From Idea to Inquiry: Crafting a Research Question That Works is designed to support graduate students in developing clear, focused, and researchable questions that form the foundation of rigorous academic writing. The presentation guides students through the process of narrowing broad interests into scholarly inquiry, avoiding common pitfalls, aligning questions with disciplinary expectations, and refining their focus for feasibility and impact. Complete with visual examples and a script for video recording, this resource encourages students to approach research as an evolving process grounded in curiosity, critical thinking, and intellectual purpose.
00:01 Introduction 00:25 Why Research Questions Matter 00:45 Characteristics of a Strong Research Question 01:09 Common Pitfalls to Avoid 01:50 From Topic to Question - The Process 02:15 Example: Narrowing a Topic 02:50 Evaluating Your Research Question 03:40 Adapting to Your Discipline 04:08 Let Your Questions Evolve 04:40 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 05:04 Thank you! (Contact info)