## 1.4 Formulate your main research question

Do you have a clear picture of your topic? The you can formulate a main research question. Your main research question forms your starting point. This question describes exactly what you want to know and gives direction to your search process. It is therefore important to formulate this question carefully.

- Your main research question must be straightforward, using clear terms.
- Your main research question must be specific in order to enable a targeted search.
- Your main research question must be relevant in order to contribute to your research.
- Your main research question must be formulated in an open manner, i.e. it must not be question that can only be answered with "yes" or "no".
- Your main research question must be realistic; you must be able to find the answer within an acceptable time frame and with the resources available to you. At the same time, the question must also be 'worthy of research'; the answer must add something to your field of research.
- Your main research question does not have to be perfect right away; you can always adjust it slightly during your research.

Tips:

- If you start a question with 'what', 'how' or 'which' you automatically have an open question. It is best not to start the question with 'why', why-questions are often not specific enough.
- Enter your main question in the Search strategy form for deskresearch. This allows you to keep track of what you are looking for and what you have already found.

Main research question: example

Below are two examples of research questions:

"Can obesity be prevented by offering healthy food in canteens?"

This is not a good research question, because:

- It is a closed question; the question can be answered with 'yes' or 'no'.
- It is not specific; the topic, time period or area of research are not clearly indicated (What? When? Where?)
- It is not clear; the question can be interpreted in several ways.
- It is not realistic; the question is too general and therefore difficult to research and answer.

"What is the influence of the food on offer in school canteens on obesity among Dutch university of applied sciences students over the past years?"

This is a better research question, because it is open, specific and clearly defined.