When selecting an area of research, it is vital that you choose something that is engaging. It is also important to ensure there is a sufficient level of complexity within your chosen question that will require significant research to answer.

If the question is closed (leading to a yes or no answer), or if it is likely there will be no competing opinions on the topic (such as a step-by-step guide), then achieving insightful research becomes problematic. Likewise, if the question is too broad, then the depth of analysis becomes superficial.

Hence, developing an appropriate question is vital for success in the Research Project and this is reflected in the marking criteria for the Folio. P1 is about the planning and refinement of your research question and markers are looking for 1-2 pages of insightful evidence that shows consideration of the scope, breadth, depth and manageability of your question.

Resources to develop a Research Question

Example:

'To what extent' is an excellent way to start a question because it enables you to discuss 'the extent' of which something is accurate, true, appropriate and so on. A 'to what extent' question generally means there are at least 2 factors (or more represented as X and Y) that are discussed in relation to a third factor (Z).

Here is an example of an answer to the question; 'To what extent can a student at Tatachilla Lutheran College, significantly impact the country of Cambodia?':

X (such as donating or volunteering time to NGOs that follow the principles of ethical aid) is the most significant extent to which a Tatachilla student can impact the country of Cambodia. This is in comparison to Y (such as donating to orphanages) because although it seems like it is helpful, the factor of Z (these NGOs work with the Cambodian people) has proven that this type of aid is actually detrimental to the Cambodian culture and family unit.

POSSIBLE RP Questions:

• To what extent did the treatment of Julia Gillard by the Australian media identify Australian attitudes towards women in political power?

• Is cyprinid herpesvirus3 a healthy, sustainable, and effective step towards the restoration and/or preservation of the Murray–Darling Basin?

• Why is laughter so important for humans?

• How do parents’ interactions with their children under the age of 4 years affect the children’s ability to develop language?

• To what extent does sustainable agriculture play a role in the future of rural communities?

• Is it too late to prevent the extinction of native animal species in Australia?

• To what extent do dogs and cats have an impact on native wildlife and, what can be done to prevent it?

• To what extent will driverless cars have an impact on recreational activities, such as motorsports?

• Do modern training climates, such as heat training and altitude training, create physiological advantages in the AFL?

• •Is help easily accessible for emergency nurses suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in Australia?

• •To what extent is popular film normalising stalking?

• •How can visualisation improve the accuracy of a serve for an elite tennis player?

• To what extent does mirror box therapy assist in pain management for amputee victims?

• What role has animal experimentation played in the advancement of psychology?

• To what extent has carbon fibre improved the sport of competitive cycling?

• To what extent can a returned serviceman with PTSD be rehabilitated?

• Is the care provided by a midwife more effective than the care provided by an obstetrician during a hospital birth?

• To what extent does cybercrime affect the productivity of businesses in Australia?

• To what extent does diet and fitness affect the blood glucose level of an adolescent with Type 1 diabetes?

• To what extent are South Australians prepared for climate change?

• To what extent does the genetic structure of an individual's brain influence their behaviour?

• What is the reality of homelessness in Adelaide?

• To what extent can music therapy aid in the development of premature babies?

• To what extent does the use of technology impact an adolescent's sleep pattern?

• Can a change in the diet be as effective as medication for people with ADHD?