research question generator um library

Research Question Generator: Best Tool for Students

Stuck formulating a research question? Try the tool we’ve made! With our research question generator, you’ll get a list of ideas for an academic assignment of any level. All you need to do is add the keywords you’re interested in, push the button, and enjoy the result!

Now, here comes your inspiration 😃

Please try again with some different keywords.

Why Use Research Question Generator?

The choice of research topic is a vital step in the process of any academic task completion. Whether you’re working on a small essay or a large dissertation, your topic will make it fail or fly. The best way to cope with the naming task and proceed to the writing part is to use our free online tool for title generation. Its benefits are indisputable.

• The tool generates research questions, not just topics
• It makes questions focused on your field of interest
• It’s free and quick in use

Research Question Generator: How to Use

Using our research question generator tool, you won’t need to crack your brains over this part of the writing assignment anymore. All you need to do is:

• Insert your study topic of interest in the relevant tab
• Choose a subject and click “Generate topics”
• Grab one of the offered options on the list

The results will be preliminary; you should use them as an initial reference point and refine them further for a workable, correctly formulated research question.

Research Questions: Types & Examples

Depending on your type of study (quantitative vs. qualitative), you might need to formulate different research question types. For instance, a typical quantitative research project would need a quantitative research question, which can be created with the following formula:

Variable(s) + object that possesses that variable + socio-demographic characteristics

You can choose among three quantitative research question types: descriptive, comparative, and relationship-based. Let's consider each type in more detail to clarify the practical side of question formulation.

Descriptive

As its name suggests, a descriptive research question inquires about the number, frequency, or intensity of something and aims to describe a quantitative issue. Some examples include:

• How often do people download personal finance apps in 2022?
• How regularly do Americans go on holidays abroad?
• How many subscriptions for paid learning resources do UK students make a year?

Comparative

Comparative research questions presuppose comparing and contrasting things within a research study. You should pick two or more objects, select a criterion for comparison, and discuss it in detail. Here are good examples:

• What is the difference in calorie intake between Japanese and American preschoolers?
• Does male and female social media use duration per day differ in the USA?
• What are the attitudes of Baby Boomers versus Millennials to freelance work?

Relationship-based

Relationship-based research is a bit more complex, so you'll need extra work to formulate a good research question. Here, you should single out:

• The independent variable
• The dependent variable
• The socio-demographics of your population of interest

Let’s illustrate how it works:

• How does the socio-economic status affect schoolchildren’s dropout rates in the UK?
• What is the relationship between screen time and obesity among American preschoolers?

Research Question Maker FAQ

In a nutshell, a research question is the one you set to answer by performing a specific academic study. Thus, for instance, if your research question is, “How did global warming affect bird migration in California?," you will study bird migration patterns concerning global warming dynamics.

You should think about the population affected by your topic, the specific aspect of your concern, and the timing/historical period you want to study. It’s also necessary to specify the location – a specific country, company, industry sector, the whole world, etc.

A great, effective research question should answer the "who, what, when, where" questions. In other words, you should define the subject of interest, the issue of your concern related to that subject, the timeframe, and the location of your study.

If you don’t know how to write a compelling research question, use our automated tool to complete the task in seconds. You only need to insert your subject of interest, and smart algorithms will do the rest, presenting a set of workable, interesting question suggestions.

Research Question Generator for Free

If you’re looking for the best research question generator, you’re in the right place. Get a list of ideas for your essay, research paper, or any other project with this online tool.

• 🎓 How to Use the Tool
• 🤔 What Is a Research Question?
• 😺 Research Question Examples
• 👣 Steps to Making a Research Question

📝 Research Question Maker: the Benefits

🔗 references, 🎓 research question generator: how to use it.

Research can’t be done without a clear purpose, an intention behind it.

This intention is usually reflected in a research question, which indicates how you approach your study topic.

If you’re unsure how to write a good research question or are new to this process, you’ll surely benefit from our free online tool. All you need is:

• Indicate your search term or title
• Stipulate the subject or academic area
• Press “Generate questions”
• Choose a suitable research question from the generated list.

As you can see, this is the best research question generator requiring minimal input for smart question formulation. Try it out to see how simple the process is.

🤔 Why Make an Inquiry Question?

A research question is a question that you formulate for your scientific inquiry . It is a question that sets the scope for your study and determines how you will approach the identified problem, gap, or issue.

Questions can be descriptive , meaning they aim to describe or measure a subject of the researcher's interest.

Otherwise, they can be exploratory , focusing on the under-researched areas and aiming to expand the existing research evidence on the topic.

If there's enough knowledge about the subject, and you want to dig deeper into the existing trends and relationships, you can also use an explanatory research question.

What Makes a Strong Research Question?

The strength of your formulated research question determines the quality of your research, whether it’s a short argumentative essay or an extensive research paper . So, you should review the quality of your question before conducting the full-scale study.

Its parameters of quality are as follows:

• Clarity . The question should be specific about the focus of your inquiry.
• Complexity . It should not be self-obvious or primitively answered with a “yes” or “no” variant.
• Focus . The question should match the size and type of your academic assignment.
• Conciseness . It should be brief and understandable.
• Debatability . There should be more than one potential answer to the question.

😺 Research Question Examples: Good & Not So Good

Here are some examples to illustrate what we mean by quality criteria and how you can ensure that your question meets them.

Lack of Clarity

The bad example is too general and does not clearly estimate what effect you want to analyze or what aspect of video gaming you're interested in. A much better variant is in the right column.

Look at some other research question examples that are clear enough:

• Sex trafficking: why do we have to address it?
• Palliative care: what constitutes the best technique for technicians communication with patients and families?
• How do vacuum cleaners work?
• What does it mean to age well?

