What is considered an Investigative Question?

An investigative question is one that seeks to gather information and insights about a specific topic or issue, often leading to further analysis or research. In this context, a question assessing public opinion fits this definition because it actively seeks to understand the views, beliefs, or sentiments of a group of people on a particular subject. Public opinion questions can be pivotal in making informed decisions, as they help gauge the attitudes or feelings of society towards a topic.

In contrast, a question about potential profits is more focused on quantitative financial data rather than exploring perspectives or motivations. A question directly answering a hypothesis typically deals with testing or validating a predetermined statement rather than exploring new insights. Similarly, while a question about employee satisfaction does examine a specific area of interest, it tends to be more about measuring a specific sentiment within a group rather than broadly investigating opinions. Thus, assessing public opinion stands out as the most unbounded and exploratory option among those presented, making it an investigative question.