LibGuides: Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Synthesis for the Sciences: 2. Develop a Research Question

Develop a Research Question

It is important to spend time developing your research question, as this is the foundation of your review. Keep your question clear and well-defined.

There are different ways to create a research question depending on what exactly you're measuring:

Evaluating a phenomenon of interest:
What is the X experience of the Y population undergoing/experiencing Z treatment/condition?
Project or intervention evaluation:
If a patient is given X, does their Y condition worsen or improve?
Synthesize existing evidence:
What is the nature of X?
Clinical intervention and comparison:
If X is prescribed, Y happens to the patient.

For more help with developing your research question, please see the Guiding Questions for Research Question development document from Cornell University.

Question Frameworks

PEO

Qualitative research topics

Population
Exposure
Outcome

Example research question
What is the effect of micro-arc oxidation on the biological activity of medical metals?
Question taken from Wang, Du Yilang, Ning, & Bai (2024).

SPIDER

Qualitative or mixed methods research topics focused on "samples" rather than populations

Sample
Phenomenon of Interest
Design
Evaluation
Research Type

Example research question
How do employees with chronic musculoskeletal disorders experience the management of their condition in the workplace?

SPICE

Qualitative research topics evaluating the outcomes of a service, project, or intervention

Setting
Perspective
Intervention/Interest/Exposure
Comparison
Evaluation

Example research question
What is the life expectancy of Canadian waterfowl monitored by small, unoccupied aircraft systems compared to unmonitored populations?
Question inspired by Elmore, et al. (2023).

ECLIPSE

Qualitative research topics investigating the outcomes of a policy or service

Expectation
Client Group
Location
Impact
Professionals
Service

Example research question
Do Engineering undergraduate students receive higher grades when taught by Engineering instructors and professors who complete their institution's teaching and learning certificate compared to students taught by instructors and professors who do not complete this training?

PICO

Quantitative research topics measuring an intervention on a population

Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

Example research question
Do control interventions effectively reduce the impact of European red foxes on biodiversity and agricultural production in Australia?
Question taken from Deakin University Library (2024).

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Criteria to include or exclude from your review is important to set before a search is conducted. Inclusion or exclusion criteria can include: geographic region, language, date, population, study design, type of publication, outcome, and more.

The University of Melbourne Library. (2024). Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria. Systematic Reviews for Health Sciences and Medicine. https://unimelb.libguides.com/c.php?g=492361&p=3368110

Acknowledgements

Content on this page has been reused with permission from Cornell University Library's Guide to Evidence Synthesis.