Lack of Focus

The bad example is not focused, as it doesn’t specify what benefits you want to identify and in what context the uniform is approached. A more effective variant is in the right column.

Look at some other research question examples that are focused enough:

• How are biochemical conditions and brain activity linked to crime?
• World wars and national conflicts: what were the reasons?
• Why does crime exist in society?
• Decolonization in Canada: what does decolonization mean?

The bad example is too simplistic and doesn’t focus on the aspects of help that dogs can give to their owners. A more effective variant is in the right column.

Look at some other research question examples that are complex enough:

• How is resource scarcity impacting the chocolate industry?
• What should the Brazilian government do about reducing Amazon’s deforestation?
• Why is a collaborative approach vital during a pandemic?
• What impact has COVID-19 had on the economy?
• How to teach handwriting effectively?

Lack of Debatability

The problem of diabetes is well-known and doesn’t cause any doubts. So, you should add debatability to the discussed issue.

Look at some other research question examples that are debatable enough:

• Online vs. print journalism: what is more beneficial?
• Why will artificial intelligence not replace human in near future?
• What are the differences between art and design?
• Crime TV: how is criminality represented on television?

The question in the left column is too long and ambiguous, making the readers lose focus. You can shorten it without losing the essence.

Look at some other research question examples that are concise enough:

• What is the best way to address obesity in the US?
• Doctoral degree in nursing: why is it important?
• What are the benefits of X-rays in medicine?
• To what extent do emotions influence moral judgment?
• Why did the Industrial Revolution happen in England?

👣 Steps to Generate Research Questions

Now, it’s time to get down from science to practice. Here is a tried-and-tested algorithm for killer research question generation.

• Pick a topic . Once you get a writing assignment, it’s time to find an appropriate topic first . You can’t formulate a thesis statement or research question if you know nothing about your subject, so it's time to narrow your scope and find out as much as possible about the upcoming task.
• Research the topic . After you’re brainstormed several topic options, you should do some research. This stage takes the guesswork out of the academic process, allowing you to discover what scholars and other respected people think about your subject.
• Clarify who your audience is . Think about who will read your piece. Will it be the professor, your classmates, or the general audience consisting of laypersons? Ensure the research question sounds competent enough for a professor and understandable enough for laypeople.
• Approach the subject critically . With a well-articulated topic at hand, you should start asking the "why's" and "how's" about it. Look at the subject as a kid; don't limit your curiosity. You're sure to arrive at some interesting topics to reveal the hidden sides of the chosen issue.
• Evaluate the questions . Now that you have a couple of questions about your topic, evaluate them in terms of research value. Are all of them clear and focused? Will answering all of them take time and research, or is the answer already on the surface? By assessing each option you’ve formulated, you’re sure to choose one leader and use it as your main research question for the scientific study.

Thank you for reading this article! If you need to quickly formulate a thesis statement, consider using our free thesis maker .

❓ Research Questions Generator FAQ

Updated: Jul 19th, 2024

• Developing research questions - Library - Monash University
• Formulation of Research Question – Stepwise Approach - PMC
• Examples of Good and Bad Research Questions
• How To Write a Research Question: Steps and Examples
• Narrowing a Topic and Developing a Research Question

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• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved September 16, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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Welcome to the University of Miami Libraries Guide for Researchers

This guide is intended for researchers at the University of Miami. It may also be helpful to researchers at other institutions, though some resources are limited to UM users per licensing agreements.

Your Research at the University of Miami

Scholarship@Miami is the institutional repository and research information hub for the University of Miami, featuring selected research and scholarly works prepared by faculty, students, and staff of the university and profiles of all University of Miami faculty and affiliated researchers.  Connect & Create Your ORCID iD Follow these steps to enable the University of Miami to connect with your ORCID account, or to create and then connect an account.

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Useful Resources

ClinicalTrials.gov: Learn About Clinical Studies Government database that contains a registry and results of federally and privately supported clinical trials. This guide explains what clinical research is and how it is conducted. Elsevier's Research Academ y Elsevier's online portal covering the research process, from study design to publication. How to Design a Research Study Emerald Publishing's comprehensive guide on how to design a research study, from choosing the appropriate methodological approach to sampling techniques and much more. National Science Foundation: A Guide for Proposal Writing These suggestions for improving proposals were collected from a variety of sources, including NSF Program Directors, panel reviewers, and successful grantees. While this Guide may provide valuable information for proposal writing in general, it was specifically prepared for programs in Division of Undergraduate Education. NIH Strategy for Research Funding (NAIAD) To secure funding for an NIH grant, you'll need sound guidance and a solid strategy. The Strategy takes you through all the steps from qualifying for NIH support to staying funded. Even more, it gives you specific "to do's" so you're prepared at every stage. Produced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. UResearch (University of Miami Office of Research Administration): Research Road Map UResearch portal is an integrated network of administrative support and educational opportunities to facilitate scholarly activity, scientific discovery, and the responsible conduct of research. Serves the UResearch community in all campuses. The Research Road Map was developed to assist the UM community to navigate its research enterprise.

Grants and Funding Resources

Funding at the National Science Foundation A guide to finding funding, preparing your proposal and submitting your proposal. Grants.gov Grants.gov provides an overview of the process to apply for federal grants. In order to apply for a grant, you and/or your organization must complete the Grants.gov registration process. SEARCH Grants.gov for your federal grants by keywords or more specific criteria.  GrantForward.com Search for funding opportunities spread across 39 subject areas and 2009 categories. Large Database of Sponsors comprising Foundation, Federal and Institutions. Set up alerts and get opportunities delivered straight to your inbox. National Endowment for the Arts Grants   Includes a first time applicant guide, an overview of the grant review process, a list of initiatives, and more. National Endowment for the Humanities Search all NEH grant programs and view past awards.  National Science Foundation Funding Search A database to search for funding opportunities from the NSF. NIH Grants and Funding The Office of Extramural Research provides the leadership, oversight, tools and guidance needed to administer and manage NIH grants policies and operations. This website provides guidance on the process of finding grants and funding.

