10 Research Question Examples To Guide Your Research Project

5/3/2021 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project
Research question examples

Published on April 18, 2019 by Shona McCombes. Revised on June 5, 2020.
The research question is one of the most important parts of your

research project, thesis or dissertation. It’s important to spend
some time assessing and refining your question before you get
started.
The exact form of your question will depend on on the length of

your project, the type of research, the topic, and the research
problem. But all research questions should be focused, specific,
appropriately complex, and relevant to a social or scholarly issue.
Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question,

use these examples to work out if your question is strong enough.
 What effect does social media have on people’s minds?

 What effect does daily use of Twitter have on the attention span
of under-16s?
The first question is not specific enough: what type of social media?
Which people? What kind of effects? The second question defines its
https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/ 1/9
concepts more clearly. It is researchable through qualitative and

quantitative data collection.
 Why is there a housing crisis in the Netherlands?

 What impact have university internationalisation policies had on
the availability and affordability of housing in the Netherlands?
Starting with “why” often means that your question is not focused
enough: there are too many possible answers and no clear starting
point for research. By targeting just one aspect of the problem and
using more specific terms, the second question offers a clear path to
finding an answer.
 Does the US or the UK have a better healthcare system?

 How do the US and the UK compare in health outcomes and
patient satisfaction among low-income people with chronic
illnesses?
The first question is too broad and overly subjective: there’s no clear
criteria for what counts as “better”. The second question is much more
researchable. It uses clearly defined terms and narrows its focus to a
specific population.
 What should political parties do about low voter turnout in region

X?
 What are the most effective communication strategies for
increasing voter turnout among under-30s in region X?
It is generally not feasible for academic research to answer broad

questions about “what should be done”. The second question is more
specific, and aims to gain an understanding of possible solutions in
order to make informed recommendations.
 Has there been an increase in homelessness in San Francisco in

the past ten years?
 How have economic, political and social factors affected patterns
of homelessness in San Francisco over the past ten years?
The first question is too simple: it can be answered with a simple yes or
no. The second question is more complex, requiring in-depth
investigation and the development of an original argument.
 What factors led to women gaining the right to vote in the UK in

1918?
 How did Irish women perceive and relate to the British women’s
suffrage movement?
The first question is too broad and not very original. It has been
extensively researched by historians, and it would be very difficult to
contribute new knowledge. The second question identifies an
underexplored aspect of the topic that requires investigation and
discussion of various primary and secondary sources to answer.
 How can sexual health services and LGBT support services in

district X be improved?
 How can sexual health clinics in district X develop their services
and communications to be more LGBT-inclusive?
The first question is not focused enough: it tries to address two different
practical problems (the quality of sexual health services and LGBT
support services). Even though the two issues are related, it’s not clear
how the research will bring them together. The second integrates the
two problems into one focused, specific question.
 Where do the majority of immigrants to Germany come from?

 What are the similarities and differences in the experiences of
recent Turkish, Polish and Syrian immigrants in Berlin?
The first question is too simple, asking for a straightforward fact that
can be easily found online. The second is a more complex comparative
question that requires data collection and detailed discussion to answer.
 How is race represented in Shakespeare’s Othello?

 How have modern adaptations of Shakespeare’s Othello dealt
with the theme of racism through casting, staging and allusion to
contemporary events?
The first question is not original or relevant — it has been answered so

many times that it would be very difficult to contribute anything new.
The second question takes a specific angle with scope to make an
original argument, and has more relevance to current social concerns
and debates.
 How can drunk driving be prevented?

 What effect do different legal approaches have on the number of
people who drive after drinking in European countries?
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or
researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question,
but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research
project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the
effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries.
Is this article helpful?
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Shona McCombes
Shona has a bachelor's and two master's degrees, so she's an
expert at writing a great thesis. She has also worked as an editor
and teacher, working with students at all different levels to improve
their academic writing.
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5/3/2021 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Research question examples

The research question is one of the most important parts of your

The exact form of your question will depend on on the length of

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question,

 What effect does social media have on people’s minds?

concepts more clearly. It is researchable through qualitative and

 Why is there a housing crisis in the Netherlands?

 Does the US or the UK have a better healthcare system?

 What should political parties do about low voter turnout in region

It is generally not feasible for academic research to answer broad

 Has there been an increase in homelessness in San Francisco in

 What factors led to women gaining the right to vote in the UK in

 How can sexual health services and LGBT support services in

 Where do the majority of immigrants to Germany come from?

 How is race represented in Shakespeare’s Othello?

The first question is not original or relevant — it has been answered so

 How can drunk driving be prevented?

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked

Developing strong research questions

Choosing a dissertation topic

How to write a hypothesis

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