: “What are the factors influencing employee job satisfaction and turnover intentions in the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 pandemic?”
: “What is the favorite color of employees in the hospitality industry?”
The good research question addresses a timely and relevant issue (employee job satisfaction and turnover intentions) within the context of a specific industry (hospitality) and a current global event (COVID-19 pandemic). In contrast, the bad research question focuses on a trivial aspect (favorite color) that is unrelated to the field of study and lacks relevance or significance.
Understanding research questions is essential for any successful research endeavor. We’ve explored the various research questions – quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods – each with unique characteristics and purposes.
Through various examples, tips, and strategies, we’ve seen how research questions can be tailored to specific fields of study.
By following these guidelines, we are confident that your research questions will be well-designed, focused, and capable of yielding valuable insights.
What are some good research question examples.
Good research questions are clear, specific, relevant, and feasible. For example, “How does childhood trauma influence the development of personality disorders in adulthood?”
Good research questions are focused and relevant, such as “What factors influence employee job satisfaction in the hospitality industry?” Bad research questions are vague or trivial, like “What is the favorite color of employees in the hospitality industry?”
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Are you ready to take your research to the next level? Crafting a powerful research question is the key to unlocking the full potential of your academic journey. It's like having a trusty compass that guides you through the vast wilderness of knowledge, ensuring you stay on track and reach your destination.
In this article, we'll walk you through the essential steps to develop a research question that packs a punch. From identifying your research topic to refining and evaluating your question, we've got you covered. Along the way, we'll explore what makes a good research question and share some helpful research questions examples to inspire you. So, whether you're a student, writer, or just curious about how to form a research question, join us as we embark on this exciting adventure of developing research questions that will elevate your research to new heights!
Alright, let's dive into the exciting world of identifying your research topic! Picture yourself as an adventurer, ready to explore uncharted territories of knowledge. But before you embark on this thrilling journey, you need to choose a destination that sparks your curiosity and aligns with your goals.
Once you have a general topic in mind, it's time to do some background reading to narrow down your focus:
Resource | Purpose |
Wikipedia | Provides a general overview and suggests sources for further research |
Reference sources | Offer background information to help narrow your topic |
Subject-specific resources | Deliver in-depth information related to your field |
Librarians | Assist in refining your topic and finding relevant sources |
As you explore these resources, consider the following:
Before finalizing your research topic, ensure it meets the following criteria:
Remember, your research topic is not set in stone. It may evolve as you delve deeper into the research process. Embrace the opportunity to discover new insights and modify your topic accordingly.
Now that you've identified a captivating research topic, you're ready to embark on the next stage of your research adventure: conducting preliminary research to further refine your focus and develop a powerful research question.
Now that you've identified your research topic, it's time to dive deeper and conduct some preliminary research. This crucial step will help you narrow down your focus, identify key concepts, and lay the groundwork for developing a powerful research question.
Source Type | Description |
Scholarly articles | Peer-reviewed articles published in academic journals |
Books | In-depth explorations of a topic, often providing a comprehensive overview |
Government reports | Official documents and data from government agencies |
Conference proceedings | Papers presented at academic conferences, showcasing the latest research |
Remember, conducting preliminary research is an iterative process. As you learn more about your topic, you may need to adjust your focus, search for additional sources, or explore new angles. Embrace this process of discovery and let your curiosity guide you towards a compelling research question.
Alright, now that you've conducted some preliminary research and have a better understanding of your topic, it's time to define your research problem. This is where the real fun begins!
Alright, now that you've defined your research problem, it's time to craft a powerful research question that will guide your study. A well-formulated research question should be clear, focused, and complex, avoiding simple yes/no answers and requiring research and analysis.
A good research question exhibits the following characteristics:
When structuring your research question, consider using the PICO(T) framework:
Component | Description |
Problem | The population or problem being addressed |
Intervention | The main intervention, exposure, or treatment being considered |
Comparison | An alternative intervention or exposure, if applicable |
Outcome | The anticipated outcome or effect |
Time | The timeframe for measuring the outcome, if relevant |
To ensure your research question is strong, avoid these common mistakes:
When crafting your research question, consider the following formulations:
Remember, developing a research question is an iterative process that involves continuously updating your knowledge on the topic and refining your ideas. As you progress through your research, you may need to adjust your question to better align with your findings and insights.
By crafting a strong research question that is clear, focused, and complex, you'll set the foundation for a successful research project that contributes to your field of study and provides valuable insights.
