Research question

A research question is the objective of a study or a problem to be solved through research. Choosing a research question is an essential element of both quantitative and qualitative research. The research question can take different forms depending on the type of research, such as a thesis statement for academic research or a hypothesis to test a scientific query. To form a research question, one must determine what type of study will be conducted such as a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed study. Additional factors, such as project funding, may not only affect the research question itself but also when and how it is formed during the research process. Literature suggests several variations on criteria selection for constructing a research question, such as the FINER or PICOT methods. Answering the research question may involve observation, experimentation, literature review, and/or consulting relevant resources, including primary and secondary sources, as well as other forms of investigation.F - Feasible (Does one have the means to conduct this study?)P - Patient (or Problem) A research question is the objective of a study or a problem to be solved through research. Choosing a research question is an essential element of both quantitative and qualitative research. The research question can take different forms depending on the type of research, such as a thesis statement for academic research or a hypothesis to test a scientific query. To form a research question, one must determine what type of study will be conducted such as a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed study. Additional factors, such as project funding, may not only affect the research question itself but also when and how it is formed during the research process. Literature suggests several variations on criteria selection for constructing a research question, such as the FINER or PICOT methods. Answering the research question may involve observation, experimentation, literature review, and/or consulting relevant resources, including primary and secondary sources, as well as other forms of investigation. The answer to a research question will help address a research problem or question. Specifying a research question, 'the central issue to be resolved by a formal dissertation, thesis, or research project,' is typically one of the first steps an investigator takes when undertaking research. Considerations, such as project funding or methodological approaches may influence the research process, including when and how the research question is developed. Clearly and accurately defining the research question can become an iterative process. How the question is constructed can depend on the type of research or discipline. Specifying the research question is one of the first methodological steps the investigator has to take when undertaking research. Having an interest in or knowledge of a particular subject can be useful in the construction of a research question. Formation of the research question is largely determined by, and likewise influences, where and what kind of information will be sought. The research question must be accurately and clearly defined. Choosing a research question is the central element of both quantitative and qualitative research and in some cases it may precede construction of the conceptual framework of study; in all cases, it makes the theoretical assumptions in the framework more explicit and indicates what the researcher wants to know most and first. Therefore, the investigator must first identify the type of study (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) before the research question is developed. Forming the research question may become an iterative process when parameters of the research process, such as field of study or methodology, do not fit the original question. Literature suggests several methods for selecting criteria in the development of a research question, two of which are the FINER and PICOT methods.