Creating a question that invites interesting answers that matter to you
As we all know, some questions can be answered with a simple one-word response. If we were to ask you “What’s your favorite color?” a simple “red” or “yellow” would do as an answer. But that kind of back-and-forth doesn’t make for a very interesting conversation, does it?
Instead, we want to encourage you to create research questions that lead to some really interesting, in-depth answers in your final projects. So how would that work? Think about the following two questions and the different responses each would invite:
Should the speed limit on federal interstates be raised to 95 miles per hour?
Your U.S. Senators will soon vote on a bill that allows individual states to raise the maximum speed limit on interstates that run through their area to 95 miles per hour. What information related to this issue—pro, con, or otherwise—should your Senators consider before deciding how to vote? Based on that information, how would you want your senator to vote and why?
Question 1 requires only a one-word answer—yes or no. As it’s written, it doesn’t even invite an answer that includes evidence or reasoning that supports a “yes” or “no” answer. In contrast, Question 2 invites a more in-depth response that considers a variety of viewpoints and lines of reasoning. As you think about the research question you want to pose, aim for an open one like the Question 2 example above.