RESEARCH QUESTION

INDEXDEFINITION

IMPORTANCE

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES

What is a research question?

A question which the research sets out to answer.

Importance of a research question

Help refine broad topics into researchable variables

Characteristics of a good research question.

Relevant (relate to the topic)

Interesting

Focused and specific

Researchable

Example or research questions

Broad topic Narrowed topic

Focused topic Research question

Women’s health

Women and cancer

Women smokers and breast cancer

Is cigarette smoking associated with breast cancer risk?

Computer games

Computer game violence

Computer game violence and children

How does violence incomputer games affectchildren?

Eatingdisorders

Teenagers andeating disorders

Teen peerpressure and bulimia

What role, if any, doespeer pressure play in thedevelopment of bulimiaamong teens?