-Is the target population narrow or broad?
-Is the target population vulnerable?
-What are the eligibility criteria?
-What is the most appropriate recruitment strategy?
Occasionally, the intended population of the study needs to be modified, in order to overcome any potential ethical issues, and/or for the sake of convenience and feasibility of the project. Yet, the researcher must be aware that the external validity of the results may be compromised. As an illustration, in a randomised clinical trial, authors compared the ease of tracheal tube insertion between C-MAC video laryngoscope and direct laryngoscopy, in patients presenting to the emergency department with an indication of rapid sequence intubation. However, owing to the existence of ethical concerns, a substantial amount of patients requiring emergency tracheal intubation, including patients with major maxillofacial trauma and ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, had to be excluded from the trial.[ 14 ] In fact, the design of prospective studies to explore this subset of patients can be challenging, not only because of ethical considerations, but because of the low incidence of these cases. In another study, Metterlein et al . compared the glottis visualisation among five different supraglottic airway devices, using fibreroptic-guided tracheal intubation in an adult population. Despite that the study was aimed to explore the ease of intubation in patients with anticipated difficult airway (thus requiring fibreoptic tracheal intubation), authors decided to enrol patients undergoing elective laser treatment for genital condylomas, as a strategy to hasten the recruitment process and optimise resources.[ 15 ]
Anaesthetic interventions can be classified into pharmacological (experimental treatment) and nonpharmacological. Among nonpharmacological interventions, the most common include anaesthetic techniques, monitoring instruments and airway devices. For example, it would be appropriate to examine the ease of insertion of Supreme™ LMA, when compared with ProSeal™ LMA. Notwithstanding, a common mistake is the tendency to be focused on the data aimed to be collected (the “stated” objective), rather than the question that needs to be answered (the “latent” objective).[ 1 , 4 ] In one clinical trial, authors stated: “we compared the Supreme™ and ProSeal™ LMAs in infants by measuring their performance characteristics, including insertion features, ventilation parameters, induced changes in haemodynamics, and rates of postoperative complications”.[ 10 ] Here, the research question has been centered on the measurements (insertion characteristics, haemodynamic variables, LMA insertion characteristics, ventilation parameters) rather than the clinical problem that needs to be addressed (is Supreme™ LMA easier to insert than ProSeal™ LMA?).
Comparators in clinical research can also be pharmacological (e.g., gold standard or placebo) or nonpharmacological. Typically, not more than two comparator groups are included in a clinical trial. Multiple comparisons should be generally avoided, unless there is enough statistical power to address the end points of interest, and statistical analyses have been adjusted for multiple testing. For instance, in the aforementioned study of Metterlein et al .,[ 15 ] authors compared five supraglottic airway devices by recruiting only 10--12 participants per group. In spite of the authors' recommendation of using two supraglottic devices based on the results of the study, there was no mention of statistical adjustments for multiple comparisons, and given the small sample size, larger clinical trials will undoubtedly be needed to confirm or refute these findings.[ 15 ]
A clear formulation of the primary outcome results of vital importance in clinical research, as the primary statistical analyses, including the sample size calculation (and therefore, the estimation of the effect size and statistical power), will be derived from the main outcome of interest. While it is clear that using more than one primary outcome would not be appropriate, it would be equally inadequate to include multiple point measurements of the same variable as the primary outcome (e.g., visual analogue scale for pain at 1, 2, 6, and 12 h postoperatively).
Composite outcomes, in which multiple primary endpoints are combined, may make it difficult to draw any conclusions based on the study findings. For example, in a clinical trial, 200 children undergoing ophthalmic surgery were recruited to explore the incidence of respiratory adverse events, when comparing desflurane with sevoflurane, following the removal of flexible LMA during the emergence of the anaesthesia. The primary outcome was the number of respiratory events, including breath holding, coughing, secretions requiring suction, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and mild desaturation.[ 16 ] Should authors had claimed a significant difference between these anaesthetic volatiles, it would have been important to elucidate whether those differences were due to serious adverse events, like laryngospasm or bronchospasm, or the results were explained by any of the other events (e.g., secretions requiring suction). While it is true that clinical trials evaluating the occurrence of adverse events like laryngospasm/bronchospasm,[ 16 , 17 ] or life-threating complications following a tracheal intubation (e.g., inadvertent oesophageal placement, dental damage or injury of the larynx/pharynx)[ 14 ] are almost invariably underpowered, because the incidence of such events is expected to be low, subjective outcomes like coughing or secretions requiring suction should be avoided, as they are highly dependent on the examiner's criteria.[ 16 ]
Secondary outcomes are useful to document potential side effects (e.g., gastric insufflation after placing a supraglottic device), and evaluate the adherence (say, airway leak pressure) and safety of the intervention (for instance, occurrence, or laryngospasm/bronchospasm).[ 17 ] Nevertheless, the problem of addressing multiple secondary outcomes without the adequate statistical power is habitual in medical literature. A good illustration of this issue can be found in a study evaluating the performance of two supraglottic devices in 50 anaesthetised infants and neonates, whereby authors could not draw any conclusions in regard to potential differences in the occurrence of complications, because the sample size calculated made the study underpowered to explore those differences.[ 17 ]
Among PICOT components, the time frame is the most likely to be omitted or inappropriate.[ 1 , 12 ] There are two key aspects of the time component that need to be clearly specified in the research question: the time of measuring the outcome variables (e.g. visual analogue scale for pain at 1, 2, 6, and 12 h postoperatively), and the duration of each measurement (when indicated). The omission of these details in the study protocol might lead to substantial differences in the methodology used. For instance, if a study is designed to compare the insertion times of three different supraglottic devices, and researchers do not specify the exact moment of LMA insertion in the clinical trial protocol (i.e., at the anaesthetic induction after reaching a BIS index < 60), placing an LMA with insufficient depth of anaesthesia would have compromised the internal validity of the results, because inserting a supraglottic device in those patients would have resulted in failed attempts and longer insertion times.[ 10 ]
A well-elaborated research question may not necessarily be a good question. The proposed study also requires being achievable from both ethical and realistic perspectives, interesting and useful to the clinical practice, and capable to formulate new hypotheses, that may contribute to the generation of knowledge. Researchers have developed an effective way to convey the message of how to build a good research question, that is usually recalled under the acronym of FINER (feasible, interesting, novel, ethical and relevant).[ 5 , 6 , 7 ] Table 2 highlights the main characteristics of FINER criteria.[ 7 ]
Main features of FINER criteria (Feasibility, interest, novelty, ethics, and relevance) to formulate a good research question. Adapted from Cummings et al .[ 7 ]
Component | Criteria |
---|---|
Feasible | -Ensures adequacy of research design -Guarantees adequate funding -Recruits target population strategically -Aims an achievable sample size -Prioritises measurable outcomes -Optimises human and technical resources -Accounts for clinicians commitment -Procures high adherence to the treatment and low rate of dropouts -Opts for appropriate and affordable frame time |
Interesting | -Engages the interest of principal investigators -Attracts the attention of readers -Presents a different perspective of the problem |
Novel | -Provides different findings -Generates new hypotheses -Improves methodological flaws of existing studies -Resolves a gap in the existing literature |
Ethical | -Complies with local ethical committees -Safeguards the main principles of ethical research -Guarantees safety and reversibility of side effects |
Relevant | -Generates new knowledge -Contributes to improve clinical practice -Stimulates further research -Provides an accurate answer to a specific research question |
Although it is clear that any research project should commence with an accurate literature interpretation, in many instances it represents the start and the end of the research: the reader will soon realise that the answer to several questions can be easily found in the published literature.[ 5 ] When the question overcomes the test of a thorough literature review, the project may become novel (there is a gap in the knowledge, and therefore, there is a need for new evidence on the topic) and relevant (the paper may contribute to change the clinical practice). In this context, it is important to distinguish the difference between statistical significance and clinical relevance: in the aforementioned study of Oba et al .,[ 10 ] despite the means of insertion times were reported as significant for the Supreme™ LMA, as compared with ProSeal™ LMA, the difference found in the insertion times (528 vs. 486 sec, respectively), although reported as significant, had little or no clinical relevance.[ 10 ] Conversely, a statistically significant difference of 12 sec might be of clinical relevance in neonates weighing <5 kg.[ 17 ] Thus, statistical tests must be interpreted in the context of a clinically meaningful effect size, which should be previously defined by the researcher.
Among FINER criteria, there are two potential barriers that may prevent the successful conduct of the project and publication of the manuscript: feasibility and ethical aspects. These obstacles are usually related to the target population, as discussed above. Feasibility refers not only to the budget but also to the complexity of the design, recruitment strategy, blinding, adequacy of the sample size, measurement of the outcome, time of follow-up of participants, and commitment of clinicians, among others.[ 3 , 7 ] Funding, as a component of feasibility, may also be implicated in the ethical principles of clinical research, because the choice of the primary study question may be markedly influenced by the specific criteria demanded in the interest of potential funders.
Discussing ethical issues with local committees is compulsory, as rules applied might vary among countries.[ 18 ] Potential risks and benefits need to be carefully weighed, based upon the four principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.[ 19 ] Although many of these issues may be related to the population target (e.g., conducting a clinical trial in patients with ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation would be inappropriate, as would be anaesthetising patients undergoing elective LASER treatment for condylomas, to examine the performance of supraglottic airway devices),[ 14 , 15 ] ethical conflicts may also arise from the intervention (particularly those involving the occurrence of side effects or complications, and their potential for reversibility), comparison (e.g., use of placebo or sham procedures),[ 19 ] outcome (surrogate outcomes should be considered in lieu of long term outcomes), or time frame (e.g., unnecessary longer exposition to an intervention). Thus, FINER criteria should not be conceived without a concomitant examination of the PICOT checklist, and consequently, PICOT framework and FINER criteria should not be seen as separated components, but rather complementary ingredients of a good research question.
Undoubtedly, no research project can be conducted if it is deemed unfeasible, and most institutional review boards would not be in a position to approve a work with major ethical problems. Nonetheless, whether or not the findings are interesting, is a subjective matter. Engaging the attention of readers also depends upon a number of factors, including the manner of presenting the problem, the background of the topic, the intended audience, and the reader's expectations. Furthermore, the interest is usually linked to the novelty and relevance of the topic, and it is worth nothing that editors and peer reviewers of high-impact medical journals are usually reluctant to accept any publication, if there is no novelty inherent to the research hypothesis, or there is a lack of relevance in the results.[ 11 ] Nevertheless, a considerable number of papers have been published without any novelty or relevance in the topic addressed. This is probably reflected in a recent survey, according to which only a third of respondents declared to have read thoroughly the most recent papers downloaded, and at least half of those manuscripts remained unread.[ 20 ] The same study reported that up to one-third of papers examined remained uncited after 5 years of publication, and only 20% of papers accounted for 80% of the citations.[ 20 ]
Formulating a good research question can be fascinating, albeit challenging, even for experienced investigators. While it is clear that clinical experience in combination with the accurate interpretation of literature and teamwork are essential to develop new ideas, the formulation of a clinical problem usually requires the compliance with PICOT framework in conjunction with FINER criteria, in order to translate a clinical dilemma into a researchable question. Working in the right environment with the adequate support of experienced researchers, will certainly make a difference in the generation of knowledge. By doing this, a lot of time will be saved in the search of the primary study question, and undoubtedly, there will be more chances to become a successful researcher.
Conflicts of interest.
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Writing a research question is hard. And it takes time. Often much more time that you might think.
The research question is really important as it underpins your research design. And your design allows you to find an answer or answers to the question (s) you have posed. And that of course is what matters. You’ve been enrolled on a PhD and/or funded to find the answer(s).
There are different views on what makes a good research question. Alas, there is no universal view about how a question is best worded and how many questions there should be. I’m of the not-too-many-and-keep-it-simple school of thought so you need to read this post with that in mind. But I do have a pretty good idea of what examiners and what research funders look for in a research question – and what they don’t want to see.
It’s often as helpful to find out what not to do in research as what you should do. It never hurts to know what really, really doesn’t work for your examiner or assessor or reviewer. So, here’s four things to do if you want to produce a Very Bad Research Question, one that will raise doubt in, and questions from, your very particular and fussy reader.
If you were going do an experiment you very may well word a hypothesis as a yes/no because it’s something you’re testing out. But a research question is different. A research question that can be answered with a yes or no can be very problematic because it focuses on only one option.
Let ‘s take an example.
Does writing advice have any effect?
Well that’s clearly a one word answer – it does or it doesn’t – although of course you would also need to show how you reached the positive/negative outcome. But is that enough? Maybe some writing advice has an influence on some people some of the time. And don’t you need to know why you’ve got a yes/no? So perhaps you could say:
Does writing advice have any effect? If so what?
But there’s still a problem. If your answer to the first question is no, then you’re a bit stuck. So how about:
What effects does writing advice have?
But hang on, what are we actually looking for?
Sad and bad research questions often use loaded terms that then require a truckload of justification and explanation when maybe less tricky terminology might do.
To go back to the example. In the question What effects does writing advice have ? There are two terms that are tricky:
Writing advice – What is meant by writing advice? Is it all the same?
We could get more specific here and say What effects does online writing advice have? The question is more defined than before, suggesting that it’s possible to put some boundaries around the research without too much difficulty. In this version you’re only looking at what’s online. However, the question still assumes that all writing advice is the same.
But there’s a second problem – what is meant by the term effects ? Does this mean something like the writing advice has to be effective? On what basis would you judge something to be effective? And if it simply means what happens, then… Oh dear. To whom, how often, and what…
So there’s a further problem…
An unfocused question fails to delineate what, who, when, or how, or a combination of these.
So back to the example What effects does online writing advice have?
Just who do we think ought to be experiencing the effects if we know what they are? Do we actually mean what the readers take from writing advice? How they use it? What they think of it? How they access it? Do we have any particular readers in mind? And do we have any particular writing advice in mind?
Well here’s another go which goes some way to addressing this set of problems. How do beginning doctoral researchers find, understand and use online writing advice?
