Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Starting the research process
  • 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

  • Sampling methods
  • Simple random sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Cluster sampling
  • Likert scales
  • Reproducibility

 Statistics

  • Null hypothesis
  • Statistical power
  • Probability distribution
  • Effect size
  • Poisson distribution

Research bias

  • Optimism bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Implicit bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Anchoring bias
  • Explicit bias

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved February 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, how to choose a dissertation topic | 8 steps to follow, evaluating sources | methods & examples, what is your plagiarism score.

  • Affiliate Program

Wordvice

  • UNITED STATES
  • 台灣 (TAIWAN)
  • TÜRKIYE (TURKEY)
  • Academic Editing Services
  • - Research Paper
  • - Journal Manuscript
  • - Dissertation
  • - College & University Assignments
  • Admissions Editing Services
  • - Application Essay
  • - Personal Statement
  • - Recommendation Letter
  • - Cover Letter
  • - CV/Resume
  • Business Editing Services
  • - Business Documents
  • - Report & Brochure
  • - Website & Blog
  • Writer Editing Services
  • - Script & Screenplay
  • Our Editors
  • Client Reviews
  • Editing & Proofreading Prices
  • Wordvice Points
  • Partner Discount
  • Plagiarism Checker
  • APA Citation Generator
  • MLA Citation Generator
  • Chicago Citation Generator
  • Vancouver Citation Generator
  • - APA Style
  • - MLA Style
  • - Chicago Style
  • - Vancouver Style
  • Writing & Editing Guide
  • Academic Resources
  • Admissions Resources

How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples)

scientific research paper questions

What is a Research Question?

A research question is the main question that your study sought or is seeking to answer. A clear research question guides your research paper or thesis and states exactly what you want to find out, giving your work a focus and objective. Learning  how to write a hypothesis or research question is the start to composing any thesis, dissertation, or research paper. It is also one of the most important sections of a research proposal . 

A good research question not only clarifies the writing in your study; it provides your readers with a clear focus and facilitates their understanding of your research topic, as well as outlining your study’s objectives. Before drafting the paper and receiving research paper editing (and usually before performing your study), you should write a concise statement of what this study intends to accomplish or reveal.

Research Question Writing Tips

Listed below are the important characteristics of a good research question:

A good research question should:

  • Be clear and provide specific information so readers can easily understand the purpose.
  • Be focused in its scope and narrow enough to be addressed in the space allowed by your paper
  • Be relevant and concise and express your main ideas in as few words as possible, like a hypothesis.
  • Be precise and complex enough that it does not simply answer a closed “yes or no” question, but requires an analysis of arguments and literature prior to its being considered acceptable. 
  • Be arguable or testable so that answers to the research question are open to scrutiny and specific questions and counterarguments.

Some of these characteristics might be difficult to understand in the form of a list. Let’s go into more detail about what a research question must do and look at some examples of research questions.

The research question should be specific and focused 

Research questions that are too broad are not suitable to be addressed in a single study. One reason for this can be if there are many factors or variables to consider. In addition, a sample data set that is too large or an experimental timeline that is too long may suggest that the research question is not focused enough.

A specific research question means that the collective data and observations come together to either confirm or deny the chosen hypothesis in a clear manner. If a research question is too vague, then the data might end up creating an alternate research problem or hypothesis that you haven’t addressed in your Introduction section .

The research question should be based on the literature 

An effective research question should be answerable and verifiable based on prior research because an effective scientific study must be placed in the context of a wider academic consensus. This means that conspiracy or fringe theories are not good research paper topics.

Instead, a good research question must extend, examine, and verify the context of your research field. It should fit naturally within the literature and be searchable by other research authors.

References to the literature can be in different citation styles and must be properly formatted according to the guidelines set forth by the publishing journal, university, or academic institution. This includes in-text citations as well as the Reference section . 

The research question should be realistic in time, scope, and budget

There are two main constraints to the research process: timeframe and budget.

A proper research question will include study or experimental procedures that can be executed within a feasible time frame, typically by a graduate doctoral or master’s student or lab technician. Research that requires future technology, expensive resources, or follow-up procedures is problematic.

A researcher’s budget is also a major constraint to performing timely research. Research at many large universities or institutions is publicly funded and is thus accountable to funding restrictions. 

The research question should be in-depth

Research papers, dissertations and theses , and academic journal articles are usually dozens if not hundreds of pages in length.

