Inquiry Question Generator

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πŸ”¬ What Is an Inquiry Question?

An inquiry question is a subject your research is addressing. Its primary function is directing research by concentrating on a specific facet, trend, or factor. A compelling core inquiry question should be:

πŸ”Ž Detailed It should provide specific information or context about the research topic.
πŸ€” Open-ended Open-ended questions allow for multiple perspectives and encourage critical thinking.
🎯 Focused A focused question will help you stay on track and maintain relevance throughout the research.

Why Is an Inquiry Question Important?

If the research question is formulated correctly, it will assist you in defining the matter you wish to address. It helps you organize your study and anticipate any issues that arise in the process.

A research inquiry will:

  • Maintain your interest and keep you concentrated on the subject.
  • Help you locate some other minor questions that will make your research more detailed.
  • Suggest the sources you need to look for or the data you need to acquire.
  • Direct you to the people you should consult for assistance.

✨ Types of Inquiry Questions

There are six different ways of addressing inquiry questions. Each focuses on the specific needs and objectives of the research paper. Let’s study them in more detail.

Question type Explanation Example
πŸ“Œ Exploratory Such questions seek to uncover more information about the subject without imposing bias. Do you think using technology has improved your life or worsened it?
πŸ“Œ Predictive This type is used if you need clarification on how a particular activity will turn out in the future. Would you ever use a new product only because a well-known person you admire claimed it was effective?
πŸ“Œ Interpretive They analyze how a research group reacts to numerous phenomena and makes sense of shared experiences. How do you determine a product's or service's value?
πŸ“Œ Descriptive This type addresses the when, where, why, or how. How often do students report having depression?
πŸ“Œ Comparative As follows from the name, this type of question aims to compare two factors. Do men and women have similar metabolic rates?
πŸ“Œ Relationship-based These questions aim to disclose how a specific subject influences the object. What circumstances must exist for a wildfire to become dangerous?

✍️ How to Develop an Inquiry Question Step by Step

Now that you’re familiarized with the theory, it’s time to see how to actually write an inquiry. This next segment will describe the process of creating a key question step by step.

Step 1. Choose a Broad Topic

The first stage in creating an inquiry is to select a general area of research. The broader the topic is, the deeper your research will delve into the matter. We recommend you pick a subject that appeals to you personally. This way, the research process will be more fun.

Step 2. Conduct Your Research

After choosing a subject, you can start your preliminary research. A quick analysis of relevant literature will help you identify the topics that scholars and other researchers are debating. You’ll acquire relevant knowledge and structure your future research around it.

Step 3. Narrow Down Your Topic

When you have enough information on the subject, you can concentrate on a narrow field of study:

  • One way to do it is to focus on the research gaps that still need to be studied in depth.
  • Problematization is another method of narrowing topics down. It allows you to carefully examine presumptions that back up the theoretical positions of other researchers.

Choose whichever way you prefer and proceed to the next step.

Step 4. Think about Your Audience

The next step is to find out if your readers are interested in the question you are addressing. If you make it compelling, it will add value to your research. Additionally, knowing your target audience can help you focus on factors that are relevant to them. All of that will help you refine your research question.

Step 5. Make a List of Potential Questions

Pose as many open-ended questions related to your topic as possible. Once you've written down a handful of general questions, test them to see if they're good enough for your research. Additionally, while examining them, consider how they will influence the final result of your study.

Step 6. Construct Your Key Inquiry Question

The final step is to write an inquiry. There are two frameworks that you can choose from when doing it:

Framework Explanation Structure
PICOT It is used for detailed and evidence-based research.
  • Population or problem.
  • Intervention or indicator being studied.
  • Comparison group.
  • Outcome of interest.
  • The study's time frame.
PEO This framework is good for less complex research topics.
  • Population or problem.
  • Intervention or indicator being studied.
  • Comparison group.
  • Outcome of interest.
  • The study's time frame.

πŸ“ Good Inquiry Question: A Practical Checklist

If you want to ensure your inquiry is good enough, it’s vital to know which factors can make a difference. The checklist below will help you: if your question has all the following qualities, it's perfect.

βœ”οΈ Your inquiry sparks debate and promotes a variety of viewpoints.
βœ”οΈ It requires a response beyond simple "Yes" or "No."
βœ”οΈ To answer the question, you’d have to read several scientific sources.
βœ”οΈ In addition to connecting claims, evidence, and logic, the inquiry goes beyond mere opinion.
βœ”οΈ It’s impossible to assume the answer to your question.
βœ”οΈ It's focused on a specific study area.
βœ”οΈ The answer to your inquiry has value for society.

🌟 Inquiry Question Examples

Need help to figure out what a perfect inquiry is like? Check out our examples! They will also show you how to turn weak questions into much better ones.

πŸ‘Ž Bad example Commentary πŸ‘ Improved version
What is the history of marketing? This question is way too broad. To improve it, we recommend narrowing it down. Which traditional marketing techniques have had the most significant impact on modern marketing strategies?
Is higher education free in Germany? This question is too simple and can easily be answered with a "yes," so it doesn't require conducting research. How does the availability of free university education influence the labor market?
What choices in closed-door discussions prompted Apple to create the iPod? The problem here is that you can't possibly know the answer, because it's confidential. What considerations led Apple to include the iPod in its lineup of products?

Now you know all about inquiries and how to write them. Make sure to use AssignZen’s free inquiry question maker! With its help, you will create excellent key questions in a few clicks. Have a great day, and good luck in your studies!

❓ Inquiry Question Maker FAQ

❓ What are 5 good research questions?

  • How did the US economy respond to the impact of worker unions?
  • How can educational strategies stop teenage drug abuse?
  • How did Sigmund Freud’s psychology research affect modern psychoanalysis?
  • How can governmental laws fight pollution?
  • How can hereditary components of alcoholism affect hospital procedures?

❓ What are the 6 types of research questions?

  • Exploratory questions find more information about a subject.
  • Predictive questions predict the consequences.
  • Interpretive questions analyze people’s reactions.
  • Descriptive questions describe a particular phenomenon.
  • Comparative questions compare two things.
  • Relationship-based questions explain how an object is affected by a subject.

❓ What is a question generator?

An inquiry question generator is AI-powered software that can create a key question based on the information you type in. It is made to help students and researchers find inquiry examples and boost knowledge and imagination.

❓ Which question can be answered by scientific inquiry?

Scientific inquiries aim to explain anything that occurs in the natural world. Inquiries can concern objects, living beings, and various phenomena. They may be addressed by empirical studies that create explanations based on evidence and facts.

❓ What is a question of inquiry?

A question of inquiry question is a question posed by a researcher to explore a specific topic in a systematic and structured manner. This question serves as the foundation of a research study. In particular, it shapes the investigation's objectives, methodology, and scope.

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πŸ”— References

  1. Formulating a Research Question: Harvard University
  2. Narrowing a Topic and Developing a Research Question: Indiana University
  3. Types of Research Questions: California State University, Northridge
  4. How to Write a Research Question: Steps and Examples: Indeed
  5. What Makes a Good Research Question?: Virginia Commonwealth University