A group is defined. The vague term effects is unpacked. The question doesn’t anticipate an answer. The question now draws on a conceptual framing – the ways in which writers have agency and interpret and decide what to do – in this case advice, just as they do with any text.
And it’s researchable. Its not hard to imagine the kind of research design that might accompany such a question.
The question is open enough to anticipate no use of online writing advice, as well as different kinds of use. It has anticipated participants and can justify that focus through the literatures – yes there are a lot of literatures out there to suggest that doctoral researchers struggle with academic writing.
But the question still has flaws. It doesn’t talk about people other than doctoral researchers like early career researchers, or supervisors. Should it? Or would that be a different research project?
Maybe we want to add a supplementary question which will help determine what kinds of writing advice is used and when.
But we could make the question much, much more specific.
It’s tempting in the process of getting things in focus to get very specific. The danger here is that you just rule out too many possibilities that might be interesting.
If we said How do first year doctoral researchers in Humanities in one English university find, understand and use online writing advice about their thesis? then perhaps this cuts out too many options.
We’d have to think carefully about the advantages/disadvantages of specifying a discipline, a year and a university. And we’d also have to consider how this research question is located in the literatures about doctoral online thesis writing advice. What does this narrow study add to what is already out there? What is the contribution that such a tightly focused study might offer? Is this enough? Is this a significant contribution? Is it sufficiently ambitious? Is this actually a question worth asking?
Tricky. It’ll take a while and many goes to get the question just so. Not too vague. Not too narrow. Just right.
The jury is probably out about how much detail you need for a research question. But there is less debate among examiners, reviewers and assessors about the problems with lack of focus, vagueness, ambiguity, and closed questions. These are all guaranteed to cause trouble for research design and for the final results that you can offer.
Let me repeat, it’s important to get a research question that is workable – and defensible. A thorough research process and a well written thesis cannot compensate for a bad research question – and the subsequent bad design.
Of course, there’s much more to say about research questions and a lot of books address them. But the four problems listed above give you a bit of a start in thinking not only how you might formulate, but also interrogate your own research question, to see if it is fit for purpose.
And further reading – a book that I like a lot and recommend, is Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J. (2013). Constructing research questions: Doing interesting research . Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
Image credit: Ken Teegardin. Flickr Commons.
5 responses to bad research questions.
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This post has been open in my browser since you wrote it. I have kept coming back to it and re-reading it because I wrote some really bad RQs for my first proposal. I am writing my second, because my committee is awesome and didn’t let me go through with the poor Q’s I had at first.
Thank you for your insight and words of wisdom here Pat. I really appreciate it.
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wow am just in awe… am writing a bachelors research paper but do not know if am doing a good job. No help from lectures as there are all swapped with workload. FAILED twice already:(
Can you please help me define my research question and objectives?
Aim (what) The aim of this research paper is to create a social media strategy for AANZET paper round.
Objective (how) In order to achieve this aim the researcher will: a. Explore the term social media and how to use it for organization by b. Analyzing data through literature review, best practices and – c. Looking into related theories on social media marketing next d. Audit AANZET social channels. e. Analyze how competitors are using social media to engage target audience f. Create content plan for AANZET
Problem statement In order to determine the starting point of the research, a problem was formulated. This Problem statement gives direction to the research and describes the advice requirement of Aanzet by answering this question a more clear advise will be drafted on what Aanzet next communication plan is . Aanzet marketing challenge lies in aligning offline communications with online activities , the Paper round would like to see continiuty on its media platfoms. More readers research will provide insight on how the target audiece perceives Aanzet and what the paperround needs to improve.
Policy question How can Aanzet ensure continuity throughout its off- online activities by engaging with its audience?
Research question What social media strategy should AANZET use to gain more interaction with the target audience?
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In the realm of academic research, crafting a well-defined research question is crucial as it sets the stage for the entire study. A poorly constructed question can lead to inadequate research outcomes, making it essential to understand what constitutes a bad research question. This article explores the characteristics of ineffective research questions and provides insights into why they fail, which can guide researchers in refining their inquiry.
Vagueness and ambiguity.
When you encounter a research question that lacks clarity, it often leads to confusion and misinterpretation. Vague or ambiguous questions fail to provide a clear direction for research, making it difficult to formulate a coherent approach or methodology.
A research question that does not pinpoint specific aspects or variables is too general to be effectively researched. This lack of specificity can result in a broad, unfocused study that fails to address the core issues or contribute meaningfully to the academic discourse.
Attempting to cover too much ground with a single research question can dilute the effectiveness of your study. It's crucial to narrow down the scope to ensure that the research is manageable and can thoroughly address targeted aspects without being overwhelming.
Leading questions.
When you craft your research questions, it's crucial to avoid leading questions that suggest a particular answer. These questions can bias your research outcomes and limit the objectivity required for scholarly work. Ensure your questions allow for unbiased exploration of the topic.
Research questions that anticipate simple answers, such as yes or no, undermine the depth of inquiry that academic research demands. These questions often fail to open up avenues for comprehensive analysis or meaningful discussion. Aim for questions that require more than a straightforward response.
Questions that are based on unverified assumptions can mislead your research direction. It's important to base your questions on evidence and prior research to ensure they are grounded in reality. This approach helps in maintaining the integrity and relevance of your research.
Misdirected research efforts.
When your research question is poorly constructed, it often leads to misdirected efforts . You might find yourself exploring irrelevant areas, wasting valuable time and resources that could have been better utilized elsewhere. This misalignment can significantly delay your project's progress and may lead to incomplete or inconclusive results.
A research question that lacks depth or relevance struggles to contribute meaningfully to the scholarly community. Such questions often result in studies that add little new knowledge or insight , rendering the research less impactful and sometimes ignored in academic circles.
Inadequate research questions can predispose your study to inaccurate conclusions. Without a clear and focused question, it's challenging to design an effective research methodology, increasing the risk of bias and errors. This can compromise the integrity of your research findings, leading to questionable conclusions that may misinform or mislead stakeholders.
Ensuring alignment with research goals.
To ensure your research question aligns with your overall research goals, it's crucial to define the scope of your investigation clearly. This involves determining the specific aspects of the topic you wish to explore and ensuring they contribute directly to your field of study.
When evaluating the feasibility of your research question, consider the resources available, including time, expertise, and financial support. It's essential to assess whether the scope of your research is manageable within the constraints of your project.
Your research question should not only be original but also relevant to existing literature and theory. This involves a thorough review of current studies to identify gaps that your research could fill. Engaging with existing literature is a fundamental step in maximizing resources and ensuring your research adds meaningful insights to your field.
Closed-ended nature.
Research questions that are closed-ended typically do not foster a thorough exploration of a topic. They limit responses to a simple 'yes' or 'no,' which can stifle deeper analysis and discussion. For your research to be impactful, it should invite open-ended responses that encourage comprehensive exploration.
A question that lacks researchability offers little scope for investigation because it is either too broad or not grounded in accessible data. Ensuring that your question can be supported by available research is crucial for the validity of your findings.
Effective research questions should challenge existing knowledge and provoke thought. If your question does not require critical thinking or analysis, it may lead to superficial findings that do not advance the field. Aim to formulate questions that engage with complex issues and lead to significant scholarly contributions.
Incorporating feedback from peers.
To enhance the quality of your research question, actively seek and incorporate feedback from your peers. This collaborative approach not only refines your question but also ensures it withstands academic scrutiny. Engage in discussions that challenge your assumptions and broaden your perspective, making your research question more robust and less prone to common pitfalls.
Employing established frameworks and checklists can systematically guide you in crafting a well-structured research question. These tools help in maintaining focus and coherence, ensuring that your question is not only relevant but also researchable. Utilize these resources to avoid the trap of vagueness and to align your question with the necessary academic rigor.
The process of developing a strong research question is iterative. Continuously refine and clarify your question based on ongoing research and feedback. This dynamic approach allows you to adapt and evolve your question, enhancing its relevance and depth. Regular revisions are crucial in steering clear of overly simplistic or broad questions that might lead to misdirected research efforts.
Case studies.
To illustrate the pitfalls of bad research questions, consider the following examples:
These examples highlight the importance of crafting questions that invite deeper inquiry and avoid assumptions.
The primary reason these questions are ineffective is their failure to provoke thoughtful, research-driven responses. They are either too broad or expect straightforward answers that do not contribute to scholarly discourse. A good research question should challenge existing knowledge and invite exploration.
To improve your research questions, consider the following steps:
By refining your approach, you can transform a poor question into a powerful tool for discovery.
In our article section titled 'Examples and Analysis of Bad Research Questions', we delve into common pitfalls and misconceptions that can derail your research efforts. By understanding these examples, you can better formulate your own questions and set a solid foundation for your academic inquiries. For more insights and detailed guidance, visit our website and explore our comprehensive resources designed to enhance your research skills.
In conclusion, crafting a robust research question is pivotal for the success of any academic inquiry. A well-formulated question should be clear, focused, and researchable, avoiding the pitfalls of simplicity, vagueness, and subjectivity that characterize poor questions. By understanding and avoiding the common flaws discussed in this article, researchers can enhance the quality and impact of their studies, ensuring that their research questions are not only theoretically sound but also practically viable. This approach will not only facilitate a smoother research process but also contribute to the generation of meaningful and impactful academic contributions.
What constitutes a bad research question.
A bad research question is typically vague, overly broad, lacks specificity, and does not align with the research goals. It often leads to misdirected research efforts and limited scholarly contribution.
Specificity helps in clearly defining the scope of research, ensuring that the study remains focused and relevant, and facilitates the collection of precise data.
Overly broad questions can dilute the research focus, making it difficult to achieve meaningful results and to draw accurate conclusions.
Leading questions suggest a particular answer, thus biasing the response and compromising the objectivity of the research.
Yes, overly narrow questions might limit the scope of the research, potentially overlooking broader implications and limiting the contribution to the field.
Incorporating peer feedback, utilizing frameworks and checklists, and continuously refining the question can significantly improve its quality and relevance.
How to manage thesis anxiety: tips for staying calm, how to start a capstone project: essential steps for success, how to start your senior thesis: a complete guide, transforming a research question to thesis statement: a step-by-step approach.
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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.
Research question | Explanation |
---|---|
The first question is not enough. The second question is more , using . | |
Starting with “why” often means that your question is not enough: there are too many possible answers. By targeting just one aspect of the problem, the second question offers a clear path for research. | |
The first question is too broad and subjective: there’s no clear criteria for what counts as “better.” The second question is much more . It uses clearly defined terms and narrows its focus to a specific population. | |
It is generally not for academic research to answer broad normative questions. The second question is more specific, aiming to gain an understanding of possible solutions in order to make informed recommendations. | |
The first question is too simple: it can be answered with a simple yes or no. The second question is , requiring in-depth investigation and the development of an original argument. | |
The first question is too broad and not very . The second question identifies an underexplored aspect of the topic that requires investigation of various to answer. | |
The first question is not enough: it tries to address two different (the quality of sexual health services and LGBT support services). Even though the two issues are related, it’s not clear how the research will bring them together. The second integrates the two problems into one focused, specific question. | |
The first question is too simple, asking for a straightforward fact that can be easily found online. The second is a more question that requires and detailed discussion to answer. | |
? dealt with the theme of racism through casting, staging, and allusion to contemporary events? | The first question is not — it would be very difficult to contribute anything new. The second question takes a specific angle to make an original argument, and has more relevance to current social concerns and debates. |
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not . The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically . For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries. |
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.
Type of research | Example question |
---|---|
Qualitative research question | |
Quantitative research question | |
Statistical research question |
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
Statistics
Research bias
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Characteristics of Good and Bad Research Questions
The figure below gives some examples of good and "not-so-good" research questions.
Good Research Questions | Bad Research Questions |
---|---|
Have no simple answer - are open-ended and consider cause/effect | Have simple or easy answers - can be answered with one word, a number, or a list |
Are "researchable" - can be answered with accessible research, facts, and data | Cannot be answered -- there is no answer, or the information to answer the question is not accessible |
Open the door for other areas of research and inquiry | Can only be answered with an opinion |
Often begin with - how, why, what, which? | Often begin with - who, when, where, how much, how many? |
Pass the test - are interesting to others | Do not pass the test - no one really cares about the answer |
25+ Practical Examples & Ideas To Help You Get Started
By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | October 2023
A well-crafted research question (or set of questions) sets the stage for a robust study and meaningful insights. But, if you’re new to research, it’s not always clear what exactly constitutes a good research question. In this post, we’ll provide you with clear examples of quality research questions across various disciplines, so that you can approach your research project with confidence!
Let’s start by looking at some examples of research questions that you might encounter within the discipline of psychology.
How does sleep quality affect academic performance in university students?
This question is specific to a population (university students) and looks at a direct relationship between sleep and academic performance, both of which are quantifiable and measurable variables.
What factors contribute to the onset of anxiety disorders in adolescents?
The question narrows down the age group and focuses on identifying multiple contributing factors. There are various ways in which it could be approached from a methodological standpoint, including both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Do mindfulness techniques improve emotional well-being?
This is a focused research question aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intervention.
How does early childhood trauma impact adult relationships?
This research question targets a clear cause-and-effect relationship over a long timescale, making it focused but comprehensive.
Is there a correlation between screen time and depression in teenagers?
This research question focuses on an in-demand current issue and a specific demographic, allowing for a focused investigation. The key variables are clearly stated within the question and can be measured and analysed (i.e., high feasibility).
Next, let’s look at some examples of well-articulated research questions within the business and management realm.
How do leadership styles impact employee retention?
This is an example of a strong research question because it directly looks at the effect of one variable (leadership styles) on another (employee retention), allowing from a strongly aligned methodological approach.
What role does corporate social responsibility play in consumer choice?
Current and precise, this research question can reveal how social concerns are influencing buying behaviour by way of a qualitative exploration.
Does remote work increase or decrease productivity in tech companies?
Focused on a particular industry and a hot topic, this research question could yield timely, actionable insights that would have high practical value in the real world.
How do economic downturns affect small businesses in the homebuilding industry?
