I am a medical student, I have a research question.
Honestly, we know the answer to this question before doing the evaluation of certain tool.
Is this research will add anything to the literature review?
Do you advise me to do it and spend the time?
Thanks in advance
Even though you might have an answer to a question, you answer might not be the best answer or could be a wrong answer. Many things in this world have no true or false and if you could find anything new or special regarding a specific topic, it may help to narrow the gap in the literature and thus, if could any something to the existing literature. Best of luck!
Dear Balqees
Can you elaborate a little on your research topic so that one can think of help to you
A research question is nothing more than a hypothesis about the expected outcome
I am waiting for some details
Do you really "know" the answer or just expect it. Knowing means that you believe in something and your belief is warranted (i.e., you have "conclusive" data to support your belief).
Sometimes you expect an answer but you (or others) find that it is wrong upon conducting the appropriate study. Sometimes you expect an answer and others expect another answer. Sometimes you expect an answer but you want to obtain more or better support for it.
But if you really "know" the answer, the research may not be ethical (if it involves human or animal subjects) and the question would not be a good one. A good research question is the one that has not been (conclusively) answered and that is answerable and has some importance.
As far as developing research question is concerned, the following papers may further help:
- Agee, J. (2009) Developing qualitative research questions: a reflective process, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 22, 4, pp. 431-447.
- Khoo, E. M. (2005) Research Questions and Research Objectives, The Family Physician, 13, 3, pp. 25-26.
- Lipowski, E. E. (2008) Developing great research questions, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 65, 17, pp. 1667-1670.
- Rowley, J. (2014) Designing and using research questionnaires, Management Research Review, 37, 3, pp. 308-330.
- Stone, P. (2002) Deciding upon and refining a research question, Palliative medicine, 16, 3, pp. 265-267.
It is a very general question and better that you start by searching the web. You can find useful information in any language.
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