Questions: Research Question Formulation

Question 1

A student writes: 'Climate change is primarily caused by human activity, as demonstrated by rising CO2 levels.' What kind of statement is this?

• A. A well-formed research question because it identifies a specific topic and provides evidence
• B. A thesis statement, not a research question, because it argues a predetermined conclusion
• C. An over-scoped question that needs narrowing
• D. A topic statement that needs to be converted into a question

Answer: (B)

A research question expresses genuine uncertainty and guides investigation; a thesis argues a position. This statement commits to a conclusion ('primarily caused by human activity') before any research begins, which is the defining feature of a thesis. Starting research from a thesis biases the investigation — you look for evidence that confirms rather than genuinely inquiring. The correct statement to answer would begin: 'To what extent...?' or 'How...?'

Question 2

Which of the following best represents a well-scoped research question?

• A. How has human activity affected the environment?
• B. What is climate change?
• C. How have coastal cities in Southeast Asia adapted their building codes in response to increased flood risk since 2010?
• D. Has climate change ever been studied before?

Answer: (C)

Option C specifies time period (since 2010), geography (Southeast Asia), subject population (coastal cities), and a specific phenomenon (building code adaptation in response to flood risk). It has a genuine unknown and natural limits. Option A is vastly over-scoped — a career of research couldn't answer it fully. Option B is a topic, not a question. Option D is trivially answerable and has no research value.

Question 3

Revising your research question after encountering existing literature is a productive and expected part of the research process.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: True

Your initial question is a hypothesis about what's worth investigating. As you encounter existing literature, you discover what is already well-answered (and therefore unproductive to revisit), what is contested (valuable territory), and what genuine gaps exist. Revision in response to this is intellectual growth, not failure. A question that never changes usually means you haven't read widely enough yet.

Question 4

A research question that can be answered with a simple yes or no is well-formed because it is specific and focused.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: False

A yes/no question may be highly specific but is usually either trivially answerable or answerable with minimal evidence. Good research questions ask 'how,' 'why,' 'to what extent,' or 'in what ways' — they require analysis, synthesis, and evidence to answer. 'Did Shakespeare use metaphor?' is both specific and answerable in a sentence. 'How does Shakespeare's use of metaphor in the history plays construct models of political legitimacy?' is the kind of question that actually drives meaningful research.

Question 5

What is the key difference between a research question and a thesis statement, and why does the distinction matter for how you conduct research?

Model answer: A research question expresses genuine uncertainty and guides investigation; a thesis argues a specific position that research has already reached. The distinction matters because starting with a thesis means you've committed to a conclusion before research begins, which biases the process toward confirmation rather than genuine inquiry. A question opens space for discovery; a thesis closes it. A research question also tells you when research is complete — when you can answer it — while a thesis leaves no natural endpoint.

The practical consequence is significant: researchers who begin with a thesis tend to cherry-pick supporting evidence and dismiss disconfirming evidence without engaging it. Researchers who begin with a genuine question are forced to grapple with evidence that complicates or contradicts their initial intuitions. The revision of a question mid-research (in response to what you find) is the mechanism by which research actually deepens understanding.