Developing a Research Question

A research question is a clear and focused question centered on a research topic. Research questions usually emerge when questions are asked about a particular issue that a student is interested in or curious about.

A research question helps to focus the research, providing a path through which you will undertake the research and writing process. A clear and well-focused research question, which has a specific aim, will allow you to work towards developing a reasoned argument within the scope of the task, rather than the kind of “all about” essay that an unfocused research question can lead to.

Sometimes you may need to revise your research question; therefore, a research question should always be considered provisional until you have enough research data to make a reasoned argument.

Deciding on a subject and topic that is of interest to you and in which you are personally invested is important if you motivation is to be sustained throughout the process. You should be able to identify, in a broad sense, what it is that you are interested in and why.

• After deciding on a topic of interest you should undertake some general reading around the issue. Questions you must consider at this stage are:
  • What has already been written about this topic?
  • Was it easy to find sources of information?
  • Is there a range of different sources available?
  • Is there a range of views or perspectives on the topic?
  • What interesting questions have started to emerge from this reading?

The you should now begin posing open-ended questions about your general topic. These questions will usually be framed using the terms “how”, “why” or “to what extent”.

Once possible research questions have been posed they should be evaluated. This evaluation should be based on whether the research question is clear, focused, and arguable.

Clear: Will the reader understand the nature of my research? Will it direct the research being undertaken?

Focused: Will the research question be specific enough to allow for exploration within the scope of the task (that is, the number of words and time available)?

Arguable: Does the research question allow for analysis, evaluation and the development of a reasoned argument?

Once a provisional research question has been decided upon you should start thinking about the direction your research might take. This could be in terms of:

• suggesting possible outcomes of the research
• outlining the kind of argument they might make and how the research might support this
• considering options if the research available is not sufficient to support a sustained argument.

A question that is unclear or too broad will result in a narrative overview of the issue or event being discussed and provide little scope for analysis and reasoned argument. The result of this is that examiners will not be able to apply the range of marks available in the assessment criteria, particularly in relation to criterion C (critical thinking).

What was the impact of Ho Chi Minh’s allegiance to Lenin?

What is the history of Chinese theatre?

How can the US government’s spending policy be reformed?

How important is chlorophyll to plant life?

To what extent was nationalism the guiding factor in Ho Chi Minh’s adoption of Leninism in 1920?

How does the legacy of Mei Lan Fang contribute to modern Jingju?

To what extent did the rising COE prices affect the demand for new and used cars by the consumer population and hence affect the revenue generated by the Singaporean economy for the period 2012–16?

What is the effect of different concentrations of kinetin on leaves aging and the biosynthesis of chlorophyll?