A good research question or thesis statement must be sufficiently complex to warrant such a length, as it must stand up to the scrutiny of peer review and be reproducible by other scientists and researchers.

Research Question Types

Qualitative and quantitative research are the two major types of research, and it is essential to develop research questions for each type of study. 

Quantitative Research Questions

Quantitative research questions are specific. A typical research question involves the population to be studied, dependent and independent variables, and the research design.

In addition, quantitative research questions connect the research question and the research design. In addition, it is not possible to answer these questions definitively with a “yes” or “no” response. For example, scientific fields such as biology, physics, and chemistry often deal with “states,” in which different quantities, amounts, or velocities drastically alter the relevance of the research.

As a consequence, quantitative research questions do not contain qualitative, categorical, or ordinal qualifiers such as “is,” “are,” “does,” or “does not.”

Categories of quantitative research questions

Qualitative research questions.

In quantitative research, research questions have the potential to relate to broad research areas as well as more specific areas of study. Qualitative research questions are less directional, more flexible, and adaptable compared with their quantitative counterparts. Thus, studies based on these questions tend to focus on “discovering,” “explaining,” “elucidating,” and “exploring.”

Categories of qualitative research questions

Quantitative and qualitative research question examples.

stacks of books in black and white; research question examples

Good and Bad Research Question Examples

Below are some good (and not-so-good) examples of research questions that researchers can use to guide them in crafting their own research questions.

Research Question Example 1

The first research question is too vague in both its independent and dependent variables. There is no specific information on what “exposure” means. Does this refer to comments, likes, engagement, or just how much time is spent on the social media platform?

Second, there is no useful information on what exactly “affected” means. Does the subject’s behavior change in some measurable way? Or does this term refer to another factor such as the user’s emotions?

Research Question Example 2

In this research question, the first example is too simple and not sufficiently complex, making it difficult to assess whether the study answered the question. The author could really only answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no.” Further, the presence of data would not help answer this question more deeply, which is a sure sign of a poorly constructed research topic.

The second research question is specific, complex, and empirically verifiable. One can measure program effectiveness based on metrics such as attendance or grades. Further, “bullying” is made into an empirical, quantitative measurement in the form of recorded disciplinary actions.

Steps for Writing a Research Question

Good research questions are relevant, focused, and meaningful. It can be difficult to come up with a good research question, but there are a few steps you can follow to make it a bit easier.

1. Start with an interesting and relevant topic

Choose a research topic that is interesting but also relevant and aligned with your own country’s culture or your university’s capabilities. Popular academic topics include healthcare and medical-related research. However, if you are attending an engineering school or humanities program, you should obviously choose a research question that pertains to your specific study and major.

Below is an embedded graph of the most popular research fields of study based on publication output according to region. As you can see, healthcare and the basic sciences receive the most funding and earn the highest number of publications. 

scientific research paper questions

2. Do preliminary research  

You can begin doing preliminary research once you have chosen a research topic. Two objectives should be accomplished during this first phase of research. First, you should undertake a preliminary review of related literature to discover issues that scholars and peers are currently discussing. With this method, you show that you are informed about the latest developments in the field.

Secondly, identify knowledge gaps or limitations in your topic by conducting a preliminary literature review . It is possible to later use these gaps to focus your research question after a certain amount of fine-tuning.

3. Narrow your research to determine specific research questions

You can focus on a more specific area of study once you have a good handle on the topic you want to explore. Focusing on recent literature or knowledge gaps is one good option. 

By identifying study limitations in the literature and overlooked areas of study, an author can carve out a good research question. The same is true for choosing research questions that extend or complement existing literature.

4. Evaluate your research question

Make sure you evaluate the research question by asking the following questions:

Is my research question clear?

The resulting data and observations that your study produces should be clear. For quantitative studies, data must be empirical and measurable. For qualitative, the observations should be clearly delineable across categories.

Is my research question focused and specific?

A strong research question should be specific enough that your methodology or testing procedure produces an objective result, not one left to subjective interpretation. Open-ended research questions or those relating to general topics can create ambiguous connections between the results and the aims of the study. 

Is my research question sufficiently complex?

The result of your research should be consequential and substantial (and fall sufficiently within the context of your field) to warrant an academic study. Simply reinforcing or supporting a scientific consensus is superfluous and will likely not be well received by most journal editors.  

reverse triangle chart, how to write a research question

Editing Your Research Question

Your research question should be fully formulated well before you begin drafting your research paper. However, you can receive English paper editing and proofreading services at any point in the drafting process. Language editors with expertise in your academic field can assist you with the content and language in your Introduction section or other manuscript sections. And if you need further assistance or information regarding paper compositions, in the meantime, check out our academic resources , which provide dozens of articles and videos on a variety of academic writing and publication topics.

