Introduction: Why a Strong Research Question Matters
Every successful journal article begins not with data or theory, but with a powerful research question. For PhD and early-career researchers, the ability to design a research question that gets published is a mark of scholarly maturity. A well-formulated question demonstrates intellectual focus, theoretical insight, and an understanding of the field’s gaps.
Designing a research question is not merely about curiosity; it is about constructing an inquiry that adds genuine value to existing scholarship. A well-designed question attracts reviewers, aligns with journal aims, and lays the foundation for methodological coherence. As many editors note, a weak question—too broad, descriptive, or redundant often leads to rejection, regardless of how rigorous the subsequent analysis may be.
This article explores a step-by-step process to design a research question that resonates with editors, reviewers, and readers alike.
Step 1: Align with a Real Research Problem
Before writing a question, understand the problem space. Research that gets published typically addresses a gap, inconsistency, or emerging issue within an established body of knowledge.
1.1 Identify the Gap
A research question should respond to a clear gap in the literature. This gap could be empirical (a setting not yet studied), theoretical (a model not yet tested), or methodological (a new way to study an old problem).
To uncover such gaps, conduct a focused literature review. Instead of reading aimlessly, structure your review around key debates in top journals. Ask:
- What issues are repeatedly mentioned as “under-explored”?
- Where do theories contradict each other?
- Which topics are becoming more urgent in practice or policy?
Example:
Suppose your field is sustainable supply chain management. Many papers discuss environmental metrics but neglect digital transparency mechanisms. The gap, therefore, lies in how digital traceability technologies influence sustainability performance.
Potential research question:
How does digital traceability influence environmental performance in sustainable supply chains?
This question demonstrates originality, theoretical relevance, and timeliness—all critical qualities for publication.
Step 2: Narrow the Focus
Early-career researchers often struggle with overly broad or multi-layered questions. Editors favour questions that are precise and answerable within one paper. A well-defined scope signals clarity and feasibility.
2.1 Avoid Vague or Compound Questions
A poor example:
What is the impact of leadership on organisational performance?
Too general—editors would ask, which leadership style, in what context, through what mechanism?
A refined version:
How does ethical leadership influence employee creativity in technology start-ups?
This question is concise, context-specific, and lends itself to a single methodological approach.
2.2 The “Goldilocks” Zone
A question that is too broad cannot be answered convincingly; one that is too narrow may lack theoretical contribution. Aim for what many journal editors call the Goldilocks zone—broad enough to be relevant, yet focused enough to be testable.
Tip: If you cannot outline your study’s contribution in one sentence, your question is probably too wide.
Step 3: Ensure Theoretical and Practical Relevance
A research question that gets published typically sits at the intersection of theory and practice. Editors increasingly expect authors to justify why the question matters both academically and socially.
3.1 Link to Theoretical Foundations
Identify which existing frameworks or models your question builds upon or challenges. This alignment helps reviewers understand your paper’s conceptual contribution.
Example:
If you use the Theory of Planned Behaviour to explore sustainability, your question might be:
How does perceived organisational support influence employees’ green behaviours through attitudes and subjective norms?
Here, theory is not an afterthought—it shapes the question’s structure.
3.2 Demonstrate Practical Significance
Publishing is easier when your question also solves a real-world problem. Practical relevance enhances readership and aligns with many journals’ “impact” agendas.
Example:
In education research:
How do AI-powered feedback tools affect student engagement in online learning environments?
This question appeals to both academic and practitioner audiences—a hallmark of publishable research.
Step 4: Test for Originality and Feasibility
Journals value novelty, but novelty alone is not enough; it must be supported by methodological feasibility.
4.1 Check for Originality
Use tools such as Scopus, Web of Science, or Google Scholar to ensure your question has not been explored exhaustively. Look for overlapping studies published in the past five years.
If your question sounds familiar, re-angle it:
- Change the context (e.g., from corporate to public sector).
- Shift the unit of analysis (e.g., individual to team).
- Introduce a new mediating mechanism or moderating factor.
4.2 Assess Feasibility
Even the most elegant question fails if it cannot be researched effectively. Consider:
- Data access: Are participants, datasets, or archives available?
- Resources: Do you have funding, time, and ethical clearance?
- Methodological alignment: Can the design adequately address the question?
Reviewers quickly identify questions that are idealistic but impractical.
