Are you looking for effective aid in research question formulation? Try our research question generator and get ideas for any project instantly.
Table of Contents
- 🤖 How to Use the Tool
- ❗ Why Is a Research Question Important?
- 🗺️ How to Generate a Research Question?
- 👀 More Examples
- ❓ FAQ
- 🔍 References
🤖 How to Use a Research Question Generator?
Struggling to develop a good research question for your college essay, proposal, or dissertation? Don't waste time anymore, as our research question generator is available online for free.
Our tool is designed to provide original questions to suit any subject discipline.
Generate your questions in a few easy steps as shown below:
- Add your topic and study field to the appropriate tabs.
- Click on the 'Make a question' button and run the search.
- Select the preferred option from the list of generated questions.
Once you get the initial results, you can still refine the questions to get relevant and practical research questions for your project.
❗ Why Is a Research Question Important?
The main importance of formulating a research question is to break down a broad topic and narrow it to a specific field of investigation. It helps you derive a practical knowledge of the topic of interest. The research question also acts as a guiding structure for the entire investigation from paragraph to paragraph. Besides, you can define research issues and spot gaps in the study.
The research questions disclose the boundaries and limitations of your research, ensuring it is consistent and relevant. Ultimately, these questions will directly affect the research methods you will use to collect and analyze data. They also affect the process of generating a thesis statement. With a checker proposal, you can also polish your research question to ensure it aligns with the research purpose.
🔖 Research Question Types & Examples
The research writing process covers different types of questions, depending on the depth of study and subject matter. It is important to know the kind of research you want to do; it will help you in the formulation of an effective research question. You can select quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies to develop your questions.
Let us explore some of these question types in detail to help you choose a workable option for your project:
Quantitative Research Questions
Quantitative questions are specific and objective, providing detailed information about a particular research topic. The data you collect from this research type is quantifiable and can be studied using figures.
These questions also delineate a relationship between the research design and the research question.
Quantitative questions focus on issues like:
- "How much"
- "How often"
- "How intense"
- "Is there a statistical relationship"
They illustrate the response with numbers.
In addition, quantitative questions help you to explore existing patterns in data from a specific location or context. The collected information allows researchers to make logical and data-driven conclusions.
This type of research question can be classified further into 3 categories.
Descriptive Research Questions
Such questions seek to describe a quantifiable problem and investigate the numbers, rates, or intensity of the issue. They are usually used to write descriptive papers.
Here are some examples:
- What is the effect of social media on mental health?
- How regularly do teenagers use Facebook per week?
- What is the percentage of college students using food delivery apps?
Comparative Research Questions
As the name suggests, comparative questions intend to compare and contrast two or more issues in a research project. These questions are used in comparative papers. To formulate such a question, identify two or more variables, choose a standard for comparison, and present an in-depth discussion.
Let's look at a few examples:
- What is the difference in social media use between American male and female college students?
- What is the difference in the attitude of men vs. women to modern parenting styles?
- Does male and female sugar intake vary per day in the UK?
Relationship-based Research Questions
Relationship-based questions reveal and identify a connection between two or more research variables. Such questions entail a dependent variable, an independent variable, and a socio-demographic of the population you are interested in studying.
Some examples include:
- What is the relationship between gender and leadership positions in corporate organizations?
- What is the scientific correlation between processed foods and diabetes among middle-aged people?
- What is the link between social media and self-esteem among teenagers?
Qualitative Research Questions
Qualitative research questions are open-ended and aim to explore or explain respondents' subjective meanings and experiences. You can't measure the data you collect from a qualitative research question in figures, as it's mostly narrative. Some of the common types include those described below.
Exploratory Research Questions
These questions investigate a particular research topic without any assumptions.
What factors influence mental health issues in young people?
Explanatory Research Questions
These questions examine the reasons and find connections between existing entities.
How does the psychological climate in the toddler's family affect their learning aptitude?
Mixed Methods Studies
When you combine quantitative and qualitative research questions, you will get a mixed-method research study. It answers your research question more comprehensively since it combines the advantages of both research methods in a pragmatic study.
How do student attitudes toward their school relate to exam score differences?
This mixed study can focus on quantitative data (score comparison with attitude ranking) and qualitative insights from student interviews about attitudes.
🗺️ How to Generate a Research Question?
We have outlined a few steps to generate exceptional questions for students who don't know how to write them effectively.
| Begin with a broad topic | The first step entails generating a broad topic to give you many avenues of exploration. You can conduct a brainstorming or mind-mapping session to identify relevant topics for your research project. Remember to focus on a subject you are interested in to arrive at a good research question faster. |
|---|---|
| Conduct preliminary research | After getting a topic, do preliminary research to uncover current issues in your academic field. This step also allows you to identify limitations and knowledge gaps related to your topic. These aspects could help you refine the research question later on. |
| Narrow the topic | Once you collect enough information about your topic of interest, you can start narrowing down the topic from a general into a more focused area of investigation. You can use the gaps you have identified at the research stage to formulate workable research questions. |
| Evaluate the research question | This step entails evaluating the research questions you have formulated. Not all the questions will be viable. Thus, you should carry out a thorough assessment to find effective questions. Here are the key parameters of a winning research question:
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| Formulate your final version | Finally, structure your research question properly within the required academic parameters. For instance, you should base your question on a specific problem, the subject, and the time frame. |
👀 More Research Question Examples
- Why do minorities delay going to the doctor?