  • Resources Home 🏠
  • Try SciSpace Copilot
  • Search research papers
  • Add Copilot Extension
  • Try AI Detector
  • Try Paraphraser
  • Try Citation Generator
  • April Papers
  • June Papers
  • July Papers

SciSpace Resources

How To Write a Research Question

Deeptanshu D

Academic writing and research require a distinct focus and direction. A well-designed research question gives purpose and clarity to your research. In addition, it helps your readers understand the issue you are trying to address and explore.

Every time you want to know more about a subject, you will pose a question. The same idea is used in research as well. You must pose a question in order to effectively address a research problem. That's why the research question is an integral part of the research process. Additionally, it offers the author writing and reading guidelines, be it qualitative research or quantitative research.

In your research paper , you must single out just one issue or problem. The specific issue or claim you wish to address should be included in your thesis statement in order to clarify your main argument.

A good research question must have the following characteristics.

scientific research paper questions

  • Should include only one problem in the research question
  • Should be able to find the answer using primary data and secondary data sources
  • Should be possible to resolve within the given time and other constraints
  • Detailed and in-depth results should be achievable
  • Should be relevant and realistic.
  • It should relate to your chosen area of research

While a larger project, like a thesis, might have several research questions to address, each one should be directed at your main area of study. Of course, you can use different research designs and research methods (qualitative research or quantitative research) to address various research questions. However, they must all be pertinent to the study's objectives.

What is a Research Question?

what-is-a-research-question

A research question is an inquiry that the research attempts to answer. It is the heart of the systematic investigation. Research questions are the most important step in any research project. In essence, it initiates the research project and establishes the pace for the specific research A research question is:

  • Clear : It provides enough detail that the audience understands its purpose without any additional explanation.
  • Focused : It is so specific that it can be addressed within the time constraints of the writing task.
  • Succinct: It is written in the shortest possible words.
  • Complex : It is not possible to answer it with a "yes" or "no", but requires analysis and synthesis of ideas before somebody can create a solution.
  • Argumental : Its potential answers are open for debate rather than accepted facts.

A good research question usually focuses on the research and determines the research design, methodology, and hypothesis. It guides all phases of inquiry, data collection, analysis, and reporting. You should gather valuable information by asking the right questions.

Why are Research Questions so important?

Regardless of whether it is a qualitative research or quantitative research project, research questions provide writers and their audience with a way to navigate the writing and research process. Writers can avoid "all-about" papers by asking straightforward and specific research questions that help them focus on their research and support a specific thesis.

Types of Research Questions

types-of-research-question

There are two types of research: Qualitative research and Quantitative research . There must be research questions for every type of research. Your research question will be based on the type of research you want to conduct and the type of data collection.

The first step in designing research involves identifying a gap and creating a focused research question.

Below is a list of common research questions that can be used in a dissertation. Keep in mind that these are merely illustrations of typical research questions used in dissertation projects. The real research questions themselves might be more difficult.

Example Research Questions

examples-of-research-question

The following are a few examples of research questions and research problems to help you understand how research questions can be created for a particular research problem.

Steps to Write Research Questions

steps-to-write-a-research-question

You can focus on the issue or research gaps you're attempting to solve by using the research questions as a direction.

If you're unsure how to go about writing a good research question, these are the steps to follow in the process:

  • Select an interesting topic Always choose a topic that interests you. Because if your curiosity isn’t aroused by a subject, you’ll have a hard time conducting research around it. Alos, it’s better that you pick something that’s neither too narrow or too broad.
  • Do preliminary research on the topic Search for relevant literature to gauge what problems have already been tackled by scholars. You can do that conveniently through repositories like Scispace , where you’ll find millions of papers in one place. Once you do find the papers you’re looking for, try our reading assistant, SciSpace Copilot to get simple explanations for the paper . You’ll be able to quickly understand the abstract, find the key takeaways, and the main arguments presented in the paper. This will give you a more contextual understanding of your subject and you’ll have an easier time identifying knowledge gaps in your discipline.