Vital for policy-making, this highly specific research question aims to uncover the challenges faced by small businesses within a certain industry.
Which employee benefits have the greatest impact on job satisfaction?
By being straightforward and specific, answering this research question could provide tangible insights to employers.
Next, let’s look at some potential research questions within the education, training and development domain.
How does class size affect students’ academic performance in primary schools?
This example research question targets two clearly defined variables, which can be measured and analysed relatively easily.
Do online courses result in better retention of material than traditional courses?
Timely, specific and focused, answering this research question can help inform educational policy and personal choices about learning formats.
What impact do US public school lunches have on student health?
Targeting a specific, well-defined context, the research could lead to direct changes in public health policies.
To what degree does parental involvement improve academic outcomes in secondary education in the Midwest?
This research question focuses on a specific context (secondary education in the Midwest) and has clearly defined constructs.
What are the negative effects of standardised tests on student learning within Oklahoma primary schools?
This research question has a clear focus (negative outcomes) and is narrowed into a very specific context.
Shifting to a different field, let’s look at some examples of research questions within the healthcare space.
What are the most effective treatments for chronic back pain amongst UK senior males?
Specific and solution-oriented, this research question focuses on clear variables and a well-defined context (senior males within the UK).
How do different healthcare policies affect patient satisfaction in public hospitals in South Africa?
This question is has clearly defined variables and is narrowly focused in terms of context.
Which factors contribute to obesity rates in urban areas within California?
This question is focused yet broad, aiming to reveal several contributing factors for targeted interventions.
Does telemedicine provide the same perceived quality of care as in-person visits for diabetes patients?
Ideal for a qualitative study, this research question explores a single construct (perceived quality of care) within a well-defined sample (diabetes patients).
Which lifestyle factors have the greatest affect on the risk of heart disease?
This research question aims to uncover modifiable factors, offering preventive health recommendations.
Last but certainly not least, let’s look at a few examples of research questions within the computer science world.
What are the perceived risks of cloud-based storage systems?
Highly relevant in our digital age, this research question would align well with a qualitative interview approach to better understand what users feel the key risks of cloud storage are.
Which factors affect the energy efficiency of data centres in Ohio?
With a clear focus, this research question lays a firm foundation for a quantitative study.
How do TikTok algorithms impact user behaviour amongst new graduates?
While this research question is more open-ended, it could form the basis for a qualitative investigation.
What are the perceived risk and benefits of open-source software software within the web design industry?
Practical and straightforward, the results could guide both developers and end-users in their choices.
In this post, we’ve tried to provide a wide range of research question examples to help you get a feel for what research questions look like in practice. That said, it’s important to remember that these are just examples and don’t necessarily equate to good research topics . If you’re still trying to find a topic, check out our topic megalist for inspiration.
This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...
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Research questions lie at the core of systematic investigation and this is because recording accurate research outcomes is tied to asking the right questions. Asking the right questions when conducting research can help you collect relevant and insightful information that ultimately influences your work, positively.
The right research questions are typically easy to understand, straight to the point, and engaging. In this article, we will share tips on how to create the right research questions and also show you how to create and administer an online questionnaire with Formplus .
A research question is a specific inquiry which the research seeks to provide a response to. It resides at the core of systematic investigation and it helps you to clearly define a path for the research process.
A research question is usually the first step in any research project. Basically, it is the primary interrogation point of your research and it sets the pace for your work.
Typically, a research question focuses on the research, determines the methodology and hypothesis, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting. With the right research questions, you will be able to gather useful information for your investigation.
Research questions are broadly categorized into 2; that is, qualitative research questions and quantitative research questions. Qualitative and quantitative research questions can be used independently and co-dependently in line with the overall focus and objectives of your research.
If your research aims at collecting quantifiable data , you will need to make use of quantitative research questions. On the other hand, qualitative questions help you to gather qualitative data bothering on the perceptions and observations of your research subjects.
A qualitative research question is a type of systematic inquiry that aims at collecting qualitative data from research subjects. The aim of qualitative research questions is to gather non-statistical information pertaining to the experiences, observations, and perceptions of the research subjects in line with the objectives of the investigation.
As the name clearly suggests, ethnographic research questions are inquiries presented in ethnographic research. Ethnographic research is a qualitative research approach that involves observing variables in their natural environments or habitats in order to arrive at objective research outcomes.
These research questions help the researcher to gather insights into the habits, dispositions, perceptions, and behaviors of research subjects as they interact in specific environments.
Ethnographic research questions can be used in education, business, medicine, and other fields of study, and they are very useful in contexts aimed at collecting in-depth and specific information that are peculiar to research variables. For instance, asking educational ethnographic research questions can help you understand how pedagogy affects classroom relations and behaviors.
This type of research question can be administered physically through one-on-one interviews, naturalism (live and work), and participant observation methods. Alternatively, the researcher can ask ethnographic research questions via online surveys and questionnaires created with Formplus.
Examples of Ethnographic Research Questions
A case study is a qualitative research approach that involves carrying out a detailed investigation into a research subject(s) or variable(s). In the course of a case study, the researcher gathers a range of data from multiple sources of information via different data collection methods, and over a period of time.
The aim of a case study is to analyze specific issues within definite contexts and arrive at detailed research subject analyses by asking the right questions. This research method can be explanatory, descriptive , or exploratory depending on the focus of your systematic investigation or research.
An explanatory case study is one that seeks to gather information on the causes of real-life occurrences. This type of case study uses “how” and “why” questions in order to gather valid information about the causative factors of an event.
Descriptive case studies are typically used in business researches, and they aim at analyzing the impact of changing market dynamics on businesses. On the other hand, exploratory case studies aim at providing answers to “who” and “what” questions using data collection tools like interviews and questionnaires.
Some questions you can include in your case studies are:
An interview is a qualitative research method that involves asking respondents a series of questions in order to gather information about a research subject. Interview questions can be close-ended or open-ended , and they prompt participants to provide valid information that is useful to the research.
An interview may also be structured, semi-structured , or unstructured , and this further influences the types of questions they include. Structured interviews are made up of more close-ended questions because they aim at gathering quantitative data while unstructured interviews consist, primarily, of open-ended questions that allow the researcher to collect qualitative information from respondents.
You can conduct interview research by scheduling a physical meeting with respondents, through a telephone conversation, and via digital media and video conferencing platforms like Skype and Zoom. Alternatively, you can use Formplus surveys and questionnaires for your interview.
Examples of interview questions include:
Quantitative research questions are questions that are used to gather quantifiable data from research subjects. These types of research questions are usually more specific and direct because they aim at collecting information that can be measured; that is, statistical information.
Descriptive research questions are inquiries that researchers use to gather quantifiable data about the attributes and characteristics of research subjects. These types of questions primarily seek responses that reveal existing patterns in the nature of the research subjects.
It is important to note that descriptive research questions are not concerned with the causative factors of the discovered attributes and characteristics. Rather, they focus on the “what”; that is, describing the subject of the research without paying attention to the reasons for its occurrence.
Descriptive research questions are typically closed-ended because they aim at gathering definite and specific responses from research participants. Also, they can be used in customer experience surveys and market research to collect information about target markets and consumer behaviors.
Descriptive Research Question Examples
A comparative research question is a type of quantitative research question that is used to gather information about the differences between two or more research subjects across different variables. These types of questions help the researcher to identify distinct features that mark one research subject from the other while highlighting existing similarities.
Asking comparative research questions in market research surveys can provide insights on how your product or service matches its competitors. In addition, it can help you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your product for a better competitive advantage.
The 5 steps involved in the framing of comparative research questions are:
Comparative Research Question Samples
Just like the name suggests, a relationship-based research question is one that inquires into the nature of the association between two research subjects within the same demographic. These types of research questions help you to gather information pertaining to the nature of the association between two research variables.
Relationship-based research questions are also known as correlational research questions because they seek to clearly identify the link between 2 variables.
Read: Correlational Research Designs: Types, Examples & Methods
Examples of relationship-based research questions include:
Since research questions lie at the core of any systematic investigations, it is important to know how to frame a good research question. The right research questions will help you to gather the most objective responses that are useful to your systematic investigation.
A good research question is one that requires impartial responses and can be answered via existing sources of information. Also, a good research question seeks answers that actively contribute to a body of knowledge; hence, it is a question that is yet to be answered in your specific research context.
An open-ended question is a type of research question that does not restrict respondents to a set of premeditated answer options. In other words, it is a question that allows the respondent to freely express his or her perceptions and feelings towards the research subject.
Examples of Open-ended Questions
A close-ended question is a type of survey question that restricts respondents to a set of predetermined answers such as multiple-choice questions . Close-ended questions typically require yes or no answers and are commonly used in quantitative research to gather numerical data from research participants.
Examples of Close-ended Questions
A Likert scale question is a type of close-ended question that is structured as a 3-point, 5-point, or 7-point psychometric scale . This type of question is used to measure the survey respondent’s disposition towards multiple variables and it can be unipolar or bipolar in nature.
Example of Likert Scale Questions
A rating scale question is a type of close-ended question that seeks to associate a specific qualitative measure (rating) with the different variables in research. It is commonly used in customer experience surveys, market research surveys, employee reviews, and product evaluations.
Example of Rating Questions
Knowing what bad research questions are would help you avoid them in the course of your systematic investigation. These types of questions are usually unfocused and often result in research biases that can negatively impact the outcomes of your systematic investigation.
A loaded question is a question that subtly presupposes one or more unverified assumptions about the research subject or participant. This type of question typically boxes the respondent in a corner because it suggests implicit and explicit biases that prevent objective responses.
Example of Loaded Questions
A negative question is a type of question that is structured with an implicit or explicit negator. Negative questions can be misleading because they upturn the typical yes/no response order by requiring a negative answer for affirmation and an affirmative answer for negation.
Examples of Negative Questions
A l eading question is a type of survey question that nudges the respondent towards an already-determined answer. It is highly suggestive in nature and typically consists of biases and unverified assumptions that point toward its premeditated responses.
Examples of Leading Questions
Read More: Leading Questions: Definition, Types, and Examples
With Formplus, you can create and administer your online research questionnaire easily. In the form builder, you can add different form fields to your questionnaire and edit these fields to reflect specific research questions for your systematic investigation.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create an online research questionnaire with Formplus:
The success of your research starts with framing the right questions to help you collect the most valid and objective responses. Be sure to avoid bad research questions like loaded and negative questions that can be misleading and adversely affect your research data and outcomes.
Your research questions should clearly reflect the aims and objectives of your systematic investigation while laying emphasis on specific contexts. To help you seamlessly gather responses for your research questions, you can create an online research questionnaire on Formplus.
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A research question is the main question that your study sought or is seeking to answer. A clear research question guides your research paper or thesis and states exactly what you want to find out, giving your work a focus and objective. Learning how to write a hypothesis or research question is the start to composing any thesis, dissertation, or research paper. It is also one of the most important sections of a research proposal .
A good research question not only clarifies the writing in your study; it provides your readers with a clear focus and facilitates their understanding of your research topic, as well as outlining your study’s objectives. Before drafting the paper and receiving research paper editing (and usually before performing your study), you should write a concise statement of what this study intends to accomplish or reveal.
Listed below are the important characteristics of a good research question:
A good research question should:
Some of these characteristics might be difficult to understand in the form of a list. Let’s go into more detail about what a research question must do and look at some examples of research questions.
Research questions that are too broad are not suitable to be addressed in a single study. One reason for this can be if there are many factors or variables to consider. In addition, a sample data set that is too large or an experimental timeline that is too long may suggest that the research question is not focused enough.
A specific research question means that the collective data and observations come together to either confirm or deny the chosen hypothesis in a clear manner. If a research question is too vague, then the data might end up creating an alternate research problem or hypothesis that you haven’t addressed in your Introduction section .
What is the importance of genetic research in the medical field? | |
How might the discovery of a genetic basis for alcoholism impact triage processes in medical facilities? |
An effective research question should be answerable and verifiable based on prior research because an effective scientific study must be placed in the context of a wider academic consensus. This means that conspiracy or fringe theories are not good research paper topics.
Instead, a good research question must extend, examine, and verify the context of your research field. It should fit naturally within the literature and be searchable by other research authors.
References to the literature can be in different citation styles and must be properly formatted according to the guidelines set forth by the publishing journal, university, or academic institution. This includes in-text citations as well as the Reference section .
There are two main constraints to the research process: timeframe and budget.
A proper research question will include study or experimental procedures that can be executed within a feasible time frame, typically by a graduate doctoral or master’s student or lab technician. Research that requires future technology, expensive resources, or follow-up procedures is problematic.
A researcher’s budget is also a major constraint to performing timely research. Research at many large universities or institutions is publicly funded and is thus accountable to funding restrictions.
Research papers, dissertations and theses , and academic journal articles are usually dozens if not hundreds of pages in length.
A good research question or thesis statement must be sufficiently complex to warrant such a length, as it must stand up to the scrutiny of peer review and be reproducible by other scientists and researchers.
Qualitative and quantitative research are the two major types of research, and it is essential to develop research questions for each type of study.
Quantitative research questions are specific. A typical research question involves the population to be studied, dependent and independent variables, and the research design.
In addition, quantitative research questions connect the research question and the research design. In addition, it is not possible to answer these questions definitively with a “yes” or “no” response. For example, scientific fields such as biology, physics, and chemistry often deal with “states,” in which different quantities, amounts, or velocities drastically alter the relevance of the research.
As a consequence, quantitative research questions do not contain qualitative, categorical, or ordinal qualifiers such as “is,” “are,” “does,” or “does not.”
Attempt to describe the behavior of a population in regard to one or more variables or describe characteristics of those variables that will be measured. These are usually “What?” questions. | Seek to discover differences between groups within the context of an outcome variable. These questions can be causal as well. Researchers may compare groups in which certain variables are present with groups in which they are not. | Designed to elucidate and describe trends and interactions among variables. These questions include the dependent and independent variables and use words such as “association” or “trends.” |
In quantitative research, research questions have the potential to relate to broad research areas as well as more specific areas of study. Qualitative research questions are less directional, more flexible, and adaptable compared with their quantitative counterparts. Thus, studies based on these questions tend to focus on “discovering,” “explaining,” “elucidating,” and “exploring.”