NIH RePORTER Descriptions of biomedical research funded by the Food & Drug Administration & the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. Most of the research falls within the broad category of extramural projects, grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements conducted primarily by universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. Information includes an abstract of project, principal investigators, award type & activity, sponsor, & grant amount.

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Training opportunities  are available to the University research community.  Please view the calendar for upcoming classes.  Registration for training events is through  ULearn . The  ORA Newsletter is published quarterly. Past ORA announcements are archived.

University of Miami Libraries Subscription Grants Database

Pivot is a database of currently available grants, prizes, awards and other funding opportunities for researchers and scholars. Note: Off-campus users: please sign up for a new account at  https://pivot.proquest.com/register  using your miami.edu email address.

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NSF Public Access FAQ What is the NSF Public Access Policy? The NSF requires that either the version of record or the final accepted manuscript in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and papers in juried conference proceedings or transactions (also known as “juried conference papers”) be deposited in a public access compliant repository designated by NSF; be available for download, reading and analysis free of charge no later than 12 months after initial publication; possess a minimum set of machine-readable metadata elements in a metadata record to be made available free of charge upon initial publication; be managed to ensure long-term preservation; and be reported in annual and final reports during the period of the award with a persistent identifier that provides links to the full text of the publication as well as other metadata elements. For more information, see section 3.1 of “Today’s Data, Tomorrow’s Discoveries: Increasing Access to the Results of Research Funded by the National Science Foundation,” at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15052/nsf15052.pdf.

Tools to Help You Find Where to Publish

Open Access Funding at UM - The University of Mami Libraries have established publishing agreements (some are pilot programs) which provide researchers with qualifying articles the possibility of APC funding.

DOAJ  - The Directory of Open Access Journals DOAJ works to  to increase the visibility, accessibility, reputation, usage and impact of quality, peer-reviewed, open access scholarly research journals.  Listed journals must meet the DOAJ quality and integrity standards. Look up journals by topic, easlity see Journal processing fees and copyright/reuse policies JANE  - The Journal/Author Name Estimator Enter keywords or an entire abstract and JANE will suggest journals by comparing your input to millions of documents in PubMed to find the matching journals. Master Journal List Manuscript Matcher Curated tool to help you to find the right journal for your needs across multiple indices hosted on the Web of Science platform. Scopus Journal Analyzer Provides insight into journal performance and compares journal rankings. SPI-Hub  - The Vanderbilt Univesity Medical Center's Center for Knowledge Management This tool attempts to provide authors with information on journal quality, rigor, and transparency to aid informed decision making on publishing venues. Springer Journal Suggester Enter your manuscript details to see a list of Springer journals suitable for your research. Filter by open access status, impact factor, and more.

Think. Check. Submit.

Helpful resources.

Think, Check, Submit The Think, Check, Submit process will help you discover what you need to know when assessing whether or not a journal is a suitable venue for your research. Where to Publish Your Research: Identifying Potential Journals A guide from the Duquesne University Library

University of Miami Libraries Open Access Publishing Guide

Open Access Publishing Guide  

Where and How to Find Author Metrics

• Journal Citation Reports Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is a multidisciplinary database that presents statistical data useful for determining the relative importance of journals within 224 predefined subject categories.
• SCOPUS Covering the life, physical, health, and social sciences, Scopus is a large abstract and citation database of research literature and web sources.Scopus covers:  Over 15,000 peer-reviewed titles from more than 4,000 international publishers, including coverage of:  500 Open Access journals, 700 Conference Proceedings, 600 Trade Publications, 125 Book Series. More than 60% of titles are from countries other than the US Abstracts go back to 1966. References go back to 1996. 80% of content is indexed with controlled vocabularies. 100% coverage of Medline, including unique Medline journals. 28 million abstract records. 245 million references added to all abstracts. Scopus also covers 250 million quality web sources, including 13 million patents. Web sources are searched via Scirus, and include author homepages, university sites and resources such as the preprint servers CogPrints and ArXiv.org, and OAI compliant resources.
• Web of Science Citation Indexes Web of Science, published by Thomson Reuters, is a multi-disciplinary database that provides integrated access to over 8,000 key research journals indexed in: Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Science Citation Index, and Arts and Humanities Citation Index.There are two main ways to search the database: --- select General Search to search for articles by subject term, author name, journal title, or author affiliation --- select Cited Reference Search to search for articles that cite an author or article that you specify. Web of Knowledge features citation searching, email alerts, links to the full text of many items.
• Google Scholar @ UM Search Google Scholar with direct links to University of Miami Library Resources. Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations. Google Scholar helps you identify the most relevant research across the world of scholarly research. If you are within the UM campus or, if from Scholar Preferences you select the University of Miami Libraries, your Google Scholar results will include direct links to items available at UM.  If this information is in a subscription database, you will be prompted to log in with your CaneID username and password.

Terms to Know

Impact Factor: measure of the number of times an average paper in a journal is cited, during a year. Impact factor ranges and averages vary by discipline but, overall, higher impact factor values denote a journal has a greater impact. Used only for journals . H-Index: standard scholarly metric in which the number of published papers, and the number of times their author is cited, is put into relation. Overall, a higher h-index denotes an author or journal has been cited more often than a lower h-index. Used for researchers and journals . Altmetrics: short for "alternative metrics," used to describe non-traditional/emerging methods of research output, such as shares on social media sites. Used for individual publications.

