Summary: Formulating and refining a research question Nicola Green

Formulating and refining a research question
Nicola Green

KEY POINTS :

 Specifying the research question clearly is central to the success of a research project.
 Formulating a research question is the first step of a project.
 The question must be researchable and answerable.
 The question should be used to guide the research.
 It is common that the research question changes as the research proceeds.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS

A research question must be

 Researchable
 Interesting
o Researcher must be passionate, but not biased.
 Relevant
o Research should cover a gap in knowledge or contribute to the collective knowledge
base of a study area or discipline.
 Feasible
o Consider the timeframe, the costs of the project, the skill of the researcher, and the
access to participants.
 Ethical
o You need to consider ethical dimensions
 Concise
o The research question should be clearly defined, and precise.
 Answerable.
o An interrogative form should be used: who, what, when, where, how, which, and
why.

FORMULATING AND REFINING A RESEARCH QUESTION

STEP 1:

 Brainstorm all of your ideas.
 Test the questions against your own knowledge & compare to previous research.
 Make a concept map.
 Think about your sources.
 Brainstorm with your peers, colleagues and supervisors.

STEP 2: NARROWING THE LIST

 Reconsider your list and exclude any questions that are sub-questions or of peripheral
interest.
 Cluster those questions that seem of most central interest
 Reconsider if your question obtains all characteristics.




STEP 3: REFINING THE QUESTION