Introduction

*This image was created using napkin.ai; however, the concept, design direction, and creative vision were conceived by Dr. Knight and Chris Cardenas

Every research project begins with a question. Strong research starts with a question that is clear, specific, and worthy of investigation. In this chapter, we will explore what makes a research question effective and how to refine your ideas into a researchable question. A well-crafted question is more than just a topic of interest—it is clearly written, focused, and open-ended enough to invite exploration and multiple interpretations. In this chapter, we will also explore different types of research questions—those that describe, explore, or explain—and consider how the nature of your question will guide the structure and purpose of your overall study.

This chapter will also examine inductive and deductive reasoning and their influence on the development of a research question. These two approaches reflect how researchers either begin with observations to develop theories (inductive) or start with existing theories to test through data collection (deductive). Exploring both methods helps clarify the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between theory and research.

* AI was used to help organize my thoughts and suggest clarifying sentences, but all ideas and final writing are entirely my own.