Advanced Information Research Skills

Now that you are doing your own research, you need to formulate your own research question or questions to be answered. A good research question helps to:

• guide the research process
• construct a logical argument
• write a literature review
• plan thesis chapters
• devise efficient search strategies. 

Recommended reading that supports this module:

A research question is not the same as a thesis title, research problem, hypothesis or research focus, although they are interrelated and support one another. To further define these elements:

•  A research question summarises the significant issue your research will investigate.
• The title consists of the topic and outcome of a research project.
• The research problem explains the knowledge gap your research will address.
• A hypothesis is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested and is based on prior research.
• A research focus specifies the scope or domain of inquiry.