RESEARCH QUESTION

AYO NELSON
BPH LIRA UNIVERSITY
 LESSON OUTLINE
• Definition
• Importance
• Characteristics of good research questions
 What is research?

• Research is the term applied to any form of systematic and organised

investigation to establish facts or collect information, and is usually
related to a problem that needs to be solved.
 Introduction
• Research questions lie at the core of systematic investigation and this is because
recording accurate research outcomes is tied to asking the right questions. Asking the
right questions when conducting research can help you collect relevant and insightful
information that ultimately influences your work, positively.

• Typically, a research question focuses on the research, determines the methodology and
hypothesis, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting. With the right
research questions, you will be able to gather useful information for your investigation.
 What is a research question

• A research question is a specific inquiry which the research seeks to

provide a response to. It resides at the core of systematic investigation
and it helps you to clearly define a path for the research process.

• A question which the research sets out to answer

 Importance of research questions

A good research question will:

• Keep you interested

• Keep you focused on a specific topic

• Help refine broad topics into researchable variables

• Help you make a plan for your research

• Help you to foresee any potential challenges or problems.

• Guide what sorts of reading you might need to do or data you need to gather
 Characteristics of research question
• Clear: it provides enough specifics that one’s audience can easily understand its
purpose without needing additional explanation.
• Focused: it is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the
writing task allows.
• Concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
• Complex: it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather requires
synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources prior to composition of an answer.
• Arguable: its potential answers are open to debate rather than accepted facts.
• Researchable with the help of either primary or secondary or both sources
 Criteria for selecting a good research
question
• F – Feasible
Means that the question is well within the researcher’s ability to investigate. In
other words feasible means
• Adequate number of subjects
• Adequate technical expertise
• Affordable in time and money
• Manageable in scope

• I – Interesting
The ideal research question is interesting not only to the researcher but also to
their peers and community. This interest boosts the researcher’s motivation to
see the question answered.
 Criteria……
• N – Novel
Your research question should be developed to bring new insights to the field of study you are
investigating. The question may confirm or extend previous findings on the topic you are researching
• E – Ethical
This is one of the more important considerations of making a research question. Amenable to a study
that institutional review board will approve
• R – Relevant
Aside from being interesting and novel, the research question should be relevant to the scientific
community and people involved in your area of study. If possible, your research question should also
be relevant to the public’s interest.
• To scientific knowledge
• To clinical and health policy
• To future research
 Steps in developing research question

1. Choose an interesting general topic.

2. Do some preliminary research on your general topic

3. Consider your audience

4. Start asking questions.

5. Evaluate your question

 READING ASSIGMENTS
• READ AND MAKE NOTES ON TYPES OF RESEARCH
QUESTION