1. Very interesting
Difficult to answer
Easy to answer
A bit boring

2. How to write a Research Question!

3. Goals Understand why we develop research questions.
Learn strategies for developing research questions.
Begin formulating our own research questions.

4. Why Create a Research Question?
A focused question gives structure to the search for information
A well crafted research question helps avoid aimless searching and wasting time

5. A Research Question is…
Something you WANT to know
Not a topic, fragment, phrase, or sentence. It ends with a question mark!
Clear and precisely stated. It is not too broad, nor is it too narrow.
Is it a THICK or THIN question?

6. What makes a good research question?
Is it interesting?--- to you and others
Is it research-able? --- can information be found or created to answer the question
Is it manageable? --- not too broad or too narrow

7. Start with a general topic
Biology: Multicellular organisms have organ systems that enable them to survive and interact within their environment or
Astronomy: The solar system is part of the Milky Way, which is one of billions of galaxies.

8. Then decide what interests you
Example:
Corgis
The Milky Way
Cakes!

9. What do I want to know about this topic?
Then ask…
What do I want to know about this topic?

10. Why? How? Who? What? Where? When?
Use “question words”
Why?
How?
Who?
What?
Where?
When?

11. Examples of good research questions
General topic: Biology of corgis
What were corgis bred to do and why are their legs so short?
What is the difference between a corgi and a Saint Bernard dog?
General topic: Astronomy – Milky Way
What is different about the Milky Way compared to other galaxies?
Are there signs of other living beings in our galaxy?
Why is Pluto no longer a planet?
General topic: Chemistry – Everyday materials are often mixtures
What is the chemistry of baking a cake?

12. Problem research questions
Too narrow:
How many moons are in the Milky Way?
Too broad:
What is the history of cake-making?
Too challenging:
Are corgis better than other breeds of dogs?
This is an opinion question, what does “better” mean? Too hard to research

13. Very interesting Difficult to answer Easy to answer A bit boring
Why is Pluto no longer a planet?
Are corgis better than other breeds of dogs?
What is the chemistry of baking a cake?
Difficult to answer
Easy to answer
How many moons are in the Milky Way?
A bit boring