Developing a research question is one of the first steps in carrying out a research process specifically in the medicine and healthcare fields. It is also the first question asked by researchers and scholars while examining a research topic as a research question helps understand the problem that needs to be studied.
Additionally, the findings of your academic research are only considered valid and reliable if they provide an accurate answer to a research question. The first step to this is understanding how to formulate a research question. In this blog, we will delve into the importance of a research question, how it is formulated using different frameworks, common mistakes to avoid and examples of a good research question.
Importance Of Formulating A Research Question
A research question anchors your whole research process, which is why it is necessary to know how to formulate a research question so that they are feasible, interesting, ethical, relevant, arguable and systematic. Additionally, a research question holds prime importance because of the following reasons:
- It helps explore areas that require research and find answers to a valid question.
- It also addresses research gaps in existing literature and research projects.
- A good research question helps support an arguable hypothesis and leads to the generation of a theory.
- A well-formulated research question guides the research process and the methods of data extraction.
- It helps identify the area of study where the problem exists and ways to cater to it.
- It also serves as a roadmap for both the researcher and reader, providing clarity on the purpose of the research and the expected outcomes.
7 Guidelines For Formulating Research Questions
The way you frame your research question depends on what you aim to achieve by the research. This guide provides you with a step-by-step process on how to formulate a research question:
Step 1: Determine Your Topic/Niche
The first step in formulating a research question is identifying the topic, the key concepts or the main problem you want to address. Start by selecting a broad topic, and then narrowing it down to your interest. It is crucial to remember that your research topic also determines the whole process, which is why it should be both feasible, affordable and relevant.
By selecting an appropriate research topic, a clear roadmap is laid out so that you can plan your research question, data collection, data synthesis and extraction process accordingly.
Step 2: Conduct Literature Search
Narrowing down a topic is not easy if the existing literature and research are not adequate or sufficient. Hence, conducting a comprehensive literature search is crucial to formulating a research question. This means going through online databases and archives for journals, articles, published reports, case studies, and research papers, which is a part of secondary research.
As you familiarise yourself with prior research, you gain an in-depth understanding of the methods and strategies used by other researchers. This allows you to see the best tactics for your research project, which adds an element of practicality to your research question formulation.
Step 3: Identify Research Gaps
The main purpose of examining and analysing secondary sources such as published literature and grey literature is to identify research gaps and address similar problems. These gaps present unidentified and uncertain areas of research, and presenting a research question about them increases the relevance of your research and hypothesis.
Step 4: Employing the PICOT Framework
After identifying any research gaps or narrowing down a topic for your empirical research, the PICOT framework provides a blueprint for structuring and organising your research question. This is also used for formulating research questions for systematic reviews. The following are the main components of this framework:
| Problem |
What is the target population or focus of the study? Are they narrow or broad? What is the eligibility criteria? |
| Intervention |
What is the intervention? (variable, exposure, procedure) Is the intervention appropriate for the study design? What are the side effects of the intervention? Both positive and negative. |
| Comparison |
Is there an alternative intervention or comparison group? How was the control intervention chosen? Is there an ethical issue with the intervention chosen? |
| Outcome |
What is your primary outcome? (The main goal that you want to achieve) What is your secondary outcome? (Additional goals you want) Are the outcomes explanatory, exploratory, or confirmatory? What is the measurement tool for your data collection? Is the measurement tool appropriate? |
| Time |
What is the time frame of the research process? What is the frequency and duration of the intervention? What is the time frame for the outcomes to be measured? How many times will outcomes be measured? Is the study designed to be cross-sectional or longitudinal? |
Step 5: Understanding the FINER Criteria
With the above-mentioned framework, it is also important to understand the FINER criteria which is a significant step while learning how to formulate a research question. A research question must be:
- Feasible (Practical for the researcher to carry it out within the allocated funds and time).
- Interesting (Gets the attention of other field researchers and scholars and can lead to an intellectual debate).
- Novel (Should not simply copy research questions of other scholars but have the ability to be investigated).
- Ethical (Minimises the risk of harm to research participants and ensures their privacy)?
- Relevant (Should establish a clear purpose for research within your field and should arise from issues within the current era).
Step 6: Formulate The Research Question
This is the last step in understanding how to formulate a research question. With all the elements in mind, it’s time to write down your research question. Depending on the type of your research, such as exploratory, descriptive, qualitative or quantitative etc, your sentence structure should adapt accordingly.
Additionally, working in the right environment, with the right researchers, and scholars, can help you expand your quest for knowledge and formulate better research questions.
Step 7: Seek Feedback
After formulating your research question, it is wise to seek feedback from your peers, field scholars and researchers. This helps refine any mistakes such as a lack of focus on the problem that needs to be solved. Also, feedback can assist in narrowing down the question or considering different methodologies for your research
Furthermore, you should always consider the expertise and knowledge of the ones you seek feedback from in order to avoid any future complications.
Formulating A Research Question Example
Here are the best examples of formulating research questions:
Example 1
Is topical oil treatment as a skin barrier effective in reducing hypothermia in premature infants in the first 48 hours of life as compared to standard care?
This research question is clear, concise, feasible and interesting and also fulfils the PICOT framework.
- Population: Premature infants
- Intervention: Topical oil treatment
- Comparison: Standard care
- Outcome: Reducing hypothermia
- Time frame: First 48 hours of life
Example 2
Are social media usage restrictions helpful in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression among teenagers aged 13-18 over a period of 6 months?
- Population: Teenagers aged 13-18
- Intervention: Social media usage restrictions
- Comparison: No restrictions
- Outcome: Reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Time frame: Period of 6 months
Common Mistakes To Avoid During Research Questions Formulation
It is pretty standard for students and researchers to commit mistakes while crafting a research question, as not everyone is aware of the criteria and the framework to be followed. Here are some common mistakes to avoid while formulating research questions:
- Avoid the usage of vague words that can lead to confusion. Your sentence should be clear and precise.
- Avoid making assumptions in your research question, as this can result in research bias.
- Avoid using different terms for the same intervention or variable.
- Avoid discussing the implications and stick to what will be studied.
- Avoid using terms or concepts that do not add meaning to your research study or question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Qualitative research questions focus on specific areas of study, are open-ended and exploratory in nature. To formulate a qualitative research question, you need to specify a topic of your choice, define your research purpose, conduct preliminary research from credible sources, check if the selected topic can be researched qualitatively and then formulate the question.
You can avoid bias while formulating a research question by being objective. Consider the perspectives and viewpoints of other researchers on similar topics. Use neutral language, and avoid making assumptions in your questions, as it can impact the credibility of the outcomes.
Yes, you can make minor changes to your research question during the research process. However, significant or major changes should be avoided, as they can negatively impact the validity of your findings.
