2.1.1. Research Question Development

Defining the problem to be addressed in a clear, precise, and detailed way is the first step in the planning phase. It is not easy to make the answering process functional without clarifying the question. On the other hand, a clear definition of the research question at the initial stage does not mean that the question cannot be changed. In some cases, the research question may need to be slightly revised after further reading (Gough & Richardson, 2018).

It can be challenging to identify a research topic. The first thing the researcher should do is conduct in-depth research on the topic of interest. Determining the need in the field of interest during the initial screening will facilitate the determination of the research question. A research question can be formulated after determining the need in the field. In a good research question, including the sample to be subject to the research and research designs is essential.

Some frameworks such as PICO, PICOS, and SPIDER have been created that can be utilized while determining the research question (Methley et al., 2014). Each of the initials of PICO, which is frequently used among these frameworks, refers to a component that should be included in the research question;

P: Population, participants, patient or problem

I: Intervention(s), therapy, treatment

C: Comparison, other intervention or treatment, control group

O: Outcomes

Sample research questions are presented below;

• “What types of grief interventions have been mentioned in the systematic reviews during the last two decades? What kinds of differences and similarities have the grief interventions had in terms of effectiveness?” (Asgari et al., 2023).
• “What research about employment sustainability for people with intellectual disability has been published internationally between 2010 and 2020?” (Taubner et al., 2022).

In summary, the research question needs to be defined clearly, precisely, and in detail, and the research question can be changed along the way. Firstly, it is recommended that the researcher conduct in-depth research on interest. It is stated that this process will facilitate the clearer determination of the research question. After determining the research question, the importance of including the sample and research designs that will participate in the research is emphasized. It is stated that frameworks such as PICO, PICOS, and SPIDER are tools that can be used to determine the research question. These frameworks help researchers create clearer and more structured questions. Finally, it is emphasized that the research questions aim to transform theoretical knowledge into practical applications.