Your research question is the foundation of your entire dissertation. Get it right and everything else — your literature review, methodology, analysis and conclusion — falls into place. Get it wrong and you will struggle at every stage. This guide shows you exactly how to write a research question that is focused, feasible and academically rigorous.
📋 Table of Contents
What Makes a Good Research Question?
A strong research question should be: Focused — specific enough to be answered within your word count and timeframe; Feasible — researchable with available data and resources; Original — addressing a genuine gap in the literature; Significant — worth answering for academic or practical reasons; Clear — unambiguous and precisely worded.
Types of Research Questions
- Descriptive: What is the prevalence of X among Y?
- Comparative: How does X differ between Group A and Group B?
- Causal/Explanatory: What is the effect of X on Y?
- Evaluative: How effective is X in achieving Y?
- Exploratory: What are the experiences of X among Y?
Step-by-Step: Writing Your Research Question
1. Choose a broad topic area
Start with a subject you are genuinely interested in — you will be spending months with it. Review your course content, identify debates that interest you and scan recent journal articles for emerging themes.
2. Review the existing literature
Before finalising your question, conduct a preliminary literature review. Identify what has already been studied and where the gaps are. Your research question should address one of those gaps.
3. Narrow your focus
Most students start with a question that is far too broad. Narrow it by specifying: the population (who?), the context (where? when?), the variable (what?), and the relationship (how? why?).
4. Test your question
Ask yourself: Can this be answered with available data? Is it too simple to require a dissertation? Does it raise ethical concerns? Is it genuinely unanswered in the literature?
The PICO Framework (Health Sciences)
For health, nursing and medical dissertations, the PICO framework helps structure your research question: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome.
Good vs Bad Examples
❌ Too broad:
✅ Focused and specific:
❌ Too narrow (already answered):
✅ Addresses a genuine gap:
Research Aims and Objectives
Once you have your research question, you need to write your research aims and objectives. Your aim is the overarching purpose of your study — what you want to achieve. Your objectives are the specific steps you will take to achieve that aim. Objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Objectives:
1. To review existing literature on social media use and body image.
2. To collect survey data from 100 female students at UK universities.
3. To analyse the relationship between daily Instagram usage and self-reported body image scores.
4. To identify factors that moderate this relationship.
FAQs
How many research questions should a dissertation have?
Most dissertations have one primary research question and two to four sub-questions or objectives. Too many questions dilute your focus.
Can I change my research question after starting?
Yes — especially after your literature review reveals unexpected gaps. Always discuss changes with your supervisor before proceeding.
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