This document provides guidance on writing different types of quantitative research questions, including descriptive, comparative, and relationship/correlation questions. It defines key terms like independent and dependent variables. It also provides examples and step-by-step instructions for constructing each type of research question, focusing on choosing appropriate starting phrases, identifying relevant variables, and incorporating groups or populations of interest. The overall aim is to help students understand how to structure well-formed quantitative research questions for their own studies.

1. WEEK 5 -
Writing Research Questions
Adapted from the original slides by:
Josephine Patiño - Latip

2. Learning Objectives
At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
1.differentiate between independent variables and
dependent variables
2.differentiate between descriptive RQ, comparative RQ
and relationship/correlation RQ.
3. demonstrate the steps in constructing the 3 types of
RQ
4. use the appropriate language for the 3 types of RQ
5. write RQs for a descriptive quantitative paper

3. VARIABLES

4. Quantitative research questions are based on one of
three basic approaches to examining the variables
the researcher is interested in:
3 basic approaches
• Describing = descriptive RQ
• Comparing = comparative RQ
• Relating = relationship/correlation RQ

5. Variable 1 / Independent Variable
and
Variable 2 / Dependent Variable
An independent variable is something that you control (Descriptive
research) or manipulate (experimental research) in order to
observe the relationship(descriptive) or effect (experimental) it
has on a dependent variable.
It may also be referred to as Variable 1 in a Quantitative
Research (Creswell, 2009)
The dependent variable (sometimes called an outcome variable),
is something that you measure as it tends to demonstrate
changes or differences.
It may also be referred to as Variable 2 in a Quantitative
Research (Creswell, 2009)

6. A. Descriptive Quantitative RQ
• Descriptive RQ = aims to quantify the variables in the RQ.
Thus, the answer to the RQ should be presented in
numerical form.
• The RQ usually begins with:
How much….?
How often…? to quantify
What percentage…?
What proportion…?

7. Descriptive Quantitative RQ
Examples:
1. How many (or what proportion) of these university
students are male or female? (Answer in number)
2. What is the average age of secondary school students
who have a Facebook account? (Answer in number)
3. How frequently do students use Facebook each week?
(Answer in number)

8. CAUTION:
Descriptive Qualitative RQ
• Descriptive RQ = aims to describe the variables in the RQ. This kind of RQ is open-ended and
are not looking for basic, simple answers (You can get various answers to the questions).
Thus, they are not required in this course.
• Descriptive Qualitative RQ usually begins with:
What is…?
What are ….?
For Example:
You are interested in examining Facebook usage amongst students
in IIUM. You should be careful when asking questions like:
1. What are the reasons they joined Facebook in the first place? (because you may get various
answers like to connect with friends, to store all their photos in one place, etc.).
2. What are the factors that encourage students to join Facebook? (you will get many different factors
that you will have problems to quantify)
3. What do students think about advertising in Facebook? ( there are many reasons that you may
have difficulties to report)
* You may proceed if the reasons, factors and thoughts are obtained from a replicated survey (s).
Otherwise, you may be facing a complex set of invalid data.

9. EXAMPLES…

10. Descriptive Quantitative RQ
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the use of Facebook among IIUM
students.
Research
Question:
How often do IIUM students use Facebook each week?
(‘often’ indicates that your answer is in frequency)
Variable 1/IV: IIUM students
Variable 2/DV : Weekly Facebook usage

11. Descriptive Quantitative RQ
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the use of Facebook among IIUM
students.
Research
Question:
How frequent do male and female IIUM students
upload photos and comment on other users’
photos on Facebook each week? (‘frequent’
indicates that your answer is in frequency)
Variable 1/IV:
1. Male, IIUM students
2. Female, IIUM students
Variable 2/DV :
1. Weekly photo uploads on Facebook
2. Weekly comments on other users’ photos on
Facebook

12. Descriptive Quantitative RQ to replicate
a study
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the most favourable criterion
used by IIUM students to choose a career.
Research Question:
What is the most favourable criterion used by
Malaysian learners of IIUM when they apply for
a job?
(most favourable indicate answer may be in
percentage)
Variable 1/IV: IIUM Malaysian students
Variable 2/DV : Criteria for career choice

13. Descriptive Quantitative RQ to replicate
a study
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the social network sites
regularly visited by Malaysian IIUM students
Research
Question:
What proportion of Malaysian female IIUM
students use the top 5 social networks?
(Answer in percentage)
Variable 1/IV:
Female, Malaysian IIUM students
Variable 2/DV :
Use of top 5 social networks (i.e. Facebook,
MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Classmates)

14. B. Comparative Quantitative RQ
• Comparative RQ = aims to examine the differences between two or more
variables 1 (V1) and one or more variables 2 (V2)
• The RQ usually begins with:
1.What is/are the difference(s) … ?
2.Is there a difference between ….?
Example:
The researcher is interested in examining Facebook usage amongst
students in IIUM.
Possible RQs:*
1. Is there a difference in the Facebook usage patterns (V2) of male (V1) and
female students (V1)?
2. What are differences in the reasons that encourage students to join
Facebook (V2) between male (V1) and female students (V2)?
3. Is there a difference between the Facebook usage patterns (V2) of male
students (V1) and female students (V1)?

