Developing a Research Project Through Questions

Why ask questions? A topic is a broad concept– how do you know when you have enough information? Questions guide the direction of your research— When you create good questions your time researching is more efficient. You focus on locating and selecting the information that answers your questions. Once you have your answers your search is done.

Two types of questions Factual Interpretive How do you apply them to your research?

However, advanced, high school-level research is built on interpretive questions. These questions involve your own original thinking What if? Why? What might? How can? Which is the best? Should we?

You need factual, “reporter-style” questions for basic information about a topic Who? What? When? Where? EX. What is a vegan diet? Who are some famous vegans? Is vegan different from organic? Where can I find vegan recipes? When did vegan diets become popular?

Your guiding research question must be interpretive.

Prediction question: how might something look or be in the future based on the way it is now? Ex. Is it true that we might be facing major water shortages in the next fifty years? Ex. What might happen if we can’t defeat ISIS?

Solution question: What solutions can be found for a problem that exits today? Ex. How can we prevent future mass shootings? Ex. What can high schools do about bullying?

Comparison question: “which one?” Ex. Which would give me the best college experience—a US or a European University? Ex. Which is healthier: a vegan or a Paleo diet?

Why question: trying to understand cause and effect Ex. Why is there so much binge drinking among college students? Ex. Why do women tend to make less money than men?

Judgment question: based on the information you find, what is your informed opinion about a subject? Ex. Is dieting an effective way to lose weight? Ex. Should people limit their use of cell phones? Ex. Should young children be allowed to play violent video games?

Summary so far . . . Interpretive questions make good guiding questions for research. Factual questions are good for supporting questions.

Your questions create the structure for your paper Guiding interpretive question: Should more people adopt a vegan diet?   Supporting Factual Question 1 What kinds of food make up a vegan diet? Supporting Factual Question 2 What are the health benefits of a vegan diet? Supporting Factual Question 3 What are the possible negative effects of such a diet? Supporting Factual Question 4 Is a vegan diet better for the environment? Conclusion Answer your guiding question – yes, more people should become vegan, or no, they should not

You should be able to complete this sentence: I am researching _____________________________ because I want to know _____________________________ in order to help my reader understand ____________________________________________.