Step 3: Formulate your research question

The identification of the best evidence requires the construction of an appropriate research question and review of the literature. Matching questions with appropriate study design and review type is a key step in conducting research Well-formulated research questions will guide many aspects of conducting reviews PICO(S) scheme helps defining a specific research question for systematic reviews

How to find a research question

  1. Find your topic
  2. Conduct a preliminary literature search
  3. Write a draft of your question
  4. Check for PICO and FINER (or other schemes)
  5. Check with another literature search
  6. Check in registries
  7. Check with stakeholder/colleagues

Tools to help formulate a research question

  • PICO
  • PEO
  • SPIDER
  • PCC

PICOS

Its a commonly used tool
- Patient/population/problem - Intervention - comparison - Outcome - Setting

Scheme: FINER

Feasible Interesting Novel Ethical Relevant

Scheme: MAPS

Managable Appropriate Potential value and publishability Systematic

Types of research question

Question Type
What proportion of the population is newly diagnosed with this disease each year? Incidence
What proportion of the population is currently living with this disease? Prevalence
What can be done to treat this disease? Therapy
Will early detection of this disease make a difference in a person‘s life? Screening
How good is this test at detecting the disease? Diagnostic accuracy
What is the likely outcome of this disease? Prognosis
Can there be any negative effects (of an intervention)? Harm
How can this disease be prevented? Etiology

Characteristics of good research question

The most successful research questions are narrowly focused and carefully defined but are important parts of a broad-ranging, complex problem.

A good research question is beneficial as it

  • details the problem statement
  • further describes and refines the issue under study
  • adds focus to the problem statement
  • guides data collection and analysis
  • sets context of research

Example

In ZIKV-free infants or children, does breastfeeding (any or exclusive) from a ZIKV-infected lactating mother, compared to not breastfeeding, result in evidence of ZIKV infection in the infant?

Check with stakeholders and colleagues

Best practice is to engage stakeholder including users in setting the question possibly through an advisory group

  • Does the review question sound interesting and useful
  • What interventions should be included
  • Which population should be included
  • Are there subgroups
  • What types of outcomes should the review include?

Document

Your research question should be documented in your protocol. The research question should also be used for the title.