How to write good research questions

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As a bachelor's or master's student preparing a brief research proposal or outline, one of your initial tasks will probably be formulating your research question(s).

Despite having taken a research methods class before, you might be wondering how to go about this and what your research questions should look like. 

Here is a quick guide that will hopefully come in handy.

First things first. What are research questions?

A research question (RQ) is the question around which you will center your research, and it is probably the most difficult part of your semester project or thesis work.

Often times we feel tempted to immediately delve into the methodology/design part of our research project. Planning and conducting literature reviews, interviews, focus groups, experiments, is exciting. No doubt about that.

This approach, however, has the potential to turn your research project into a 'fishing expedition,' leaving you confused about what to do with the data collected, wondering if you are meeting the expected outcomes of your project.

Why do we need research questions?

We need research questions because they allow us to avoid "all-about" papers.

A well-formulated research question is essential as it guides the research process in several ways, including:

• Providing a clear focus for your study, influencing its validity

• Supporting the development of research sub-questions

• Guiding the design of your study, including the research methodology

• Guiding your literature search

• Ensuring the research can be completed within the given time frame/resources

• Predetermining all the subsequent steps in the planning/analysis of your research

How many questions should I have?

As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to answer one or two primary research questions in your project.

You may want to break down your primary question(s) into sub-questions to make your project more manageable. Try to limit yourself to 4 or 5 sub-questions at most. If you feel you need more than this, it may be an indication that your main research question is not sufficiently specific. In such a case, it is better to revisit your problem statement and rework your main question.

Note also that having too many primary research questions could indicate that you need to write different papers to address each one of them effectively.

What makes a "good" research question?

Good research questions have several characteristics that make them effective. Some of these characteristics include:

• Clarity: RQs should avoid ambiguity, minimizing the potential for misinterpretation

Unclear: In which ways are waste valorization strategies sustainable?

Clear:  How does the implementation of waste valorization strategies in the agricultural sector impact environmental sustainability in Switzerland?

The first question is too vague to effectively guide a research project to its conclusion.

We might ask ourselves: Waste valorization strategies in which industry, of what material flows? When mentioning "sustainable," do we mean "being able to be upheld or maintained throughout time" or do we refer to the concept of sustainability encompassing ecological, social and economic aspects? If the latter, will we cover all aspects of sustainability in our analysis or just some of them?

Finally, and also important, the first example assumes waste valorization strategies are actually ecologically sustainable. This might not be the case and cannot be taken for granted.

• Focus: An unfocused research question is so broad that it would take decades and numerous researchers to answer. A focused RQ is one that is able to narrow down an idea to a specific effect, a specific place, or a specific object of study.

Unfocused: What is the effect of global warming on the environment?

Focused: What is the most significant effect of rising temperatures on the snake population in the Brazilian Amazon?

When in doubt, go for a narrow and focused RQ rather than a broad and generic one. Also take into account that the proposed RQ should be realistic in time and scope (i.e., semester project, bachelor/master thesis).

• Complexity: Research questions should not be phrased as "yes" or "no" questions. They should instead often begin with "how" or "why."

Simple: Is circularity good for firms?

Complex enough: How does the implementation of end-of-life circular strategies, namely reuse and recycle, impact manufacturing firms' innovation performance?

The simple research question can probably be answered with a "yes" while searching blog posts about the circular economy in Google. It leaves not much room for analysis and the results are probably based on marketing goals rather than scientific evidence.

The second example, however, besides being more specific, requires significant effort to answer. This is what we are looking for.

In sum, if you think a rapid Google search can answer your research question, then it is likely to be not very effective.

Wrapping up

Without a solid research question, your research study may lack direction, leading to ambiguous or inconclusive results, which can impact the overall validity and reliability of the research. This is not a minor consequence.

As with all other skills in life, practice makes perfect. Do not miss the opportunity to tune your research skills during your undergraduate/master studies every time you have a chance. This will make formulating a solid research question a more natural process by the time you begin planning your thesis.

Bonus tip: Whatever relates to your RQ belongs to your research report, the rest does not!