Congratulations on crafting a powerful research question! Now, it's time to refine and evaluate your question to ensure it's the best it can be. Let's dive in and make your research question shine!
Narrow down your research question by asking the following:
Apply these criteria to make your question more generative, relevant, original, and less obvious.
Step | Description |
1 | Seek feedback from mentors, peers, or experts in your field for valuable insights. |
2 | Engage in discussions with colleagues to gain fresh perspectives. |
3 | Reflect on the potential impact of your research when refining your question. |
4 | Ensure you have access to necessary resources, such as data, participants, or equipment. |
Remember, receiving feedback and revising is a valuable step in creating impactful and precise research.
Consider the following factors when evaluating your research question:
By refining and evaluating your research question, you'll set the stage for a successful research project that contributes valuable insights to your field of study. Remember, a well-crafted research question is central to a well-written paper, sparking interest and leading to new or rethought perspectives.
Developing a powerful research question is the cornerstone of any successful research project. By identifying your research topic, conducting preliminary research, defining your research problem, and crafting a focused question, you'll set the foundation for a meaningful and impactful study. Remember to refine and evaluate your question, seeking feedback from mentors and peers to ensure its relevance and feasibility.
As you embark on your research journey, let your curiosity be your guide. Embrace the process of discovery, and don't be afraid to refine your question as you uncover new insights. By crafting a research question that is clear, focused, and complex, you'll contribute valuable knowledge to your field and make a lasting impact on the world of research. So go forth, intrepid researcher, and let your powerful research question be the beacon that illuminates your path to success!
To formulate a research question, follow these steps:
To develop a strong research question, you should:
When crafting a research question, you should:
An effective research question typically includes the following five components:
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When you have to write a thesis or dissertation , it can be hard to know where to begin, but there are some clear steps you can follow.
The research process often begins with a very broad idea for a topic you’d like to know more about. You do some preliminary research to identify a problem . After refining your research questions , you can lay out the foundations of your research design , leading to a proposal that outlines your ideas and plans.
This article takes you through the first steps of the research process, helping you narrow down your ideas and build up a strong foundation for your research project.
Step 1: choose your topic, step 2: identify a problem, step 3: formulate research questions, step 4: create a research design, step 5: write a research proposal, other interesting articles.
First you have to come up with some ideas. Your thesis or dissertation topic can start out very broad. Think about the general area or field you’re interested in—maybe you already have specific research interests based on classes you’ve taken, or maybe you had to consider your topic when applying to graduate school and writing a statement of purpose .
Even if you already have a good sense of your topic, you’ll need to read widely to build background knowledge and begin narrowing down your ideas. Conduct an initial literature review to begin gathering relevant sources. As you read, take notes and try to identify problems, questions, debates, contradictions and gaps. Your aim is to narrow down from a broad area of interest to a specific niche.
Make sure to consider the practicalities: the requirements of your programme, the amount of time you have to complete the research, and how difficult it will be to access sources and data on the topic. Before moving onto the next stage, it’s a good idea to discuss the topic with your thesis supervisor.
>>Read more about narrowing down a research topic
So you’ve settled on a topic and found a niche—but what exactly will your research investigate, and why does it matter? To give your project focus and purpose, you have to define a research problem .
The problem might be a practical issue—for example, a process or practice that isn’t working well, an area of concern in an organization’s performance, or a difficulty faced by a specific group of people in society.
Alternatively, you might choose to investigate a theoretical problem—for example, an underexplored phenomenon or relationship, a contradiction between different models or theories, or an unresolved debate among scholars.
To put the problem in context and set your objectives, you can write a problem statement . This describes who the problem affects, why research is needed, and how your research project will contribute to solving it.
>>Read more about defining a research problem
Next, based on the problem statement, you need to write one or more research questions . These target exactly what you want to find out. They might focus on describing, comparing, evaluating, or explaining the research problem.
A strong research question should be specific enough that you can answer it thoroughly using appropriate qualitative or quantitative research methods. It should also be complex enough to require in-depth investigation, analysis, and argument. Questions that can be answered with “yes/no” or with easily available facts are not complex enough for a thesis or dissertation.
In some types of research, at this stage you might also have to develop a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses .
>>See research question examples
The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you’ll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research.
There are often many possible paths you can take to answering your questions. The decisions you make will partly be based on your priorities. For example, do you want to determine causes and effects, draw generalizable conclusions, or understand the details of a specific context?
