Formulate a Research Question
Once you have chosen a topic for your Literature Review, your next step is to formulate a single clear, concise, and specific research question related to the topic. The question should not be so narrow that it is difficult to research, nor too broad or multifaceted that your research task seems endless.
Use the four Ws—who, what, where, and why—to think about how to define and narrow your area of inquiry:
- Who: Define the population you are concerned with in terms such as age, ethnic background, special characteristics, or other factors.
- What: Focus on a particular issue (such as violence, family issues, or poverty) that the population is facing.
- Where: Determine a specific type of setting where the issue would be observed, or where an intervention would impact the target population. Private practice, clinic, school, or others?
- Why: Identify the possible benefits of this research.
As an example, if your topic is adolescent depression, your research question might be: “What biological factors are associated with adolescent depression?” Try to state your research question in a single sentence that you will answer in your research and writing.
Now that you have chosen your research question and begun searching the library databases for next week’s assignment, create a post using a minimum of 50 words and discuss your research question. Your goal is to enthusiastically share something you’ve learned with your peers, apply it to real life, and make your pin informative, concise, and engaging to your readers. Be creative!
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