BY DAY 6 OF WEEK 6, WEEK 7, AND WEEK 8

Respond to 
at least four of your peers by asking a question about their identified traits, adding more detail and/or context to their identified traits, or by answering their question. 
Post again to check in with your cohort by asking a question related to writing strong research questions, sharing an experience, responding to someone else, or adding helpful links and resources related to research questions and the Module 2 Assignment.

SOPHIA

Identify and describe two traits of strong research questions.

Good questions for research have specificity, clarity, relevance, testability, and ethical considerations ( Barroga & Matanguihan, 2022). The studies establish connections with established theoretical frameworks, have well-defined research aims, and hold substantial relevance to the specific field. They also demonstrate feasibility and the potential for quantifiable outcomes. Their guidance facilitates the research process and plays a significant role in enhancing the understanding of the topic. Two traits of strong research questions are that the question or questions are testable and measurable.

Testable: Research questions can be tried and answered in the real world by research ( Saesen et al., 2023). They should not be just academic or hypothetical. An essential component of the research process is a testable research question. It is a guide for developing research questions, gathering information, and coming to findings. To effectively support empirical inquiry, it must satisfy the requirements mentioned earlier.

Measurable: The question should produce outcomes or variables that can be measured or scored using the right tools and methods. A measurable research question is well-defined, observable, and quantifiable. It guides a research study, allowing researchers to collect and analyze data to address the question’s specific issues.

Ask any questions you have about the traits of strong research questions.

Can a research question be changed as the study goes on?

Are research questions only in a question format?

References

Barroga, E., & Matanguihan, G. J. (2022). A practical guide to writing quantitative and qualitative research questions and hypotheses in scholarly articles. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 37(16).

Saesen, R., Van Hemelrijck, M., Bogaerts, J., Booth, C. M., Cornelissen, J. J., Dekker, A., … & van der Graaf, W. T. (2023). Defining the role of real-world data in cancer clinical research: The position of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. European Journal of Cancer, 186, 52-61.

Goldschmidt, G., & Matthews, B. (2022). Formulating design research questions: A framework. Design Studies, 78, 101062.

Díaz, O., & Contell, J. P. (2022). Developing research questions in conversation with the literature: operationalization & tool support. Empirical Software Engineering, 27(7), 174.

Chen, S., Sharma, G., & Muñoz, P. (2023). In pursuit of impact: From research questions to problem formulation in entrepreneurship research. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 47(2), 232-264.

LINDA

Based on Ratan, S., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019), Formulation of Research Question: Stepwise Approach, Journal of the Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, 24(1), 15–20. https://doi.org/10.4103/jiaps.jiaps_76_18: 

Specificity and relevance are two essential traits of solid research questions, as highlighted in Ratan, Anand, and Ratan’s (2019) article on the formulation of research questions.

1.
Specificity: A decisive research question should focus on a particular aspect of the research topic. Specificity helps narrow the study’s scope, making it more manageable and ensuring that the research remains on track. A specific research question provides clear guidance for the research process, from defining the objectives to collecting and analyzing data. It allows researchers to delve deeply into a well-defined area, drawing meaningful conclusions and generating actionable insights.

2.
Relevance: Another crucial trait of a decisive research question is relevance. The question should be related to the research topic and contribute to addressing a significant issue or gap in knowledge. It should be evident why the research question matters and how it aligns with the broader context of the field. A relevant research question ensures that the study has a clear purpose and that the findings have implications for advancing understanding or solving practical problems.

Researchers may have several questions about these traits of substantial research questions:

·
How do I ensure the right level of specificity? Striking the balance between specificity and generality can be challenging. I may wonder how detailed their research question should be without becoming too narrow, limiting the scope of their study.

·
What makes a research question relevant? Determining the relevance of a research question may involve considering its potential impact on the field, its alignment with existing literature, and its significance for addressing real-world issues. I may seek guidance to assess the relevance of their research questions effectively.

