{"id":357,"date":"2025-08-20T05:27:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T09:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/chapter\/creating-a-research-question-canadian-undergraduate-research-network\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T06:03:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T10:03:23","slug":"creating-a-research-question-canadian-undergraduate-research-network","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/chapter\/creating-a-research-question-canadian-undergraduate-research-network\/","title":{"raw":"Creating a Research Question – Canadian Undergraduate Research Network","rendered":"Creating a Research Question – Canadian Undergraduate Research Network"},"content":{"raw":"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Creating a Research Question<\/h1><\/header>\n\n
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Why do we conduct research? Each researcher may have a different instinct\/reason but they are all searching for answers. One thing is for sure, you won\u2019t find any answers if you don\u2019t start with a question. Here you will find resources for creating your very own research question.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Steps to Creating a Research Question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. What is a Research Question?<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A research question guides your research, and it must be narrow as it is supposed to target only one area. A research question aims to explore an existing uncertainty in a specific topic (Ratan et al., 2019). Developing a narrow, concise research question is the first step in any research project, no matter how big or small (Writing Research Questions: Purpose & Examples, 2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Questions to Ask Yourself While Creating Your Research Question.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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  1. What is the specific issue or concern that I want to investigate?<\/li>
  2. What do I want to know about that issue or concern?<\/li>
  3. What do I already know about this issue or concern? Do I know enough about this topic, or do I need to read more about what people have found about this topic in the issue or concern?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    After answering the above questions and getting familiar with what research has been done in the past on your topic of choice, you should create a research question and ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Is my research question answerable?<\/li>
    2. Is my research question complex?<\/li>
    3. Is my research question too broad?<\/li>
    4. Is my research question too narrow?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      A research question must be answerable, but it should not be too simple (cannot have a yes or no answer). Also, your research question must not be too broad or too narrow. A research question should investigate a specific issue or concern. To develop a research question, the researchers must know precisely what they want to know about that issue or concern, and they must be familiar with the research that has been done to investigate this issue or concern in the past (George Mason University, 2018; Writing Research Questions: Purpose & Examples, 2013<\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      3. Properties of a Proper Research Question<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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      4. How to Create a Research Question?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n