CHARACTERISTICS THAT GOOD RESEARCH QUESTIONS POSSESS

 

CHARACTERISTICS THAT GOOD RESEARCH QUESTIONS POSSESS

1. It must be well rooted in contemporary theoretical and empirical research (know the literature)

2. It establishes the research's context, making it possible to choose the topic, the point of emphasis, the type of research evidence required to arrive at a solution, and the conclusion.

3. The question must be both worth answering (within the constraints of time, money, capacities, and resources) and be solvable.

4. Sound inquiries must allow for the development of precise hypotheses and operational definitions.

5. A researcher may pursue a particular study subject for a variety of reasons, including financial gain, career advancement, or simply because discovering the answer to the question seems intriguing. I prefer the last justification because it provides the intensity of effort necessary to get beyond all the challenges and annoyances encountered during the study process. Prior to investing a lot of time in developing a study plan or grant proposal that peers and funding agencies might find uninteresting, it is however advisable to confirm the interest of a question with mentors and outside specialists.

6. A strong research question should have theoretical and practical significance (usually weighted toward one).

7. It shouldn't try to tackle significant problems. It is a specific question within a topic, not the issue itself, so it must be clear, concise, well-defined, and to the point. It ought to enable you to delve deeper into a phenomenon than you may otherwise be able to accomplish in order to comprehend it better. The development of a research question requires focus. By the time you're ready to go on to designing the research methodology, it needs to be clearly defined.

8. Effective research produces fresh knowledge. It is not worth the time and money to conduct an investigation that simply confirms what has already been established. It's not necessary for a query to be entirely novel. If an earlier discovery could be repeated, if the findings in one community were generalizable to other populations, or if improved measurement techniques could more clearly demonstrate the correlation between two variables, these questions might be raised. If a confirmatory study corrects the shortcomings of earlier research, it is very helpful.

9. Good research questions call for much more than just doing some research. It reflects an underlying tension that is not dependent only on one or two omitted pieces of information. It ought to make you weigh the arguments and assess the various points of view. It should provide you the opportunity to develop a solution that the audience will find both fascinating and significant.

10. Good questions must be morally sound. If the study involves unfavorable physical risks or invasions of privacy, the researcher should look for other ways to get the information they need. You should consult professionals in the early stages if you are unsure whether the study is ethical.

11. "Dichotomous queries," or inquiries that can only be answered with a simple yes or no, are bad inquiries.

12. The relevance of a research subject is one of its most important qualities. Consider the potential outcomes and how each one might advance scientific understanding, have an impact on management, or direct future research as a rational way to determine relevance.