The Question Formulation Technique for Research (QFT-R) is an adaptation of the Question Formulation Technique, specifically designed for individuals to formulate their research questions.
The QFT-R provides graduate students, doctoral candidates, post-doctoral researchers, faculty, and others with a structured method for generating and improving research questions. It can also be used at the undergraduate level or in other settings.
While the Question Formulation Technique can be used for research purposes at all levels of learning and is often facilitated in groups, the QFT-R offers a customized method for individual researchers to generate, identify and sharpen potential research questions — usually for work being conducted in higher education and beyond.
Developing an actionable research question is a central activity for propelling dissertation research, crafting grant applications, and expanding the frontiers of knowledge.
However, most graduate students enter research programs without rigorous strategies for developing research questions. A 2016 study by Alison Head, of more than 1,600 students across 10 colleges, found that only 27% of college graduates believed they had learned how to ask questions in college.
The QFT-R provides researchers with:
- A specific strategy for developing better research questions.
- Skills for honing and improving research questions.
- Confidence in their ability to ask research questions.
On this page are some worksheets and resources for using the QFT-R.
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Andrew P. Minigan, Ed.D., helped pioneer methods for using the Question Formulation Technique in doctoral-level research settings. In this article, he discusses the initial National Science Foundation grant-funded work, conducted in partnership with Brandeis University, that led to the development of the the QFT-R. He includes reflections from doctoral students and some personal reflections as well.