Writing the Just-Right Research Question

Good research questions push you to explore and genuinely learn about the topic. They are challenging and don't have one right answer. There will usually be a larger debate or conversation about these questions. Often, these questions start with "what kind," "what impact," "how," or "why."

Like Goldilocks and her stolen porridge, your research question should be "just right."

Choosing a research question can be both fun and intimidating: There are so many options! Let's take a look at a few of the possibilities for topics raised by the introduction to Fast Food Nation.

1. How has the fast-food industry affected and reacted to the obesity epidemic?
- This research question is just right because it requires research to attempt an answer. There is certainly lots of debate about the role of fast food in causing obesity.

2. How could the fast-food industry improve working conditions in the larger service industry?
- This research question is just right because it pushes you to explore the wider impact that fast food could have on working conditions in other types of jobs. There's no easy answer here, but some research would help you come up with ideas.