     Also: ChatPDF vs. SciSpace Copilot: Unveiling the best tool for your research

  • Consider your audience It is essential to understand your audience to develop focused research questions for essays or dissertations. When narrowing down your topic, you can identify aspects that might interest your audience.
  • Ask questions Asking questions will give you a deeper understanding of the topic. Evaluate your question through the What, Why, When, How, and other open-ended questions assessment.
  • Assess your question Once you have created a research question, assess its effectiveness to determine if it is useful for the purpose. Refine and revise the dissertation research question multiple times.

Additionally, use this list of questions as a guide when formulating your research question.

Are you able to answer a specific research question? After identifying a gap in research, it would be helpful to formulate the research question. And this will allow the research to solve a part of the problem. Is your research question clear and centered on the main topic? It is important that your research question should be specific and related to your central goal. Are you tackling a difficult research question? It is not possible to answer the research question with a simple yes or no. The problem requires in-depth analysis. It is often started with "How" and "Why."

Start your research Once you have completed your dissertation research questions, it is time to review the literature on similar topics to discover different perspectives.

Strong  Research Question Samples

Uncertain: How should social networking sites work on the hatred that flows through their platform?

Certain: What should social media sites like Twitter or Facebook do to address the harm they are causing?

This unclear question does not specify the social networking sites that are being used or what harm they might be causing. In addition, this question assumes that the "harm" has been proven and/or accepted. This version is more specific and identifies the sites (Twitter, Facebook), the type and extent of harm (privacy concerns), and who might be suffering from that harm (users). Effective research questions should not be ambiguous or interpreted.

Unfocused: What are the effects of global warming on the environment?

Focused: What are the most important effects of glacial melting in Antarctica on penguins' lives?

This broad research question cannot be addressed in a book, let alone a college-level paper. Focused research targets a specific effect of global heating (glacial  melting), an area (Antarctica), or a specific animal (penguins). The writer must also decide which effect will have the greatest impact on the animals affected. If in doubt, narrow down your research question to the most specific possible.

Too Simple: What are the U.S. doctors doing to treat diabetes?

Appropriately complex: Which factors, if any, are most likely to predict a person's risk of developing diabetes?

This simple version can be found online. It is easy to answer with a few facts. The second, more complicated version of this question is divided into two parts. It is thought-provoking and requires extensive investigation as well as evaluation by the author. So, ensure that a quick Google search should not answer your research question.

How to write a strong Research Question?

how-to-write-a-strong-research-question

The foundation of all research is the research question. You should therefore spend as much time as necessary to refine your research question based on various data.

You can conduct your research more efficiently and analyze your results better if you have great research questions for your dissertation, research paper , or essay .

The following criteria can help you evaluate the strength and importance of your research question and can be used to determine the strength of your research question:

  • Researchable
  • It should only cover one issue.
  • A subjective judgment should not be included in the question.
  • It can be answered with data analysis and research.
  • Specific and Practical
  • It should not contain a plan of action, policy, or solution.
  • It should be clearly defined
  • Within research limits
  • Complex and Arguable
  • It shouldn't be difficult to answer.
  • To find the truth, you need in-depth knowledge
  • Allows for discussion and deliberation
  • Original and Relevant
  • It should be in your area of study
  • Its results should be measurable
  • It should be original

Conclusion - How to write Research Questions?

Research questions provide a clear guideline for research. One research question may be part of a larger project, such as a dissertation. However, each question should only focus on one topic.

Research questions must be answerable, practical, specific, and applicable to your field. The research type that you use to base your research questions on will determine the research topic. You can start by selecting an interesting topic and doing preliminary research. Then, you can begin asking questions, evaluating your questions, and start your research.

Now it's easier than ever to streamline your research workflow with SciSpace ResearchGPT . Its integrated, comprehensive end-to-end platform for research allows scholars to easily discover, read, write and publish their research and fosters collaboration.

scientific research paper questions

You might also like

Consensus GPT vs. SciSpace GPT: Choose the Best GPT for Research

Consensus GPT vs. SciSpace GPT: Choose the Best GPT for Research

Sumalatha G

Literature Review and Theoretical Framework: Understanding the Differences

Nikhil Seethi

Types of Essays in Academic Writing

This page has been archived and is no longer updated

Scientific Papers

Scientific papers are for sharing your own original research work with other scientists or for reviewing the research conducted by others. As such, they are critical to the evolution of modern science, in which the work of one scientist builds upon that of others. To reach their goal, papers must aim to inform, not impress. They must be highly readable — that is, clear, accurate, and concise. They are more likely to be cited by other scientists if they are helpful rather than cryptic or self-centered.

