Developing a research question, like every other aspect of a research project—working with sources, the interpretation of data, the writing, the editing—takes work, and is a skill that you can practice, refine, and personalize. Here’s a short primer on how to come up with a workable research question, references included.
Whether you’re just beginning, or already have a research question in mind, consider starting at the beginning of the worksheet and jotting down answers to each section. I’ve also included a completed worksheet as a example to follow if you are finding it hard to get started.
![An image of the Developing Research Questions handout](https://sites.usc.edu/graduate-writing-coach/files/2022/04/Research-Questions-Image.png)