Requirements for a Good Research Question

Each research question MUST meet two requirements:

1. Efficiency: Refers to the degree of knowledge required and the degree to which knowledge contributes to the research objective
2. Steering function: does the question indicate which type of knowledge is required? does the question help decide what material data needs to be gathered during the project?

 

Formulating a Research Question:

1. Develop a MAIN preliminary question from the main issue that will be investigated and the key concept that will be the focus of the work.
2. After finalizing the theoretical model and conceptual framework, finalize your MAIN research question

Formulating Sub Research Questions

1.  You can NEVER have one sub-question!
2. Start on a qualitative level and where appropriate develop this to a question requiring quantitative (numerical) evidence
3. Develop what the main drivers are and focus on knowledge capture relative to the body of science.
4. Consider Creating Sub Questions per Work Package

Ensure your Research Questions have been formulated using the SMART principle!

[based in part on Verschuren en Doorewaard, Designing a research Project, 2nd edition, Eleven international publishing, The Netherlands, 2010]