Guidelines for Asking Research Questions
I - Scientific Inquiry
Inquiry refers to the ways in which scientists study the natural world and in which new knowledge is produced.
Types of questions you might ask about the natural world:
- Questions that require value judgments, a “yes” or “no” answer.
- Questions that require describing something using already known facts to answer them.
- Questions that require making observations, then generalizations or conclusions.
A research question asks: "What relationship exists between two or more variables?" It expresses a possible, clearly stated relationship between these variables, and the question implies possibilities for an experiment to test the relationship. Research questions are often stated as hypothesis: the prediction of a relationship between two or more variables. Classical scientific methods include hypothesis forming and testing to resolve scientific questions and build theories. A hypothesis might be tested repeatedly and thus evolve into a theory. Generating and testing hypotheses provides important practice in risk taking and divergent thinking.
Click here for examples of an ecological research question and a related ecological theory.
II - Generating your research questions
Research questions should be grounded in observations of the phenomena in habitats nearby, and reading published reports and discussion about the phenomena. Discussion can be useful in helping to develop and refine questions.
Once you have your research topic and overarching purpose, such as an investigation of nearby forested park habitat, clearly in mind, you can start framing your research questions and generate a simple model of the important factors you think directly affect the subject. Try developing several questions related to your topic, and then choose one that best fits. Rephrase your question until it is:
- analytical, requiring analysis of data
- focused and based upon previous information on the topic to prevent a superficial discussion
- somewhat explanative or predictive of expected results
In the process of carrying out your research, additional questions may be raised that in turn lead to further hypotheses.
