Framing a research question: The first and most vital step in planning research

Abstract

Posing the right research question is essential for consolidating your ideas from something that has piqued your interest into a focused, clinically relevant and achievable piece of research. This question should lead to results that can impact upon patient benefit by addressing a gap in your field, such as understanding the molecular basis of disease, developing biomarkers and diagnostics to improving established or identifying novel treatments. The question needs to be clear and precise in order to address a specific issue and to produce meaningful results. In this article we provide guidance on how to refine your initial idea to frame a research question by considering current knowledge, clinical utility and feasibility.