Epidemiologic research questions are too often a ticket to nowhere

In the article by Fox et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 0000;000(00):0000-0000), they argue that research questions in epidemiology are too often unclear leading, in turn, to confusion regarding correlation and causation. I build on points made by Fox et al, arguing that the research question is equivalent to the destination on a train ticket: both tell us where we want to go. Just as we would be upset if we were issued a train ticket with an ambiguous destination, we should similarly be upset when reading an epidemiologic article with an unclear research question. I further leverage the analogy to show that research questions are statements about "where we want to go" not "where we will end up". I end with a call that given the fundamental status of research questions in the research process, they deserve their own section in our research articles.