Developing Strong Research Questions Handout
Developing Strong Research Questions Handout
STRONG RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
A good research question is essential
to guide your research paper, project
or thesis.
It pinpoints exactly what you want to
find out and gives your work a clear
focus and purpose.
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
Complex enough to develop the answer over the
space of a paper or thesis
Relevant to your field of study and/or society more
broadly
How to write a research question
The process of developing your research question
follows several steps:
1.Choose a broad topic
2.Do some preliminary reading to find out about topical
debates and issues
3.Narrow down a specific niche that you want to focus
on
4.Identify a practical or theoretical research problem that
you will address
Example Research Problem:
“The teachers at school X do not have the
skills to recognize or properly guide gifted
children in the classroom”