You need to decide whether you will use primary or secondary data and qualitative or quantitative methods . You also need to determine the specific tools, procedures, and materials you’ll use to collect and analyze your data, as well as your criteria for selecting participants or sources.
>>Read more about creating a research design
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Finally, after completing these steps, you are ready to complete a research proposal . The proposal outlines the context, relevance, purpose, and plan of your research.
As well as outlining the background, problem statement, and research questions, the proposal should also include a literature review that shows how your project will fit into existing work on the topic. The research design section describes your approach and explains exactly what you will do.
You might have to get the proposal approved by your supervisor before you get started, and it will guide the process of writing your thesis or dissertation.
>>Read more about writing a research proposal
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
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Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey
A sound and effective research question is a key element that must be identified and pinned down before researchers can even begin their research study or work. A strong research question lays the foundation for your entire study, guiding your investigation and shaping your findings. Hence, it is critical that researchers spend considerable time assessing and refining the research question based on in-depth reading and comprehensive literature review. In this article, we will discuss how to write a strong research question and provide you with some good examples of research questions across various disciplines.
Table of Contents
A research question plays a crucial role in driving scientific inquiry, setting the direction and purpose of your study, and guiding your entire research process. By formulating a clear and focused research question, you lay the foundation for your investigation, ensuring that your research remains on track and aligned with your objectives so you can make meaningful contribution to the existing body of knowledge. A well-crafted research question also helps you define the scope of your study and identify the appropriate methodologies and data collection techniques to employ.
A good research question possesses several key components that contribute to the quality and impact of your study. Apart from providing a clear framework to generate meaningful results, a well-defined research question allows other researchers to understand the purpose and significance of your work. So, when working on your research question, incorporate the following elements:
A first step that will help save time and effort is knowing what your aims are and thinking about a few problem statements on the area or aspect one wants to study or do research on. Contemplating these statements as one undertakes more progressive reading can help the researcher in reassessing and fine-tuning the research question. This can be done over time as they read and learn more about the research topic, along with a broad literature review and parallel discussions with peer researchers and supervisors. In some cases, a researcher can have more than one research question if the research being undertaken is a PhD thesis or dissertation, but try not to cover multiple concerns on a topic.
A strong research question must be researchable, original, complex, and relevant. Here are five simple steps that can make the entire process easier.
Remember to adapt your research question to suit your purpose, whether it’s exploratory, descriptive, comparative, experimental, qualitative, or quantitative. Embrace the iterative nature of the research process, continually evaluating and refining your question as you progress. Here are some good examples of research questions across various disciplines.
Exploratory research question examples
Descriptive research question examples
Comparative research question examples
Experimental research question examples
Qualitative research question examples
Quantitative research question examples
With these simple guidelines and inspiring examples of research questions, you are equipped to embark on your research journey with confidence and purpose. Here’s wishing you all the best for your future endeavors!
References:
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Read this article to understand the steps for writing a good research question and how it impacts the overall quality of a research study.
A good research question is required for any research to offer direction and purpose. It will assist you in determining the type of information to gather, the methods to utilize for data analysis, and the resources to examine.
Coming up with the appropriate research question can be extremely difficult for everyone. This is not a skill that comes naturally; rather, it is something that must be studied and learned.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
This article intends to provide you with important information on crafting the right research questions by providing you with a step-by-step guide with examples.
A research topic is a specific problem, issue, or phenomenon that a research study attempts to examine. It is an important part of the research process since it guides the study design and methods while also ensuring that the research is targeted and relevant. It should be a clear, focused, and short statement.
Typically, research questions are established following a literature review to discover gaps in current knowledge or to validate the necessity for more study in a certain field. They may be adjusted and altered when new information is exposed during the research process, but they must stay focused on the underlying topic or problem being examined.
A strong research question is a targeted inquiry that defines a problem, topic, or issue to be explored and it should describe the important concepts or variables to be studied in a research. A strong research question has to be:
Descriptive.
These questions are designed to describe a specific phenomenon, circumstance, or group. They are frequently used to collect basic information on a subject, such as its frequency, distribution, or characteristics.
Example: What are the characteristics of individuals who use public transportation in a large urban area?
These are questions designed to assist you in understanding more about a subject. The goal of asking an exploration question is to learn more about a topic without bias or prior preconceptions.
Example: What impact does personal technology have on today’s youth?
These questions aim to find similarities, differences, or correlations between two or more groups, phenomena, or variables. Comparative research questions are frequently used to investigate the impact of multiple interventions or treatments, as well as to compare the features or results of different groups or populations.
