Writing+a+Research+Question

After you have worked out what your broad research topic is, you need to set yourself your research question. Before you do this, spend some time exploring your broad topic to find out what really interests you about it.


 * The key to a successful Research Project is developing a workable and interesting research question that is neither too large nor too narrow **.

As a general rule, if entire books have been written on a subject, then your question is too large; there is no way you will be able to address it adequately within the limits of the Research Project. You will simply end up with lots of fact that show little analysis.

If your question is too narrow, you will find it difficult to find good, credible, information. This is why it is important to investigate possible sources of information before you start.

For example, if you choose Juvenile Delinquency as your broad topic, you might ask the following questions:

a. What is the 2010 rate of juvenile delinquency in Australia?b. What can we do to reduce juvenile delinquency in Australia?c. Does education play a role in reducing juvenile delinquents' return to crime?

The best research question is "c." Question "a" is too narrow, since it can be answered with a simple statistic. Question "b" is too large; it implies that the researcher will cover many tactics for reducing juvenile delinquency that could be used throughout the country. Question "c," on the other hand, is focused enough to research in some depth.

**1. Divide into groups and look at the following research questions. Decide which ones are too narrow, too large or shows good potential for a Research Project. Share your decisions with the rest of the class.** Can I make a profit on the Australian stock market? What are the essential skills and knowledge a beginner needs to successfully enter the Australian stock market? How do I make a profit on the Australian stock market?
 * Group 1 **

How can I help educate young people about safety and security on social networking sites? What is the impact of social networking sites? What does Google need to do to improve online safety? Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with more developed skills? Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with more highly developed language skills? Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with larger vocabularies?
 * Group 2 **
 * Group 3 **

What are the 14 different disease-causing genes that were discovered in 2010? What is the importance of genetic research in our lives? How might the discovery of a genetic basis for obesity change the way in which we treat obese persons?
 * Group 4 **

What are the effect of salinity on plants? How can plants be grown successfully using water with a high salt concentration? Is it possible to grow native plants using bore water supply that is slightly saline?
 * Group 5 **

Can I train my dog in 1 term? What are the different ways to train dogs and which is the best method? What are some of the effective techniques to provide basic training for a dog?
 * Group 6 **

**2. Download this document onto your H Drive or your USB. Use the questions starters as a guide for developing a deep research question.**



**3. Write the first draft of your Research Question into your Research Journal. Show it to at least 2 other people, particularly someone who knows about your topic. Go back and redraft your question taking these other opinions into account.**