The document discusses good and bad types of research questions according to William Badke's research model. Good research questions are narrow in focus, action-oriented, and benefit society. Bad research questions fall into several categories of errors, including being too broad ("the trident"), plagiarizing others' work, being unclear ("the fuzzy tip"), and asking multiple questions ("the shiv"). The document provides examples of questions that fall into Badke's different error categories and asks the reader to identify which error they demonstrate. It concludes by providing additional sample questions for analysis.

1. RESEARCH QUESTION
SNAFUS
Which Is Your Poison? (Answer: None, Hopefully)
According to William Badke, PhD

2. Badke’s Official Research Model

3. GOOD RESEARCH
QUESTIONS…
 Are notably narrow in focus
 Are action-oriented, goal-driven, and research-inspiring
 Are largely selfless and empathic—you do this for the
world’s benefit as much as your own
 Center on the how and the why over the what and the who

4. AND THE BAD…?
Miss the Mark. Let us count the ways…

5. THE ARROW THAT ISN’T
THERE

6. THE BLUNT ARROW

7. What were the events that led
up to World War I?

8. THE TRIDENT (OR
FORK)

9. What were the causes of World
War I, why is war the ultimate evil,
and how could WWI have been
avoided?

10. THE FUZZY TIP

11. What was going on with Archduke
Franz Ferdinand when he was
shot and WWI began?

12. THE “SHIV / BROKEN
ARROW

13. Would World War I have
started if August 1914 never
happened?

14. PLAGIARISM

15. What does Barbara
Tuchman say were the
causes of World War I?

16. WERE YOU LISTENING?
Of what Badke error is the following research
question guilty?
What is the connection between the Prohibition movement
and the Suffrage movement? Did Prohibition make
alcoholism worse in America, and if so, how?

17. + RQ / Δ RQ ?
With the high risk of early
death in clones, is human
cloning ethical?

18. Of which Badke error is the following research
question?
Does our posture affect how we feel about
ourselves?

19.  Of which Badke error is the following research question?
When does a satire go too far in terms of critiquing
society on serious issues, or is it just a way for racists
and bigots to keep getting away with their prejudices,
including a disclaimer at the beginning?

20. + RQ / ΔRQ
What is the best approach to
reducing homelessness in an
urban setting?

21. Of which Badke error is the following research
question?
How do literary devices work in Dostoevsky’s
novel The Brothers Karamazov?

22. + RQ / ΔRQ
How might a child’s ability or inability to
participate in regular imaginative play
affect his/her critical problem-solving skills
later in life?

23. + RQ / ΔRQ
Who was the real John
Brown?

24. + RQ / ΔRQ
What were the political and social
reasons for creating Atlantic City?

25. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Badke, William. Research Strategies (2nd Edition). iUniverse:
New York, 2004.
Chandler, M.J et al. (2003). Personal Persistence, Identity, and Suicide: A Study of Native and Non-
Native North American Adolescents. Monographs for the Society of Research in Child
Development, Vol. 68, No. 2. Available at: www.ccyp.wa.gov.au
www.diabetesmine.com (image)
www.jillclarkspeaks.com (image)
“Sample Research Questions.” Columbia University.
Available at: www.columbia.edu/itc/psychology/H2