Any research, study, dissertation, or thesis starts with research questions. These questions occur when you begin to nurse the idea of writing a research paper. Research questions are the critical questions that your study, paper, dissertation, or thesis seeks to answer.

Research questions form the core of one’s study and must be answered in the course of the research. These questions address a problem in a field or persisting issues. Generally, scholars present research questions at the beginning of the paper and give answers to them towards the end of – the study’s conclusion.

There are several types of research questions that apply to different types of research. They are quantitative research questions and qualitative research questions. The mixed-methods of study combines both forms of queries. Generally, a research question drives the process of doing research including data collection, analysis, and methodologies adopted.  

Developing research questions can however be challenging for some people, especially those who have not executed any previous research or study. Not to worry, we’ll provide you with tips to develop good questions. But first, it is important to know that no global standard for arriving at ‘good’ research questions exists. Rather, they are developing from the curious mind of researchers or out of a passion to fill existing gaps in a field of study.

To Create Good Research Topics, They Must Be;

• Clear and with no ambiguity so that readers can clearly understand what the research is about.
• Concise – research questions should be written in a few words, and they should neither be too broad nor too narrow
• Researchable and arguable – ensure the questions you are putting forward can be researched using diverse resources and are arguable.
• Mid-complexity – your research questions should not be too difficult or too easy to answer, rather must require some level of study, analysis, research, and others.
• Analytical or descriptive? It is recommended that your research questions be analytical rather than descriptive – let them not just narrate the problem but analyze its effects.

When creating a research question, check what the requirements for your study are. Some departments give scholars focus areas to research on, then you can develop questions from the same. Create a list of topics, carry out a preliminary study on selected topics, and ensure you streamline your study before developing research questions.

You might need to write down your research questions several times, rework and finetune them before arriving at the final set of questions. Using a third eye can also be of help.