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Education Library Resources: Research Methods for Education

Defining a Research Question

Before you begin searching for research, you will want to clarify and define your research question. Research is an iterative process and it's okay to adjust your topic as you go; a well-defined research question will give you a foundation to build on throughout this process. 

Note: The word "intervention" is commonly used in research. It is a broad term that can be used when discussing a program, project, treatment, therapy, activity, or approach to a problem.

Questions to Consider

If you have identified a specific population group you want to focus on, consider:

  • What unique problems does this group experience compared to other groups?
  • What strengths or assets exist in this group that might be applied to other groups?

If you have identified a specific problem you want to focus on, consider:

  • What are some interventions (i.e., informal approaches or formal programs) that aim to address or mitigate (lessen) the problem?
  • Which intervention is the most effective?
  • Which intervention is the most cost-effective?
  • How are different population groups affected by the problem?
  • How has the problem changed over time? What factors influenced these changes?

If you have identified a specific intervention or program that you want to focus on, consider:

  • What problem(s) does the intervention aim to solve, and is it more successful or cost-effective than other interventions?
  • Does the effectiveness of the intervention vary depending on the population?
  • What factors can influence the effectiveness of the intervention?
  • How might be intervention be improved?

Research Question Frameworks

You might find it useful to refer to a question framework as you define your research question. There are many frameworks, and each framework presents a different set of concepts to consider in your question.

Note that some question frameworks are better suited to specific disciplines than others, and no single framework is the best for all cases. If you don't see a framework that works for your question, there are at least 25 established frameworks you can choose from. Sometimes good research questions don't fit into an established framework, and that is okay. A framework is just that -- a guideline to help you decide which concepts are most important for your end goal.

Listed below are some popular research question frameworks for social science disciplines, along with examples.

PEO

  • Used for qualitative research questions

Research question: What kinds of interventions or programs can improve literacy rates for low-income elementary school students with dyslexia?

Concept Definition Example
Population The specific demographic group the research question focuses on Elementary school students from low-income households  
Exposure or Experience The broad phenomenon that the population group lives with or is affected by Dyslexia
Outcome The specific topic(s) or end result(s) being analyzed Interventions for improving literacy 

 

PICO

  • Used for quantitatively assessing the effectiveness of a specific intervention 
  • Works well for assessing clinical trials

Research question: Does listening to text while reading (audio-assisted reading) improve literacy rates for low-income elementary school students with dyslexia?

Concept Definition Example
Population The specific demographic group the research question focuses on and the experience they are living with Elementary school students from low-income households with dyslexia
Intervention The specific method or approach that is being assessed to determine if it improves the experience of the population Listening to text while reading (audio-assisted reading)
Comparison The alternative method or approach that already exists or is used more widely than the intervention, and against which the success of the intervention is being measured Not listening to text while reading
Outcome Specific end goal being assessed Literacy rates

 

SPICE

  • Used for qualitatively assessing the effectiveness of an intervention 

Research question: How likely are low-income elementary students with dyslexia to use an audio-assisted reading strategy for their reading assignments?

Concept Definition Example
Setting Where the phenomenon is taking place Elementary school
Perspective or Population The group whose opinions or feelings are being considered in order to assess the effectiveness of the intervention Students with dyslexia
Intervention The method or approach being assessed Listening to text while reading (audio-assisted reading)
Comparison The alternative method or approach that already exists or is used more widely than the intervention, and against which the success of the intervention is being measured Not listening to text while reading
Evaluation The qualitative concept being used to measure the success of the intervention Students' attitudes about audio-assisted reading 

 

SPIDER

  • Used for assessing qualitative or mixed-methods research

Research question: What are the attitudes of elementary school students with dyslexia from low-income households toward using audio-assisted reading technology?

Concept Definition Example
Sample The specific demographic group the research question focuses on and the experience they are living with Elementary school students from low-income households with dyslexia
Phenomenon of Interest The specific method or approach that is being assessed (i.e., the intervention) Listening to text while reading (audio-assisted reading)
Design The methods used (i.e., study design) to gather qualitative data about the population sample and phenomenon of interest Surveys
Evaluation Specific qualitative end goal being assessed (i.e., the outcome) Attitudes
Research type The type(s) of studies being assessed - either qualitative or mixed methods Mixed methods

 

References

Content on this page was developed with assistance from UNC's Health Sciences Library and Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Libraries. 

Booth, A., Noyes, J., Flemming, K., Moore, G., Tunçalp, Ö., & Shakibazadeh, E. (2019). Formulating questions to explore complex interventions within qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ global health, 4(Suppl 1), e001107. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6350737

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  • Last Updated: Sep 26, 2025 9:40 AM
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