Skip to main content
Voortgangsbalk
Previous step

Next step

❓Formulate your search query: what are you looking for?

This step in your research is perhaps the most important. You're trying to determine exactly what you want to find out. The better you know what you're looking for, the less likely you are to get lost in the vast array of information available online and in libraries. Starting with a central question will save you a lot of time and produce more reliable results. If your question is complex or multi-layered, it's best to break it down into sub-questions. In this phase, you'll discover how to develop good research questions.

You'll learn:

  • what steps you can take to clarify your assignment.
  • how to orient yourself to your topic.
  • what the characteristics of a good search question are.

Defining the subject

Before you start searching for information, you need to know exactly what you're looking for. This will prevent you from aimlessly scrolling the internet without knowing which sources are right for you.

💬 Open question

Your search query must be an open-ended question. It cannot be a closed-ended question with only "yes" or "no" as the answer.

🏳️ Neutrality

Make sure your search query is unbiased. You should maintain a neutral stance on the topic, without incorporating your own opinion or perspective into your query.

|

🧩 The (5xW+H) formula

It's important to include a who (target group), what (topic), where, when, why, and/or how. These don't all need to be present; they serve as a guide to ensure you've gathered all the information needed to properly answer the research question.

  1. Who is involved in the topic or problem?
    • e.g., Flemish youth aged 12 to 18.
  2. What is the topic or problem?
    • e.g., reading behavior.
  3. Where does the topic or problem occur?
    • e.g., in Flanders.
  4. When has the topic or problem occurred?
    • e.g., since 2020.
  5. Why is it a problem or why is the topic being researched?
  6. How did the problem arise or how is the topic being researched?
    • e.g., through TikTok (specifically, the 'BookTok' community).

Main and subquestions

Your search query can be a single query or a main query divided into subquestions.

For example, a possible query for the topic of Booktok could be: "How has TikTok, and specifically the 'BookTok' community, influenced the reading behavior and preferences of young people (ages 12-18) in Flanders since 2020?"

Another example:

Main question: What is the relationship between social media use and the mental health of college students?

Sub-questions:

  • How much time do students spend on average on social media?
  • Which types of content positively or negatively impact their well-being?
  • What differences exist between passive and active use?
  • What coping strategies do students use to deal with negative effects?

The SMART method

One way to arrive at a good search question is to use the SMART method.

S

SpecificMake clear what the intended outcome of your research should be. The concepts in the question should also be clear. A vague question can lead you in too many directions.

M

MeasurableIndicate as specifically as possible how it can be determined afterwards whether the objective has been achieved, e.g. in terms of quantity and quality.

A

AcceptableIs there sufficient support from the client and do you have the right resources available?

R

RealisticBe ambitious, but make sure the goal is achievable and the plans are feasible.

T

Time boundYou have a starting point and an end point, within this available time it should be possible to find an answer to the question.

AI tools and applications

Tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can be used in various ways to develop a good search query. They can help you brainstorm a topic, refine that topic into a search query, or help you formulate it more effectively. AI tools can also help identify important concepts or terms within the research field, or break a search query down into subquestions.

Step-by-step plan