How to Write a Research Question: Examples & Guide (2026)
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A research question is the specific, focused question that your entire study is designed to answer. It is arguably the most important sentence in your thesis — it defines the scope of your research, guides your literature review, determines your methodology, and shapes your findings. A vague or poorly framed research question leads to a vague thesis. Getting this right at the start is critical.
Why Research Questions Matter
Your research question does the following work in your thesis:
- Defines the boundaries and focus of your study
- Guides what literature you need to review
- Determines which methodology and design are appropriate
- Shapes what data you collect and how you analyse it
- Provides the criteria by which your thesis is evaluated at viva
Types of Research Questions
| Question Type | Focus | Typical Start | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive | Describes characteristics | What is...? How prevalent is...? | 'What is the prevalence of burnout among school teachers in Delhi?' |
| Comparative | Compares two groups or phenomena | How does X differ from Y? | 'How does student academic performance differ between urban and rural schools?' |
| Relationship | Examines associations | Is there a relationship between...? | 'Is there a significant relationship between social media use and self-esteem among adolescents?' |
| Causal/Explanatory | Tests cause and effect | What is the effect of X on Y? | 'What is the effect of mindfulness training on stress levels among MBA students?' |
| Exploratory | Explores unknown territory | How does...? Why do...? | 'How do first-generation PhD students navigate the transition to doctoral study?' |
| Evaluative | Assesses effectiveness | How effective is...? | 'How effective is the SWAYAM online learning platform in improving learning outcomes?' |
Criteria for a Good Research Question
The FINER Criteria for Research Questions
Adequate participants, equipment, expertise, and time available
You will spend years on this — it must sustain your motivation
Confirms, refutes, or extends prior findings
No harm to participants; follows ethical principles
Important to your field, practice, or policy
Step-by-Step: How to Write a Research Question
| Step | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a broad topic of interest | Employee wellbeing in remote work |
| 2 | Conduct preliminary reading | Review 20–30 papers on remote work and wellbeing |
| 3 | Identify gaps or unresolved debates | Limited research on Indian IT sector remote workers specifically |
| 4 | Narrow to a specific focus | Effect of remote work on work-life balance in IT sector |
| 5 | Identify key variables or concepts | Remote work arrangement; work-life balance; employee wellbeing |
| 6 | Determine the type of question needed | Relationship question (quantitative) |
| 7 | Draft the question | 'What is the impact of remote work arrangements on work-life balance among IT professionals in India?' |
| 8 | Check against FINER criteria | Feasible (surveys/interviews), relevant (growing sector), novel (India-specific gap) |
Research Question Examples by Discipline
Management/Business
- 'How does transformational leadership influence innovation performance in Indian manufacturing SMEs?'
- 'What is the relationship between corporate social responsibility practices and brand loyalty among Indian consumers?'
Education
- 'What are the lived experiences of first-generation university students navigating academic and social integration?'
- 'How effective is peer-assisted learning in improving mathematics achievement among secondary school students?'
Health Sciences
- 'What factors influence medication adherence among patients with Type 2 diabetes in rural Rajasthan?'
- 'How do cultural beliefs shape help-seeking behaviour for mental health services among young adults in India?'
Social Sciences
- 'How do social media influencers shape political opinion formation among urban Indian youth?'
- 'What are the barriers to financial inclusion for women micro-entrepreneurs in semi-urban Maharashtra?'
Common Research Question Mistakes
- Too broad: 'What are the causes of student failure?' — Too many possible answers
- Too narrow: 'How many students failed Science in Standard 9 at X School in 2025?' — Not academically significant
- Not researchable: 'Should universities be privatised?' — This is a policy opinion, not researchable empirically
- Multiple questions in one: 'What causes burnout and how can it be reduced and what are its effects?' — Split into sub-questions
- Answer assumed in the question: 'Why does poor leadership cause employee disengagement?' — Already assumes causation
The Central Question + Sub-Questions Structure
Structure your research questions as one central (overarching) question that captures the essence of the study, plus 3–4 sub-questions that break it down into answerable components. Each sub-question should map to a specific data collection activity and section of your findings chapter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
A research question is the specific, focused question that a research study sets out to answer. It defines the scope and direction of the entire study. A good research question is clear, specific, researchable, and significant — it points to what data will be collected and how it will be analysed. The research question is typically derived from identifying a gap in the existing literature.
The main types of research questions are: (1) Descriptive questions — 'What is...?' or 'How prevalent is...?'; (2) Comparative questions — 'How does X differ from Y?'; (3) Relationship questions — 'Is there a relationship between X and Y?'; (4) Causal questions — 'What is the effect of X on Y?'; (5) Exploratory questions — 'Why does...?' or 'How does...?' (qualitative); (6) Evaluative questions — 'How effective is...?'
A research question is open-ended — it asks what will be found out. A hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction of what the answer will be, stated before data collection. In quantitative research, a hypothesis predicts the direction of relationships between variables. Qualitative research uses research questions, not hypotheses, because the findings are exploratory and cannot be predicted in advance.
A PhD thesis typically has one overarching central research question plus two to five sub-questions. The central question captures the main focus of the study; sub-questions break it down into specific, answerable components. Avoid having too many questions — each must be fully addressed in your findings and discussion. Typically, three to four sub-questions is ideal.
A good research question should be: (1) Clear and unambiguous — readers immediately understand what is being investigated; (2) Focused — not too broad or too narrow; (3) Researchable — answerable with available methods and data; (4) Significant — the answer matters for theory, practice, or policy; (5) Original — addresses a genuine gap in existing knowledge; (6) Feasible — achievable within the constraints of the study.