Attempt to identify and describe existing conditions. | Attempt to describe a phenomenon. | Assess the effectiveness of existing methods, protocols, theories, or procedures. |
Examine a phenomenon or analyze the reasons or relationships between subjects or phenomena. | Focus on the unknown aspects of a particular topic. |
Descriptive research question | |
Comparative research question | |
Correlational research question | |
Exploratory research question | |
Explanatory research question | |
Evaluation research question |
Below are some good (and not-so-good) examples of research questions that researchers can use to guide them in crafting their own research questions.
The first research question is too vague in both its independent and dependent variables. There is no specific information on what “exposure” means. Does this refer to comments, likes, engagement, or just how much time is spent on the social media platform?
Second, there is no useful information on what exactly “affected” means. Does the subject’s behavior change in some measurable way? Or does this term refer to another factor such as the user’s emotions?
In this research question, the first example is too simple and not sufficiently complex, making it difficult to assess whether the study answered the question. The author could really only answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no.” Further, the presence of data would not help answer this question more deeply, which is a sure sign of a poorly constructed research topic.
The second research question is specific, complex, and empirically verifiable. One can measure program effectiveness based on metrics such as attendance or grades. Further, “bullying” is made into an empirical, quantitative measurement in the form of recorded disciplinary actions.
Good research questions are relevant, focused, and meaningful. It can be difficult to come up with a good research question, but there are a few steps you can follow to make it a bit easier.
Choose a research topic that is interesting but also relevant and aligned with your own country’s culture or your university’s capabilities. Popular academic topics include healthcare and medical-related research. However, if you are attending an engineering school or humanities program, you should obviously choose a research question that pertains to your specific study and major.
Below is an embedded graph of the most popular research fields of study based on publication output according to region. As you can see, healthcare and the basic sciences receive the most funding and earn the highest number of publications.
You can begin doing preliminary research once you have chosen a research topic. Two objectives should be accomplished during this first phase of research. First, you should undertake a preliminary review of related literature to discover issues that scholars and peers are currently discussing. With this method, you show that you are informed about the latest developments in the field.
Secondly, identify knowledge gaps or limitations in your topic by conducting a preliminary literature review . It is possible to later use these gaps to focus your research question after a certain amount of fine-tuning.
You can focus on a more specific area of study once you have a good handle on the topic you want to explore. Focusing on recent literature or knowledge gaps is one good option.
By identifying study limitations in the literature and overlooked areas of study, an author can carve out a good research question. The same is true for choosing research questions that extend or complement existing literature.
Make sure you evaluate the research question by asking the following questions:
Is my research question clear?
The resulting data and observations that your study produces should be clear. For quantitative studies, data must be empirical and measurable. For qualitative, the observations should be clearly delineable across categories.
Is my research question focused and specific?
A strong research question should be specific enough that your methodology or testing procedure produces an objective result, not one left to subjective interpretation. Open-ended research questions or those relating to general topics can create ambiguous connections between the results and the aims of the study.
Is my research question sufficiently complex?
The result of your research should be consequential and substantial (and fall sufficiently within the context of your field) to warrant an academic study. Simply reinforcing or supporting a scientific consensus is superfluous and will likely not be well received by most journal editors.
Your research question should be fully formulated well before you begin drafting your research paper. However, you can receive English paper editing and proofreading services at any point in the drafting process. Language editors with expertise in your academic field can assist you with the content and language in your Introduction section or other manuscript sections. And if you need further assistance or information regarding paper compositions, in the meantime, check out our academic resources , which provide dozens of articles and videos on a variety of academic writing and publication topics.
Every research writing requires research questions. Your research questions are what guide you to keep researching. Note that the questions have to be tailored to your topic. In the beginning, you’ll require a problem statement about the topic; it’s the topic’s loophole.
Once you have the problem statement, develop research questions to help you write on the topic. Your research question is what drives your research and something within the field that must be provided.
So, when drafting research questions, ensure it guides your research. Because choosing the wrong research questions ruins the outcome of your work. This article covers everything about good and bad research topics.
Before choosing research questions, make sure you have a solid topic. There has to be a loophole in your area of research, which is what your research question helps you find solutions to. Here are steps to choosing a good research question:
Your choice of topic has to be on point. When choosing a topic, ask yourself, what topic interests you? Which areas in this topic require more research? Also, make sure that the context you’ve chosen to base your topic on is of interest to people.
During the research process, you begin to learn more about your topic. The more you learn, the more you realize angles that need to be addressed. Through research, you find a research problem.
After researching your topic, you’ve already started seeing a possible angle your research will take. Narrow your topic down to focus on a particular area.
Now that you’ve narrowed your topic down, you focus attention on an area and fish out issues within this research area. This is usually when the research problem comes up.
After finding your research problem, to dissect the problem, you’ll need to break it down into questions. For example, your research should be the “so what? now what?” question.
Research questions can either be good or bad. A bad research question ruins the outcome of your research. So, you must be careful of your questions. Here are some of the features of a good research question:
Research topics are different from research questions. A research topic is a general area your research focuses on. It’s the context upon which you’ve based your research interest. On the other hand, research questions are formulated to solve the research problem.
Here are good sample research questions to consider:
While there are good research questions, there are also bad ones. Bad research questions affect the outcome and quality of your research. Below are some bad research questions:
Why are these questions bad? They are bad because they are ineffective. What is ineffective about this research question? The questions are generalized; they are not specific and cannot be used to address any problem. The essence of a good research topic is that it points the arrow toward a core problem that needs to be addressed.
Bad research questions weaken the outcome of your research. Since the purpose of research is to draw attention to an area. The question has to be compelling enough to attract the attention of readers.
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A research question is the main query that researchers seek to answer in their study. It serves as the basis for a scholarly project such as research paper, thesis or dissertation. A good research question should be clear, relevant and specific enough to guide the research process. It should also be open-ended, meaning that it allows for multiple possible answers or interpretations.
If you have located your general subject and main sources but still aren’t quite sure about the exact research questions for your paper, this guide will help you out. First, we will explore the concept of it together, so you could answer it in your work. Then some simple steps on composing your inquiry will be suggested. In the end, we will draw your attention to some specific details which can make your work good or bad. Sometimes it’s just easier to delegate all challenging tasks to a reliable research paper service . StudyCrumb is a trustable network of qualified writers ready to efficiently solve students’ challenges.
Good research questions provide a concise definition of a problem. As a scholar, your main goal at the beginning is to select the main focus. It should be narrow enough so you could examine it within your deadline. Your work should be focused on something specific. Otherwise, it will require too much work and might not produce clear answers. At the same time your answer should be arguable and supported by data you’ve collected. Take a look at this example:
In this section we will examine the process of developing a research question. We will guide you through it, step by step. Keep in mind that your subject should be important for your audience. So it requires some preliminary study and brainstorming. Let’s take a closer look at the main steps.
First, you need to decide on your general direction. When trying to identify your research paper questions, it is better to choose an area you are really interested in. You should be able to obtain enough data to write something about this topic. Therefore, do not choose something out of your reach. At the same time, your broad topic should not be too simple. Research paper questions that can be answered without any study would hardly make any sense for your project.
Next, it is time we explore the context of the selected topic. You wouldn’t want to choose research questions that have already been examined and answered in detail. On the other hand, choosing a topic that is a complete ‘terra incognita’ might be a bridge too far for your project. Browse through available sources that are related to this topic. You should try and find out what has been discovered about it before. Do you see a gap that you can fill with your study? You can proceed with developing your exact inquiry! Have no time for in-depth topic exploration? Leave this task to professionals. Entrust your “ write my research paper ” order to StudyCrumb and get a top-notch work.
It is good to know your reader well to be able to convey your ideas and results to them in the best possible way. Before writing research questions for your projects, you might need to perform a brief analysis of your audience. That's how you'll be able to understand what is interesting for them and what is not. This will allow you to make better decisions when narrowing your broad topic down. Select a topic that is interesting for your reader! This would contribute much to the success for writing a research paper .
After you have considered your options, go ahead and compose the primary subject of your paper. What makes a good research question? It should highlight some problematic and relevant aspects of the general topic. So, after it is answered, you should have obtained some new valuable knowledge about the subject. Typically scholars start narrowing down their general topic by asking ‘how’, ‘why’ or ‘what’s next’ questions. This approach might help you come up with a great idea quickly.
Finally, after you have composed a research paper question, you should take a second look at it and see if it is good enough for your paper. It would be useful to analyze it from the following sides:
You might use the help of your peers or your friends at this step. You can also show it to your tutor and ask for their opinion.
A number of research questions types are available for use in a paper. They are divided into two main groups:
Qualitative questions:
Quantitative questions:
Selecting a certain type would impact the course of your study. We suggest you think about it carefully. Below you can find a few words about each type. Also, you can seek proficient help from academic experts. Buy a research paper from real pros and forget about stress once and for all.
When doing qualitative research, you are expected to aim to understand the different aspects and qualities of your target problem. Therefore, your thesis should focus on analyzing people’s experience, ideas and reflections rather than on obtaining some statistical data and calculating trends. Thus, this inquiry typically requires observing people’s behavior, interacting with them and learning how they interpret your target problem. Let’s illustrate this with an example:
Contextual research revolves around examining your subject in its natural, everyday environment. It may be watching animals living in their usual habitats or people doing their normal activities in their familiar surroundings (at home, at school or at office). This academic approach helps to understand the role of the context. You'll be able to better explain connections between your problem, its environment and outcomes. This type of inquiry ought to be narrow enough. You shouldn’t have to examine each and every aspect of the selected problem in your paper. Consider this example:
Evaluative research is performed in order to carefully assess the qualities of a selected object, individual, group, system or concept. It typically serves the purpose of collecting evidence that supports or contradicts solutions for a problem. This type of inquiry should focus on how useful a certain quality is for solving the problem. To conduct such study, you need to examine selected qualities in detail. Then, you should assume whether they match necessary criteria. It might include some quantitative methods such as collecting statistics. Although, the most important part is analyzing the qualities. If you need some examples, here’s one for you:
Your paper can be dedicated to explaining a certain phenomenon, finding its reasons and important relationships between it and other important things. Your explanatory research question should aim to highlight issues, uncertainties and problematic aspects of your subject. So, your study should bring clarity about these qualities. It should show how and why they have developed this way. An explanation may include showing causes and effects of issues in question, comparing the selected phenomenon to other similar types and showing whether the selected qualities match some predefined criteria. If you need some examples, check this one:
This type of research is conducted in order to better understand the subject. With its help, you can find some new solutions or opportunities for improvement. Therefore, its main purpose is to develop a theoretical basis for further actions. You need to compose your generative research questions in a way that facilitates obtaining new ideas. It would help to begin with asking ‘why’, ‘what is the relationship between the subject and the problems X, Y, and Z’, ‘what can be improved here’, ‘how we can prevent it’ and so on. Need relevant examples? We’ve got one for you:
Ethnography research is focused on a particular group of people. The aim is to study their behavior, typical reactions to certain events or information, needs, preferences or habits. Important parameters of this group which are most relevant to your general subject are taken into consideration. These are age, sex, language, religion, ethnicity, social status and so on. Main method in this case is first-hand observation of people from the selected group during an extended period of time. If you need strong examples, here’s one:
Quantitative research deals with data – first of all, it is numeric data. It involves mathematical calculations and statistical analysis. It helps to obtain knowledge which is mostly expressed in numbers, graphs and tables. Unlike the qualitative type, the purpose of quantitative research is finding patterns, calculating probabilities, testing causal relationships and making predictions. It is focused on testing theories and hypotheses. (We have the whole blog on what is a hypothesis .) It is mostly used in natural and social sciences. These are: chemistry, biology, psychology, economics, sociology, marketing, etc. Here are a couple of examples:
This is probably the most widespread type of quantitative research question. Such inquiries seek to explain when, where, why, or how something occurred. They describe it accurately and systematically. These inquiries typically start with ‘what’. You are expected to use various methods to investigate one or more variables and determine their dependencies. Note, however, that you cannot control or manipulate any of these variables. You can only observe and measure them. Looking for some interesting examples? Here is one:
Comparative research question is used to highlight different variables and provide numerical evidence. This type is based on comparing one object, parameter or issue with another one of a similar kind. It can help to discover the differences between two or more groups by examining their outcome variables. Take a look at these two examples:
We conduct this type of research when we need to make it clear whether one parameter of a selected object causes another one. A relationship based quantitative research question should help us to explore and define trends and interactions between two or more variables. Are these two things mutually dependent? What kind of dependence is it? How has it developed? And what are possible outcomes of this connection? Here is an example of relationship-based quantitative research questions:
This section contains a number of helpful examples of research questions. Feel free to use them as inspiration to create your own questions and conduct productive study. Let’s start with two simple ones:
Are you interested in well written and inspiring questions? Do you want to learn what to avoid in your study? Just stay with us – there will be more of them below.
Everyone is interested in getting the best possible appraisal for their study. Choosing a topic which doesn't suit your specific situation may be discouraging. Thus, the quality of your paper might get affected by a poor choice. We have put together some good and bad examples so that you could avoid such mistakes.
It is important to include clear terms into your questions. Otherwise, it would be difficult for you to plan your investigation properly. Also, they must be focused on a certain subject, not multiple ones. And finally, it should be possible to answer them. Let’s review several good examples:
It is difficult to evaluate qualities of objects, individuals or groups if your purpose is not clear. This is why you shouldn’t create unclear research questions or try to focus on many problems at once. Some preliminary study might help to understand what you should focus on. Here are several bad examples:
In case you may need some information about the discussion section of a research paper example , find it in our blog.
In this article we have made a detailed review of the most popular types of research questions. We described peculiarities. We also provided some tips on conducting various kinds of study. Besides, a number of useful examples have been given for each category of questions.
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1. what is an example of a weak research question.
