Discussion to ponder WEEK 2

What are the characteristics of a good research questions?

The above is called as FINER Criteria for a Good Research Question. By: Hulley, Stephen B.; Cummings, Steven R.; Browner , Warren S.; Grady, Deborah G.; Newman,
Thomas B.
Title: Designing Clinical Research, 3rd Edition






Feasible 
Adequate number of subjects 
Adequate technical expertise 
Affordable in time and money 
Manageable in scope 

Interesting 
Getting the answer intrigues the investigator and her friends 

Novel 
Confirms, refutes or extends previous findings 
Provides new findings 

Ethical 
Amenable to a study that institutional review board will approve 

Relevant 
To scientific knowledge 
To clinical and health policy To future research



10 Qualities of a Good Research Purpose and/or Questions 
Compiled by students in CEP955, Michigan State University, Fall 2003 
(Not necessarily in order of importance) 
It is grounded in a theoretical framework. 
It is builds on, but also offers something new to, previous research. 
It has the potential to suggest directions for future research. 
It is a purpose or question that the researcher is sincerely interested and/or invested in. 
It addresses directly or indirectly some real problem in the world. 
It takes ethical issues into consideration. 
It clearly states the variables or constructs to be examined. 
It is not biased in terminology or position. 
It has multiple possible answers. 
It is simple, or at least manageable. 
The purpose and question(s) of a study should drive the study design. As such there 
should be a close match of the language of the purpose and question(s) with the design 
itself. 


source: http://web.cortland.edu/shis/651/GoodRQQualities.pdf

Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know - Daniel J. Boorstin