What is a research question?
A research question is a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question that links to your research or topic. You should ask a question about an issue that you are genuinely interested in. It is important that a balanced argument can be developed as part of the answer.
Why is a research question essential to the investigation?
Research questions help writers focus their research and their analysis. You want a narrow and specific question, allowing for a more effective thesis (this is your argument or judgement), and for an answer to be completed within the confines of the task.
Steps to developing a research question:
Writers should choose a topic about which they genuinely would like to know more. For the French Revolution, this could be comparing some of the causes which interest you.
Consider your audience.
For most papers, your audience will be your teacher, but always keep your audience in mind when narrowing your topic and developing your question. Would that particular audience be interested in this question?
Start asking questions.
Taking into consideration all of the above, start asking yourself open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your general topic. For example, if you were focusing on the impact of the Stamp Act, you may ask other questions such as ‘Who did it impact the most?’ and ‘Who gained from the Stamp Act?’ Ensure you use a command word in your research question. A full list for I&S is here
Evaluate your question.
Is your research question clear? With so much research available on any given topic, research questions must be as clear as possible in order to be effective in helping the writer direct his or her research.
Is your research question focused? Research questions must be specific enough to be well covered in the time and space available.
Is your research question complex? Research questions should not be answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” or by easily-found facts. They should, instead, require both research and analysis on the part of the writer.
Sample Research Questions
Unclear: Why are social networking sites harmful?
Clear: How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social
networking sites as Facebook?
Unclear: How does a transnational corporation change a country?
Clear: Evaluate how a transnational corporation changes its strategy when operating in a MIC or LIC.
Since 2010, discuss whether transnational corporations operate ethically in a MIC or LIC?
A good piece of advice is that if Google can answer your research question, it is not creative or focused enough.