Library Website: Research & Referencing - How do I develop research questions?

  How do I develop research questions?

 Back to Research & Referencing

Home
                            Resource Guides
                            Books & eBooks
Articles & Reports 
                            Video Streaming
                            Standards 
Research & Referencing
Bookshop
FAQs
chat loading...

  Read

Developing your own research questions involves the following 6 steps: 

  1. Identify the topic. 
    Start by choosing a topic that you are interested in or want to learn more about. This could be a specific issue, problem, or area of study. 

  2. Conduct a literature review. 
    Read existing research and literature on your topic of interest to gain a deeper understanding and to identify gaps in knowledge. These gaps are what will direct your research question.
    (See the following module: How do I conduct a literature review?

  3. Formulate a research question. 
    Based on your review of the literature, formulate a research question that addresses a gap or area of uncertainty in the existing knowledge. Ensure that the question is specific, focused, and relevant to your topic.

  4. Refine the question. 
    Review your research question to ensure that it is clear and concise, and that it can be answered through research. If necessary, refine or modify the question to make it more precise.

  5. Determine feasibility. 
    Consider the resources available to you such as time, funding, and access to data, and determine whether your research question is feasible to answer. 

  6. Get feedback. 
    Share your research question with others, such as colleagues, teachers, or peers, to get feedback and ensure that it is well-designed and relevant. 

  Watch

Watch the following short clip to gain a wider understanding on developing a research question. 

 Resources and further reading