15. EXAMPLES

16. Examples of comparative
research questions
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the usage behaviour on Facebook
among Malaysian IIUM students.
Research
Question:
What are the differences in usage behaviour on
Facebook between Malaysian male and female IIUM
students?
Variable 1/IV:
1. Male, Malaysian IIUM university students
2. Female, Malaysian IIUM university students
Variable 2/DV:
Usage behaviour on Facebook (e.g. logins, weekly photo
uploads, status changes, commenting on other users’
photos, app usage, etc.)

17. Examples of comparative
research questions
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the daily calorific intake of Malaysians.
Research
Question:
What is the difference in the daily calorific intake of
Malaysian men and women?
Variable 1/IV:
1. Malaysian men
2. Malaysian women
Variable 2/DV:
Daily calorific intake

18. Examples of comparative
research questions
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the usage behaviour on Facebook among
Malaysian IIUM students.
Research
Question:
Is there a difference in the weekly photo uploads on
Facebook between Malaysian male and female IIUM
students?
Variable 1/IV:
. Male, Malaysian IIUM students
2. Female, Malaysian IIUM students
Variable 2/DV:
Weekly photo uploads on Facebook

19. Examples of comparative research
questions
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the level of acceptance towards Internet
banking security between adolescents and pensioners.
Research Question:
Is there a difference in the level of acceptance towards
Internet banking security between adolescents and
pensioners?
Variable 1/IV:
1. Adolescents
2. Pensioners
Variable 2/DV:
Perceptions towards Internet banking security

20. Examples of comparative research
questions
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the acceptance level of IIUM students
towards music piracy when pirated music is freely
distributed or purchased.
Research Question:
What are the differences in the acceptance level of
Science students towards music piracy when pirated
music is freely distributed or purchased?
Variable 1/IV:
1. Freely distributed pirated music
2. Purchased pirated music
Variable 2/DV:
Attitudes towards music piracy

21. C. Relationship/Correlation RQ
• Relationship RQ = aims to identify if there exists any
relationship/ correlation/ association between one or more
independent variables and one or more dependent
variables (usually only one).
• The RQ usually begins with:
1.Is there a relationship…?
2.What is the relationship…?

22. Relationship/ correlation RQ
Example:
The researcher is interested in examining Facebook
usage amongst students in IIUM.
Possible RQ:
1.Is there a correlation between the major of the students
(IV) and the frequency of using Facebook (DV)?
2.What is the relationship between the frequency of using
Facebook (IV) and the students’ CGPA (DV)?

23. MORE EXAMPLES

24. Examples of relationship-based/ correlation research
questions are:
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the relationship between study
time and exam scores amongst university
students.
Research Question:
Is there a correlation between study time and
exam scores amongst university students?
Variable 1/IV: Study time of university students
Variable 2/DV: Exam scores

25. Examples of relationship-based/ correlation research
questions are:
General Purpose
statement
To investigate the relationship between career
prospects, salary and benefits, and physical
working conditions with job satisfaction of
managers.
Research Question:
What is the relationship between career prospects,
salary and benefits, and physical working
conditions with job satisfaction of managers?
Variable 1/IV:
1. Career prospects
2. Salary and benefits
3. Physical working conditions
Variable 2/DV:
Job satisfaction of managers

26. Examples of relationship-based/ correlation research
questions are:
General Purpose
statement
To investigate music piracy amongst
adolescents.
Research Question:
What is the relationship between gender and
attitudes towards music piracy amongst
adolescents?
Variable 1/IV:
Gender of adolescents
Variable 2/DV:
Attitudes towards music piracy

27. Let’s practise.

28. Steps required in structuring
Descriptive Quantitative Research
Questions
1. Choose your starting phrase
You can start descriptive research questions with any of the
following phrases:
How many…
How often…
How frequently…
How much…
What percentage…
What proportion…
To what extent…
What is the most/ the highest…

29. Some of these starting phrases are highlighted in blue
text in the examples below:
• How many calories do Malaysian men and women consume per
day?
How often do Malaysian IIUM students use Facebook each
week?
What are the most important factors that influence the career
choices of IIUM Malaysian students?
What proportion of IIUM male and female students use the top 5
social networks?
What percentage of Malaysian men and women exceed their
daily calorific allowance?

30. 2. Identify and name the dependent variable
All descriptive research questions have a dependent variable.
You need to identify what this is.
However, how the dependent variable is written out in a research
question and what you call it are often two different things.
In the following examples, the name of the dependent variable is
illustrated and how it would be written out is highlighted in the
blue text.

31. Name of the dependent
variable
How the dependent variable is written out
Daily calorific intake
How many calories do Malaysian men and women
consume per day?
Daily calorific intake
What percentage of Malaysian men and women
exceed their daily calorific allowance?
Weekly Facebook usage
How often do IIUM students use Facebook each
week?
Factors influencing career
choices
What are the most important factors that influence
the career choices of IIUM Malaysian students?
Use of the top 5 social
networks
What proportion of IIUM male and female
university students use the top 5 social networks?

