I don't have a research question yet
Move from a broad topic to a question you can answer, that's worth answering, in the time you have.
In short
Start here, today. Finish this sentence five different ways: “I'm studying [topic] because I want to find out [what, why or how something happens], in order to understand [why it matters].” Don't judge them yet. This takes about 20 minutes.
After that, work through these steps. Choose one to jump to it.
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step for the how.
0 of 7 steps done
Find the puzzle
Go through your notes for moments of surprise: findings that contradict each other, a pattern nobody has explained, a group or place that's been left out, a method nobody has tried on this problem. Write each as one sentence beginning “It's strange that” or “Nobody seems to know why”.
Turn puzzles into questions
For each puzzle, write a question, and try different forms: how, why, to what extent, under what conditions, what is the relationship between. Each form implies a different kind of study, so notice which ones draw you.
Draft several, not one
Aim for five to eight candidate questions, some narrow and some broad. Having several stops you defending the first one too hard, and comparing them shows you what you actually care about.
Test each question
Is it answerable: could evidence settle it, and could you get that evidence? Is it worth answering: who would care about the answer, and which conversation in your field does it add to? Is it doable with your time, skills, budget, languages and access? Cross out the ones that clearly fail.
Try them on other people
Say your top two or three out loud to your supervisor, a peer in your field and someone outside it. Watch for confusion, interest and the follow-up question they ask. If a question needs a paragraph of background before it makes sense, it may still be a topic.
Check what's been done
Search for each surviving question directly. If someone has answered it, read how. Your angle may be a different population, setting, method or period, which can be a perfectly good contribution. Connected Papers can show you what clusters around a central paper.
Choose one to work with for now
Pick the strongest question and write it, with the date, at the top of your project notes. Record it in the Decision Log along with the questions you set aside and why. You'll refine it, but now there is something to refine.
Words you can use
Is this you? Signs to look for
- When people ask what you're working on, you name a topic, such as “climate adaptation” or “migrant labour”, rather than a question.
- Every paper you read suggests another possible direction.
- You worry that whatever you choose, someone has already done it.
- Your supervisor keeps asking, kindly, “but what's the question?”
Why this happens
A topic is an area of interest. A question is a specific thing nobody knows yet that you could find out. Between the two there is usually a puzzle: something in the literature, the data or the world that doesn't fit, contradicts something else, or hasn't been explained.
Students often stay at the topic level because choosing a question feels like closing doors. It does close some, and that is what makes it useful. A good question tells you what to read, what data to collect and what to ignore. Without one, everything looks relevant, which is exhausting.
Your first question won't be your final one. It only needs to be good enough to test.
Worth a look (5)
- The Craft of Research, by Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb and Joseph WilliamsIts early chapters on moving from a topic to a question to a problem work in almost any discipline.
- Connected PapersBuilds a visual map of papers related to one you already know, useful for checking what's been done.
- List of Resources for Finding ETDsThis directory lists national and regional thesis collections around the world, from Theses Canada to Shodhganga. It's handy for finding past theses to see how others shaped theirs.
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses GlobalThis very large database of dissertations and theses is strongest for North American universities, and many records include full text. It's usually available through your university library.
- The Thesis WhispererInger Mewburn's long-running blog about doing a PhD covers thesis writing, supervision, productivity and life after the degree. It's warm and practical, with plenty of readers' stories.
When to bring someone in
Your supervisor is the main person to test questions with, because they know what is realistic in your field. A subject librarian can help you search systematically to see what has already been done. If your supervisor is hard to reach, a committee member or a senior student in your area can be a good sounding board.
Find the right person, or talk to Ify