Introduction to Research Questions, Theories, and Hypotheses

Asking questions and answering them with strong evidence is at the heart of the scientific method. In this module you will learn how to ask good and interesting research questions, how to develop theories, and how to write good hypotheses. This will provide you with the fundamental tools needed to begin a research project based on solid foundations.

If you haven’t already, it is strongly recommended that you review the introductory module, which places the content of this module into a larger context.

Module Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, you will be able to...

1. Formulate a good research question
2. Identify the components of a good theory
3. Construct a theory
4. Identify the components of a good hypothesis
5. Derive a hypothesis from a theory

The image below shows a simplified version of the scientific method, and highlights the where concepts covered in this module fit into the larger process.