32. 3. Identify the group(s) or the independent
variable (s) you are interested in
All descriptive research questions have at least one group, but can have
multiple groups. You need to identify this group(s).
In the examples below, we have identified the group(s) in the green text
1.How many calories do Malaysian men and women consume per
day?
2. How often do IIUM students use Facebook each week?
3.What are the most important factors that influence the career
choices of IIUM students?
4. What proportion of IIUM male and female students use the top
5 social networks?
5. What percentage of Malaysian men and women exceed their
daily calorific allowance?

33. 4. Decide whether the dependent variable or
group(s) should be included first, last or in two
parts
Sometimes it makes more sense for the dependent variable to
appear before the group(s) you are interested in, but sometimes
it is the opposite way around.
The following examples illustrate this, with the group(s) in green
text and the dependent variable in blue text:
Group 1st; dependent variable 2nd:
How often do IIUM students use Facebook each week?
Dependent variable 1st; group 2nd:
What are the most important factors that influence the career
choices of Malaysian IIUM students?

34. 5. Include any words that provide greater context to
your question
• Sometimes the name of the dependent variable provides all the
explanation we need to know what we are trying to measure.
Take the following examples:
How many calories do Malaysian men and women consume per day?
How often do IIUM students use Facebook each week?
In the first example, the dependent variable is daily calorific intake (i.e.
calories consumed per day). Clearly, this descriptive research question
is asking us to measure the number of calories Malaysian men and
women consume per day.
In the second example, the dependent variable is Facebook usage per
week.
Again, the name of this dependent variable makes it easy for us to
understand that we are trying to measure the often (i.e. how frequently;
e.g. 16 times per week) IIUM students use Facebook.

35. 6. Write out the descriptive research question
Once you have these details –
(1)the starting phrase,
(2) the name of the dependent variable,
(3) the name of the group(s)/ independent variable(s) you
are interested in, and
(4) any potential joining words – you can write out the
descriptive research question in full. :

36. Steps in Writing Comparative Research
Questions
Number of dependent
variables
Starting phrase
Two What is the difference in…
Three or more What are the differences in
1. Decide the starting phrases
Comparative research questions typically start with one of two phrases:
Some of these starting phrases are highlighted in blue text in the
examples below:
What is the difference in the daily calorific intake of Malaysian men and
women?
What is the difference in the weekly photo uploads on Facebook
between IIUM male and female university students?

37. 2. Identify and name the dependent and independent
variables
All comparative research questions have a dependent variable
and independent variable. You need to identify what they are.
However, how the dependent variable is written out in a research
question and what you call it are often two different thing
In the examples below, we have illustrated the name of the
dependent variable and highlighted how it would be written out in
the blue text. The independent variable is in red.

38. Name of the dependent
variable
How the dependent variable is
written out
Daily calorific intake
What is the difference in the daily
calorific intake of Malaysian men
and women?
Perceptions towards Internet
banking security
What are the differences in
perceptions towards Internet
banking security between
adolescents and pensioners?
Attitudes towards music
piracy
What are the differences in attitudes
towards music piracy when pirated
music is freely distributed or
purchased?
Weekly Facebook photo
uploads
What is the difference in the weekly
photo uploads on Facebook
between IIUM male and female
students?

39. Name of the
independent variable
Starting phrase
Two What is the relationship between…
Three or more What are the relationships of…
Steps required to construct a
Relationship/Correlation - based research
question
Is there a relationship between gender and attitudes towards music
piracy amongst adolescents?
What is the relationship between study time and exam scores
amongst university students?
What is the relationship between career prospects, salary and
benefits, and physical working conditions and the job satisfaction of
managers.
1. State the starting phrase

40. 2. Identify and name the independent and dependent
variable
• What is the relationship between gender and attitudes
towards music piracy amongst adolescents?
• What is the relationship between study time and exam scores
amongst university students?
What is the relationship of career prospects, salary and
benefits, and physical working on job satisfaction between
managers and non-managers
IV
DV

41. 3. Identify the appropriate adjoining text
Number of groups Adjoining text
One
amongst…
[e.g. group 1]
Two or more
between…
of…
[e.g. group 1 and group 2]
What is the relationship between gender and attitudes towards music
piracy amongst adolescents?
What is the relationship between study time and exam scores amongst
university students?
What is the relationship of career prospects, salary and benefits, and
physical working conditions on job satisfaction between managers and
non-managers

42. 4. Write out the relationship-based research
question
Once you have these details
(1) the starting phrase,
(2) the name of the dependent variable,
(3) the name of the groups/ independent variables,
(4) any potential adjoining words –
you can write out the relationship-based research question

43. Task
• Evaluate the RQs seen in Sample 1 and 2.
Discuss them with your lecturer
• With your partner, formulate the possible
research questions for your own study.
You must refer to the SOtP and research
purpose that you have drafted so that there is
a link/flow between the SOtP, research
purpose and RQs.

44. References:
•http://dissertation.laerd.com/how-to-structure-quantitative-resea
•http://dissertation.laerd.com/types-of-quantitative-
research-question.php#two