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Back to the basics: Guidance for formulating good research questions
Jordan R Covvey1, Chyna McClendon1, Michael R Gionfriddo1
1Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, 600 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy : RSAP
|October 14, 2023
Summary
Developing rigorous research questions is crucial for scientific success. This commentary offers guidance on composing and evaluating pharmacy research questions using frameworks like PICO and FINER.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Research
- Scientific Methodology
Background:
- Rigorous research questions are fundamental to scientific inquiry.
- Pharmacy researchers at all career stages often face challenges in formulating effective research questions.
- Poorly constructed questions can lead to downstream project execution problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide practical guidance for composing and evaluating rigorous research questions in pharmacy.
- To enhance the quality of research question development among pharmacy scholars.
- To address common difficulties encountered during the research question formulation process.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of established frameworks for research question development.
- Introduction of the PICO (Patient/population; Intervention; Comparison; Outcome) framework.
- Explanation of the FINER (Feasible; Interesting; Novel; Ethical; and Relevant) criteria for evaluating research questions.
Main Results:
- Frameworks like PICO ensure comprehensive coverage of essential research components.
- FINER criteria aid in assessing the practicality and significance of research questions.
- Awareness of common pitfalls helps researchers avoid potential issues during peer review.
Conclusions:
- Effective research question formulation is essential for successful scientific projects.
- Utilizing frameworks such as PICO and FINER improves the quality and rigor of research questions.
- Proactive identification and avoidance of common pitfalls enhance the research process and manuscript review outcomes.
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