Using Journal Citation Reports to Find Impact Factors

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Schedule an appointment with a member of the Ask a Librarian team who will meet with you online.

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Research Question Generator

List the substantives.

Make a list of all the relevant substantives (nouns) for your project. These include:

• Historical Periods/Eras/Epochs/Years/Events/Figures
• Methodologies

Plot the Substantives

If you have ten substantives on your list, draw a 10×10 grid. An Excel spreadsheet is handy if you have many substantives. List all ten substantives on the X axis. List all ten substantives again on the Y axis. Cross out the boxes where the values of X and Y are the same.

Questions to ask:

For each box in your grid, ask questions about the X and Y that intersect in that box. Some of the questions will be nonsensical. Some will be dead ends. But a few questions might help you generate the research question(s) that will drive your arguments.

Use the  list of critical verbs to help you refine the following questions.

• Does X impact/affect/change/cause/trigger/account for/facilitate/negate/repudiate/presuppose Y? If yes, how?
• If temporal, which comes first? Can you assume this temporal order (i.e., is it a “warrant” or a “given”) or do you have to make an argument about the temporal sequence?
• Causal? How does X cause Y? Can we assume that X causes Y (i.e., is it a “given” in your field) or do you have to make the case?
• Exemplary (in that X is an example of Y)? How typical is X as an example of Y? Do other scholars take it as given that X is an example of Y or do you have to make the case?
• Authorial? Did X write Y? Is authorship a given or do you have to make the case?
• What is the difference between X and Y?
• How does X represent/exemplify/reflect/invoke/articulate/interrogate/adapt/exemplify/incorporate/build on/obviate Y?
• What happens if we look at X through Y lens? (This question works well if Y is a methodology.)

Refining Your Grid

You may find in the course of asking and answering the questions that you need to subdivide a substantive into more granular categories. Conversely, you may find that you want to merge categories. For example, “medieval” and “book” might become a single substantive if you discover that you aren’t interested in anything other than the “medieval book.”

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Research Question Generator for Students

Our online topic question generator is a free tool that creates topic questions in no time. It can easily make an endless list of random research questions based on your query.

Can't decide on the topic question for your project? Check out our free topic question generator and get a suitable research question in 3 steps!

Please try again with some different keywords.

• 👉 Why Use Our Tool?

💡 What Is a Topic Question?

✒️ how to write a research question.

• 📜 Research Question Example

🔗 References

👉 why use our topic question generator.

Our research topic question generator is worth using for several reasons:

• It saves you time. You can develop many ideas and formulate research questions for all of them within seconds.
• It is entirely free. Our tool doesn’t have any limits, probation periods, or subscription plans. Use it as much as you want and don’t pay a cent.
• It is download- and registration-free. Use it in any browser from any device. No applications are needed. You also don’t have to submit any personal data.
• It’s easy to use. You can see an explanation for every step next to each field you need to fill in.
• You can easily check yourself. Spend a couple of seconds to check your research question on logic and coherence.

A research topic question is a question you aim to answer while researching and writing your paper. It states the matter you study and the hypothesis you will prove or disprove. This question shares your assumptions and goals, giving your readers a basic understanding of your paper’s content.

It also helps you focus while researching and gives your research scope and limitations. Of course, your research question needs to be relevant to your study subject and attractive to you. Any paper will lack an objective and specificity without an adequately stated research question.

Research Topic Vs. Research Topic Question

‘Research topic’ and ‘research question’ are different concepts that are often confused.

Research Question Types: Quantitative and Qualitative

Another essential differentiation to know – there are quantitative and qualitative research questions.

• Quantitative research questions are more specific and number-oriented. They seek clear answers such as “yes” or “no,” a number, or another straightforward solution. Example: How many senior high school students in New York failed to achieve the desired SAT scores due to stress factors?
• Qualitative research questions can be broader and more flexible. They seek an explanation of phenomena rather than a short answer. Example: What is the role of stress factors in the academic performance of high school senior students who reside in New York?

Now let’s get to know how to create your own research question. This skill will help you structure your papers more efficiently.

Step 1: Choose Your Research Topic

If you’ve already received general guidelines from your instructor, find a specific area of knowledge that interests you. It shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow. You can divide it into sub-topics and note them. Discuss your topic with someone or brainstorm to get more ideas. You can write down all your thoughts and extract potential issues from this paragraph or text.

Step 2: Research

After you’ve chosen a topic, do preliminary research . Search for keywords relevant to your topics to see what current discussions are in the scientific community. It will be easier for you to cross out those ideas that are already researched too well. In addition, you might spot some knowledge gaps that you can later fill in. We recommend avoiding poorly researched areas unless you are confident you can rely solely on the data you gather.

Step 3: Narrow Your Topic

At this stage, you already have some knowledge about the matter. You can tell good ideas from bad ones and formulate a couple of research questions. Leave only the best options that you actually want to proceed with. You can create several draft variations of your top picks and research them again. Depending on the results you get, you can leave the best alternatives for the next step.

Step 4: Evaluate What You’ve Got

Evaluate your topics by these criteria:

• Clarity . Check if there are any vague details and consider adjusting them.
• Focus . Your research matter should be unambiguous , without other interpretations.
• Complexity . A good topic research question shouldn’t be too difficult or too easy.
• Ethics . Your ideas and word choice shouldn’t be prejudiced or offensive.
• Relevance . Your hypothesis and research question should correspond with current discussions.
• Feasibility . Make sure you can conduct the research that will answer your question.

Step 5: Edit Your Research Question

Now you can create the final version of your research question. Use our tool to compare your interpretation with the one produced by artificial intelligence. Though you might change it based on your findings, you must create a perfect statement now. You need to make it as narrow as possible. If you don’t know how to make it more specific, leave it till you get the first research results.