Here is an example of the weakest research question:
What kinds of animals live in the USA? |
An answer would be simply making a list of species that inhabit the country. This subject does not require any actual study to be conducted. There is nothing to calculate or analyze here.
Most effective type of research question is the one that doesn't have a single correct answer. However, you should also pay close attention to your audience. If you need to create a strong effect, better choose a topic which is relevant for them.
If you need an idea for a nursing research question, here are a few helpful examples you could use as a reference:
How do you analyze the development of telehealth? |
How to evaluate critical care nursing? |
What are some cardiovascular issues? |
Sociological questions are the ones that examine the social patterns or a meaning of a social phenomenon. They could be qualitative or quantitative. They should target groups of people with certain parameters, such as age or income level. Keep in mind that type of study usually requires collecting numerous data about your target groups.
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In 1954, Darrell Huff called out the dangers of misrepresenting statistical data in his book How to Lie With Statistics . I don’t know how big a problem bad survey data and misinformation was in the 1950s but if you fast forward to 2019, social media and 24-hour news cycles have created an explosion of content that purports to be factual. Chances are, a percentage of it is not, which is what I want to talk about.
As a professional market researcher, I probably spend more time reading the small print on market research and public opinion surveys than most. In so doing, I’ve come across several instances where survey data is misinterpreted, misapplied or just plain wrong. The reasons for this vary. Sometimes they are honest errors, and other times the data was intentionally designed to mislead.
To the trained eye, some of these discrepancies are easy to spot, but not always. So, here are a few things I look for when reading polls and market research results to help me identify faulty research.
A common problem with survey results is that respondents often answer a different question than what the survey designer thought they were asking. This can happen because the respondent either didn’t understand the question or their preferred response was not an option in a closed-ended list. The Brexit referendum may be one of the most consequential examples of this issue. It offered a binary choice, Stay or Leave, without providing a way to capture more nuanced responses. Fifty-two percent of Britons chose Leave, but many voters stated that they chose Leave to air their dissatisfaction with the UK’s governance and would have chosen something else had there been options that addressed their concerns. In fact, new research from YouGov suggests that only 33% of the British electorate prefer a hard Leave option.
The most basic question to ask when looking at survey research results is Who was included in the survey? followed by Are they representative of the population we’re interested in? Obtaining a representative sample of U.S. consumers or voters is becoming increasingly difficult. Landlines were once the gold-standard when fielding surveys. Starting with the popularization of answering machines in the 1980s and the subsequent decline in landlines caused by mobile phones, it is now impossible to obtain a representative sample of the U.S. population over the phone. Online methodologies have stepped in to fill the void, but they present their own challenges.
While reaching individuals has become more difficult, the U.S. population has become more diverse . The most common problem we see with surveys that purport to be nationally representative is that they rely on convenience samples made up of easy to reach people. For example, we see lots of research on the U.S. Hispanic population that neglects to include the 30% that do not speak, let alone read or write English well enough to answer the survey. Neglecting to include hard-to-reach segments of the population can often skew the results enough to make them worthless.
Targeting issues also come up in polling. Determining who is more popular and who is likely to win an election are two different questions. During the presidential election cycle, we’re bombarded with polls showing support or disapproval of the candidates. Most of those are public opinion polls that try to measure the popular vote. The popular vote, however, does not elect presidents. The electoral college does. In fact, a U.S. president can be elected with as little as 23% of the popular vote. Therefore, any political poll that does not take into account the rules of an election are merely entertainment and don’t have predictive value.
The advent of DIY survey software has produced a boon of survey data to consume. DIY is great for low-stakes decisions but present problems when the results will be used to make important ones. Survey design is a science with decades of academic research supporting it and scholarly journals devoted to its advancement. Question design matters. Here are some of the most common issues we see with survey design:
Finally, it’s important to look at market research and polling results holistically and ask yourself if the results are internally consistent. For example, if a survey says that only 10% of respondents would consider purchasing an electric vehicle but that 30% of everyone surveyed would purchase a Tesla, which only makes electric cars, then either the first or the second percentage may be true but not both. Internally inconsistent survey results are usually caused by poor questionnaire design. If one inconsistency exists in the results, then the rest of the data becomes suspect.
Several online news aggregation sites now have Fact Check technology that let us know if news stories on the web are true. We don’t yet have that for market research surveys but, with a little attention to the fine print, we can decrease the likelihood of being lied to by statistics.
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A well-crafted research question can guide your research and help you to stay focused on your topic. However, developing a good research question can be challenging. In this article, we will provide you with examples of good and bad research questions to help you prepare for your research project.
By examining good and bad research question examples, you can learn how to develop your own research question that is clear, specific, and relevant to your field of study. A well-crafted research question can help you stay focused on your topic, guide your research, and ultimately lead to a successful research project.
Research Question Examples
In any research project, the research question is the foundation upon which the entire study is built. A well-designed research question is essential to conducting a successful study. It guides the researcher in defining the scope of the study, selecting the appropriate research methods, and analyzing the data.
A research question is a clear, concise, and specific question that a researcher asks in order to guide their study. It is the central question that the researcher seeks to answer through their research. A good research question is one that is focused, relevant, and answerable.
Research questions are important because they help to define the scope of the study and guide the research process. They help to ensure that the study is focused and relevant and that the research methods are appropriate for answering the research question. In addition, good research questions help to ensure that the study is feasible, ethical, and can be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
When it comes to developing research questions, there are several characteristics that distinguish good questions from bad ones. Good research questions are essential for guiding your research, and they should be focused, clear, and feasible. Here are some key characteristics of good research questions:
A good research question should be focused on a single problem or issue rather than being too broad or vague. A focused research question helps you to narrow down your research and prevents you from getting lost in irrelevant information. It also helps you to identify the key variables that you need to measure or manipulate in your study.
A good research question should be clear and easy to understand. It should avoid using jargon or technical terms that are not familiar to your audience. A clear research question helps you to communicate your research goals and objectives to your readers and stakeholders.
A good research question should be feasible in terms of time, scope, resources, expertise, and funding. It should be realistic and achievable within the constraints of your research project. A feasible research question helps you to avoid wasting time and resources on unrealistic or impractical research goals.
A good research question should be interesting to you as a researcher and to your audience. It should be relevant to current issues or debates in your field and have the potential to contribute to knowledge or practice. An interesting research question helps you to stay motivated and engaged in your research and to attract the attention of your readers and stakeholders.
A good research question should be testable or answerable through empirical research. It should be amenable to the formulation of clear hypotheses and the collection of relevant data. A testable research question helps you to evaluate the validity and reliability of your research findings and to draw meaningful conclusions from them.
Social sciences.
In the social sciences, research questions often revolve around human behavior and social interactions. Here are a few examples of good research questions:
Natural science research often focuses on the physical world and natural phenomena. Here are a few examples of good research questions in the natural sciences:
Research in the humanities often centers on culture, language, and history. Here are a few examples of good research questions in the humanities:
When writing a research question, it is important to ensure that it is well-constructed and meaningful. A bad research question can lead to a poorly designed study or result in irrelevant findings. Here are some characteristics of bad research questions that you should avoid:
A research question that is vague or ambiguous can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. It is important to ensure that your research question is clear and specific. Avoid using broad terms that are open to interpretation, such as “better,” “more,” or “improve.” Instead, use precise language that defines the scope of your study.
A research question that is too broad or too narrow can lead to problems with data collection and analysis. A broad research question may be too general to answer effectively, while a narrow research question may limit the scope of your study. It is important to strike a balance between the two and ensure that your research question is appropriately focused.
A research question that is not testable or measurable can lead to problems with data analysis and interpretation. It is important to ensure that your research question can be answered using empirical evidence. Avoid using questions that are based on opinion or speculation, as these cannot be tested or measured effectively.
A research question that is not relevant or significant can lead to a study that has little impact or practical application. It is important to ensure that your research question is grounded in existing literature and addresses a gap in knowledge or practice. Avoid using questions that are trivial or have already been answered, as these will not contribute to the advancement of your field.
Vague questions.
Vague questions are those that are not clear or specific enough. They lack clarity and precision, making it difficult to answer them. Here are some examples of vague questions:
These questions are too broad and do not provide a specific focus for research. They are difficult to answer because they lack clarity and precision.
Too broad questions are those that are too general and cover too much ground. They are difficult to answer because they are too broad and do not provide a specific focus for research. Here are some examples of too broad questions:
These questions are too broad and cover too much ground. They are difficult to answer because they lack specificity and focus.
Unanswerable questions are those that cannot be answered through research. They are often philosophical or theoretical in nature and cannot be tested or measured. Here are some examples of unanswerable questions:
These questions are unanswerable through research because they are philosophical or theoretical in nature. They cannot be tested or measured, making them unsuitable for research.
If you have identified that your research question is not strong enough, you can take steps to improve it. Here are some tips to help you improve your bad research questions:
Developing effective research questions is crucial for the success of your research project. Here are some tips to help you develop research questions that are focused, achievable, and answerable:
What are the characteristics of a good research question?
A good research question should be focused, specific, researchable, and relevant. It should be clear and concise, and it should be able to be answered with available data and resources. Additionally, a good research question should be open-ended and leave room for exploration and discovery.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when formulating a research question?
Some common mistakes to avoid when formulating a research question include asking questions that are too broad or too narrow, asking questions that are too complex or convoluted, and asking questions that are not relevant or feasible. It is also important to avoid asking leading questions that may bias the research or the results.
What are some examples of research questions in social sciences?
Some examples of research questions in social sciences include: “What is the impact of social media on adolescent mental health?”, “How does socioeconomic status affect academic achievement?”, and “What are the factors that contribute to political polarization in the United States?”
What are the different types of research questions and how do they differ?
There are three main types of research questions: descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory. Descriptive research questions seek to describe a phenomenon or situation, while exploratory research questions seek to explore new areas of inquiry. Explanatory research questions seek to explain the relationship between variables.
How do you evaluate whether a research question is feasible and relevant?
To evaluate whether a research question is feasible and relevant, consider whether it can be answered with available data and resources, whether it is within the scope of the research project, and whether it is relevant to the research topic or problem being investigated.
What are some tips for refining a research question and making it more specific?
To refine a research question and make it more specific, consider narrowing the focus of the question, clarifying the language used in the question, and ensuring that the question is researchable and can be answered with available data and resources. It may also be helpful to seek feedback from peers or advisors to ensure that the question is clear and concise.
Last Updated on September 5, 2023
Table of Contents
Writing a research question is challenging and requires much more time and thought than you might think.
You cannot write a good thesis if you don’t develop a good research question first. But what makes a research question “good” or “bad?” This article is a practical guide to help you understand the qualities of good and bad research questions . The research question is what guides your research strategy.
Knowing the difference between good and bad research questions will help you stay on the right track as you write your thesis. A simple question that demands a straightforward answer will not be enough for a research question.
Let’s learn more about research questions and what makes them good or bad.
Research questions are one of the most important components of your research paper, thesis, or dissertation . Drafting a research question may initially appear to be the simplest step in conducting research.
But beginning to write a research question without a clear focus can cost you valuable time. A research question is:
Different opinions exist on what makes a research question good or bad . There is no universal way to word the best research questions. However, some elements give your research question greater substance.
Here are some key factors to help you draft an effective research question by comparing qualities between the good and bad ones.
It makes sense that a simple question would have an equally simple answer, but this is inadequate for a research paper. Formulate the right questions and steer clear of those requiring a simple “yes” or “no” response or a few simple phrases.
Bad: Do the US and UK have superior healthcare systems?
Good: How do the healthcare systems in the US and UK vary for treating chronic diseases?
A good research question should be narrowly focused on one subject or a group of concepts that are conceptually related.
If a topic is too broad, you must decide on which part of the topic you want to research for a clear focus. Otherwise, you won’t be able to develop a strong thesis paper.
Bad: Does medication help cure ADHD symptoms in elementary students? And do they need a regular exercise routine?
Good: How well do the various medications work for treating ADHD in elementary school students?
Instead of combining ADHD medication and exercise into the research topic, it’s best to focus solely on medication. As the question hints at the students’ age (elementary students), answering this question will make up a good thesis.
Consider the response you wish to receive as you write your research question. Expressing an opinion or value judgment in your research paper or project is not a good idea. Instead, you should develop a thesis based on statistics and objective evidence.
Bad: Which is the best tourist place?
Good: What features do the most popular tourist places have in common?
The first question only asks for an opinion and cannot serve as an appropriate research question. However, the second question asks for features, and you can use data or a list of features to answer this question better.
You must make your research question as specific as possible. This will provide you with a more thorough answer that is compelling enough to serve as the subject of your thesis.
Bad: What are the effects of meds on people?
Good: What effects does aspirin have on people with low heart pressure?
By explicitly mentioning aspirin and low heart pressure people, you make the question easier to answer with facts and statistics. These details will help you develop a solid and more focused thesis.
“Why” questions are open-ended queries, the ideal choice for interview sessions or featured articles. However, its open-ended nature is the exact opposite of what you need when formulating a research question. You need to ask a question that has a clear, concise answer.
Bad: Why do industries contaminate the groundwater?
Good: How do government-enforced regulations prevent industries from contaminating the water?
A research question is flawed if you can answer it without additional research. It’s best to ask a question that takes a little research to answer. You need a more challenging question if you can find the solution to a research question with a quick web search.
Bad: Has the world’s population increased in the last century?
Good: What factors have contributed to population growth in the past century?
A quick web search can answer the first question. However, the second question necessitates additional research to uncover a suitable response.
It’s simple to research a topic that isn’t controversial, but you won’t likely be contributing anything unique. Instead, pose a research question that is complex and has different aspects. This will help you get more detailed and compelling answers to your question.
Bad: Are illegal drugs harmful to teenage students?
Good: What effective educational measures can prevent drug abuse in teenage students?
Good research questions are open to debate and search for thorough answers. These questions allow people to discuss the subject matter . Compared to good questions, bad research questions are closed off and ask for a specific answer.
They have a very narrow perspective and are focused on one single point of the problem. This article lists the key features of good and bad research questions to help you formulate an effective one for your thesis paper.
Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.
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Scientists work with many different limitations. First and foremost, they navigate informational limitations, work around knowledge gaps when designing studies, formulating hypotheses, and analyzing data. They also handle technical limitations, making the most of what their hands, equipment, and instruments can achieve. Finally, researchers must also manage logistical limitations. Scientists will often experience sample scarcity, financial issues, or simply be unable to access the technology or materials that they want.
All scientific studies have limitations, and no study is perfect. Researchers should not run from this reality, but engage it directly. It is better to directly address the specific limitations of the work in question, and doing so is actually a way to demonstrate an author’s proficiency and aptitude.
From a practical perspective, being transparent is the main key to directly addressing the specific limitations of a study. Was there an experiment that the researchers wanted to perform but could not, or a sample that existed that the scientists could not obtain? Was there a piece of knowledge that would explain a question raised by the data presented within the current study? If the answer is yes, the authors should mention this and elaborate upon it within the discussion section.
Asking and addressing these questions demonstrates that the authors have knowledge, understanding, and expertise of the subject area beyond what the study directly investigated. It further demonstrates a solid grasp of the existing literature—which means a solid grasp of what others are doing, what techniques they are using, and what limitations impede their own studies. This information helps the authors contextualize where their study fits within what others have discovered, thereby mitigating the perceived effect of a given limitation on the study’s legitimacy. In essence, this strategy turns limitations, often considered weaknesses, into strengths.
For example, in their 2021 Cell Reports study on macrophage polarization mechanisms, dermatologist Alexander Marneros and colleagues wrote the following. 1
A limitation of studying macrophage polarization in vitro is that this approach only partially captures the tissue microenvironment context in which many different factors affect macrophage polarization. However, it is likely that the identified signaling mechanisms that promote polarization in vitro are also critical for polarization mechanisms that occur in vivo. This is supported by our observation that trametinib and panobinostat inhibited M2-type macrophage polarization not only in vitro but also in skin wounds and laser-induced CNV lesions.
This is a very effective structure. In the first sentence ( yellow ), the authors outlined the limitation. In the next sentence ( green ), they offered a rationalization that mitigates the effect of the limitation. Finally, they provided the evidence ( blue ) for this rationalization, using not just information from the literature, but also data that they obtained in their study specifically for this purpose.
It can feel natural to avoid talking about a study’s limitations. Scientists may believe that mentioning the drawbacks still present in their study will jeopardize their chances of publication. As such, researchers will sometimes skirt around the issue. They will present “boilerplate faults”—generalized concerns about sample size/diversity and time limitations that all researchers face—rather than honestly discussing their own study. Alternatively, they will describe their limitations in a defensive manner, positioning their problems as something that “could not be helped”—as something beyond what science can currently achieve.
However, their audience can see through this, because they are largely peers who understand and have experienced how modern research works. They can tell the difference between global challenges faced by every scientific study and limitations that are specific to a single study. Avoiding these specific limitations can therefore betray a lack of confidence that the study is good enough to withstand problems stemming from legitimate limitations. As such, researchers should actively engage with the greater scientific implications of the limitations that they face. Indeed, doing this is actually a way to demonstrate an author’s proficiency and aptitude.
In an example, neurogeneticist Nancy Bonini and colleagues, in their publication in Nature , discussed a question raised by their data that they have elected not to directly investigate in this study, writing “ Among the intriguing questions raised by these data is how senescent glia promote LDs in other glia. ” To show both the legitimacy of the question and how seriously they have considered it, the authors provided a comprehensive summary of the literature in the following seven sentences, offering two hypotheses backed by a combined eight different sources. 2 Rather than shying away from a limitation, they attacked it as something to be curious about and to discuss. This is not just a very effective way of demonstrating their expertise, but it frames the limitation as something that, when overcome, will build upon the present study rather than something that negatively affects the legitimacy of their current findings.
Scientists have to navigate the fine line between acknowledging the limitations of their study while also not diminishing the effect and value of their own work. To be aware of legitimate limitations and properly assess and dissect them shows a profound understanding of a field, where the study fits within that field, and what the rest of the scientific community are doing and what challenges they face.
All studies are parts of a greater whole. Pretending otherwise is a disservice to the scientific community.
Looking for more information on scientific writing? Check out The Scientist’ s TS SciComm section. Looking for some help putting together a manuscript, a figure, a poster, or anything else? The Scientist ’s Scientific Services may have the professional help that you need.
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Bad-iw refers to the negative aspects or consequences associated with certain phenomena, such as bad information, bad leadership, and controversial theories like evolutionary psychology. Bad information can lead to legal issues and negative outcomes for both providers and recipients . In leadership, bad leaders are those whose goals are detrimental to human flourishing or misaligned with organizational benefits, as highlighted in critical leadership theory . Additionally, controversial theories like evolutionary psychology, despite offering improvements over previous accounts, can still spark debates and controversies due to the challenges in explaining human behavior adequately . Understanding and addressing bad-iw phenomena are crucial in various fields to mitigate harmful impacts and promote positive outcomes.
To write a good research question, one must follow a structured approach. Initially, it is crucial to identify a problem, conduct a comprehensive literature review, and bring oneself up-to-date with current trends . Subsequently, the research question should be formulated to be specific, concise, and focused, requiring a deep understanding of the research problem . It is essential to optimize time and resources by selecting the primary study question in alignment with the clinical dilemma to be addressed . Additionally, utilizing frameworks like PICOT (population, intervention, comparator, outcome, and time frame) and FINER (feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant) can aid in developing a memorable and effective research question . By following these steps and principles, researchers can design studies with trustworthy outcomes and wide-ranging implications .
Formulating a research question is a critical step in biomedical research. The research question serves as a signpost that guides the study and is based on the gaps in our knowledge . Research questions should be made explicit early in the investigation and can be refined as understanding deepens. They help researchers stay focused and avoid distractions . Qualitative research questions are often open and probative, reflecting the intent of the study. They should be manageable and contain appropriate restriction, qualification, and delineation. The formulation of research questions is influenced by the chosen research method and design . A good research question should be feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant . The PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes) approach provides a framework for constructing a clear research question, utilizing four major elements: Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes .
Research made questioner refers to a series of articles or papers that provide guidance and insights into the process of asking questions in research. These papers explore various aspects of questioning behaviors and their impact on interview outcomes, environmental degradation, dermatology research techniques, social question and answering, and spatial transcriptomics in dermatologic research. The papers discuss the importance of applicant questions during job interviews and their influence on interviewer perceptions . They also examine the psychological effects of environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta area of Nigeria and how it is portrayed in poetry . Additionally, the papers discuss the use of research techniques in dermatology, such as the Journal of Investigative Dermatology Connector and Research Techniques Made Simple series . They also analyze the factors influencing the response rate of social question and answering platforms and propose methods to increase it . Finally, the papers explore the use of spatial transcriptomics in dermatologic research to understand gene expression changes within intact tissues and their applications in studying skin homeostasis and disease .
The research question is the uncertainty about something in the population that the investigator wants to resolve by making measurements on her study subjects. There is no shortage of questions. Even as we succeed in producing good answers to some questions, we remain surrounded by others. Recent clinical trials have established that the estrogen-like drug tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer during 4 years of use by women at high risk of breast cancer. But now there are new questions: Does tamoxifen reduce the risk of death due to breast cancer? How long should treatment be continued? Might other estrogen-like drugs have the same beneficial effects without tamoxifen's propensity for thromboembolism? The challenge in searching for a research question is not a shortage of uncertainties; it is the difficulty of finding an important one that can be transformed into a feasible and valid study plan.
Dendrochronological studies on Pinus roxburghii have been conducted in various regions like Ghora Galli, Kashmir, and Central Nepal, revealing valuable insights into the tree's growth patterns and responses to environmental factors. These studies have shown that the growth rate of P. roxburghii can vary significantly over time, influenced by factors such as climate change, temperature, and precipitation . The age of P. roxburghii trees has been estimated through tree-ring analysis, with correlations found between age, diameter at breast height, biomass, and carbon stock, highlighting the importance of dendrochronology in understanding forest dynamics and productivity . Additionally, the relationship between growth patterns, climate variables, and human interventions has been explored, emphasizing the need for further research to assess the impact of changing environmental conditions on the growth performance of P. roxburghii forests in different climatic zones .
Blood pressure plays a significant role in influencing interarm differences during pregnancy. Research indicates that pregnant women often exhibit discrepancies in blood pressure readings between their arms, with the first measurement being notably higher than subsequent ones . Additionally, there is a prevalence of interarm blood pressure differences exceeding 10 mmHg in a considerable proportion of pregnant women, especially as blood pressure levels increase . Furthermore, studies have shown that blood pressure measurements taken at alternative locations, such as the lower arm and wrist, tend to be higher and increasingly discrepant from upper arm measurements, particularly in pregnant patients with higher body mass index values . These findings emphasize the importance of adhering to international guidelines for blood pressure measurements in pregnant women to ensure accurate assessment and monitoring throughout gestation.
Malaysia's population is diverse, consisting of various ethnic groups. In 2007, the population was around 27.17 million, with 60% being ethnic Malay "Bumiputera," 26% Chinese, 8% Indian, and 5% other ethnic Bumiputera and 1% other ethnic groups . By 2019, the population had increased to 32 million, with a median age of 28.9 years . The country's population growth has been significant, rising from 10,439,430 in 1970 to 23,274,690 in 2000, with a larger proportion of young people and a high literacy rate of 91.0% in 2000 . The ethnic classifications in Malaysia include 'Bumiputera,' 'Chinese,' 'Indian,' and 'Others,' with Islam being the major religion . This multi-ethnic society reflects a rich cultural tapestry, with Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other indigenous groups contributing to the country's vibrant demographic landscape.
Recent research articles highlight various job needs, with a focus on different fields. The literature review on Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem (FJSSP) emphasizes the importance of hybrid approaches involving Genetic Algorithm (GA) to address the optimization challenges in job scheduling . In the field of neuroscience nursing, staying updated on key points from recent research is crucial to meet the evolving job demands and provide quality care . Additionally, the analysis of energy supply and losses stresses the need for evaluating and optimizing global supply chains to reduce environmental footprints, requiring a combination of policy, managerial, and technological improvements to ensure sustainability in job practices . This collective data underscores the significance of adapting to technological advancements, staying informed on industry trends, and prioritizing sustainability in job roles across various sectors.
Professional sports training increases the risk for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) through various factors identified in the research. Retired professional footballers have a higher risk of KOA outcomes, such as knee pain, radiographic KOA, and total knee replacement, with football-related injuries being a significant risk factor . Additionally, high levels of physical activity, common in professional athletes, are associated with a greater risk of developing knee and hip OA, especially in men younger than 50 years . Furthermore, intense sporting activities, like football and soccer, are linked to a higher risk of OA development, emphasizing the importance of considering joint injury status when assessing OA risk in athletes . Overall, the combination of sports-related injuries, high training volumes, and specific sports types contributes to the increased risk of KOA in professional athletes.
2. loaded questions, 3. double-barreled questions, 4. absolute questions, 5. unclear questions, 6. random questions, 7. double negative questions, 8. net promoter score (nps), avoid bad survey questions using surveyplanet.
You might think that any survey question—because it helps you to gain valuable insight and data from your respondents—is a good one. But it’s important to ask the right questions. When respondents take a survey filled with good questions, they are more likely to have an enjoyable experience and finish the survey. When a respondent comes across one or more bad survey questions, it might rub them the wrong way, eventually causing them to abandon your survey. This article teaches the difference between good and bad survey questions. Learn how to avoid bad questionnaire examples and examine the examples of bad survey questions with us in this article. Continue reading to find out how to recognize the real examples of bad surveys and questions you should avoid using to create an engaging and relevant study.
When examples of bad survey questions are the topic, leading questions are usually one of the first culprits. Leading questions use biased language that influences the participant’s answer selection. The problem with leading questions is that they might seem innocuous, but are actually fishing for a certain answer. When seeking objectivity, biased questions are the worst. Unbiased survey questions should be strived for, as well as unbiased answers. Biased surveys won’t give you accurate data to work with when making your next business decision.
Here are some bad survey examples that use leading questions:
To remove the bias from these questions, make them clear and objective. Avoid using adjectives to describe the subject of your question.
Loaded questions influence answers. For example, the question “Where do you like to go swimming?” It assumes everyone likes to go swimming and knows how. Some respondents will have no choice but to abandon the survey or give inaccurate answers. You should avoid writing questions like these to prevent misinformation in answers.
The only time a loaded question is appropriate is if a preliminary question is asked first so that logical branching can be used to skip over people the question doesn’t apply to. For example, you can ask “Do you like to swim?” With the answers, make sure there is an option for “I don’t know how to swim.” If the person answers “yes,” then you can go ahead and ask them where they like to swim.
One of the most common survey mistakes is asking a double-barreled question. This type of bad survey question forces respondents to answer multiple questions simultaneously. This isn’t the best way to acquire usable data. Your survey questions should always ask one question at a time and have an exact answer for each question. If you ask more than one question, you won’t know why respondents answered that way or which question they were answering. This is an example of terrible survey questions, especially for Likert scale questions (which we explain here .
Examples of good and bad double-barreled survey questions include:
Poorly written survey question:
Good survey questions:
If you want answers to more than one question, then use multiple survey questions.
An absolute question does not allow the survey participant to provide useful feedback. An example of a poorly worded survey question is “Do you always watch TV?” With only a yes or no option, you’re likely to receive “no” from every participant. A better way to ask this question is to remove “always” and give a selection of answers.
A good survey question is a simple one that is easy to understand. If a respondent has to think about your question longer than a few seconds, it’s probably too difficult to understand and they can’t answer it honestly. Make sure to use simple language and avoid clichés, abbreviations, slang, catchphrases, and colloquialisms. You should also avoid any words perceived as potentially offensive.
