Biomedical Research: Formulating a Well-Built and Worth-Answering Research Question

Document Type : Review Article(s)

Authors

1 Micronutrient Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Disorders, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Disorders, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, USA

4 Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.34172/ahj.1564

Abstract

Research begins with a problem that must be translated into an answerable research question. The research question is a structured interrogative statement based on an unsolved problem, which the researcher tries to answer through the study. The art of articulating a good research question is a crucial part of the research process as it sets the stage for the rest. A critical challenge in biomedical research lies in the frequent shortcomings of research question formulation and presentation. This paper aims to provide a practical guide to assist researchers in formulating answerable and worth-answering research questions in biomedical research. The PICOT/PECOT strategy (addresses population, intervention/exposure, comparator, outcome, and time) is essential to develop an excellent relational quantitative research question. The formulated research question should pass the FINER (feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant) criteria, determining the worth-answering aspect of the research question. Research questions are presented as questions, hypotheses, and propositions.

Keywords

References

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Addiction & Health
Volume 17
Pages 1-6

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