Mind Over Matter

One of the most crucial steps in conducting a research project in English literature and language studies is formulating clear and relevant research questions. Research questions guide the direction, scope and purpose of your inquiry. They also help you communicate your research goals and expectations to others, such as your supervisor, funders or readers.

But how do you frame research questions appropriate for your topic, discipline and methodology? Here are some tips and examples to help you craft effective research questions for your project.

Start with a broad topic of interest and narrow it down. A good research question should address a specific problem or gap in existing knowledge. To identify a problem or gap, you need a general idea of what has been done and what is still unknown in your field of study. You can start by doing some background reading, reviewing the literature, or brainstorming with your supervisor or colleagues. Then, you can narrow down your topic by asking yourself, What aspect of this topic do I want to explore? What is the main issue or challenge that I want to address? What is the significance or relevance of this issue or challenge for my field or society?

Use the SPICE framework to structure your question. The SPICE framework is a valuable tool to help you formulate research questions that are clear, focused and answerable. SPICE stands for:

• Setting: Where and when does your research take place? This can be a geographical location, a historical period, a cultural context, etc.

• Perspective: Who or what is the focus of your research? This can be a group of people, a genre, a text, a theme, etc.

• Intervention: What are you doing or testing in your research? This can be a theory, a method, a concept, an argument, etc.

• Comparison: What are you comparing your intervention with? This can be another intervention, a control group, a baseline, etc.

• Evaluation: What are you measuring or observing in your research? This can be a change, effect, result, impact, etc.

Depending on your discipline and methodology, you may not need to include all five elements in your research question. For example, if you are doing a textual analysis, you may not have an intervention or comparison. However, the SPICE framework can still help you clarify the setting, perspective and evaluation of your research. Here are some examples of research questions using the SPICE framework:

• How does Shakespeare use metaphors of disease and decay to portray the corruption of power in Macbeth? (Setting: Macbeth; Perspective: Shakespeare; Intervention: metaphors of disease and decay; Evaluation: corruption of power)

• What are the linguistic features and functions of code-switching among bilingual speakers of Urdu and English in Hyderabad? (Setting: Hyderabad; Perspective: bilingual speakers of Urdu and English; Intervention: code-switching; Evaluation: linguistic features and functions)

• How do postcolonial writers challenge the dominant narratives of history and identity in their novels? (Setting: postcolonial novels; Perspective: postcolonial writers; Intervention: challenge; Comparison: dominant narratives; Evaluation: history and identity)

Use question words and keywords to phrase your question. Once you have identified the main elements of your research question, you need to express it in a way that is clear and concise. You can use question words such as who, what, where, when, why and how to start your question. You can also use keywords relevant to your topic, discipline and methodology to specify your question.

You can read about how to select a research topic in the following post:

Selecting A Research Topic

Traits of A Good Research Question

Evaluate and refine your question. After you have phrased your research question, you need to evaluate it and make sure it meets the criteria of a good research question. A good research question should be:

Specific: It should focus on a well-defined aspect of your topic and avoid vague or general terms.

Measurable: It should be possible to collect and analyze data that can answer your question using appropriate methods and tools.

Achievable: It should be realistic and feasible to conduct your research within the available time, resources and ethical standards.

Relevant: It should address a problem or gap significant for your field or society and contribute to advancing knowledge or practice.

Original: It should offer a new perspective or insight on your topic and avoid duplicating existing research. You can use these criteria to assess your research question and refine it if necessary. You can also ask for feedback from your supervisor or peers to improve your question.

Framing research questions is an iterative process that requires creativity, critical thinking and reflection. Following these tips and examples, you can develop research questions that will guide your research project and lead to meaningful outcomes.