Examples of unclear survey questions:
The first question uses an abbreviation that not everyone will understand. For best practice, spell out everything and then add an abbreviation in parentheses for reference. The second question refers to selfies, which not all age groups might understand. For best practice, avoid slang and write out what you are actually asking, like “How many pictures of yourself do you take per day?” The less unclear the questions, the more accurate the response you will receive.
If your survey is all about a customer’s experience on your website, don’t throw in a random question asking them about their favorite food. This is one of the common examples of flawed survey questions. Not only is the question out of context, but it’s completely random and irrelevant. If you want to know their favorite food so that you can offer a product related to it, give some background context before you include a random question in your survey.
If your survey is all about a customer’s experience on your website, don’t throw in a random question asking about their favorite food. This is one of the common examples of flawed customer experience survey questions. Not only is the question out of context, but it’s completely random and irrelevant. If you want to know their favorite food—so that you can offer a product related to it—give some background context before you include such a random question in your survey.
This is one of the most common mistakes in survey design. NPS is a metric that asks customers if they would recommend the product or service to others (typically on a scale of 0-10). Ask one of the most popular customer survey questions, such as: “How likely are you to recommend our company?” to examine customer satisfaction . This can be useful if your business has more than one product or service and you want to know which ones perform better than others. But if you only have one product or service, it doesn’t make sense to ask this question. If someone uses your product or service and likes it, they’ll give you a high score anyway. You don’t need to ask for their opinion about whether they’d recommend it—just look at your conversion rates. However, some professionals suggest that it’s best not to ask questions requiring respondents to make predictions; instead, focus on what happened in the past (or what’s happening now). So, for example, instead of asking about the likelihood of recommending your company, ask about the likelihood of recommending specific products or services within your company.
Now that you’ve seen examples of good and bad survey questions, we hope you can differentiate between good and bad questionnaire examples. Explore our infographic Dos & Don’ts below to see more examples and gain even more insight into this topic. SurveyPlanet makes it easy to create your first survey. Upgrade to SurveyPlanet Pro for added features, including question branching, export tools, and uploading images. Check out our plans & pricing , explore our beautiful themes, browse survey examples, and find other options when you log in or create an account.
Photo by John Jennings on Unsplash
More Americans may think President Joe Biden tried to sit on a nonexistent chair the other day than know the boring truth that there was, in fact, a chair .
The chair-that-was-there was just one of many quick video clips the conservative media ecosystem willed into virality over the past two weeks, leaving fact-checkers and Biden’s team with little chance to catch up.
The Republican National Committee, major conservative media outlets and right-wing influencers have succeeded in blasting out videos that they claim show “proof” of Biden’s wandering off , freezing up or even filling his pants with a substance commonly represented by a brown swirl emoji.
Independent fact-checkers and the Biden campaign have pointed out that the videos, while they are un-doctored by artificial intelligence, tend to crumble under even basic scrutiny, such as when the moments are viewed in context or from wider camera angles .
“Fresh off being fact checked by at least 6 mainstream outlets for lying about President Biden with cheap fakes, Rupert Murdoch’s sad little super PAC, the New York Post, is back to disrespecting its readers and itself once again,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement in reference to a video of Biden at a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama over the weekend that landed on t he cover of the Post, a conservative tabloid.
While "deepfakes" are misleading audio, video or images that are created or edited with artificial intelligence technology, a "cheap fake," according to researchers Britt Paris and Joan Donovan, is a " manipulation created with cheaper, more accessible software (or, none at all). Cheap fakes can be rendered through Photoshop, lookalikes, re-contextualizing footage, speeding, or slowing."
Still, even if they are deceptive, the videos nonetheless play into voters’ existing concerns about Biden’s age and are tailor-made for internet virality, meaning busy voters may be more likely to encounter the brief incendiary clips than the more rigorous fact-checks that chase them.
“The lie is sprinting the 100-meter dash and the fact-check is taking a stroll on the beach. So it’s never going to catch up. And it’s never going to have the same reach,” said Eric Schultz, a Democratic strategist and Obama spokesperson who on Sunday publicly called out the Post’s characterization of the fundraiser as false.
Last week, Republicans pushed a video of Biden in Europe attending the Group of Seven summit in which he allegedly “wandered off” in a confused haze before Italy’s prime minister pulled him back. Uncut video and shots from wider angles showed Biden was greeting a parachutist who had just landed as part of the ceremony.
The controversy generated by the video grew so large that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was asked to give his eyewitness account of the moment.
“They had all landed, and he was being very polite. And he just went over to kind of talk to all of them individually,” Sunak told reporters .
Before that, the RNC’s opposition research account suggested Biden was having a medical incident because he was not dancing at a Juneteenth event, though Biden has long said he is not much of a dancer and barely danced at his inaugural ball in 2021.
At the fundraiser in Los Angeles, Biden and Obama were waving to supporters after having received a standing ovation when Biden stared into the audience for a moment before the more punctual Obama signaled it was time to leave the stage. Several people at the event said they did not recognize the New York Post’s interpretation that Biden appeared to "freeze up."
Republicans are unapologetic about the individual videos — despite the fact-checks from mainstream media they distrust.
“It’s a pattern of behavior. It’s not like it’s one instance,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in an interview. “It’s not like we’re making these videos. This is Joe Biden in real time. We’re just putting it out there for the world to see.”
Asked about the clipped video that Republicans said showed Biden trying to sit in a chair that did not exist (in fact, it was just hidden from view by the camera angle), Leavitt said, “The videos speak for themselves.”
“It’s outrageous that the words ‘cheap fake’ [are] even being used," she said. "There’s nothing cheap or fake about these videos. They are real clips of Joe Biden acting bizarrely.
“The Biden campaign’s entire strategy is to convince people not to believe their own eyes,” she added.
The spread of the videos underscores what academics say could be a particularly tumultuous election cycle . Many major social media platforms have rolled back the few checks and balances on the spread of false or misleading information under pressure from Republicans . Meanwhile, the power and reach of just a handful of accounts on X can spread talking points to millions of people that is then picked up by more mainstream conservative media.
Taking liberties with video editing — or simply misrepresenting what is happening in a video — is nothing new. But former President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party has pushed the party further across the hazy divide between spin and mendacity, while technology has allowed for clips to be cut and broadcast constantly.
Reaching voters who do not consume much political news is a challenge in the best of cases, and it is made even harder when organizations try to reach the same voters a second time to try to change their views about a stray piece of political content they previously encountered.
Conservative media outlets disseminating such clips include not only famously ideological ones, like Fox News , but also the vast network of local TV news stations owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, dozens of which re-packaged identical versions of the same headline about Biden’s appearing to freeze.
Few in conservative media have offered any resistance to the onslaught of videos. Howard Kurtz, a Fox News host and media journalist, is one of the few notable outliers , having called out the New York Post and fellow host Sean Hannity for their coverage of the G7 video.
And internet platforms’ algorithms and their users’ organic behavior tend to reward the surprising and controversial while ignoring the mundane.
Democrats’ strategy for dealing with the videos is twofold, according to multiple people familiar with the thinking of the Biden campaign, the White House and allied outside groups.
First, they will try to contain them to the conservative media ecosystem and extremely online spaces of political discourse like X, hoping to prevent them from breaking through into the mainstream as much as possible.
By being aggressive in fact-checking, quickly posting fuller video clips with appropriate context and calling out media outlets that report on them, the White House and the Biden campaign hope to stop them from spreading too far.
“We can’t stop them from doing this. What we can do is fight like hell to get fact-checks and to spread those fact-checks,” said a Biden campaign official who requested anonymity to speak candidly about strategy. “Does it potentially permeate out to independent voters? Yes, and that’s what we’re guarding against and fighting against.”
Second, Democrats are stepping up their own attacks on Trump online, aggressively posting their own made-to-go-viral videos of Trump’s verbal cul-de-sacs, curious tangents and awkward actions.
They include highlighting what they say are Trump’s senior moments, such as one at a rally Saturday night when he said Biden “should have to take a cognitive test” — only to moments later flub the name of the doctor who administered a similar test to him.
Much of it has come from Biden HQ, an account the Biden campaign’s research and rapid-response teams use to blast Trump. For instance, in one clip from the same event , Trump promised to take questions after his speech — “This is different than Joe Biden. He doesn’t take any questions” — but instead left the stage without taking any questions.
Schultz said: “Both candidates are old, but one is coherent and has cogent thoughts. So to the extent that that breaks through, then I think we’ll be OK come November.”
Trump’s campaign has also complained about the Biden campaign’s deceptively portraying videos of its own in the past. That included when Trump told autoworkers there would be a “ bloodbath ” if he is not elected. Trump’s campaign said that the term specifically referred to the auto industry and that Democrats intentionally mischaracterized it by making it appear that Trump was inciting violence.
Still, Democrats up to and including Biden himself — hardly a digital native — seem to understand the challenge of suppressing viral videos that many Americans want to believe.
“The truth is that the way in which we communicate with people these days, there’s very little — there’s so much opportunity to just lie,” Biden said at the fundraiser in Los Angeles. "So much of it on the internet is absolutely a flat-out lie.”
First lady Jill Biden took on the issue of Biden’s age head-on Saturday at an event for seniors in Phoenix: "Joe and the other guy are essentially the same age, so let’s not be fooled."
According to polls, voters so far do not agree with her. And some Democrats seem to be constantly bracing for some major, unedited moment when Biden shows his age.
NBC News ’ national poll in late January found three-quarters of voters, including many Democrats, saying they had major or minor concerns about Biden’s physical and mental health.
Alex Seitz-Wald is a senior politics reporter for NBC News.
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information—getting the facts wrong. Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to mislead—intentionally misstating the facts.
The spread of misinformation and disinformation has affected our ability to improve public health, address climate change, maintain a stable democracy, and more. By providing valuable insight into how and why we are likely to believe misinformation and disinformation, psychological science can inform how we protect ourselves against its ill effects.
Combating misinformation and promoting psychological science literacy
Approved by APA Council of Representatives, February 2024
Using psychological science to understand and fight health misinformation
This report describes the best available psychological science on misinformation, particularly as it relates to health.
It offers eight specific recommendations to help scientists, policymakers, and health professionals respond to the ongoing threats posed by misinformation.
Is it safe to get health advice from influencers?
Eight specific ways to combat misinformation
Factors that make people believe misinformation
How and why does misinformation spread?
True or False? The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation
Written for preteens and young teens in lively text accompanied by fun facts, this book explores what psychology tells us about development and persistence of false perceptions and beliefs and the difficulty of correcting them, plus ways to debunk misinformation and think critically and factually about the world around us.
What employers can do to counter election misinformation in the workplace
Using psychological science to fight misinformation: A guide for journalists
Psychology is leading the way on fighting misinformation
This election year, fighting misinformation is messier and more important than ever
Stopping the spread of misinformation
The anatomy of a misinformation attack
Tackling Misinformation Ahead of Election Day
APA and the Civic Alliance collaborated to address the impact of mis- and disinformation on our democracy. APA experts discussed the psychology behind how mis- and disinformation occurs, and why we should care.
Building Back Trust in Science: Community-Centered Solutions
APA collaborated with American Public Health Association, National League of Cities, and Research!America to host a virtual national conversation about the psychology and impact of misinformation on public health.
Fighting Misinformation With Psychological Science
Psychological science is playing a key role in the global cooperative effort to combat misinformation and change the course on how we’re tackling critical societal issues.
Explore the latest psychological research on misinformation and disinformation
How long does gamified psychological inoculation protect people against misinformation?
Perceptions of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative exploration
Quantifying the effects of fake news on behavior: Evidence from a study of COVID-19 misinformation
Countering misinformation and fake news through inoculation and prebunking
Who is susceptible to online health misinformation? A test of four psychosocial hypotheses
It might become true: How prefactual thinking licenses dishonesty
To find a researcher studying misinformation and disinformation, please contact our press office .
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
Full Topic List
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Economic ratings in 34 countries Pew Research Center surveyed this year are, on balance, more bad than good. A median of about two-thirds of adults (64%) rate their country’s economic situation poorly. The surveys were fielded amid stalled global trade and slow economic growth around the world .
This Pew Research Center analysis explores public opinion of the domestic economy in 34 countries in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
This analysis draws on nationally representative surveys of 40,566 adults conducted from Jan. 5 to May 21, 2024. All surveys were conducted over the phone in Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Surveys were conducted face-to-face in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey. In Australia, we used a mixed-mode probability-based online panel.
To compare educational groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the UN’s International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).
To compare views of those who support the governing party or parties with those who do not, we grouped respondents based on their answers to a question asking them which political party, if any, they identified with in their country. For more, including country specific classifications, read our Political Categorization Appendix .
Prior to 2024, combined totals were based on rounded topline figures. For all reports beginning in 2024, totals will be based on unrounded topline figures, so combined totals might be different than in previous years. Refer to the 2024 topline to see our new rounding procedures applied to past years’ data.
Here are the questions used for the analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .
Evaluations are most negative in Argentina, Ghana, Nigeria, South Korea, Tunisia and Turkey. In each of these countries, more than eight-in-ten say their economy is bad, including more than four-in-ten who say it is very bad.
Adults in most European countries surveyed also offer negative evaluations of their economies, including three-quarters or more in France, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom. Smaller majorities in Germany, Hungary and Spain agree.
Still, people in several countries have largely positive views of their economies. In Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Singapore, majorities say their economy is good. About a third of Indian adults say the economic situation in their country is very good – the largest share of any country surveyed.
A separate Center survey from this spring shows that Americans are largely critical of their economy. Only 23% of U.S. adults say economic conditions are excellent or good. For more information, read “ Public’s Positive Economic Ratings Slip; Inflation Still Widely Viewed as Major Problem .”
Although economic ratings are negative in many places, they have improved since 2023 in 11 countries. For example, positive ratings jumped from 33% to 53% in Poland. This increase follows an October 2023 election where Poles voted to unseat the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which had ruled since 2015. The change in government prompted the European Union to release $149 billion in withheld funds to Poland during our survey period.
Significant single-year increases also occurred in Brazil, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.
