You can use an evidence base to answer almost any question. But structuring your research question properly is often difficult. Here is our brief guide to helping you ask the right research questions.
Ask questions that matter
This should go without saying but it's always good to remind researchers of this as they are naturally intellectually curious people. Remember that you want to answer meaningful questions that will have real impact either in terms of decision-making or contribute to your audience's understanding of a topic.
Clarity is your friend
Ideally, the question you ask should be clear enough that your audience and fellow evidence board members will understand it with little explanation. Keeping your overarching question concise is a good way to achieve clarity.
Balance complexity and focus
You want your question to be complex enough that it warrants the effort required to build an evidence base. This doesn't mean that questions with possible yes or no answers shouldn't be asked (we do a lot of those ourselves), but there should be enough data on both sides to make it worthwhile.
You also want your complex question to be narrowly focused. That is to say, it is narrow enough that it can actually be answered using evidence given your time constraints.
Examples
Here are some example of good questions:
- What actions should our city take to mitigate the impact of perennial flooding in the southern districts?
- What are the most significant threats to emerging economies posed by surveillance capitalism?
- What are the greatest opportunities to expand our client's business in the EU?
These questions and their answers are consequential. They are complex yet focused enough that you can answer them using evidence. And lastly, they are fairly concise and clear.
Ready to answer a good question of your own? Let's get started.