Preparation of a Good Research Question: A Starter Kit
Rajvir Singh
Cardiology Research Center, Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar
Vrijesh Tripathi *
Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies, West Indies
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This article addresses key issues and aspects of writing a good research question. The article shows the way to young researchers on how to zero down on a topic and formulate a research question such that the research may be conducted in a fruitful and time bound manner. Often researchers begin haphazardly and struggle to complete their study because of flaws in research design. The article addresses these issues and proposes to guide the researchers in their attempts to frame and conduct a useful and innovative study through eight clearly identifiable steps. These include Identifying a Problem, Conceiving a Research question, Literature Review, Bringing Oneself Up-to-date, Framing the Research Question, Basic Available Study Designs, Designing the Study: The Checklist and Defining the Title.
Keywords: Medical research, study design, research question, case-control study, prospective study