📜 Research Question Generator: Examples

Compare a good and bad research question to understand the importance of following all rules:

Thank you for reading till the end. We hope you found the information and tool useful for your studies. Don’t forget to share it with your peers, and good luck with your paper!

Updated: Sep 13th, 2024

• The Writing Center | How to Write a Research Question | Research Based Writing
• How to Write a Research Question: Types, Steps, and Examples | Research.com
• Pick a Topic & Develop a Research Question – CSI Library at CUNY College of Staten Island Library

Research Question Generator Online

Are you looking for effective aid in research question formulation? Try our research question generator and get ideas for any project instantly.

• 🤖 How to Use the Tool

❗ Why Is a Research Question Important?

🔖 research question types & examples, 🗺️ how to generate a research question.

• 👀 More Examples
• 🔍 References

🤖 How to Use a Research Question Generator?

Struggling to develop a good research question for your college essay , proposal , or dissertation ? Don't waste time anymore, as our research question generator is available online for free.

Our tool is designed to provide original questions to suit any subject discipline.

Generate your questions in a few easy steps as shown below:

• Add your research group and the influencing factor.
• Indicate your dependent variable (the thing you’re planning to measure).
• Add the optional parameters (the second research group and the time frame).
• Look at the examples if necessary.

Once you get the initial results, you can still refine the questions to get relevant and practical research questions for your project.

The main importance of formulating a research question is to break down a broad topic and narrow it to a specific field of investigation . It helps you derive a practical knowledge of the topic of interest. The research question also acts as a guiding structure for the entire investigation from paragraph to paragraph. Besides, you can define research issues and spot gaps in the study.

The research questions disclose the boundaries and limitations of your research, ensuring it is consistent and relevant. Ultimately, these questions will directly affect the research methods you will use to collect and analyze data. They also affect the process of generating a thesis statement . With a checker proposal, you can also polish your research question to ensure it aligns with the research purpose.

The research writing process covers different types of questions, depending on the depth of study and subject matter. It is important to know the kind of research you want to do; it will help you in the formulation of an effective research question. You can select quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies to develop your questions.

Let us explore some of these question types in detail to help you choose a workable option for your project:

Quantitative Research Questions

Quantitative questions are specific and objective, providing detailed information about a particular research topic . The data you collect from this research type is quantifiable and can be studied using figures.

These questions also delineate a relationship between the research design and the research question.

Quantitative questions focus on issues like:

• "How often"
• "How intense"
• "Is there a statistical relationship"

They illustrate the response with numbers.

In addition, quantitative questions help you to explore existing patterns in data from a specific location or context. The collected information allows researchers to make logical and data-driven conclusions.

This type of research question can be classified further into 3 categories.

Descriptive Research Questions

Such questions seek to describe a quantifiable problem and investigate the numbers, rates, or intensity of the issue. They are usually used to write descriptive papers .

Comparative Research Questions

As the name suggests, comparative questions intend to compare and contrast two or more issues in a research project. These questions are used in comparative papers . To formulate such a question, identify two or more variables, choose a standard for comparison, and present an in-depth discussion.

Let's look at a few examples.

Relationship-based Research Questions

Relationship-based questions reveal and identify a connection between two or more research variables . Such questions entail a dependent variable, an independent variable, and a socio-demographic of the population you are interested in studying.

Qualitative Research Questions

Qualitative research questions are open-ended and aim to explore or explain respondents' subjective meanings and experiences . You can't measure the data you collect from a qualitative research question in figures, as it's mostly narrative. Some of the common types include those described below.

Exploratory Research Questions

These questions investigate a particular research topic without any assumptions.

Explanatory Research Questions

These questions examine the reasons and find connections between existing entities.

Mixed Methods Studies

When you combine quantitative and qualitative research questions, you will get a mixed-method research study . It answers your research question more comprehensively since it combines the advantages of both research methods in a pragmatic study .

This mixed study can focus on quantitative data (score comparison with attitude ranking) and qualitative insights from student interviews about attitudes.

We have outlined a few steps to generate exceptional questions for students who don't know how to write them effectively.

👀 More Research Question Examples

• Why do minorities delay going to the doctor?
• What makes humans mortal genetically?
• Why and how did the US get involved in the Korean War?
• The virus COVID-19: what went wrong?
• What is cancel culture, and can it go too far?
• How do human infants acquire a language?
• Eastern vs. Western religions: what’s the difference?
• Why is capitalism better than socialism?
• What do Hamlet and Oedipus have in common?
• How does language influence our world?
• Competence for nurses: why is it important?
• COVID-19 pandemic: what we can learn from the past?

❓ Research Question Generator FAQ

❓ how to form a research question.

You should select an interesting topic related to the subject you are studying. Carry out preliminary research with our research question generator online and pick the question from the list of offered suggestions. Refine the question until you are satisfied with the result.

❓ What makes a good research question?

An effective research question should focus on a single issue and clearly state the research direction you will take. The topic should neither be too broad nor too narrow – just enough to keep you focused on the main scope of the study. Also, it should be answerable with a comprehensive analysis.

❓ How to find the research question in an article?

In an academic article, the research question is usually placed at the end of the introduction, right before the literature review. At times, it may be included in the methods section – after the review of academic research.

❓ How to write a quantitative research question?

Identify what claim you want to make in your research purpose. Choose a dependent variable, an independent variable, and a target population, and formulate the assumed relationship between the variables for that respondent group. Ensure the data you collect is measured within a specific context.

