5 Key Steps to Develop a Research Question

5 Key Steps to Develop a Research Question

1. Selecting a subject and topic of interest

   • Choosing a subject and topic of personal interest is essential to keep up motivation throughout the entire process
     • One must know in a broader sense what interests you and why

2. Preliminary Reading

   • After choosing a topic of interest, some general reading should be done on this matter.
     • The questions that should be taken into account are:
       • What has already been written on this subject?
       • Is there a variety of different sources available?
       • Is there a variety of points of view or perspectives on the subject?
       • Was it easy to find sources of information?
       • What interesting questions have started to emerge from these readings?

3. Consideration of emerging questions

   • One should start asking open-ended questions about your general topic.
     • These questions will usually include words or expressions such as:
       • "why"
       • "how"
       • "to what extent"

4. Evaluating the question

   • Research questions should be assessed based on how clear, well-defined, and debatable they are.
     • CLEAR
       • · Will the reader understand the nature of my research? · Will the question guide the investigation?
     • WELL-DEFINED
       • Is the research question specific enough to allow exploration within the time given?
     • DEBATABLE
       • Does the research question allow analysis, evaluation, and development of a reasoned argument?

5. Consider the possible direction your investigation will take

   • Suggest possible research results
   • Summarize the type of argument you could make and how the investigation backs it up
   • Take into account alternatives, in case the available research is not sufficient to support a sustained argument