Nigeria and Germany are the only two countries surveyed in both years that saw notable decreases in positive economic ratings in the last year (by 14 and 8 percentage points, respectively). Nigerians, who have seen their economy slip from the largest in Africa in 2022 to the fourth largest this year, are coping with a near 30-year high inflation rate of 29.9%. And during the survey period in Germany, the country’s economy minister outlined especially low growth predictions for 2024 (0.2%), citing the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a handful of countries, our most recent data prior to 2024 comes from 2019 or 2017, before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the global economy . In most of these places, ratings have dropped significantly since the last time we surveyed. For example, about four-in-ten Turkish adults (39%) called their country’s economic situation good in 2019; now just 17% give similarly positive ratings. Good ratings are also down 31 and 30 points from 2017 in Peru and Ghana, respectively.
Still, in those countries we did not find strong correlations between people’s ratings of their country’s economy and economic indicators such as gross domestic product, inflation and inequality (or how these changed).
In general, supporters of a country’s governing party or parties are more likely than nonsupporters to say the current economic situation in their country is good. This pattern holds regardless of whether overall ratings in that country are positive or negative. (Refer to the appendix for country-specific governing party classifications.)
The largest difference is in Hungary, where three-quarters of adults who support the ruling Fidesz-KDNP alliance say the economy is doing well. Just 21% of those who do not support the current government agree.
In France, Germany, Greece and Spain, the difference in economic attitudes between governing party supporters and nonsupporters exceeds 30 points.
The impact of certain demographic factors such as age and level of education on economic ratings varies by country.
In six countries, adults ages 18 to 34 have less positive views of the economy than those 50 and older. But in five countries, the opposite is true. For example, 46% of Chilean adults under 35 feel positively about the current economy, compared with 22% of those 50 and older. But in Sri Lanka, older adults give the country’s economy better ratings than their younger counterparts do (32% vs. 25%).
Similarly, adults with more education rate the economy higher than those with less education in five countries, but in another four countries, it’s less educated adults who are more positive.
Note: Here are the questions used for the analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .
CORRECTION (June 7, 2024): A previous version of this post showed Poland data twice in the chart “Across 34 countries, people mostly rate their economies negatively.” The chart has been updated to correctly include data from Sweden. No other findings in the post are affected.
Laura Clancy is a research analyst focusing on global attitudes research at Pew Research Center .
Jordan Lippert is a research assistant focusing on global attitudes research at Pew Research Center .
U.s.-germany relationship remains solid, but underlying policy differences begin to show, comparing views of the u.s. and china in 24 countries, americans name china as the country posing the greatest threat to the u.s., americans see u.s. aid to developing countries as more beneficial than chinese assistance, most popular.
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .
© 2024 Pew Research Center
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The definition of customer service is evolving. Here’s what every service professional needs to know.
Customer service is so important that it is now considered a strategic function for organisations across industries. In fact, 85% of service leaders say their org is expected to contribute more revenue this year.
In one word: retention. Happier customers are more likely to continue doing business with you. This helps your bottom line. It’s less expensive to keep current customers than to attract new ones.
Customer service is also a differentiator that sets your brand apart from competitors that offer similar products or services. Service teams not only answer questions; they personalise each customer experience. In fact, 88% of customers say that the experience a company provides is as important as its products or services.
Meanwhile, subpar customer experiences contribute to churn. Eighty percent of shoppers will abandon a retailer after three bad experiences, for example. Great customer service is important for your brand reputation, too. After all, customers are quick to share negative experiences with the masses online.
Read the Salesforce “State of Service” report for an in-depth look at the findings.
1. Connect customer service to the broader organisation
The key is to connect service to your customer relationship management (CRM) system. This will give you a complete view of a customer’s interactions with your company. When a customer reaches out, the agent has all relevant data on a single screen — demographics, order history, preferences, and more — so they know how to help. And they'll know who to pull in from another department to help resolve the issue, if need be.
2. Offer support on every channel Today, great customer service happens everywhere — email, social media, text, and, of course, the phone. No matter the channel, customers want fast, convenient, and high-quality support. Here are the channels every service leader needs to scale support:
3. Strike the perfect balance between quality and speed Sixty-eight percent of agents say it’s difficult to balance speed and quality. Omni-channel routing directs cases to the right agent and gives managers a bird’s eye view of contact centre activity . This ensures that agents are on the right cases based on their skills and availability.
Another way to help agents meet expectations for fast support is through automation . Automated workflows guide agents through the steps to complete an action. You can repurpose these workflows on your self-service channels to help customers complete a process on their own, too. For example, you can walk a customer through the steps to initiate a return.
4. Train Agents On Soft And Hard Skills
Agents today must actively listen, exhibit empathy, showcase product knowledge, and deliver a personalised experience to every customer, all while resolving cases quickly.
5. Act as one team
Although agents often work one-on-one with customers, they still need a sense of professional support and camaraderie. Maintain open lines of communication and collaboration. This is especially important with a remote workforce. Daily standups are an easy way to keep everyone connected and united.
6. Turn customer service into a revenue driver
Once the agent solves the issue at hand, they can take the relationship further by upselling and cross-selling. AI can help : It analyses the customer’s data — such as past orders and likelihood to buy — to recommend relevant products or services to the customer.
Beyond adding incremental revenue, customer service can support your business strategy. Agents glean customer insights and feedback every day. Consider inviting your service team to present customer feedback at company meetings. These insights can yield great product innovations or improvements.
7. Change up how you measure success
Handle time is an important metric, but it doesn’t tell you the whole story. Analyse a range of customer service metrics to better understand the customer and their relationship with your company overall.
Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
Even though the definition of customer service has changed over time, the sentiment remains the same: It’s the magic behind customer loyalty. Your service team understands the customer in a way that no other department can. They have the power to make customers feel special and understood while meeting their expectations. That’s a win for your team and your entire organisation.
Service Cloud saves your employees time with a powerful, connected agent workspace so they can focus on what’s important, your customers.
Organizations over-rely on approaches that consistently fail to diversify management ranks — and overlook those that have proven effective.
While companies say they champion diversity, there are glaring disparities in diverse representation within managerial ranks. The authors examine the impact of various management practices on diverse representation in managerial roles and how often each management practice is utilized in organizations, shedding light on why organizations are not making greater progress toward diverse representation. Despite not working well for attaining diverse representation, diversity training is widely used in organizations. In contrast, formal mentoring programs and targeted recruitment are effective for increasing diverse representation but are underused. Indeed, the relationship between how often management practices are implemented in organizations and their effectiveness in attaining diverse representation is negative and strong. This article breaks down the practices organizations should utilize to achieve diverse representation, underscoring the need to shift toward practices that increase diverse representation in management.
Despite the U.S. population’s growing diversity , managerial roles are still predominantly held by white men. While the largest firms have been pledging to recruit and train Black workers for over 40 years, there has been little increase in Black representation in managerial roles during this timeframe. In a 2021 analysis , Black employees held only 7% of managerial roles despite comprising 14% of all employees. Women have difficulty attaining leadership roles despite evidence that “women are more likely than men to lead in a style that is effective.”
Reddit's No1 subreddit for Pokemon Go, Niantic's popular mobile game!
I have this impossible research task. Before the recent changes, it would have been hard. I would have gotten close, but failed many times for many weeks. I get that research tasks like this are meant to be hard. Eventually the stars would have aligned and I would have managed it.
In the new regime, with the "new" catch physics, where balls go in random and unrepeatable directions, the target circle isn't really where it is and Pokemon are randomly a little closer or a little further away every time? Utterly, laughably impossible. They might as well have made a research task to spin a stop on Shackleton crater.
I wouldn't care, but now I'm never going to know what comes next and I'm going to have to see "Streak broken" thousands of times for the remainder of the time I choose to play. 😭
Sigh... Thanks for letting me vent.
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Good Research Questions. Bad Research Questions. Have no simple answer - are open-ended and consider cause/effect. Have simple or easy answers - can be answered with one word, a number, or a list. Are "researchable" - can be answered with accessible research, facts, and data. Cannot be answered -- there is no answer, or the information to ...
If your research feels similar to existing articles, make sure to drive home the differences. 5. Complex. Whether it's developed for a thesis or another assignment, a good research topic question should be complex enough to let you expand on it within the scope of your paper.
What are the qualities of a good research question? Use these examples of good and bad research questions to help you prepare to write your own essay or thesis.
The process of formulating a good research question can be challenging and frustrating. While a comprehensive literature review is compulsory, the researcher usually encounters methodological difficulties in the conduct of the study, particularly if the primary study question has not been adequately selected in accordance with the clinical dilemma that needs to be addressed.
a bad research question uses loaded and /or vague and/or contentious terms. Sad and bad research questions often use loaded terms that then require a truckload of justification and explanation when maybe less tricky terminology might do. To go back to the example.
A poorly constructed question can lead to inadequate research outcomes, making it essential to understand what constitutes a bad research question. This article explores the characteristics of ineffective research questions and provides insights into why they fail, which can guide researchers in refining their inquiry.
This column is about research questions, the beginning of the researcher's process. For the reader, the question driving the researcher's inquiry is the first place to start when examining the quality of their work because if the question is flawed, the quality of the methods and soundness of the researchers' thinking does not matter.
A good research question is essential to guide your research paper, dissertation, or thesis. All research questions should be: 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.
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries.
Good Research Questions. Bad Research Questions. Have no simple answer - are open-ended and consider cause/effect. Have simple or easy answers - can be answered with one word, a number, or a list. Are "researchable" - can be answered with accessible research, facts, and data. Cannot be answered -- there is no answer, or the information to ...
A well-crafted research question (or set of questions) sets the stage for a robust study and meaningful insights. But, if you're new to research, it's not always clear what exactly constitutes a good research question. In this post, we'll provide you with clear examples of quality research questions across various disciplines, so that you can approach your research project with confidence!
The first research question is considered bad because of the vagueness of "social media" as a concept and the question's lack of specificity. A good research question should be specific and focused, and its answer should be discovered through data collection and analysis.
A qualitative research question is a type of systematic inquiry that aims at collecting qualitative data from research subjects. The aim of qualitative research questions is to gather non-statistical information pertaining to the experiences, observations, and perceptions of the research subjects in line with the objectives of the investigation.
A good research question should: Be clear and provide specific information so readers can easily understand the purpose. Be focused in its scope and narrow enough to be addressed in the space allowed by your paper. Be relevant and concise and express your main ideas in as few words as possible, like a hypothesis.
A bad research question ruins the outcome of your research. So, you must be careful of your questions. Here are some of the features of a good research question: A good research question is focused and straight to the point. A good research question targets and provides a solid answer to the problem. Good research questions provide more depth ...
Examples of Bad Research Questions. It is difficult to evaluate qualities of objects, individuals or groups if your purpose is not clear. This is why you shouldn't create unclear research questions or try to focus on many problems at once. Some preliminary study might help to understand what you should focus on. Here are several bad examples:
Framing: How one asks a question matters. A classic framing example is that more people will rate ground beef better if it's framed as 80% lean vs. 20% fat. Bad actors use framing to create push-polls that yield desired research results. When possible, it's recommended to see how the question is worded before accepting the outcome.
Characteristics of Bad Research Questions. When writing a research question, it is important to ensure that it is well-constructed and meaningful. A bad research question can lead to a poorly designed study or result in irrelevant findings. Here are some characteristics of bad research questions that you should avoid: Vague or Ambiguous
Good and Bad Survey Questions Good survey questions can give you important insights about your need, but bad survey questions can confuse the respondent and, worse, send the project team in the wrong direction. Wording matters and can truly change the insights you get and, ultimately, the actions you take.
Conclusion. Good research questions are open to debate and search for thorough answers. These questions allow people to discuss the subject matter. Compared to good questions, bad research questions are closed off and ask for a specific answer. They have a very narrow perspective and are focused on one single point of the problem.
Activity 2.3 - Good or Bad Research Questions. Approaches to Social Research (theoretical perspectives) Activity 4.1 - Approaches to Social Research. Sampling in Research. Activity 4.1 - Approaches to Social Research. Sociology of Crime and Deviance. The Correlates of Crime. Psychology Concepts.
" To show both the legitimacy of the question and how seriously they have considered it, the authors provided a comprehensive summary of the literature in the following seven sentences, offering two hypotheses backed by a combined eight different sources. 2 Rather than shying away from a limitation, they attacked it as something to be curious ...
A bad research question is one that is too broad or too narrow, hampering the research process. It should be manageable and focused, allowing for effective investigation. A poorly formulated research question can lead to suboptimal study design, analysis, sample size calculations, and presentation of results, potentially creating a gap between research and clinical practice. It is important ...
The less unclear the questions, the more accurate the response you will receive. 6. Random Questions. If your survey is all about a customer's experience on your website, don't throw in a random question asking them about their favorite food. This is one of the common examples of flawed survey questions.
The Republican National Committee, major conservative media outlets and right-wing influencers have succeeded in blasting out videos that they claim show "proof" of Biden's wandering off ...
Topics in Psychology. Explore how scientific research by psychologists can inform our professional lives, family and community relationships, emotional wellness, and more. ... National League of Cities, and Research!America to host a virtual national conversation about the psychology and impact of misinformation on public health.
Evaluations are most negative in Argentina, Ghana, Nigeria, South Korea, Tunisia and Turkey. In each of these countries, more than eight-in-ten say their economy is bad, including more than four-in-ten who say it is very bad.. Adults in most European countries surveyed also offer negative evaluations of their economies, including three-quarters or more in France, Greece, Italy and the United ...
Service teams not only answer questions; they personalise each customer experience. In fact, 88% of customers say that the experience a company provides is as important as its products or services. Meanwhile, subpar customer experiences contribute to churn. Eighty percent of shoppers will abandon a retailer after three bad experiences, for ...
Summary. While companies say they champion diversity, there are glaring disparities in diverse representation within managerial ranks. The authors examine the impact of various management ...
I have this impossible research task. Before the recent changes, it would have been hard. I would have gotten close, but failed many times for many weeks. I get that research tasks like this are meant to be hard. Eventually the stars would have aligned and I would have managed it.