Research questions

Types of research questions

It can help to know the broad “shapes” a research question can take, rather than starting from a blank page. Common types include:

• Descriptive - describes a phenomenon, group, or situation as it currently exists. E.g. “What sources of stress do international students report during their first semester?”
• Comparative - examines differences between two or more groups, settings, or time points. E.g. “How does reported stress differ between international and domestic first-year students?”
• Relational/correlational - explores the relationship between two or more variables, without necessarily establishing cause. E.g. “What is the relationship between social connectedness and stress among international students?”
• Causal/explanatory - investigates why or how something happens, often implying a cause-and-effect relationship. E.g. “How does participation in orientation programs affect stress levels among international students?”
• Exploratory - used when little is known about a topic, aiming to generate insight rather than test something specific. E.g. “What are international students’ experiences of stress during their transition to university?”

Your choice of type isn’t arbitrary - it flows from what you actually want to know, and it strongly shapes which methodology will fit. A causal question, for instance, usually requires a different research design than an exploratory one.

Research questions vs hypotheses

Depending on your discipline and methodology, you may need a hypothesis in addition to, or instead of, a research question.

• A research question is open - it asks something you intend to investigate, without stating in advance what you expect to find.
• A hypothesis is a testable, specific prediction about the relationship between variables, usually derived from theory or existing literature. It’s typically used in quantitative, experimental, or theory-testing research.

For example, the research question “What is the relationship between social connectedness and stress among international students?” might lead to the hypothesis “International students who report higher social connectedness will report lower stress levels.”

Not all projects need a hypothesis - qualitative and exploratory research often works entirely from a research question, without generating a formal hypothesis to test. If you’re unsure whether your project needs one, this is a good question to raise with your supervisor early on, since it has implications for both your methodology and your data analysis plan.