This document discusses research questions, defining them as questions researchers aim to answer. It notes the importance of research questions is that they help refine broad topics into specific, researchable variables. The document also outlines characteristics of good research questions, such as being relevant, interesting, focused, and able to be researched. It provides examples of how broad topics can be narrowed into more defined research questions.

1. RESEARCH QUESTION
M.C.Masatu, MD, MSc, PhD

2. OUTLINE
 DEFINITION
 IMPORTANCE
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 EXAMPLES

3. What is a research question?
A question which the research sets out to
answer

4. Importance of a research question
Help refine broad topics into researchable
variables

5. Characteristics of a good research
question
 Relevant (relate to the topic)
 Interesting
 Focused and specific
 Researchable

6. Example or research questions
Broad topic Narrowed topic Focused topic Research question
Women’s health Women and cancer Women smokers Is cigarette smoking
and breast cancer associated with breast
cancer risk?
Computer games Computer game Computer game How does violence in
violence violence and computer games affect
children children?
Eating Teenagers and Teen peer What role, if any, does
disorders eating disorders pressure and bulimia peer pressure play in
the
development of bulimia
among teens?