Research questions are the cornerstone of any research project. They guide the entire research process, from the initial literature review to the final data analysis. A well-crafted research question is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). It should also be clear and concise, and it should avoid jargon or technical terms that could confuse the reader.
There are many different types of research questions, but they can generally be divided into two categories: descriptive and inferential. Descriptive research questions simply describe a phenomenon, while inferential research questions make inferences about a population based on a sample. For example, a descriptive research question might be “What is the average age of students at this university?”, while an inferential research question might be “Is there a difference in the average age of students at this university compared to the national average?”
