This is the fundamental question that your research will address. Your research question should focus on a specific issue, problem, or area of interest within the scope of your chosen topic.
Your ultimate research question should be:
- Concise: expressed clearly and in as few words as possible
- Focused: should be answerable within the scope of your assigned paper or project
- Complex: not simply a "yes or no" question but rather requiring analysis of in-depth research and ideas in order to answer
- Analytical: question should prompt a thorough examination of a topic or problem rather than a simple description
- Researchable: an adequate body of scholarly research should exist for you to draw on in your own work