Example: What are the disparities in depression rates between male and female teenage populations in urban and rural areas?
Relationship-based research questions are a form of research question that focuses on investigating the relationships and links between different variables, ideas, or occurrences. These research questions attempt to explore the connections and interactions of many components, as well as to uncover patterns and trends in the data.
Example: What is the relationship between teenage social media use and self-esteem?
Predictive research questions are research questions that attempt to predict the probability of a specific occurrence or outcome based on the connection among several variables or circumstances. In domains such as economics, psychology, and epidemiology, these types of questions are frequently used to construct models and hypotheses that might assist foresee future trends or behavior.
Example: What is the likelihood of consumers purchasing a product after seeing it promoted by a celebrity?
Evaluative research questions are a form of research question that focuses on determining the efficacy, influence, or worth of a certain intervention, program, policy, or practice. These research questions attempt to ascertain the extent to which a certain intervention accomplished its intended goals or results, as well as to discover any unintended consequences or bad impacts.
Example: What effect does a new medicine have on lowering the symptoms of a certain medical condition when compared to normal treatment?
STEP | EXAMPLE |
---|---|
1. Identify the general topic. | Healthcare. |
2. Conduct a literature review. | Examine existing studies on the usage of remote medicine. |
3. Narrow your focus and develop a precise research question that addresses a gap or problem in the latest research. | What are the limitations of adopting remote medicine, and how might it improve access to healthcare compared to conventional medicine? |
4. Determine the type of your research question. Descriptive, exploratory, comparative, relationship-based, predictive, or evaluative. | Comparative: comparison between remote medicine and conventional medicine. |
5. Evaluate the research question’s scope and viability. | Is the research question viable given the resources and time available? Is it possible to get data on this subject? |
6. Write the research question in simple words. | In terms of availability, affordability, and quality of care, how does remote medicine compare to conventional medicine? |
7. Explore the research’s question with colleagues and mentors, or undertake a preliminary study. | Explore the research question with others to obtain their opinions on its relevance and feasibility. Conduct a pilot research to evaluate the research methods and, if required, revise the research question. |
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1. Conduct some initial research about your topic.
2. Generate several questions.
3. Select one to write about.
4. Use the following to evaluate your research question:
a. Is it too narrow or too broad?
b. Does it contain vague or unclear language?
c. Does it focus on an aspect of the topic about which there is established research?
d. Do people care about its answer?
e. Can it be answered in a variety of ways?
Once you’ve developed your research question, you’ll be able to conduct more focused research. This will help you create an effective thesis statement.
Selecting a topic is the first step in the research paper writing process. From your selected topic, generate a research question.
Video by Laurier Library, Wilfred Laurier University , 2017.
A handout detailing the 6 major steps for developing a strong research question
In order to help students get started with the research process and with writing a good research questions, the handout identifies 6 major steps to follow when developing a research question. It is important to note that the research process is more reiterative than linear as steps overlap, and you can start at any step. In fact, you might have to repeat the process several times. The handout ends with a “Sample Research Questions” section that describes the process of revising unclear, unfocused, and simplistic questions.
Formulating a research question is a helpful first step in the research process for many students as the question will drive your essay or project and is the question you will seek to answer when beginning your research. Eventually, the central claim or thesis in your paper or project will be a response or answer to this research question.
Download a PDF of the handout guide and visit the George Mason University writing center website for other helpful resources (i.e.: annotated bibliographies, tips for writing a literature review).
What are the 6 major steps to developing a research question.
The handout describes identifies 6 major steps to developing a research questions
As you are completing reading assignments for your courses and conducting preliminary research for your project
The handout describes identifies 6 major steps to developing a research questions: 1) choose an interesting topic; 2) conduct preliminary research on the topic; 3) consider your audience; 4) start asking questions; 5) evaluate your question; 6) begin research.
As you are completing reading assignments for your courses and conducting preliminary research for your project, pay attention to the type of questions scholars tend to ask, what they use as evidence/data, and how they write up their analysis.
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The sample research question below illustrates how to write research questions based on the PICOT framework and its elements: PEO framework. Like the PICOT framework, the PEO framework is commonly used in clinical studies as well. ... Developing the right research question is a critical first step in the research process. The examples of ...
Framing the research question is the first step in any research project, and you can learn how to write a research question that is focused, achievable, and answerable! Check this detailed article to know what a research question is, the different types, and a step-by-step process to formulate effective research questions, with examples.