🔗 References

• Types of Research Questions With Examples
• Developing research questions - Library - Monash University
• Research Question - Research Guide - LibGuides
• How To Write a Research Question: Steps and Examples
• How to Write a Research Question - GMU Writing Center

PICOT Research Question Generator

Welcome to the PICOT Research Question Generator! My name is Eric Heidel, PhD, PStat, and I am an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) as well as an Accredited Professional Statistician. I have taught the PICOT ( Population , Intervention , Comparator , Outcome , and Time ) framework for creating research questions to thousands of medical professionals over the past 14 years (see About page; opens in new window). I created the PICOT Research Question Generator to help researchers create valid research questions using the PICOT framework.

You will be prompted below to choose one of four potential statistical objectives for your PICOT question. Then, you will enter text related to your PICOT question into text boxes that reflect each of the five PICOT components. Finally, you will click on a button and the PICOT Research Question Generator will present the following:

• Your PICOT question
• Your null and alternative hypotheses
• Your independent variable
• Your dependent variable
• The statistical test used to answer your PICOT question

It should take you less than five minutes to complete the web form below. If you want to create a PICOT research question related to between-subjects, within-subjects, correlational, multivariate, interventions, prevention, prognosis, diagnosis, or etiology, please use the PICOT question examples page (opens in new window). You can also use the full version of the PICOT Research Question Generator, which will take you between 15-20 minutes to complete (opens in new window). Or, check out the page that shows how PICOT can be "mapped" onto 21 popular statistical tests by visiting the PICOT question and statistics page (opens in new window).

Please Like or Share this website on Facebook! Thank you for using the PICOT Research Question Generator!

What is the statistical objective of your PICOT question?

What is the statistical objective of your PICOT research question? Choose an option below and then select the answers that best fit your statistical objective.

The PICOT Question

Population and picot.

In the text box below, enter text describing the population for your study in general terms and click on the Submit button.

Intervention and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the intervention that is being administered and click on the Submit button.

Comparator and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the comparator that is being administered and click on the Submit button.

Outcome and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the outcome that will be measured for in your study and click on the Submit button.

Time and PICOT

In the text box below, enter text describing the time frame for your study and click on the Submit button.

Your PICOT Question

Click on the button below to generate your PICOT question, research hypotheses, independent and dependent variables, and statistical tests.

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Video published by Academic Skills, The University of Melbourne

• Research Question Generator A tool to help you develop your research question.
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• Developing a Research Question - University of Michigan

University of Texas - How to Generate Search Terms

• << Previous: Literature Review and Quality
• Next: Reference Management Tools >>
• Last Updated: Sep 11, 2024 10:26 AM
• URL: https://libguides.broward.edu/BSC4848

Think Like a Researcher: Instruction Resources: #6 Developing Successful Research Questions

• Guide Organization
• Overall Summary
• #1 Think Like a Researcher!
• #2 How to Read a Scholarly Article
• #3 Reading for Keywords (CREDO)
• #4 Using Google for Academic Research
• #4 Using Google for Academic Research (Alternate)
• #5 Integrating Sources
• Research Question Discussion
• #7 Avoiding Researcher Bias
• #8 Understanding the Information Cycle
• #9 Exploring Databases
• #10 Library Session
• #11 Post Library Session Activities
• Summary - Readings
• Summary - Research Journal Prompts
• Summary - Key Assignments
• Jigsaw Readings
• Permission Form

Course Learning Outcome:   Develop ability to synthesize and express complex ideas; demonstrate information literacy and be able to work with evidence

Goal:  Develop students’ ability to recognize and create successful research questions

Specifically, students will be able to

• identify the components of a successful research question.
• create a viable research question.

What Makes a Good Research Topic Handout

These handouts are intended to be used as a discussion generator that will help students develop a solid research topic or question. Many students start with topics that are poorly articulated, too broad, unarguable, or are socially insignificant. Each of these problems may result in a topic that is virtually un-researchable. Starting with a researchable topic is critical to writing an effective paper.

Research shows that students are much more invested in writing when they are able to choose their own topics. However, there is also research to support the notion that students are completely overwhelmed and frustrated when they are given complete freedom to write about whatever they choose. Providing some structure or topic themes that allow students to make bounded choices may be a way mitigate these competing realities.

These handouts can be modified or edited for your purposes.  One can be used as a handout for students while the other can serve as a sample answer key.  The document is best used as part of a process.  For instance, perhaps starting with discussing the issues and potential research questions, moving on to problems and social significance but returning to proposals/solutions at a later date.

• Research Questions - Handout Key (2 pgs) This document is a condensed version of "What Makes a Good Research Topic". It serves as a key.
• Research Questions - Handout for Students (2 pgs) This document could be used with a class to discuss sample research questions (are they suitable?) and to have them start thinking about problems, social significance, and solutions for additional sample research questions.
• Research Question Discussion This tab includes materials for introduction students to research question criteria for a problem/solution essay.

Additional Resources

These documents have similarities to those above.  They represent original documents and conversations about research questions from previous TRAIL trainings.

• What Makes a Good Research Topic? - Original Handout (4 pgs)
• What Makes a Good Research Topic? Revised Jan. 2016 (4 pgs)
• What Makes a Good Research Topic? Revised Jan 2016 with comments

Topic Selection (NCSU Libraries)

Howard, Rebecca Moore, Tricia Serviss, and Tanya K. Rodrigues. " Writing from sources, writing from sentences ." Writing & Pedagogy 2.2 (2010): 177-192.

Research Journal

Assign after students have participated in the Developing Successful Research Topics/Questions Lesson OR have drafted a Research Proposal.

Think about your potential research question.

• What is the problem that underlies your question?
• Is the problem of social significance? Explain.
• Is your proposed solution to the problem feasible? Explain.
• Do you think there is evidence to support your solution?

Keys for Writers - Additional Resource

Keys for Writers (Raimes and Miller-Cochran) includes a section to guide students in the formation of an arguable claim (thesis).  The authors advise students to avoid the following since they are not debatable. 

