F: Do higher education admission requirements discriminate against
students who have recently immigrated to the United States?
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