Formulating a research question: A guide

15/01/2025

The research question is the linchpin of every scientific paper. Whether it's a term paper, a bachelor's thesis or a master's thesis, a clear and precise guiding question is essential to developing a coherent argument. In this article, we'll show you step by step how to formulate a good research question and which criteria are crucial to doing so.

1. Why the research question is so important

The research question sets the focus for your entire work. It defines which problem you are investigating, which literature you are drawing on and which methods you are using. A precisely formulated research question allows you to have:

  • a clear structure: each section of your work is aimed at answering your research question.
  • A manageable scope: If the question is too broad, it will be difficult to work on it within the given time frame and with the given content.
  • A coherent argument: You can organize your thoughts in a targeted manner and argue them in a comprehensible way.

2. Characteristics of a good research question

To ensure that your research question delivers what it promises, you should consider the following criteria:

  1. Precise: Formulate the question in one sentence, without superfluous additions.
  2. Narrowly defined: Determine the topic in terms of place, time, group of people or method.
  3. Relevant: Pay attention to the scientific and practical significance of the question.
  4. Researchable: Make sure that sufficient literature, data or experts are available.
  5. Open-ended: Avoid yes/no questions to allow for deeper analysis.
  6. Complex: The question must be challenging enough to require extensive work.

3. Step-by-step guide to formulating your question

Step 1: Choose a topic

Choose a topic that interests you personally and is relevant to your field of study. An initial literature search will help you get an overview and discover possible research gaps.

Step 2: Narrow down the topic

Define clear parameters: time (e.g. "since 2020"), place (e.g. "in Berlin"), group of people (e.g. "students") or theory (e.g. "from a constructivist perspective").

Step 3: Determine the research material

Decide what data or sources you need (interviews, surveys, literature work, experiments, etc.). This will help you keep an eye on the scope.

Step 4: Choose a research method

Choose a suitable research method (qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, content analyses, experiments, etc.). It should fit your research question.

Step 5: Formulate the research question

Summarize your topic, method, and focus in a concise sentence. Make sure that the question is open-ended so that you can provide more than a simple "yes/no" answer.

4. Examples of successful research questions

  • Humanities
  • How has the language behavior of German-English bilingual students in social media communications changed since 2020?
  • Business
  • Why does sustainable employer branding in the fashion industry have a stronger influence on employee loyalty than traditional recruiting strategies?
  • Psychology
  • What influence does the use of mindfulness techniques have on the stress levels of professionals working from home?
  • Medicine/Health
  • How does telemedicine change the quality of treatment for patients with chronic illnesses in rural areas?

These examples show that the research question must be precise, researchable and relevant to the respective field.

5. Avoid typical mistakes

  • Overly general formulation: "How does digitalization influence learning?" – This is too broad; you need more precise parameters.
  • Anticipated answer: "Why is Facebook the only reason for the decline in sales in the television market?" – Here it is already implied that Facebook is the "only reason".
  • Lack of reference to literature or method: If you cannot find suitable research material, your research question will remain unanswered.

6. Conclusion

A well-formulated research question is the be-all and end-all of any scientific work. It guides you purposefully through the entire writing process and prevents you from getting lost in side issues. With a clearly defined question, you can research and argue in a more structured way and ultimately present convincing results.

Tip: Always check at the end to see if your research really answers your question. If it does, you've got to the heart of your work!

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Good luck formulating your research question!