• "a neutral statement, which gives no hint of the writer's position"
• "an announcement of the paper's broad subject"
• "a fact, which is not arguable"
• "a truism (statement that is obviously true)"
• "a personal or religious conviction that cannot be logically debated"
• "an opinion based only on your feelings"
• "a sweeping generalization" (Section 4C, pg. 52)

The book also provides examples and key points (pg. 53) for a good working thesis.

• << Previous: #5 Integrating Sources
• Next: Research Question Discussion >>
• Last Updated: Apr 26, 2024 10:23 AM
• URL: https://libguides.ucmerced.edu/think_like_a_researcher

University of Tasmania, Australia

Systematic reviews for health: 1. formulate the research question.

• Handbooks / Guidelines for Systematic Reviews
• Standards for Reporting
• Registering a Protocol
• Tools for Systematic Review
• Online Tutorials & Courses
• Books and Articles about Systematic Reviews
• Finding Systematic Reviews
• Critical Appraisal
• Library Help
• Bibliographic Databases
• Grey Literature
• Handsearching
• Citation Searching
• 1. Formulate the Research Question
• 2. Identify the Key Concepts
• 3. Develop Search Terms - Free-Text
• 4. Develop Search Terms - Controlled Vocabulary
• 5. Search Fields
• 6. Phrase Searching, Wildcards and Proximity Operators
• 7. Boolean Operators
• 8. Search Limits
• 9. Pilot Search Strategy & Monitor Its Development
• 10. Final Search Strategy
• 11. Adapt Search Syntax
• Documenting Search Strategies
• Handling Results & Storing Papers

Step 1. Formulate the Research Question

A systematic review is based on a pre-defined specific research question ( Cochrane Handbook, 1.1 ). The first step in a systematic review is to determine its focus - you should clearly frame the question(s) the review seeks to answer  ( Cochrane Handbook, 2.1 ). It may take you a while to develop a good review question - it is an important step in your review.  Well-formulated questions will guide many aspects of the review process, including determining eligibility criteria, searching for studies, collecting data from included studies, and presenting findings ( Cochrane Handbook, 2.1 ).

The research question should be clear and focused - not too vague, too specific or too broad.

You may like to consider some of the techniques mentioned below to help you with this process. They can be useful but are not necessary for a good search strategy.

PICO - to search for quantitative review questions

Richardson, WS, Wilson, MC, Nishikawa, J & Hayward, RS 1995, 'The well-built clinical question: A key to evidence-based decisions', ACP Journal Club , vol. 123, no. 3, pp. A12-A12 .

We do not have access to this article at UTAS.

A variant of PICO is PICOS . S stands for Study designs . It establishes which study designs are appropriate for answering the question, e.g. randomised controlled trial (RCT). There is also PICO C (C for context) and PICO T (T for timeframe).

You may find this document on PICO / PIO / PEO useful:

• Framing a PICO / PIO / PEO question Developed by Teesside University

SPIDER - to search for qualitative and mixed methods research studies

Cooke, A, Smith, D & Booth, A 2012, 'Beyond pico the spider tool for qualitative evidence synthesis', Qualitative Health Research , vol. 22, no. 10, pp. 1435-1443.

This article is only accessible for UTAS staff and students.

SPICE - to search for qualitative evidence

Cleyle, S & Booth, A 2006, 'Clear and present questions: Formulating questions for evidence based practice', Library hi tech , vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 355-368.

ECLIPSE - to search for health policy/management information

Wildridge, V & Bell, L 2002, 'How clip became eclipse: A mnemonic to assist in searching for health policy/management information', Health Information & Libraries Journal , vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 113-115.

There are many more techniques available. See the below guide from the CQUniversity Library for an extensive list:

• Question frameworks overview from Framing your research question guide, developed by CQUniversity Library

This is the specific research question used in the example:

"Is animal-assisted therapy more effective than music therapy in managing aggressive behaviour in elderly people with dementia?"

Within this question are the four PICO concepts :

S - Study design

This is a therapy question. The best study design to answer a therapy question is a randomised controlled trial (RCT). You may decide to only include studies in the systematic review that were using a RCT, see  Step 8 .

See source of example

Need More Help? Book a consultation with a  Learning and Research Librarian  or contact  [email protected] .

• << Previous: Building Search Strategies
• Next: 2. Identify the Key Concepts >>
• Last Updated: Sep 16, 2024 9:56 AM
• URL: https://utas.libguides.com/SystematicReviews

Systematic Review

• Library Help
• What is a Systematic Review (SR)?
• Steps of a Systematic Review
• Framing a Research Question
• Developing a Search Strategy
• Searching the Literature
• Managing the Process
• Meta-analysis
• Publishing your Systematic Review

Developing a Research Question

_______________________________________________________________________

Watch the 4 min. video on how to frame a research question with PICO.

___ ______ ______________________________________________________________

Frameworks for research questions

Further reading:

Methley, A. M., Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C., McNally, R., & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2014). PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: A comparison study of specificity and sensitivity in three search tools for qualitative systematic reviews.   BMC Health Services Research, 14 (1), 579.

• << Previous: Steps of a Systematic Review
• Next: Developing a Search Strategy >>
• Last Updated: Sep 15, 2024 11:32 AM
• URL: https://lib.guides.umd.edu/SR

Research Tutorial

• Library Research Tutorial
• What Is a Thesis Statement?
• Topic Development
• Improve Your Research Question
• Good and Bad Research Questions
• Video Review
• Sources for Background Reading
• What about Wikipedia?
• Related Terms
• Subject Terms
• Boolean Searching
• Advanced Searching Techniques
• Definition of "Scholarly"
• Subject Guides
• Individual Databases
• Open Access Resources
• Google Scholar
• USMAI Book Search
• Evaluation of Sources
• Academic Writing
• Writing Resources
• Citing Sources
• Citation Formats
• Citation Resources
• Academic Integrity
• Research on the Job

What Is a Research Question?

