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KINS 2205: Research Methods in Kinesiology

The path to a research question

inverted pyramid chart showing the process of narrowing down to a research question from searching a broad topic, doing background reading, and asking questions to identify gaps.

Develop a good research question

Once you choose a broad topic you are interested in, find and read related articles, and identify a gap, a simple way to further focus your topic is to frame it as a research question. As you read background information from your initial search, you will think critically and ask questions about the available information. These questions highlight the gap(s) and lead you to the main question that will guide your research. A good research question is:

  • Broad enough to be open-ended, allowing you to present an argument rather than a "yes/no" answer
  • Specific enough to guide you through your research
  • Iterative, meaning you don't know the answer and so the question itself may change throughout the research process
  • Researchable within the time frame of the assignment and with the resources available to you

Ask more questions to define your research question

Think Ask
Who Are you interested in a specific group of people? Can your topic be narrowed by gender, sex, age, race, socio-economic status? Are there key people or groups related to your topic?
What What are the issues or problems surrounding your topic? Are there subtopics?
Where Does it make sense to narrow your topic to a specific geographic location?
When Is your topic current or historical? Is it confined to a specific time, or associated with an event?
Why Why is your topic important? Why is does it exist? Are there causes or effects underlying your topic?
Subjects: Kinesiology