In order to write a good research paper, you first need to have a good research question. It will guide your paper and direct you towards what you want to find out. Because of this, it is crucial that you start with a strong research question.

A good research question is...

• Focused on a single problem or issue

• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources

• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints

• Specific enough to answer thoroughly

• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis

• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

Choose a broad topic​

Do some preliminary reading to find out about topical debates and issues

Narrow down a specific niche that you want to focus on

Identify a practical or theoretical research problem that you will address

The Steps

When writing a research question, it is important to make sure that the question can be fully answered within the requirements of the project. Since the Extended Essay has a maximum word count of 4,000 it is important to make sure your question can be answered within those parameters. You need to ensure that your questions is...

Can I Research That?

Focused on a single topic and problem​

You must be able to find an answer by collecting quantitative and/or qualitative data, or by reading scholarly sources on the topic to develop an argument. If such data is impossible to access, you will have to rethink your question and ask something more concrete.

Answerable using primary or secondary data

Avoid subjective words like good, bad, better and worse, as these do not give clear criteria for answering the question. If your question is evaluating something, use terms with more measurable definitions.

Does not ask for a subjective value judgement

Your central research question should follow from your research problem to keep your work focused. If you have multiple questions, they should all clearly relate to this central aim.

Answerable within practical constraints

Make sure you have enough time and resources to do the research required to answer the question. If you think you might struggle to gain access to enough data, consider narrowing down the question to be more specific.

Uses specific, well-defined concepts

All the terms you use in the research question should have clear meanings. Avoid vague language and broad ideas, and be clear about what, who, where and when your question addresses.

Does not ask for a conclusive solution, policy, or course of action

Research is about informing, not instructing. Even if your project is focused on a practical problem, it should aim to improve understanding and suggest possibilities rather than asking for a ready-made solution.

Cannot be answered with yes or no

Closed yes/no questions are too simple to work as good research questions — they don’t provide enough scope for investigation and discussion.

Cannot be answered with easily found facts and figures

If you can answer the question through a Google search or by reading a single book or article, it is probably not complex enough. A good research question requires original data, synthesis of multiple sources, interpretation and/or argument to provide an answer.

Addresses a problem relevant to your field or discipline

The research question should be developed based on initial reading around your topic, and it should focus on addressing a problem or gap in the existing knowledge.

Has not already been answered

You don’t have to ask something groundbreaking that nobody has ever thought of before, but the question should have some aspect of originality (for example, by focusing on a specific location or taking a new angle on a long-running debate).

Provides scope for debate and deliberation

The answer to the question should not just be a simple statement of fact: there needs to be space for you to discuss and interpret what you found. This is especially important in an essay or research paper, where the answer to your question often takes the form of an argumentative thesis statement.

Contributes to a topical social or academic debate

The question should aim to contribute to an existing debate — ideally one that is current in your field or in society at large. It should produce knowledge that future researchers or practitioners can build on.

Adapted from ​https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-questions/