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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Research Design

Research question

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

nounCore term

In academic english & research, research question means: A clear, focused question that a study is designed to answer; it guides the choice of methods, data and analysis.

In Turkish: araştırma sorusu, problem cümlesi

How it is used

Stated in the introduction of theses, proposals and articles, often numbered RQ1, RQ2 and so on. You formulate, address or answer a research question. Supervisors and reviewers often ask whether it is too broad or too narrow.

Example sentences

  1. Our first research question asks how teachers use feedback in large classes.

  2. Your research question is too broad for a master's thesis; try to narrow it down.

Common collocations

  • formulate a research question
  • address a research question
  • answer the research question
  • narrow down a research question
  • hypothesisA testable statement that predicts a relationship or outcome, which a study then supports or fails to support with evidence.
  • researchCareful, systematic study of a subject in order to discover new facts, test ideas or reach new conclusions.
  • methodologyThe overall approach and reasoning behind how a study is done, including the choice of design, methods, data and analysis, and the reasons for those choices.
  • research gapA question, group, context or problem that existing studies have not yet addressed well, which a new study aims to fill.

More terms: Research Design

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