What is the primary function of a research question?

The primary function of a research question is to specify the focus of the research. This means that the research question serves as a guiding framework for the entire investigation, clearly delineating what the researcher aims to explore, understand, or solve. It helps in narrowing down the scope of the study by identifying specific variables, relationships, or phenomena that need to be examined. A well-formulated research question also informs the overall research design, directing the selection of methods and approaches that will be used to gather and analyze data.

In contrast, summarizing key findings relates to synthesizing and presenting outcomes after research has been conducted, while determining the data collection strategy involves planning how to gather necessary information, which occurs after the research question has been established. Assessing the validity of conclusions is part of the evaluation phase of research and does not directly relate to crafting the research question itself. Hence, specifying the focus of the research is fundamental to guiding the entire research process effectively.