This document provides guidance on developing research questions. It explains that research questions guide systematic inquiry and discovery of new facts and theories. Effective research questions are clear, focused, novel and relevant. The process of developing research questions involves starting with a broad topic and progressively narrowing the focus through consideration of theories, time periods, locations and other limiting factors. Finally, the document advises researchers to avoid underestimating the time needed, asking questions beyond the scope of work, using unclear wording, and feeling stuck with an initial research question.

1. AN
INTRODUCTION
TO RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
JAYMARK P. CASAS

2. GUIDE QUESTIONS:
Why research
questions?
01 Why create
research
questions?
02 What is a
research
question?
03
What are the
criteria in
writing
research
questions?
04 What is the
starting process
in writing
research
questions?
05 What to avoid
in writing
research
questions?
06

3. WHY RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
 Research is a circular process: questions,
investigation, analysis, questions,
investigation..
 Developing a “research question” is part of
starting the research process
 If you try to write a research paper on a
question you already know the answer to, it
will be boring and harder to research than
one based on discovery!

4. FIND AN INTERESTING TOPIC
When you find your
work interesting, it will
come across to others
through your writing!

5. TOPIC VS. ISSUE
 A topic is a thing or idea an essay
can be written about.
 An issue is a thing or idea that
has
sides that people can debate.
 What are the issues connected to
your topic?
 What are debatable sides on those

6. WHAT IS ALREADY
KNOWN?
 Search the topic in database to see what
issues others have recently investigated
about it.
 Consider what your ideal audience would
already know about your topic and what
questions they might be curious to know
answers to, and/or what issues they are
debating on that topic.

7. WHY CREATE RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
o Research is “diligent and systematic inquiry or
investigation into a subject in order to discover or
revise facts, theories, applications, etc.”
(Dictionary.com)
o Considered together, curiosity is the source of our
questions – we ask because we want to know;
research is the means by which we find an answer.
o In academic work, we formulate clear questions to
guide us in our search for answers.

8. WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?
● Something you want to know about your
discipline, or about a specific area within your
discipline.
●Not a topic, fragment, phrase, or sentence. It
ends with a question mark!
● Clear and precisely stated. It is not too broad,
nor is it too narrow.
●Open-ended, as opposed to closed. It cannot be
answered in a sentence or phrase.

9. WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?
 Starting point for investigations in the
natural and social sciences.
 Directs and focuses research.
 Dependent upon the quality of question
set.
 Must be focused, narrow, clear and
concise.

10. WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA IN
WRITING RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
• Adequate
• Affordable
• Manageable
Intrigues
FEASIBLE
Provides
new
findings
Amenable
to a study
that
institutiona
l review
board will
approve.
ETHICAL
NOVEL
INTERESTING
• Scientific
knowledge
• Clinical and
healthy
policy
• Future
research
RELEVANT

11. WHAT IS THE STARTING PROCESS IN
WRITING RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
BROAD
NARROW
FOCUS
RQ

12. BROAD TOPIC
 The broadest area of your
research interest.
 Your broad topic will help to
guide your literature review.
 Make note of the dominant
questions within the topic you
are researching.

13. NARROW TOPIC
Consider:
 Relevant theories/models.
 Time period.
 Particular events.
 Geographical area.
 Biographical information – gender; age;
ethnicity.
 Other aspects or fields – economic;
psychological; historical.
 Available data.

14. LOGIC OF NARROWING
• You should have logical reasons for
narrowing the topic the way that you
have.
• The reasons may vary – interest;
under-researched areas; available data;
word limits.
• You should make your rationale clear –
this usually is covered in the
“significance of study” section of your

15. FOCUS TOPIC
• Similar process to earlier step.
• You should now be familiar with the
major debates.
• You should also have a good sense of
what information and resources are
available.

16. • Research should allow you to realize
some of the complexity of your topic.
• May have a number of sub-
components to your research
question.
• Think carefully before settling on a
question.
• You should be able to explain the

17. • BROAD TOPIC: LEARNING MODALITIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• NARROW TOPIC: THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF LEARNING MODALITIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
• FOCUS TOPIC: THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF LEARNING MODALITIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE S.Y
2020-2021
• RESEARCH QUESTION: HOW DID THE TEACHERS ADAPT
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEARNING MODALITIES IN
THE PHILIPPINES DURING COVID-19 IN THE S.Y 2020-

18. WHAT TO AVOID IN WRITING
RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
• Underestimate time
• Set a question beyond the
assignment’s scope
• Use unclear wording
• Feel ‘stuck’ with a question

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