1.7.3 Framing an appropriate and useful research question

At the heart of any research is the research question. The quality of output hinges on the quality of the question: why it is asked, how it is asked, how it relates to other questions and knowledge, and what might constitute an answer. Hence, one key skill is demonstration of the ability to develop a well-formulated question. The examiner will be looking for evidence of:

• articulation of the motivation and significance of the question

• situation in existing literature – coverage and limitations of existing and competing research, awareness of where your work fits in relation to the discipline, and what it contributes to the discipline

• identification and critique of alternative approaches.