- What makes humans mortal genetically?
- Why and how did the US get involved in the Korean War?
- The virus COVID-19: what went wrong?
- What is cancel culture, and can it go too far?
- How do human infants acquire a language?
- Eastern vs. Western religions: what’s the difference?
- Why is capitalism better than socialism?
- What do Hamlet and Oedipus have in common?
- How does language influence our world?
- Competence for nurses: why is it important?
- COVID-19 pandemic: what we can learn from the past?
❓ Research Question Generator FAQ
You should select an interesting topic related to the subject you are studying. Carry out preliminary research with our research question generator online and pick the question from the list of offered suggestions. Refine the question until you are satisfied with the result.
An effective research question should focus on a single issue and clearly state the research direction you will take. The topic should neither be too broad nor too narrow – just enough to keep you focused on the main scope of the study. Also, it should be answerable with a comprehensive analysis.
In an academic article, the research question is usually placed at the end of the introduction, right before the literature review. At times, it may be included in the methods section – after the review of academic research.
Identify what claim you want to make in your research purpose. Choose a dependent variable, an independent variable, and a target population, and formulate the assumed relationship between the variables for that respondent group. Ensure the data you collect is measured within a specific context.
🔗 References
FAQs
How do you create a research question generator? ›
- Pick a topic. Once you get a writing assignment, it's time to find an appropriate topic first. ...
- Research the topic. After you're brainstormed several topic options, you should do some research. ...
- Clarify who your audience is. ...
- Approach the subject critically. ...
- Evaluate the questions.
- Determine the requirements. Before you can construct a good research question you will need to determine the requirements of your assignment. ...
- Choose a topic. ...
- Conduct preliminary research. ...
- Narrow down your topic. ...
- Write your question.
- What information do I need?
- Where do I find information?
- Which information can I trust?
- How can I use new information in my writing?
- How do I use information ethically?
Descriptive research questions. Comparative research questions. Relationship-based research questions.
How do you turn something into a research question? ›Think about what questions you have or that currently exist about your topic. For example, when researching the local food culture, you could ask "Why do people buy local?" "What specific food items are people more likely to buy local and why?" "What are the economic aspects of buying local?
What is an example of a research question? ›Once you've read our guide on how to write a research question, you can use these examples to craft your own. What effect does social media have on your mind? What effect does daily use of Twitter have on the attention span of 12-16 year-olds?
How do you formulate a research question in quantitative research? ›- Choose your starting phrase.
- Identify and name the dependent variable.
- Identify the group(s) you are interested in.
- Decide whether the dependent variable or group(s) should be included first, last or in two parts.
- Include any words that provide greater context to your question.
- Specific: Not a “fishing expedition”
- Measurable: Testable (statistically)
- Attainable: Something that “you” can do.
- Realistic:
- Timely:
- Important.
- Meaningful whether the answer is “Yes” or “No.”
- Descriptive. When a study is designed primarily to describe what is going on or what exists. ...
- Relational. When a study is designed to look at the relationships between two or more variables. ...
- Causal.
The most common starting questions are “what is your research about?" and “what was your motivation behind choosing this topic?” Later on, the committee asks you more detailed questions on research methodology, literature review, study variables, research findings, recommendations, and areas of further research. 6.
What are 4 sources of research questions? ›
Research questions are developed by using sources that include curiosity, professors, textbooks, journals, databases, and the Internet.
What is a basic research question? ›This type of research examines data to find the unknown and fulfill a sense of curiosity. Usually, these involve "how," "what" and "why" questions to explain occurrences. Basic research looks at how processes or concepts work. Information obtained from basic research often creates a foundation for applied studies.
What is the difference between a research question and a questionnaire? ›A solid research question, on the other hand, should be clear and targeted. To put it another way, the question should make it apparent what the writer must accomplish. A questionnaire is a research tool that consists of a collection of questions or other forms of prompts aimed at gathering data from a responder.
What are some examples of research questions in the classroom? ›- Why Are Classroom Rules Important?
- How Can Teachers Teach in a Multicultural Classroom?
- How Should High School Teachers Handle Discipline in the Classroom?
- Can Teachers Promote Democracy in the Classroom?
- How Music Affects the Tone of the Classroom?
A research question is a question that a study or research project aims to answer. This question often addresses an issue or a problem, which, through analysis and interpretation of data, is answered in the study's conclusion.
What are 5 examples of quantitative research questions? ›| Questions | Variable |
|---|---|
| 3. What is the preferred choice of cuisine for Americans? | Cuisine |
| 4. How often do students aged between 10-15 years use Instagram monthly? | Monthly use of Instagram |
| 5. How often do middle-class adults go on vacation yearly? | Vacation |
- Descriptive Research Design.
