Finally, you will want to make sure that your research question is grounded, not too speculative. Although speculative questions—such as those that address philosophical, ethical, or religious issues—are worth asking and may receive some attention in a research paper, they are inappropriate central questions. The central argument of a research paper should be grounded in facts; it should not be based entirely on beliefs.
Too speculative
Is it wrong to share music files on the Internet?
Do medical scientists have the right to experiment on animals?
Grounded
How has Internet file sharing affected the earning potential of musicians?
How have technology breakthroughs made medical experiments on animals increasingly unnecessary?
Exercise: Research questions
Related topics:
Reasonable argument topics
Thesis statements