1 The Purpose of Research Questions

Doing research in the Humanities requires as much rigour much as it does in any field of study.  What is unique about Humanities research is its focus on understanding what it means be human.  The methods it uses, however, flow from the same need to formulate good research questions in order to probe possible answers.

Both Humanities scholars and successful student researchers develop research questions. That’s because research questions are more than handy tools; they are essential to the research process.

By defining exactly what the researcher is trying to find out, these questions influence most of the rest of the steps taken to conduct the research. That’s true even if the research is not for academic purposes but for other areas of our lives.

For instance, if you’re seeking information about an ethical dilemma in order to learn whether you have anything to worry about, research questions will make it possible for you to more effectively decide whether to seek legal help–and how quickly.

Or, if you’re researching a potential employer, having developed and used research questions will mean you’re able to more confidently decide whether to apply for an internship or job there.

The confidence you’ll have when making such decisions will come from knowing that the information your decisions are based on was gathered by conscious thought rather than uniformed guesswork.