Turning your idea into a research question

Guidance on turning your idea into a research question.

It's important so spend time thinking about your research question. It is the foundation of everything that follows, from your choice of research methods through to the way you analyse your data.

You should find a research idea that interests you. Once you start looking, you’ll notice research ideas all round your workplace.

Thinking about the outcome you’d like from your project, can also help shape your question.

Types of research question

There are 3 types of questions.

• Predictions (a hypothesis or premise that may or not be supported by your findings).
• Interventions (make comparisons to measure success).
• Explorations (focus on why something is the way it is).

Reviewing the literature can help you define your question more precisely. You will also need to familiarise yourself with research already undertaken in your area. 

Organise your ideas

Use mind maps to help you organise your ideas. Below are some free mind mapping applications.

• app.diagrams.
• MindMup – free for mind maps up to 100KB.
• Simple Mind – limited functionality compared with the paid version.

Align your research question to your organisation’s objectives. This will increase the likelihood of organisational support when you want to put your research findings into practice.

It may be helpful to discuss your ideas with colleagues and people in your wider networks.

Discuss your ideas

There are lots of different people and channels with who you can discuss your ideas with. Below are a few suggestions.

• The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) accredited qualifications provides Programme Lead contact details for all accredited courses in university Information and library studies and schools.
• CILIP’s Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) promotes the dissemination of sound research methodology and results in its journal Library and Information Research. LIRG facilitates networking with other Knowledge and Library Services (KLS) researchers and assists in the development of emerging researchers.
• JiscMail features diiscussion lists to help connect you with other people working in education and research sectors. Discuss, debate, collaborate and communicate your research ideas. Useful library and information science (LIS) lists include:
  • LIS-LIRG is for LIS researchers, practitioners and tutors to discuss and share experiences of all aspects of research and evaluation
  • LIS-MEDICAL is for the UK health and medical library community
• LIS Research – The Library and Information Science Research Coalition holds an archive of library and knowledge service research information and resources to 2012.
• The National Directory of NHS Research Offices will help you to identify your local research and development lead.

• The Complete Universities Guide. (2020) – for contacts to your local university health faculty research staff

• Health Information and Libraries Journal (HILJ) Club #HILJClub is a quarterly journal tweet club based on an article from the latest issue of the Health Information and Libraries Journal.

• Your line manager.

• Your local library network.

You may also wish to discuss your ideas with service users as public and user involvement is commonplace in research. It is often expected as part of a funded research. INVOLVE advocates for involving users at all stages of your research process. Involving users can help you identify research priorities, define research questions and provide new perspectives.

Additional resources

• The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service provides free and confidential support to health and social care researchers across England on all aspects of developing and writing a grant application. 
• The NHS Research and Development Forum is a UK–wide professional network supporting quality health research with and for NHS providers and commissioners of care.

Suggested reading

• Booth, Andrew (2006) Clear and present questions: Formulating questions for evidence based practice in Library Hi Tech. 24. 10.1108/07378830610692127