Page 22 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

remind us that human curiosity seeks not just to catalogue
what is but to comprehend - to grasp - the short-lived ‘why’
Questions drive behind what we see and experience. At its core, research is
research driven by this spirit of human inquiry, by the demand for a

priori, in the search for answers to our compelling questions.

The quality of questions determines whether the inquiry
will succeed in creating significant new knowledge. Good
Building research questions identify important knowledge gaps
knowledge and that need to be filled and opportunities for expanding
curiosity understanding. They crystallise the purpose and value of the
study. Thoughtful questions also open up possibilities and
inspire curiosity rather than narrowing perspectives.

Effective questions require clarity, focus, and specificity.
Focused research Ambiguous, vague, or overly broad questions lead to diffused
questions provide efforts and superficial answers. Structuring focused research
direction questions provides direction and purpose. It enables inquirers
to determine the relevant information to seek and weed out
extraneous data.

The research question should be specific and narrowly
focused on a particular issue or topic. It should not be too broad.
For example, "What are the effects of social media usage on
teenage mental health?" is more specific than "What are the
effects of social media?.” The research question should be
Specific, feasible feasible, that is, possible to investigate within the constraints
and original of time, resources, and access to data. For example, "What
are the experiences of jobless youth in Kozhikode?" is likely
more feasible than "What are the experiences of jobless youth
in Kerala?" if your time and budget are limited. The research
question should be original by addressing a new gap in the
knowledge base and not simply repeating what has already
been studied extensively. For example, "How has the shift to
remote work during COVID-19 affected work-life balance?"
covers relatively uncharted territory.
The question should be relevant to the field of study
and have potential real-world applications. For example,
"How effective are text message reminders at improving
medication adherence?" could inform healthcare practices.
The research question should not have a simple yes/no
answer and should require analysis of complex interactions
of factors. For example, "What motivates people to make
healthy lifestyle changes?" is an intricate psychological
question. Arguable: The research question should not have an
answer that is considered obvious or undisputed, but should
allow reasonable debate based on evidence. For example, "Is

16 SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing