Interesting research questions
The "I" represents intrinsic and extrinsic interest in answering a research question
First and foremost, the interesting part of the FINER mnemonic device is YOU! People that conduct quality research possess an intrinsic motivation and drive for scientific discovery and innovation. Your personal investment in the study is of paramount importance if you plan on seeing the study through from inception to publication. Write interesting research questions that ignite your passion!
The opinions and contributions of your colleagues plays an important role in writing interesting research questions. Research is always a collaborative effort and should not be conducted in isolation. Seek out mentors and peers to discuss your research and welcome other pertinent suggestions and ideas. Recruit other interested individuals to work with you on the proposed study. Interesting research questions tend to attract other motivated researchers naturally.
Seek out funding institutions such as the NIH (National Institutes of Health) or NSF (National Science Foundation) to see if they are currently funding proposals in the area of interest. If they are, then your research question is interesting (especially in academic research environments). If they are not, your study is still interesting. Build a strong rationale for conducting the study and become vested in the literature!
The opinions and contributions of your colleagues plays an important role in writing interesting research questions. Research is always a collaborative effort and should not be conducted in isolation. Seek out mentors and peers to discuss your research and welcome other pertinent suggestions and ideas. Recruit other interested individuals to work with you on the proposed study. Interesting research questions tend to attract other motivated researchers naturally.
Seek out funding institutions such as the NIH (National Institutes of Health) or NSF (National Science Foundation) to see if they are currently funding proposals in the area of interest. If they are, then your research question is interesting (especially in academic research environments). If they are not, your study is still interesting. Build a strong rationale for conducting the study and become vested in the literature!
Interesting research questions and FINER
Here are some questions to answer when writing interesting research questions with FINER.
- Will the study be personally rewarding?
- Will the study be professionals rewarding?
- Do your colleagues and peers believe that the study is interesting?
- Are funding agencies (NIH, NSF, etc.) currently funding research in this empirical area?
- Will the study serve the immediate needs of your patient population?
- Are researchers willing to put forth the effort and invest the time in conducting the study?
- Do researchers have interdisciplinary support and interest in the research study?
Click on the Novel Research Questions button to continue working through the FINER framework.
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