Writing a R esearch Question

1. Writing a Research Question RHET 201 Spring 2011

2. What is a research question? A research question is a focused, clear, complex and arguable question that will serve as the basis for your research. You are not just writing a “report” on a topic of interest. You are investigating a complex issue that can be looked at from different perspectives and investigated through different disciplinary or theoretical lenses. It is important that you chose an issue and a question that captures your interest. Have a specific, clearly articulated and well articulated research question will help you to avoid taking on a topic that is too broad, too narrow or vague and unfocused.

3. Steps to developing a research question: Choose an interesting topic. Often a research project will start with a broad topic which has to be narrowed down in the process of defining a researchable question. Do some preliminary research on your general topic: generate key words, search in the academic databases. Also in the more sophisticated newspapers and magazines (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The BBC, Time, Newsweek etc.)

4. Assess the scholarly and popular conversations As you look at scholarly sources and newspaper and magazine sources, what can you learn about the conversations, issues and debates related to your topic of interest? Who’s “talking” (and writing) about it? What are the points of tension, agreements and disagreements? What grabs your attention and makes you want to know more?

5. Evaluating your research question Clarity: Can others understand your question and imagine a coherent path forward for your investigation? Focus: Be sure your question is specific and that have narrowed enough of necessary parameters to make it manageable in the time you have and the number of pages you will write. Complexity: A question that can be answered yes or no or that can be satisfied with simple facts, is not complex enough.