STRUCTURING

QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
STEP 1. Choose the type of
quantitative research
questions
1. Descriptive
2. Correlational
3. Comparative
Note: The word choice or
phrasing tells the type of
quantitative research
question.
STEP 2. Identify the different
types of variables you are trying
to measure, manipulate and/or
control, as well as any groups
you may be interested in
Descriptive research questions – you
only need a dependent variable to
measure.
Comparative or correlational research
questions – you will deal both
dependent and independent variables
STEP 3. Selecting the appropriate
structure for the chosen type of
quantitative research question,
based on the variables and/or
groups involved.
STEP 4. Write out the problem or issues you are trying to
address in the form of a complete research question

Easy to understand
 STRUCTURE OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Choose your starting phrase.
How many? What proportion?
How often? To what extent?
How frequently? What is?
How much? What are?
What percentage?
 STRUCTURE OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
2. Identify and name the dependent variable.
Name of the dependent How the dependent variable is written
variable out
Daily calorific intake How many calories do American men and women
consume per day?
Daily calorific intake What percentage of American men and women
exceed their daily calorific allowance?

Note: The way that this dependent variable is written out differs in each case.
 STRUCTURE OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
3. Identify the group(s) you are interested in.
All descriptive research questions have at least one
group, but can have multiple groups.
Example:
1. How many calories do American men and women consume per day?
2. How often to British University students use Facebook each week?
 STRUCTURE OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
4. Decide whether the dependent variable or group(s)
should be included first, last or in two parts.
Sometimes it makes more sense for the dependent
variable to appear before the group(s) you are
interested in, but sometimes it is the opposite way
around.
Group (s) in green text
Dependent variable in red text

GROUP 1ST, DEPENDENT VARIABLE 2ND DEPENDENT VARIABLE 1ST, GROUP 2ND

How often to British University What are the most important

students use Facebook each factors that influence the career
week? choice of Australian university
students?
 STRUCTURE OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
5. Include any words that provide greater context to
your question.
- Sometimes the name of the dependent variable all the
explanation we need to know what we are trying to measure.
Example:
How often to British University students use Facebook each week?
 STRUCTURE OF DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
6. Write out the descriptive research
questions.
 STRUCTURE OF COMPARATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Choose your starting phrase.
What is the difference in the daily calorific intake of
American men and women?
What are the differences in attitude towards music piracy
when pirated music is freely distributed or purchased?
 STRUCTURE OF COMPARATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
2. Identify and name the dependent and
independent variables
 STRUCTURE OF COMPARATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
3. Identify the group(s) you are interested in.
 STRUCTURE OF COMPARATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
4. Identify the appropriate adjoining text

Between or amongst
when
 STRUCTURE OF COMPARATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
5. Write out the descriptive research
questions.
 STRUCTURE OF CORRELATIONAL
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Choose your starting phrase
2. Identify the independent variable(s)
3. Identify the dependent variable(s)
4. identify the group(s)
5. Identify the appropriate adjoining text.
6. Write out the relationship-based research