Every day, many researchers visit our website in search of a reliable and trustworthy printing service for their work. Naturally, our team is here to offer advice based on our experience. We also cover other topics related to research and literature on our blog, and since you’ve come this far wanting to know more about research questions, here’s everything you need to know on the subject.
What are research questions and why are they essential?
If you’re wondering what research questions are for, they introduce the central focus of the research; in other words, they set out the subject of the study to be carried out. These are questions that drive the research and help define the scope of the work,
Not only are they essential for guiding the research process, but they must also be explicit, clear and supported by empirical data or based on a clear research methodology.
These questions are answered as the project progresses and provide a clear framework: what is the research question to be addressed and what is the scope of the study; what variables are involved in answering the question; and which audience, population, sectors or area of focus are relevant.
Another key point about these questions is that they are not set in stone; they may change as the research progresses. If the data analysed or the results obtained necessitate a revision of the hypotheses, the focus of the questions also shifts. Furthermore, questions can take various forms, as we shall see below.
Tipos de preguntas de investigación
In any research project, there are various key questions that can be classified into different categories. These categories determine the focus of the study depending on the answers sought. Generally, these types can be classified as descriptive, explanatory and exploratory questions.
Descriptive questions
Descriptive questions address issues such as what, when, where or who. They are very straightforward and do not seek to establish causality, but simply aim to provide an answer that adequately addresses the purpose of the study.
Explanatory questions
Explanatory approaches, on the other hand, go further and seek to establish causality; in other words, they address questions such as ‘why’ or ‘what are the causes’ that explain the subject of the research in a logical and rational manner.
Exploratory questions
A third type consists of exploratory questions, which aim to delve deeper into areas or phenomena that have been little studied. Through these, researchers seek to uncover patterns or relationships between processes and topics that may lead to a more comprehensive study.
How to formulate a good research question
There are various approaches to formulating effective research questions, but one of the most effective is to follow the FINER method, which stands for ‘Feasible’, ‘Interesting’, ‘Novel’, ‘Ethical’ and ‘Relevant’. The FINER approach is characterised by asking questions that:
- Feasible: that can be achieved using the means, resources, knowledge and technology available to the researchers.
- Interesting: these questions are useful not only for researchers, but also for other colleagues, the scientific and research community, and society at large.
- Innovative: the subject matter will contribute new insights and perspectives to the field of study.
- Ethics: these are questions that have been validated by the scientific community and endorsed by prestigious bodies with sufficient authority.
- Relevant: this can be synonymous with ‘interesting questions’, but adds the element of substance and significance to the research.
Now you know why research questions are so important. They help to focus on the phenomenon under study and clarify the entire research process. It is vital to analyse these questions thoroughly and make adjustments as results come in, because the more comprehensive this work is, the better the data and answers you will gather, and the greater the chances that the project will be successful.
