This document outlines the process for formulating a research question. It defines what constitutes a research question and how it differs from a topic or hypothesis. It discusses sources that can inspire research questions, such as clinical experience, mentors, literature reviews, conferences, and previous research experience. The document also presents the FINER criteria for evaluating research questions - they should be Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant. Common problems to avoid, such as questions that are too broad or narrow or unethical, are also covered. Finally, the next steps of conducting a literature review and refining the question and study design are outlined.

1. How to Formulate
a Research Question
Dr. Bassem S. Kurdi, MBBS
Demonstrator
Department of Pediatrics
Faculty of Medicine, KAU

2. Objectives
 What is a research question?
 Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
 Sources for the RQ
 What makes a good RQ?
 Common problems in RQs
 What’s after the RQ
 References

3. Objectives
INSPIRATION!

4. What is a Research Question?
 The first methodological step to resolve a
scientific uncertainty.
 It is an organized and more specific
inquisitive statement of the topic under study
that can be translated into a research project
 “The single most important component of a
study... It is the keystone of the entire
exercise” (1)

5. Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest Topic RQ Hypothesis

6. Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
 Interest: A general interest in a specific field
 Topic: A broad idea requiring further analysis
– Could include population, variables, etc.
 RQ: Brings a piece of the topic into focus
 Hypothesis: A tentative explanation that
accounts for a set of facts and can be tested.
– Conjectural statement that identifies the predicted
relationship between two or more variables. (2)

7. Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest: Endocrinology. Type II DM.
Topic: Vit. D3 and its relationship to Type II DM
RQ: Does administration of 4’000 IU of Vit. D3
daily in addition to Metformin in adults with
newly diagnosed T2DM improve glycemic
control, compared to Metformin alone?
Hypothesis: Our expected answer for the RQ!

8. The Hypothesis!
Terms of interest: (3)
 Null Hypothesis: Ho
– Innocent till proven guilty
 Alternative Hypothesis: H1
 Directional vs. Non-directional Hypothesis
N.B. PICO Clinical Question in EBM

9. It’s Only the Beginning!

10. Sources for the RQ
 Clinical Experience
 Mentor
 Literature Overview
 Conferences
 Research Experience

11. Clinical Experience
 Parents of infants with colic use caraway to
sooth their babies. A primipara mother asks
you if this home remedy a safe and effective
treatment for her newborn child.

12. Mentor
 Discuss ideas with an experienced physician
in the area of your interest.
 Other benefits.
 Do your homework

13. Literature Overview
 Journals: Pediatrics, NEJM, JAMA, Saudi
Medical Journal, etc.
 Online Databases: MedLine. PubMed,
Google Schoolar
 Local university publications database
 Don’t re-invent the wheel!

14. Conferences
 Latest updates in the field
 Abstracts book
 Meeting the experts

15. Research Experience
 One’s previous research experience
 Do one and it will lead you to another

16. What Makes a Good RQ?
FINER Criteria (4)
 Feasible
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant

17. FINER: Feasible
 Time. Can this be done in a reasonable time
frame for me?
 Money. Can sufficient funding be collected?
Is it too expensive?
 Population. Can a large enough sample size
be secured?
 Skills. Are any special skills required and
available?
 Resources. Can I secure the required
resources?

18. FINER: Interesting
 Is it interesting to me?
 Is it interesting to others around me?
 Is it interesting to journal editors?

19. FINER: Novel
 Don’t reinvent the wheel
 Am I addressing something new?
 Am I addressing something old in a new
way?

20. FINER: Ethical
 Are there any ethical issues?
 What are the risks vs. benefits?
 Will my Local Research Ethics Committee
accept the proposal?

21. FINER: Relevant
 What will it add to the existing body of
knowledge?
 Will the results be applicable?
 Will the results be generalizable?

22. FINER is Fine!

23. Common Problems
 Reinventing the wheel: Review literature
thoroughly, give it a new spin
 Ethically questionable: Local research
committee
 Question too broad or too narrow: revise your
question. Discuss with a mentor
 Unavailable resources: patient records,
money, investigations: Allah m3ak!
 Unsupportive faculty: find someone else!

24. What’s Next?
 Extensive literature review
 Revise your RQ and Hypothesis
 Determine variables and confounding factors
 Discuss your project with an expert
 Check local university & college policies
 Proceed to study design

25. References
1. Bordage G, Dawson B. Experimental study design
and grant writing in eight steps and 28 questions.
Med Educ. 2003;37(4):376-85
2. Geri LoBiondo-Wood & Judith Haber. Nursing
Research: Methods and Critical Appraisal for
Evidence-Based Practice, 7th Edition
3. Steps Statistical Glossary v1.1
http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/index.html
4. Hulley SB, Cummings SR, eds. Designing clinical
research. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1998

26. How to Formulate a Research Question
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