The depth of a dissertation directly depends on how its author formulates the research question. This element is the foundation of scholarly work, as it determines the course of the researcher’s activity. That is why it is crucial to understand the principles of identifying and formulating this question. In this article, we have prepared a set of recommendations that will help you choose the right direction for your research and avoid potential mistakes.
What is a research question?
Before moving on to the algorithm of searching for and formulating a research question, it is necessary to clarify its meaning and the functions it performs.
A research question – is a clear, specific, and open-ended inquiry that guides a research project by defining its direction. In other words, it reflects the purpose of the researcher’s activity.
A good research question for a dissertation should be:
- clear and informative
- focused on a single problem rather than covering several at once
- valuable for the academic field and other scholars
- relevant
- analytical rather than descriptive (i.e., answering it requires thorough analysis)
- capable of generating further research
What is the difference between a research question and a hypothesis?
In addition to research questions, scholars often use hypotheses in their academic work. It is therefore essential to understand the difference between these two concepts.
| Criterion | Research Question | Hypothesis |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A question that identifies what the researcher wants to explore or investigate | A statement about the expected result of the study |
| Formulation | Expressed as a question | Expressed as a declarative sentence |
| Purpose | Defines the direction and focus of the research | Offers a possible answer to the research question |
| Nature | Open, neutral, does not imply a specific answer | Specific, implies a concrete result |
| Verification | Cannot be directly tested | Can be tested and confirmed/refuted |
| Stage of research | Formulated at the beginning of the study | Formulated after literature analysis, based on theory |
| Structure | Begins with interrogative words | Contains independent and dependent variables, assumes a relationship between them |
| Examples | “How does stress affect students’ academic performance?” | “High levels of stress negatively affect students’ academic performance” |
| Justification | Arises from a problem or knowledge gap | Based on theoretical foundations and prior studies |
| Outcome | Guides the process of data collection and analysis | Either confirmed or refuted by the results |
Formulating a research problem: step-by-step algorithm
There are several simple steps that can help you determine which aspect to study and how to properly frame it as a research question.
1. Literature analysis
First of all, it is necessary to analyze the academic works of other scholars in your field and identify gaps in knowledge. This way, you can pinpoint topics that require additional investigation and refinement.
To do this, you should familiarize yourself with articles, monographs, dissertations, and other types of work. This will help you understand the current state of your scientific field. You can achieve this using scientometric databases such as Scopus or Web of Science, or search engines like Google Scholar.
During the analysis, ask yourself questions such as:
- What key topics and problems have already been studied in your field?
- Which methods or approaches are most commonly used in existing studies?
- Are there contradictions or inconsistencies in previous findings?
- Which aspects of the topic remain underexplored or not addressed at all?
- Is it possible to apply new methods or approaches to existing problems?
- Which knowledge gaps could your research fill?
- Are there current trends that may influence the direction of your study?
2. Narrowing the research focus
This stage is extremely important, as it is here that a preliminary version of the research question is formulated. To do this, it is necessary to clearly define the scope of the study: determine which discipline or field your problem belongs to, what methods will be used to address it, and specify the spatial and temporal context.
It is important to avoid overly broad questions, as they can dilute the focus of the research and complicate its proper execution.
3. Practical and theoretical significance
It is also essential to clearly define the significance of your research for both theory and practice. This helps explain why your question is worth studying and how it will contribute to the development of science and practice.
- theoretical significance: indicate how your research question contributes to deepening knowledge in your discipline. For example, will it help fill gaps in the literature, refine or expand existing theories, or offer a new perspective on the problem?
- practical significance: explain how answering your research question can be applied in practice. For instance, will it help solve a specific problem in a given field (education, healthcare, economics, etc.), influence policy-making, or improve processes and technologies?
4. Consultation with your academic supervisor
Finally, when you have a draft version of your research question, you should definitely consult with your supervisor. Discuss whether the question addresses gaps in the literature, which methodology is most suitable for solving it, and whether sufficient resources are available for its implementation. Obtain feedback on improving the formulation and advice on the next steps to ensure a solid foundation for your research.
By following our recommendations, you will be able to choose the right direction for your dissertation and correctly formulate your research question. This will provide a clear focus for your work and contribute to its successful completion.
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