- Survey Research.
- Correlational Research Design.
- Quasi-experimental Research Design.
- Experimental Research Design.
There are six steps required to construct a relationship-based research question: (1) choose your starting phrase; (2) identify the independent variable(s); (3) identify the dependent variable(s); (4) identify the group(s); (5) identify the appropriate adjoining text; and (6) write out the relationship-based research ...
What are two major types of basic research questions? ›Research questions are broadly categorized into 2; that is, qualitative research questions and quantitative research questions. Qualitative and quantitative research questions can be used independently and co-dependently in line with the overall focus and objectives of your research.
What are the 4 traits of a good research question problem? ›1 The problem can be stated clearly and concisely. 2 The problem generates research questions. 3 It is grounded in theory. 4 It relates to one or more academic fields of study.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a research question? ›
A hypothesis is a statement that expresses a possible relationship between variables or phenomena, based on existing knowledge, theory, or observation. A research question, on the other hand, is a question that seeks to explore or explain an aspect of your topic, without making any assumptions or claims.
How many questions should a research question have? ›Practical considerations, such as, the length of the paper you are writing or the availability of resources to analyze the issue can also factor in how many questions to ask. In general, however, there should be no more than four research questions underpinning a single research problem.
What makes a bad research question? ›A bad research question is too abstract and general. Public finance, human resource management, inequality and poverty, e-government, social welfare, or corruption is not specific enough.
What is the first step in asking a good research question? ›The first step is selecting a general topic for research. The specific inquiry will be determined by the research question.
What is the best source of research topics? ›Common Places to Find Research
Your research resources can come from your personal experiences; print media such as books, brochures, journals, magazines, and newspapers; and electronic sources found on the Internet. They may also come from interviews and surveys you or someone else conduct.
| Research Question Type | Question Formulation/Example |
|---|---|
| Correlational research question | What is the relationship between baldness and age? |
| Exploratory research question | Is it possible that VEGF has an effect in plant photosynthesis? |
| Explanatory research question | What is the cause of increased violence among young adults? |
To develop a RQ, one needs to begin by identifying the subject of interest and then do preliminary research on that subject. The researcher then defines what still needs to be known in that particular subject and assesses the implied questions.
What is a pure research question? ›Pure research focuses on answering basic questions such as, "how do gases behave?" Applied research would be involved in the process of developing specific preparation for a gas in order for it to be produced and delivered efficiently and economically.
Should a research question be simple? ›(Research questions must be specific enough to be well covered in the space available.) - Is your research question complex? (Questions shouldn't have a simple yes/no answer and should require research and analysis.) Hypothesize.
What is a Likert scale question? ›So what is a Likert scale survey question? It's a question that uses a 5 or 7-point scale, sometimes referred to as a satisfaction scale, that ranges from one extreme attitude to another. Typically, the Likert survey question includes a moderate or neutral option in its scale.
Should a research question be a yes or no question? ›
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.
Can a research question be a statement? ›A research question is a statement made in a question form seeking to study, learn, explore, or examine more about the research topic. It is aimed to distill or focus the research problem. Expressing a research problem helps provide direction to the research.
What is a research generator? ›Research Generators are communities of inquiry that are designed to jumpstart new or expanded research led by teams of faculty, staff researchers, and students.
What are the 4 research questions? ›| Research Question Type | Question |
|---|---|
| Explanatory | What are the causes for C? What does A do to B? What's causing D? |
| Evaluation | What is the impact of C? What role does B have? What are the benefits and drawbacks of A? |
| Action-Based | What can you do to improve X? |
Depending on the levels of seriousness to which you take your 'gating, you may need a generator to power a projector, speakers, a mini fridge, an electric grill, a mobile hotspot device, fans, or even a video game console.
What is an example of generator? ›Chemical generators
Examples of this type of generators are the batteries. Usually, they are used in equipment with low power consumption. For example, TV commands, radios, clocks and other equipment we use regularly in our day to day.
What is a research question? A research question is the question around which you center your research. It should be: clear: it provides enough specifics that one's audience can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
What are the three types of research objectives? ›Most research can be divided into three different categories: exploratory, descriptive and causal. Each serves a different end purpose and can only be used in certain ways.
What is an example of a research question with a hypothesis? ›| Research question | Hypothesis |
|---|---|
| What are the health benefits of eating an apple a day? | Increasing apple consumption in over-60s will result in decreasing frequency of doctor's visits. |
| Which airlines have the most delays? | Low-cost airlines are more likely to have delays than premium airlines. |
The primary research question should be driven by the hypothesis rather than the data. That is, the research question and hypothesis should be developed before the start of the study.
How many research questions should you have? ›
Start with 2 or 3 questions. If too many questions are posed, a study may be simply too large to manage. That is why I generally suggest starting with 2-3 research questions; although some studies may have more.
What are the 5 common qualitative research? ›Six common types of qualitative research are phenomenological, ethnographic, grounded theory, historical, case study, and action research.