Questions

A collection of questions I'm interested in looking in to.

Meta

Questions generally contain a problem that you are faced with, choices that you have to make in order to manage that problem, and an objective measure of outcome.

In order to ensure that the questions you are asking contain all of the right elements to provide you with the evidence, there are several ways you might choose to format your question. Using a specific format for your question should help you to facilitate your search and ensure that your question is answerable. I prefer the format of research questions.

Initial thoughts:

1. What makes a question good?

2. How can we construct good questions?

What makes a question good?

1. Ends in a question mark Why, How, Where, Who, What or When

2. Has a purpose Write out the purpose for the question/research (a problem statement, a hypothesis, a list of information to gather) and then check that your questions are helping you answer it.

3. Gives insight that is actionable

4. Opens up a conversation

5. Neutral and free of bias It is easy to accidentally introduce bias into your questions. Un-spotted, it proves toxic for the validity of your findings. Look out for phrases and words that are charged with bias and re-write your questions to be more neutral.

6. Is interesting Is it worth asking? Is it worth answering?

7. Is short

   Short questions are easier to listen to and understand (and analyze, as the answers tend to be more focused). One way to make questions shorter and easier to answer is to look out for some key warning signs:

   • Too many connectives such as ‘and’

   • Commas

   • Too many words

Part 1: What makes a good question?Medium

Medium

How can we construct good questions?

Research questionWikipedia

Good research questions seek to improve knowledge on a topic, and are usually narrow and specific.

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.

• focused: it is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.

• concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.

• complex: it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather requires synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources prior to composition of an answer.

• arguable: its potential answers are open to debate rather than accepted facts.

How to Write a Research QuestionThe Writing Center

Developing a research question

1. Do some preliminary research on your general topic Do a few quick searches in current periodicals and journals on your topic to see what’s already been done and to help you narrow your focus. What issues are professionals in the field discussing, when it comes to your topic? What questions occur to you as you read these articles?

2. Consider your audience Would that particular audience be interested in the question you are developing?

3. Start asking questions Taking into consideration all of the above, start asking yourself open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your general topic.

4. Evaluate your question

   After you’ve put a question or even a couple of questions down on paper, evaluate these questions to determine whether they would be effective research questions or whether they need more revising and refining.

   • Is your question clear?

   • Is your question focused?

   • Is your question complex?

5. Begin your research After you’ve come up with a question, think about the possible paths your research could take. What sources should you consult as you seek answers to your question? What research process will ensure that you find a variety of perspectives and responses to your question?