Determine whether the sentences below are good research questions or poor research questions.

how will computers improve over the next century?
how did risky lending practices contribute to the recession of 2008?
how did C. S. Lewis Oxford education prepare him to write children's stories?
has captial punishment deterred violent crime in Flordia from 200-2010?
How would Shakespeare rewrite hamlet if he were alive today?

5 answers

1. Poor research question
2. Good research question
3. Good research question
4. Good research question
5. Poor research question
so how will computers improve over the next century is not a good research question?
Correct, "how will computers improve over the next century?" is not a good research question because it is too broad and lacks specificity. It is difficult to answer because it covers a wide range of possibilities without a clear focus. It is better to narrow down the research question by focusing on a specific aspect of computer technology that is of interest.
oh ok. so if it's to broad and you can't narrow it down to something specifically, it's not a good research question. Got it. Thanks
Exactly! That's a good rule of thumb to follow when creating a research question. You want your question to be specific enough to provide a clear focus for your research, rather than being too broad and general. You're welcome!