Quantitative Research Question Types

Relationship-Based Questions

If you’d like to know how one variable affects or influences another, use a relationship-based question.
These questions are common in quasi-experimental and experimental studies.
Research Topic Example #1: How does the number of drought days in a year affect a region’s
likelihood for wildfires?
Follow-Up Question: What conditions are needed for a wildfire to become uncontrollable?
Research Topic Example #2: Do high school grades have an impact on future success?
Follow-Up Question: What are the relevant factors that affect one’s grades in high school?

Descriptive Questions

As the most basic type of quantitative research question, descriptive questions seek to explain
when, where, why, or how something occurred. They use data and statistics to describe an event
or phenomenon.

Research Topic Example #1: What percentage of college students have felt depressed in the
last year?
Follow-Up Question: How often do students report their feelings of depression?
Research Topic Example #2: How likely is it for mice with dominant traits to have offspring
with recessive traits?
Follow-Up Question: How many generations of genes influence a future generation?

Comparative Questions

Sometimes it’s beneficial to compare one occurrence with another. Comparative questions are
especially helpful when studying groups with dependent variables.
Research Topic Example #1: Why is it easier for men to lose weight than it is for women?
Follow-Up Question: Do men and women have comparable metabolisms?
Research Topic Example #2: Which painkiller is more effective for headaches?
Follow-Up Question: Do Advil and Tylenol target pain in the same way?