·
Can research questions evolve during the research process? I may wonder if it is acceptable to refine or adapt research questions as the study progresses and new insights emerge. Flexibility in adjusting research questions can be beneficial, but it should be done thoughtfully to maintain the overall coherence of the study.

·
How do disciplinary differences affect research question traits? Different academic disciplines may have varying expectations regarding the specificity and relevance of research questions. I may inquire about tailoring these traits to fit the conventions of their respective fields.

·
What if my research question does not fit these traits perfectly? I might encounter situations where my research questions must neatly align with these traits. I may seek guidance on whether such questions can still be considered strongly and how to navigate such scenarios.

Ultimately, understanding and applying the traits of specificity and relevance in research questions are crucial for designing studies that are focused, meaningful, and capable of producing valuable insights. I should create research questions that guide my work effectively and contribute to advancing knowledge in my study of “An Exploration of the Psychosocial and Clinical Factors Influencing the Health-Seeking Behaviors and Decision-Making Processes of Elderly African American Males Regarding Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening and Therapy.” 

SHELLON

Identify and describe two traits of strong research questions.

 Two traits of strong research questions are:

·
Critical thinking, according to (Scharf, 2021), aids in helping to move researchers’ thinking forward. Scharf (2021) explains that asking essential analytic questions through critical thinking provides a theoretical model of elements of thought such as point of view, basic concepts, implications, assumptions, purpose, and inferences. Good questions provide focus and clarity to one’s research and are vital to learning and building knowledge for the study (Freeman et al., 2014).

·
Interest– researchers should be interested in their research question while exploring and providing sound academic and intellectual debate (Browner et al., 2022). The process may be challenging, but focusing on an interesting, strong research question could motivate researchers to move forward in their pursuit of the study.

Ask any questions you have about the traits of strong research questions.

While reading several articles about the formulation of research questions and given the vast information about such, I noticed that there are many traits that researchers should consider, such as:

· Feasible

· Interesting

· Novel

· Ethical

· Relevant

· Manageable

· Appropriate

· Potential value

· Systematic

· Focus

My question: Should I, a novice researcher, consider all the above while formulating my research questions/s? Or should my focus be specific depending on my research topic?  

References:

Browner, W. S., Newman, T. B., Cummings, S. R., & Grady, D. G. (2022). 
Designing clinical research. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M. P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. 
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 
111(23), 8410-8415. 

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1319030111Links to an external site.

Scharf, D., & Dera, J. (2021). Question formulation for information literacy: Theory and practice. 
The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 
47(4), 102365. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102365

CARRIE

Research Questions:

Two important essential traits of a strong research question
 are that it should be 
Clear and 
Focused, as well as synthesize multiple sources to present a unique argument.
 (Ratan, S. K., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019).  Strong and essential traits of research questions must be as
 clear as
 possible to be effective in helping the writer direct his or her research. 
Focus is another essential trait in creating a strong research question that must be specific enough to be well covered in the space available. A good research question forms the backbone of good research, in return, it is vital in unraveling mysteries of nature and giving insight into a problem. A good RQ also helps to support a focused arguable thesis and construction of a logical argument. In developing strong research questions, one must create an effective topic. The most successful research topics are narrowly focused and carefully defined but are important parts of a broad-ranging, complex problem.” (Ratan, S. K., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019).

A good RQ is an asset as it entails several characteristics, which are stated below:

· It provides details of the problem statement.

· It further describes and refines the issue of the study.

· It adds focus to the problem statement.

· It also guides data collection and analysis.

· Finally, it sets the context of research.

(Ratan, S. K., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019).

Ask any questions you have about the traits of strong research questions:

My research questions: Why does a research question have to consist of no more than 12 words? In creating a strong research question are we allowed to use more than two essential traits in the research question?

Reference:

Ratan, S. K., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019). Formulation of Research Question – Stepwise Approach. 
Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, 
24(1), 15–20. 

https://doi.org/10.4103/jiaps.JIAPS_76_18