Creating Clear Research Questions

Crafting Qualitative Research Questions: The Key to Your Study 🎯 Your qualitative research question is the compass 🧭 of your study. It guides every aspect—from data collection to analysis—and ensures your findings address the core phenomenon you're exploring. Here’s a breakdown of how to design effective qualitative research questions: 1. Purpose-Driven Questions ✨ Start with the intent of your study. Qualitative research seeks to explore, understand, or describe experiences, processes, or phenomena. Use open-ended phrases like: "What are the experiences of..." 🗣️ "How do individuals perceive..." 👀 "Why do people engage in..." ❓ 2. Key Characteristics 🗝️ Open-Ended: Avoid yes/no formats to enable depth. Exploratory: Focus on understanding rather than measuring. Contextual: Embed questions within the specific cultural, social, or situational settings of your study. 3. Common Frameworks 🏗️ Qualitative research questions often align with methodological traditions: Phenomenology: "What is the lived experience of [X]?" 🌅 Grounded Theory: "How do [participants] navigate [phenomenon]?" 🛤️ Ethnography: "What are the cultural practices of [group] in [context]?" 🏘️ Narrative: "How do individuals construct stories about [experience]?" 📖 4. Examples 💡 "What are the factors influencing community trust in healthcare systems? 🏥" "How do teachers adapt to online learning in resource-limited settings? 💻" "What strategies do caregivers use to manage stress? 💆♀️" 5. Iterative Refinement 🔄 As you immerse yourself in the research, refine your questions to reflect new insights and ensure they remain aligned with your study's purpose. 🛠️ Whether you're embarking on your first study or honing expertise, mastering research questions ensures clarity and focus. What qualitative inquiry will you design next? 🤔

💡 Clinical research starts with the right question—but coming up with one can feel impossible. If you’re stuck trying to create a research question from scratch, stop. ❇️Great questions don’t come out of nowhere.❇️ The best research questions start with context. Look at your daily work, identify gaps, and build from there. Here’s how to turn your observations into meaningful clinical research. 👇 A FRAMEWORK FOR CRAFTING IMPACT RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1️⃣ Start Where You Are The best research questions aren’t created in isolation—they’re grounded in context. Ask yourself: - What are the recurring pain points in your daily work? - Are there inefficiencies in processes like hospital discharge, patient education, or workflows? - Who is your focus population? (e.g., patients, caregivers, medical students, or providers) By reflecting on these, you’ll uncover meaningful questions rooted in real-world challenges. 2️⃣ Conduct a Literature Review - Start with a recent, highly cited review article to get a sense of the broader landscape. - Then, dive deeper into original research referenced in that article. - This will help you identify gaps and refine your focus. 3️⃣ Narrow Your Angle If everything feels “already done,” here’s how to narrow your focus: - Population: Could you study a subgroup or demographic that hasn’t been explored? - Context: Can you apply findings to a new setting, like outpatient vs. inpatient care? - Methodology: What about using a different study design? 4️⃣ Use a Framework Structuring your research question makes it clearer and actionable. Here are three popular frameworks to consider: ✅ PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome): Best for intervention studies. 🖋️ Example: Does a new telehealth program (Intervention) improve medication adherence (Outcome) in rural diabetes patients (Population) compared to in-person visits (Comparison)? ✅ PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome): Ideal for prognosis or outcome research. 🖋️ Example: What is the long-term impact (Outcome) of early-life antibiotic exposure (Exposure) on pediatric gut health (Population)? ✅ PIC (Population, Interest, Context): Perfect for prevalence/incidence studies. 🖋️Example: What is the prevalence of physician burnout (Interest) among emergency room attendings (Population) in urban hospitals (Context)? 5️⃣ Pass the "So What?" Test Before finalizing your question, ask yourself: - Why does this question matter? - Will the findings help guide patient care, education, or policy? - Bounce your idea off colleagues or mentors—they can offer fresh perspectives to ensure your question is meaningful. 🗝The Key Takeaway🗝 You don’t need to "discover" a research question out of thin air. Start where you are. Look at your daily work, identify challenges, and build from there. With the right context and a clear framework, impactful research questions will follow.

On writing papers with impact. I often hear people complain that academics don't write papers with real work impact. I tend to disagree bc I feel like we all study topics have an impact, but we simply don't know how to write them or frame them. While I am no expert, I came across a great editorial that offers insight how to design & write a study that communicates impact to broader audiences. Andrew Burton-Jones, Steven L. Johnson, & Ann Majchrzak editorial in MIS Quarterly on"Producing Significant Research" offers insight into how authors can enhance the impact of their research & better communicate its importance. So what do they advise? 1. When starting a project, authors should ask: * How does this paper address an unsolved challenge in practice? Example: If studying remote work, go beyond general benefits & identify specific challenges like "How do remote employees manage digital fatigue & maintain productivity?" * Does the paper consider multiple perspectives on this challenge? Example: If researching AI in hiring, consider perspectives from job seekers, employers, & regulators rather than focusing solely on HR professionals. * Does completing this project offer insight that benefits society? Example: If studying misinformation, clarify the broader societal impact: "Our research informs policymakers on how to design social media regulations that balance free speech with misinformation control." 2. When writing a paper, authors should make it: * Accessible: Use clear, straightforward language accessible to non-academic audiences. * Credible: Support claims with empirical evidence and examples of practical applications. * Arresting: Clearly articulate the real-world problem, limitations of existing knowledge, and how the study advances understanding. They also suggest avoid: * Overuse of technical jargon that reduces accessibility. * Vague generalizations in the discussion and implications sections. * Failing to specify which stakeholders will benefit from the findings. 3. Never forget practice. * Consider practitioner perspectives early in the research process. Example: Consult working professionals instead of relying solely on academic literature. * Engage with real-world problems rather than purely theoretical gaps. Example: Investigate "how flawed data models led to incorrect credit scores, impacting millions of consumers." * Frame research for multiple audiences (academics, industry, policymakers). Example: Tailor takeaways separately for stakeholders. * Seek feedback from non-academic peers on clarity and impact before submission. Example: Ask a non-expert colleague to summarize the key takeaways. If they struggle, simplify and clarify your message. Andrew, Steven and Ann argue that authors who proactively embed impact into their studies will be better positioned to contribute meaningful, high-quality research. I think they are right. Give it a crack! Editorial here: https://lnkd.in/ePyeFk_k