Writing a Research Question

1. How a Research Question Differs From a Research Topic

By now, you should have picked a topic for your final paper in this course; if not, read on, but remember you can return to this tutorial when you are ready to write a research question. As you continue your research, you should plan on developing a research question. A research question provides a clear focus for your research and a goal for your writing process. Use open-ended questions, which allow for analysis, interpretation, and exploration. Open-ended questions encourage exploration of different perspectives, rather than a yes-or-no answer.

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You can more successfully find answers and evidence for the question “What are solutions to address homelessness?” rather than researching just the broad topic of “homelessness.” This is because the question is more focused and specific, whereas the general topic is too broad.

Some questions can lead to a final, definitive answer, like “How does penicillin destroy bacteria?” Other questions are too subjective to really be answered by research, like “Is softball a better sport than volleyball?” The most effective questions will fall somewhere in between, with different and conflicting answers that can be supported by different kinds of evidence. You may often find that you refine your question as you do research.

try it

Consider the topic of unhoused people. Which do you think is the best research question for an essay?

Are there more unhoused people now than there were 25 years ago?

This question would have a factual answer with very little room for disagreement or need for a sustained essay. However, asking how they “count” unhoused people and whether figures you see are accurate might lead to a more intriguing topic.

What are the causes of homelessness in the United States?

This topic is very broad but might be a good place to begin before picking one cause to narrow the focus, like exploring the relationship between mental health care and homelessness.

Should the city government do more or less to solve homelessness?

This is a good question because it focuses on one city and will lead to both diverse opinions and evidence to support them.

Your research question dictates your general line or lines of inquiry that ultimately guide your research. In developing your research question, you are narrowing the scope of your topic by focusing on what problem you want to solve. Your research question may suddenly occur to you or may gradually emerge as you focus your research.

Ultimately, your research question will lead you to a thesis statement. The thesis statement is the claim, position, or hypothesis by which you attempt to answer your research question. A thesis statement will also give an overview of how your paper is organized.

watch

In this video, you'll learn how to turn a broad topic into a focused, arguable research question.

Your research question(s) will come from the purpose of your research, the audience of your research paper, and the genre for reporting your research.

try it

Can you come up with a research question based on each topic listed?

Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health

Possible Research Question: How does the amount of time spent on social media platforms affect the mental health of adolescents?

Topic: Renewable Energy Adoption in Urban Areas

Possible Research Question: What are the main barriers to the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources in urban communities?

Topic: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Diagnostics

Possible Research Question: How accurate and reliable are AI-driven diagnostic tools compared to traditional methods in detecting early stages of cancer?

Academic research is centered around a thesis that the audience might not already believe. Your reasoning is the organizational arrangement of the support and evidence that back up your thesis statement.

Claims are the points you make in your argument. They are based on and supported by research and evidence. When it comes to research, the counterclaim is the writer’s thoughtful consideration and addressing of the other side’s objections to claims made or even to the topic itself. Counterclaims may need to be supported by further research and evidence.

Academic research relies heavily on evidence (facts and details) to support its claims. Within the genre of research, evidence is information that helps you develop your thesis and supports your organizational structure and line of reasoning. This evidence helps convince the audience of the writer’s position. Academic research includes detailed citations to show where the evidence comes from. We’ll learn more about citations later. For now, make sure you keep your sources organized. You may want to download them, or maybe they are smaller, and you want to paste them all in a single document. Just remember, internet links can change, so look to save the documents you think you will use.

terms to know

Research Question

A research question provides a clear focus for your research and a goal for your writing process.

Thesis Statement

The claim, position, or hypothesis by which you attempt to answer your research question. A thesis statement will also give an overview of how your paper is organized.

Reasoning

The organizational arrangement of the support and evidence that back up your thesis.

Claim

The points you make in your argument.

Counterclaim

The writer’s thoughtful consideration and addressing of the other side’s objections to claims made or even to the topic itself.

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2. Strategies for Writing a Focused and Arguable Research Question

Writing a focused and arguable research question is crucial for developing a strong research project. Here are some strategies to help you craft one:

• Start with a broad topic, then narrow it down: Begin with a general subject area you're interested in. Then, focus on a specific aspect or angle of that topic.
• Identify the purpose of your research: Clarify whether you want to explore, examine a cause-effect relationship, or compare and contrast. Make sure the research question aligns with your research goals, whether it’s to explore a topic, solve a problem, or argue a stance.
• Make it specific: A focused question is clear and well defined. Avoid being too vague or too broad.
• Ensure it is arguable: Your question should lead to a point that can be debated or discussed. Avoid questions that have straightforward, factual answers.
• Be clear and concise: Keep your question simple and direct, avoiding unnecessary complexity. A concise question is easier to address and research.
• Ensure feasibility: Consider the scope of your question and available resources (time, data, expertise) to ensure that you can feasibly address the question in the context of your research.
• Consider the significance: Ensure your research question addresses a problem or gap in existing research. It should add something valuable to the field and be of interest to others.

By following these strategies, you’ll be able to formulate a research question that guides your investigation and encourages a thoughtful, in-depth exploration of your chosen topic.

Begin by limiting your topic to one or two sentences or questions, like:

• Should companies invest in cybersecurity?
• Should schools do more to support digital literacy for students?
• Should law enforcement build better connections with communities?
• Are there measurable environmental benefits to a vegetarian diet?
• Are schools responsible for student nutrition?

Note that these questions avoid beginning with a conclusion. This is good at the beginning so that you don’t limit your research or rely on assumptions about the topic before you have learned more. In time, you may start to focus your question on the argument you plan to make, and revise your thesis statement around your premise, like:

• Why are high-priced cybersecurity products a bad investment for small companies?
• Why do digital literacy programs in the schools have little effect on student behaviors?
• How can law enforcement build better connections with communities?
• How can a vegetarian diet lead to a measurable difference in the environment?
• Why are school nutrition programs ineffective?

As you can see, some of the questions might have gone in an unexpected direction because initial assumptions like “companies need to invest in cybersecurity” or “vegetarianism helps the planet” were countered by research showing the answers were more complicated.

Here are some examples showing how to craft focused and arguable research questions across different subjects:

Field	Broad Topic	Focused Question	Why It’s Focused	How It’s Arguable
Sociology	Social Media	"How does the use of Instagram influence body image perceptions among adolescent girls?"	This is a specific social media platform and a defined demographic.	One could argue that Instagram promotes unrealistic standards or offers a space for body positivity, depending on the evidence.
Economics	Universal Basic Income (UBI)	"Would the implementation of Universal Basic Income in the United States reduce poverty rates among single-parent households?"	It specifies a country (United States), a policy (UBI), and a specific demographic (single-parent households).	One could argue whether UBI would be effective in reducing poverty for this group, or whether other social programs would be more effective.
Criminal Justice	Juvenile Justice System	"What is the impact of diversion programs on recidivism rates among juvenile offenders?"	It specifies a particular type of program (diversion) and a clear outcome (recidivism rates).	You can argue that diversion programs are either effective or ineffective in reducing repeat offenses, depending on how the programs are implemented and what data you analyze.
Business	Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)	"How does the implementation of corporate social responsibility initiatives impact consumer trust in large retail companies?"	It specifies CSR and focuses on consumer trust within a particular industry (retail).	You can argue whether CSR initiatives actually enhance consumer trust or if they are viewed as marketing tactics with little real impact.