How to Write a Good Question

How to Write a Good Research Question

Can you spot a good question?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good research question?

• Does owning a pet improve quality of life for older people?

• In what ways does owning a pet improve quality of life for older people?

Questions Should Have Complex Answers

• A simple question gets a simple answer.

• Avoid questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no" or a single word or phrase.

• How you ask the question is important.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good research question?

• How effective are the various types of medication in treating elementary students with ADHD?

• Does medication help alleviate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms? And do kids need more exercise?

Good Research Questions Need Focus

• A good research question should be focused on a single topic

• Using the word, "and" in your research question might indicate more than one topic.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good research question?

• What factors affect people's belief in a higher power?

• Is there a higher power in the universe?

Good Question Can Be Answered

• It's possible to ask a really interesting question and not be able to find the answer.

• Don't forget that your reason for asking this question is to come up with a really great answer - one on which you'll be able to build a project.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good research question?

• Which national park is the best?

• What features do the most popular national parks have in common?

Good Questions Don't Ask for Opinions

• You want to create a project based on specific data and clear evidence.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good research question?

• How do artificial sweeteners affect people?

• How does aspartame affect post-menopausal women who suffer from migraines?

Questions Should Be Specific

• Make your queston as specific as possible.

• This will give you a more detailed answer - one that is strong enough to be the topic of your project.

•  The question is easier to answer with facts.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good question?

• How does restricting cell phone use in school affect student social interaction?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of cell phone use in schools?

Good Research Questions Are Original

• If you ask a question that's already been answered a 1,000 times before, you're only doing research that someone else has already done.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good question?

• Why do some corporations pollute the water if they aren't regulated?

• How do government regulations prevent corporations from polluting the water?

A Good Question Doesn't Ask Why

• You need a question that has a clear and specific answer.

• "Why?" often infers there's a short answer.

• "Why?" often infers that the answer is an opinion.

Multiple Choice

When writing your research question, it's a good idea to keep the topic very general or broad.

• True

• False

• It depends on the topic

Multiple Choice

When writing your research question, it should have an "open ended" answer, not a "yes" or "no" answer.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

"What is a volcano" or "What is an earthquake" are examples of good research questions.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

"Why do volcanoes errupt" or "Why do earthquakes happen" are examples of good research questions.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

"Which volcanic island is the best to visit?" is NOT a good research question because...

• It's an opinion-based question.

• It is not a focused & specific question.

• The question can not really be answered by research.

• The answer will not be a complex one.

• All of these are true.

It's YOUR turn...

1. What TOPIC would you like to research, as it relates to the Earth physically changing it's shape?

2. Write a question you'd like to research about your topic.

3. Is it a question:

*That will have a complex answer (not a yes/no)?

*That has a specific focus on the topic?

*That does not ask an opinion?

*That doesn't ask, "why"?