Peer Review

Crafting a Research Question

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jan 15, 2026 by Faculty Development

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This interactive workshop/tutorial walks a person through creating their research questions. It also gives guidance on how to improve existing research questions along with how to manage some researching complications that might arise. The tips and strategies provided are applicable to students, researchers, and those who are interested in learning this skill.

Coming up with a good research question is essential for any research! Whether you're joining a faculty-led group or initiating an independent research project, research questions will be central to your work. By the end of this activity, you'll be able to: Generate potential research questions Refine and improve your research questions Explain the broader significance of your research question If you are joining a faculty-led project, you can still benefit from working through this tutorial. Learning about the process of generating a research question can prepare you for your future independent projects.

Type of Material:

Tutorial; Self-paced workshop

Recommended Uses:

This resource could be used as an in-class activity or homework assignment for individual students or when group projects are assigned.

Each step of the process of crafting a research question is explored and demonstrated.

Technical Requirements:

Device with internet access (Chrome browser used)

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Completing this activity will assist learners, so they can:

Generate potential research questions
Refine & improve their research questions
Explain the broader significance of their research question

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

The knowledge of the research process could be of value but is not required.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The presentation conveys the topic, crafting a research question, through several activities: first steps - brainstorming; interactive videos embedded throughout, with questions that the user can answer, checking the at the end; introducing important elements such as "research gap"; browsing for ideas; and at the end, an exercise analyzing the significance of one's questions.

I loved that anyone could follow along and understand the content being presented even if they had no background knowledge on the topic.

Concerns:

None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The author included learning outcomes so that users know ahead of time what they will learn about and to what level of detail.

Concerns:

None

However, faculty using the resource can determine the level of prerequisite information that may be required.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: This resource was very easy to use, kept my attention (although it is not a new topic for me), and was not very time-consuming; these are all things I know our new students tend to look for in their learning materials.
Concerns:: None (accessibility was not checked)

Other Issues and Comments:: The only drawback would be if the technology did not work, as there are embedded videos and question/answer activities throughout.
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