Anatomy of a Research Question

Developing a good research question is essential to any academic writing project.  The research question keeps the writer focused and provides the structure for the written product. The best research questions take a fresh angle or approach to examining a topic. Your research question may change slightly throughout the research process so don't worry about having the perfect research question right away.

Qualities of a Good Research Question

Interesting

You will be spending a lot of time with your subject, so it needs to be interesting to you.

Significant

The question should be of wider interest than just to you.  The answer you come up with should have significance or be relevant to larger interests or issues.

Not so significant:  Where in San Diego can I find cool old used clothes in my size?

Significant:  How has increasing consumer demand for vintage clothing changed the fashion retail industry in the greater San Diego area?

Answerable

A well written research question is something that can be both asked and answered within the scope of your research project.  It does not rely on finding a solution to unknowable variables. 

Unknowable: What was Abraham Lincoln thinking when he was shot?

Answerable: Do Abraham Lincoln’s letters in his final months provide clues to his general state of mind at the time of his death?

Focused

The question should be narrow enough to be satisfactorily answered in the size paper you are writing. If you are writing a book-length work, you can ask a bigger question than if you are writing a 10-page paper. 

Complex

The question should not be able to be answered with “yes” or “no”, or a few words or numbers.  It should require analysis and discussion.

Concise

The question can be expressed in a simple specific statement, using as few words as possible.