A good research question is essential to guide your research paper, dissertation, or thesis. All research questions should be: Focused on a single problem or issue. Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources. Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints. Specific enough to answer thoroughly.
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries.
Research questions should not be answerable with a simple "yes" or "no" or by easily-found facts. They should, instead, require both research and analysis on the part of the writer. They often begin with "How" or "Why.". Begin your research. After you've come up with a question, think about the possible paths your research ...
Follow these steps when writing a research question: 1. Select a general topic. The first step to writing a research question is to choose a broad topic for your question. This can be something like "1920s novels" or "effects of technology." It's helpful to select something you are interested in and want to know more about, which can make ...
There are two types of research: Qualitative research and Quantitative research. There must be research questions for every type of research. Your research question will be based on the type of research you want to conduct and the type of data collection. The first step in designing research involves identifying a gap and creating a focused ...
In a sense, writing a research question is like setting a goal and posting it prominently on your wall. Table of contents. Steps to develop a research question; How to write a good research question; Use the "write" tools; Steps to develop a research question. ... The goal is to write a certain type of question. First, it must focus on a ...
Here is our step-by-step guide: 1. Choose a topic. The first step is to select a broad research topic for your study. Pick something within your expertise and field that interests you. After all, the research itself will stem from the initial research question. 2.
In a research paper, the emphasis is on generating a unique question and then synthesizing diverse sources into a coherent essay that supports your argument about the topic. In other words, you integrate information from publications with your own thoughts in order to formulate an argument. Your topic is your starting place: from here, you will ...
Selecting your research question and creating a clear goal and structure for your writing can be challenging - whether you are doing it for the first time or if you've done it many times before. It can be especially difficult when your research question starts to look and feel a little different somewhere between your first and final draft.
The first step towards writing a good research question is to choose a broad topic of research. ... The most important aspect of writing a good research question is to find out if there is audience interested to know the answer to the question you are proposing. Moreover, determining your audience will assist you in refining your research ...
When creating your question, you'll want to think about your audience. Since it's likely to be academic, you need to frame your question formally. 4. Ask Questions. As you learn more about your topic through early research, you can ask yourself questions like how and why things are the way they are. 5.
In this research question, the first example is too simple and not sufficiently complex, making it difficult to assess whether the study answered the question. The author could really only answer this question with a simple "yes" or "no." ... Steps for Writing a Research Question. Good research questions are relevant, focused, and ...
The Research Question pinpoints the focus of the review. Your first step involves choosing, exploring, and focusing a topic. At this stage you might discover that you need to tweak your topic or the scope of your research as you learn more about the topic in the literature.
Steps to Developing a Good Research Question. Developing a good research question is a crucial first step in any research endeavor. A well-crafted research question serves as the foundation for the entire study, guiding the researcher in formulating hypotheses, selecting appropriate methodologies, and conducting meaningful analyses.
Reflect on the potential impact of your research when refining your question. 4. Ensure you have access to necessary resources, such as data, participants, or equipment. Remember, receiving feedback and revising is a valuable step in creating impactful and precise research.
Step 1: Choose your topic. First you have to come up with some ideas. Your thesis or dissertation topic can start out very broad. Think about the general area or field you're interested in—maybe you already have specific research interests based on classes you've taken, or maybe you had to consider your topic when applying to graduate school and writing a statement of purpose.
Assess your chosen research question using the FINER criteria that helps you evaluate whether the research is Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant. 1. Formulate the final research question, while ensuring it is clear, well-written, and addresses all the key elements of a strong research question.
1. Identify the general topic. Healthcare. 2. Conduct a literature review. Examine existing studies on the usage of remote medicine. 3. Narrow your focus and develop a precise research question that addresses a gap or problem in the latest research.
Once you've developed your research question, you'll be able to conduct more focused research. This will help you create an effective thesis statement. ... Selecting a topic is the first step in the research paper writing process. From your selected topic, generate a research question. Video by Laurier Library, Wilfred Laurier University ...
A handout detailing the 6 major steps for developing a strong research question. This handout from the George Mason University Writing Center outlines key features of well-formulated research questions (clear, focused, concise, complex, and arguable) and provides steps to go from general topic to a research question. As summarized in the ...
Writing a research question is the first step. A research question will also help the researcher form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a proposed idea that can be tested, and it guides the data ...
l. opics might include broad issues such as "literac. " or "body image."2. Do some preliminary research on your general topic. Consult periodicals and journals o. y. ur topic to see what ha. been explored in depth and what holes might remain.3. Start asking questions. Taking into consideration the above, s.