Step 5: Frame Your Question for Publication Success
The wording and structure of your research question influence how editors perceive your work.
5.1 The “Publishable” Formula
A strong, publishable research question usually meets the FINER criteria—Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant.
Reframing a question to satisfy these criteria increases acceptance probability.
Example:
Weak:
What are students’ attitudes towards AI in education?
Stronger:
How does exposure to AI-driven assessment tools shape students’ learning attitudes in higher education?
The improved version is specific, measurable, and embedded in a defined context.
5.2 What Reviewers and Editors Look For
Editors assess questions using three implicit filters:
- Clarity: Can readers instantly understand what is being asked?
- Significance: Does it advance theory or practice?
- Originality: Is it different enough from what has been done?
Avoid fashionable topics unless you bring a fresh theoretical lens or context. Reviewers are often wary of trend-driven studies lacking depth.
Step 6: Integrate the Research Question into a Coherent Design
Your research question should guide your methodology, analysis, and interpretation. Coherence between question and design is a marker of rigour.
Example:
If your question is explanatory (“How does X influence Y?”), a quantitative or mixed-methods design may be appropriate. If exploratory (“Why do participants perceive…?”), a qualitative design fits better.
Link your question explicitly to:
- Objectives and hypotheses
- Conceptual or theoretical model
- Analytical strategy (e.g., regression, thematic analysis)
Editors value this alignment because it shows intellectual control over the research process.
Step 7: Collaborate and Seek Feedback
PhD researchers sometimes design questions in isolation, missing valuable critique. Collaboration sharpens conceptual clarity.
7.1 Supervisor and Peer Review
Before finalising your question, share it with supervisors and peers. Encourage them to challenge assumptions, scope, and phrasing.
7.2 Editorial Scoping
Many journals, especially in education and management, welcome informal “pre-submission inquiries.” You can email an editor with a short abstract summarising your question and design. Their response can save months of misalignment.
Step 8: Common Mistakes to Avoid
8.1 Overambition
Designing a question that promises to “transform the field” often backfires. Reviewers prefer modest, well-evidenced contributions.
8.2 Misalignment with Journal Scope
A brilliant question may still be rejected if it falls outside the journal’s aims. Always check the “Aims and Scope” page of your target journal.
8.3 Poor Wording
Avoid overly technical phrasing or ambiguous terms. Reviewers should not have to interpret what you meant.
8.4 Ignoring Context
Questions divorced from current debates appear outdated. Always tie your study to the latest issues or global challenges (e.g., sustainability, digital transformation, mental health).
Step 9: Examples of Well-Designed Research Questions
| Field | Example of a Strong Research Question |
|---|---|
| Education | How does formative feedback through AI-based systems influence student motivation in blended learning environments? |
| Management | How does inclusive leadership foster innovation through psychological safety in multicultural teams? |
| Health | How do telemedicine adoption rates vary across rural and urban populations in the UK? |
| Sustainability | How does stakeholder pressure influence the integration of circular economy practices in manufacturing SMEs? |
| Psychology | What role does digital self-efficacy play in moderating the impact of social media use on academic performance? |
Each of these questions demonstrates focus, theoretical grounding, originality, and feasibility—the four pillars of publishability.
Step 10: Turning a Good Question into a Great Paper
Designing the research question is only the beginning. To ensure it leads to publication:
- Maintain Coherence: Every section of your paper—from literature review to discussion—should trace back to your question.
- Articulate Contribution: Explicitly state how answering your question advances theory or practice.
- Demonstrate Rigor: Use reliable data collection and transparent analysis.
- Highlight Implications: Connect findings to broader scholarly or societal contexts.
A research question that gets published is not merely well-written—it is strategically designed to generate knowledge that matters.
Quick Checklist: Before Submitting
Does your research question address a genuine literature gap?
Is it specific, measurable, and feasible?
Does it connect clearly with theory and practice?
Is it original yet realistic?
Would it interest the journal’s readership?
If you can answer “yes” to all, you are well on your way to publication success.
Conclusion: The Scholar’s Mindset
To design a research question that gets published is to think like a scholar, not a student. It requires curiosity guided by discipline, creativity tempered by structure, and originality balanced with contribution.
A publishable question does not emerge by accident—it evolves through reading, reflection, feedback, and refinement. By aligning your inquiry with theory, relevance, and methodological rigour, you transform your curiosity into knowledge that endures.
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