A research question is the main question you propose to answer in your research paper. While formulating a research question may initially seem to the easiest part of conducting research, it may cost you valuable hours if you begin your research without a clear focus. Research questions...

• Are a preliminary step of the research process
• Are specific and guide you through your research
• Are iterative and may change during the course of your research and writing
• Save you time , allowing for more focused research
• << Previous: Library Research Tutorial
• Next: What Is a Thesis Statement? >>
• Last Updated: Jun 25, 2024 11:46 PM
• URL: https://libguides.umgc.edu/research-tutorial

• Report Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment
• My UM-Flint Portal

There are many resources available to discover internal and external funding opportunities. The UM-Flint Library provides access to Pivot, Dimensions Plus and the Foundation Directory Online. Every internal opportunity available to faculty across all 3 U-M campuses is listed in the Research Commons.  The UM Library has created a comprehensive research funding and grants guide and UM Foundation Relations has a funding guide that provides information on the priorities of sponsors who have funded projects with the university. Michigan Research Experts is a valuable resource that profiles faculty and areas of expertise across all three campuses, allowing for searches across publications, grants, clinical trials and patent activity. UM faculty curate their own profiles in the system and add content, including social media.

Faculty Funding

To find experts, existing funding, and collaborations across all three UM campuses, search the Michigan Research Experts . 

• Foundation Directory Online
• Dimensions Plus
• UM-Flint funded awards and programs
• Research Commons (UM-wide)
• UM Library Research Funding and Grants Guide
• UM Foundation Relations Funding Guides

Student Funding

Several donors to UM-Flint have expressed an interest in encouraging student research and generously donated funds to provide support for student-initiated research and for travel to attend professional conferences. These endowed funds provide support for original student research ideas and are intended to encourage individual or group work. Visit Student Funding for more information on funds available, eligibility, and how to apply. 

Office of Research

The Office of Research is actively involved in supporting internal and external proposal writing, from budget preparation and pre-award administration, to research development, proposal writing and editing, and identifying and supporting research collaborations, tech transfer and commercialization, developing research partnerships with industry and community organizations.

The Office of Research is actively involved in supporting internal and external proposal writing, from budget preparation and pre-award administration, to research development, proposal writing and editing, identifying and supporting research collaborations, tech transfer, and commercialization, and developing research partnerships with industry and community organizations. Research Development, Proposal Writing and Collaboration Department Contact: Ken Sylvester at [email protected] Successful grant writing begins with good ideas. Who will benefit? Why is the idea innovative? Successful submissions often emerge from projects already substantially underway. If you are convinced about the potential, write a short one- or two-page pre-proposal. Reach out to mentors and colleagues and seek feedback. The earlier we know in the Office of Research, the more analysis and review we can contribute to help develop the idea. Want to look at sample applications? Need help with budgeting personnel costs, fringe, equipment, materials, travel, publications, subcontracts, consultant costs, indirect costs, letters of commitment, resubmission, formatting a biosketch, writing a cover letter, or budget justification? Let us help analyze your draft proposals, review narratives, send you checklists, budget templates, or answer questions about NIH, NSF, HRSA, or other sponsor requirements.   Innovation Partnerships Department Contact: Ken Sylvester at [email protected]

Innovation Partnerships is responsible for the commercialization of inventions based on UM intellectual property. We have the expertise, resources, and connections to help your ideas reach their full potential. We are part of a university-wide collaboration to create an environment that encourages exploration, discovery, innovation, and risk-taking. Our work is a partnership with inventors and market partners to assess, develop, and unleash the power of your discoveries. For more information on this process, visit Innovation Partnerships . Pre-Award and Post-Award Management Department Contact: Jennifer Klimowicz (pre-award) at [email protected] and Joanne DeVore (post-award) at [email protected]

Pre-Award covers anything related to a proposal’s creation and submission, prior to any notice of award. The following items provide basic guidance about resources and tools available to assist in proposal submission:

• Budgeting Resources
• Unfunded Agreement (UFA) 
• Proposal Approval Form (PAF)
• Proposal Review Checklists

Post-Award comprises everything that happens to administer a research project, following the official award being received. This includes adhering to your reporting milestones, steadily spending your budget, monitoring subcontracts, hiring students, or managing the absence of a project team member. The following information is intended to provide guidance and assist units in effectively managing research grants and other sponsored projects with their departments.

• Post-Award Administration
• Grant Accounting
• Sponsor Payments and Reporting
• Post-Award Checklist
• M-Reports for Grant Spending
• Paying People from Sponsored Projects
• Effort Reporting
• Release Time and Course Buyouts

Human Subject Incentive Payments (HSIP) Department Contact: Joanne DeVore at [email protected] A human subject incentive payment is a payment given to an individual as compensation for participating in a research study. At the University of Michigan, the Human Subject Incentive Program (HSIP) staff oversees and administers the payment process. If you need subject incentives, please complete the HSIP request form . Online Survey Research with Qualtrics Department Contact: Andre Louis at [email protected] Qualtrics is a powerful tool for creating and distributing online surveys, data storage, and analysis. The University of Michigan has purchased a system-wide site license for this service, available to campus for use. To create a Qualtrics account, visit: umich.qualtrics.com and log in using your U-M credentials. NOTE: You must be an active U-M employee or student to use Qualtrics.

NOTE: You must be an active U-M employee or student to use this service.

Research Question Generator

Contributed by.

Developed for the University of Connecticut's "Research Now!" online curriculum. This worksheet is designed as a tool to narrow a student's topic in order to write a refined research question.

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