Abstract
A research question is the central theme of a scientific experiment around which everything revolves. It is a probing statement for which an answer is required. If the research question is not clear at the beginning the whole research becomes questionable and doubtful. Thus, formulating a question is the critical step towards biomedical research [1]. The research question is a signpost that indicates the direction of a study [2] and is based on the gaps in our knowledge.
The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge
—Thomas Berger, American Novelist (1924–2014)
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1 What Is a Research Question?
A research question is the central theme of a scientific experiment around which everything revolves. It is a probing statement for which an answer is required. If the research question is not clear at the beginning the whole research becomes questionable and doubtful. Thus, formulating a question is the critical step towards biomedical research [1]. The research question is a signpost that indicates the direction of a study [2] and is based on the gaps in our knowledge.
2 What Are the FINER Criteria?
FINER is an acronym which help us to formulate a good research question [3]. Its expanded form is given below:
F—Feasible
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It is a technique that is possible to use.
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There are enough patients with this illness.
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Financially the project is possible.
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The outcome can be measured.
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The sample size will not be a problem.
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The scope of the study is not too vast.
I—Interesting
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Getting the answer to the study will be intriguing.
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The study is of interest to your peers.
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It may interest the funding agencies.
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Will help your community.
N—Novel
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The study confirms previously done results.
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Disproves earlier studies.
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Is an extension of previously done experiments.
E—Ethical
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The study complies with the Institutional Review Board’s requirements.
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It safeguards the interests of patients.
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There is confidentiality and anonymity of the participants.
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There will be benefits from this study?
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The risk is minimal?
R—Relevant
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It will be useful in day-to-day practice.
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It will be useful for patient care.
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It will be useful to formulate health care policy.
3 Some Consider the FINER ‘MAPS’ to Be a More Complete Acronym. What Does MAPS Stand For?
The word MAPS stand for:
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M—Manageable
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A—Appropriate
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P—Publishable
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S—Systematic
4 How Do We Break Down a Research Question?
PICOT is the commonest method used to do this into five components [4]:
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P—Population/disease (i.e., age, gender, ethnicity, with a certain disorder).
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I—Intervention or variable of interest (exposure to a disease, risk behaviour, prognostic factors).
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C—Comparison (could be a placebo or business as usual as in no disease, absence of risk factor, prognostic factor).
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O—Outcome (risk of disease, the accuracy of a diagnosis, rate of occurrence of an adverse outcome).
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T—Time it takes to demonstrate an outcome (for how long were the participants observed?).
An example of a research question is given to the understanding of a concept. Supposing you are planning to do research on The role of hydroxychloroquine in preventing COVID-19 in health care workers. We will need to break down this into various components:
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Population—Health care worker
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Intervention—Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg once a week
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Comparison—Health care workers who receive placebo
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Outcome—Health care workers who eventually develop COVID-19
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Time—6 weeks.
The research question should be framed in a question format. In the above example, it should be ‘Can hydroxychloroquine (400 mg) administered once weekly for 6 weeks protect health care workers against COVID-19 infection?
5 What Are the Steps for Framing a Research Question?
The basic steps for formulating a research question are given below [5]:
6 What Are the Examples of Bad Research Questions?
A bad research question is often not in the PICOT format and has missing information. Table 7.1 describes few research question which are incomplete and how to formulated the suggested questions.
7 Conclusions
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A good question is the backbone of research and any further steps should be initiated after formulating this.
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The acronym “FINER/MAPS suggests how a research question should be assessed.
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The research question should be written in the PICOT format for easy understanding.
References
Aslam S, Emmanuel P. Formulating a researchable question: a critical step for facilitating good clinical research. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2010;31:47–50.
Agee J. Developing qualitative research questions: a reflective process. Int J Qual Stud Educ. 2009;22(4):431–47.
Ratan SK, Anand T, Ratan J. Formulation of research question – stepwise approach. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg. 2019;24:15–20.
Riva JJ, Malik KM, Burnie SJ, Endicott AR, Busse JW. What is your research question? An introduction to the PICOT format for clinicians. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012;56:167–71.
Basic steps in the research process. https://www.nhcc.edu/student-resources/library/doinglibraryresearch/basic-steps-in-the-research-process. Last Accessed 24 Apr 2020.
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Nundy, S., Kakar, A., Bhutta, Z.A. (2022). How to Think of a Research Question?. In: How to Practice Academic Medicine and Publish from Developing Countries?. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5248-6_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5248-6_7
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