Research Question Generator
A broad topic isn't a research question. Describe your topic and field, and this tool will suggest several distinct, focused research questions across different angles to help you scope your study.
Your text is sent securely to generate this result and is not stored or used to train any model.
Our consultants can help you develop your research question into a complete proposal and methodology.
How it works
- 1Enter your broad research topic — this is the only required field.
- 2Optionally add your field of study for more tailored questions.
- 3Click Generate.
- 4Review the suggestions and adapt the one that best fits your intended scope.
Who this is for
- ✓Narrowing a broad interest area into a defined thesis question.
- ✓Exploring different angles (descriptive, comparative, causal) on the same topic.
- ✓Getting unstuck at the very start of a research proposal.
What Makes a Good Research Question?
A strong research question does more than name a subject you find interesting. It points to something specific enough that a reader knows exactly what you will investigate, and it can realistically be answered through a defined study, whether that means a survey, an experiment, a case analysis, or a review of existing literature.
Good questions also sit in a workable middle ground. Too broad, and the study never converges on a clear answer; too narrow, and there is little left to explore or say. The strongest questions are usually tied to a genuine gap, tension, or unmet need in the field, so the answer would actually add something rather than restate what is already well established. If you can picture the kind of data or evidence that would answer your question, that is usually a good sign it is well formed.
Types of Research Questions
Not all research questions work the same way, and the type you choose shapes the whole study design. Descriptive questions ask what is happening, such as how common a phenomenon is or how a group behaves, and typically lead to surveys or observational studies. Comparative questions ask how two or more groups, methods, or conditions differ, pointing toward studies that measure and contrast across cases.
Causal or explanatory questions ask why something happens or what effect one factor has on another, which usually calls for controlled experiments or statistical models that can support claims about cause and effect. Exploratory questions are more open-ended, useful when a topic is under-researched and the goal is to identify patterns or generate hypotheses rather than test them. Recognizing which type fits your goal helps you avoid designing a study that cannot actually answer the question you set out to ask.
From Broad Topic to Focused Question: An Example
Suppose your starting point is "social media and mental health." It is a real area of interest, but as written it could support hundreds of unrelated studies and gives no direction on what to actually measure. Narrowing it means choosing a population, a specific behavior, and a specific outcome.
A more focused version might be: "How does daily Instagram use among university students relate to self-reported symptoms of anxiety during exam periods?" This version names who is being studied, what platform and behavior are in question, what outcome is being measured, and even a relevant time frame. It is specific enough to design a survey or comparative study around, while still being open enough that the answer is not already obvious. That shift, from a general theme to a question with defined variables and scope, is the core move behind every focused research question.
Research Question vs Research Title
A research question and a research title serve different purposes, even though they come from the same idea. The research question defines what you are actually investigating: the specific problem, relationship, or gap your study addresses. It guides your methodology, your data collection, and how you structure your analysis.
The research title, by contrast, is how you name and present the finished study. It is usually more concise, often signals the scope, method, or population at a glance, and is written with readers in mind rather than as a direct restatement of the question. A clear research question makes it much easier to write a precise title, since the title is essentially a compact label for what the question already defines. If your research question is ready and you need help turning it into a title, Tezyar also offers a separate Research Title Generator tool for that step.
Frequently asked questions
Treat them as strong starting points to discuss with your advisor and refine against your available data and methods.
Specific enough to be answerable through a defined study, not so broad that it can't be scoped — the suggestions aim for that balance.