Scientific papers typically have two audiences: first, the referees, who help the journal editor decide whether a paper is suitable for publication; and second, the journal readers themselves, who may be more or less knowledgeable about the topic addressed in the paper. To be accepted by referees and cited by readers, papers must do more than simply present a chronological account of the research work. Rather, they must convince their audience that the research presented is important, valid, and relevant to other scientists in the same field. To this end, they must emphasize both the motivation for the work and the outcome of it, and they must include just enough evidence to establish the validity of this outcome.

Papers that report experimental work are often structured chronologically in five sections: first, Introduction ; then Materials and Methods , Results , and Discussion (together, these three sections make up the paper's body); and finally, Conclusion .

  • The Introduction section clarifies the motivation for the work presented and prepares readers for the structure of the paper.
  • The Materials and Methods section provides sufficient detail for other scientists to reproduce the experiments presented in the paper. In some journals, this information is placed in an appendix, because it is not what most readers want to know first.
  • The Results and Discussion sections present and discuss the research results, respectively. They are often usefully combined into one section, however, because readers can seldom make sense of results alone without accompanying interpretation — they need to be told what the results mean.
  • The Conclusion section presents the outcome of the work by interpreting the findings at a higher level of abstraction than the Discussion and by relating these findings to the motivation stated in the Introduction .

(Papers reporting something other than experiments, such as a new method or technology, typically have different sections in their body, but they include the same Introduction and Conclusion sections as described above.)

Although the above structure reflects the progression of most research projects, effective papers typically break the chronology in at least three ways to present their content in the order in which the audience will most likely want to read it. First and foremost, they summarize the motivation for, and the outcome of, the work in an abstract, located before the Introduction . In a sense, they reveal the beginning and end of the story — briefly — before providing the full story. Second, they move the more detailed, less important parts of the body to the end of the paper in one or more appendices so that these parts do not stand in the readers' way. Finally, they structure the content in the body in theorem-proof fashion, stating first what readers must remember (for example, as the first sentence of a paragraph) and then presenting evidence to support this statement.

The introduction

  • First, provide some context to orient those readers who are less familiar with your topic and to establish the importance of your work.
  • Second, state the need for your work, as an opposition between what the scientific community currently has and what it wants.
  • Third, indicate what you have done in an effort to address the need (this is the task).
  • Finally, preview the remainder of the paper to mentally prepare readers for its structure, in the object of the document.

Context and need

At the beginning of the Introduction section, the context and need work together as a funnel: They start broad and progressively narrow down to the issue addressed in the paper. To spark interest among your audience — referees and journal readers alike — provide a compelling motivation for the work presented in your paper: The fact that a phenomenon has never been studied before is not, in and of itself, a reason to study that phenomenon.

Write the context in a way that appeals to a broad range of readers and leads into the need. Do not include context for the sake of including context: Rather, provide only what will help readers better understand the need and, especially, its importance. Consider anchoring the context in time, using phrases such as recently , in the past 10 years , or since the early 1990s . You may also want to anchor your context in space (either geographically or within a given research field).

Convey the need for the work as an opposition between actual and desired situations. Start by stating the actual situation (what we have) as a direct continuation of the context. If you feel you must explain recent achievements in much detail — say, in more than one or two paragraphs — consider moving the details to a section titled State of the art (or something similar) after the Introduction , but do provide a brief idea of the actual situation in the Introduction . Next, state the desired situation (what we want). Emphasize the contrast between the actual and desired situations with such words as but , however, or unfortunately .

One elegant way to express the desired part of the need is to combine it with the task in a single sentence. This sentence expresses first the objective, then the action undertaken to reach this objective, thus creating a strong and elegant connection between need and task. Here are three examples of such a combination:

To confirm this assumption , we studied the effects of a range of inhibitors of connexin channels . . . on . . .
To assess whether such multiple-coil sensors perform better than single-signal ones , we tested two of them — the DuoPXK and the GEMM3 — in a field where . . . To form a better view of the global distribution and infectiousness of this pathogen , we examined 1645 postmetamorphic and adult amphibians collected from 27 countries between 1984 and 2006 for the presence of . . .

Task and object

An Introduction is usually clearer and more logical when it separates what the authors have done (the task) from what the paper itself attempts or covers (the object of the document). In other words, the task clarifies your contribution as a scientist, whereas the object of the document prepares readers for the structure of the paper, thus allowing focused or selective reading.

For the task,

  • use whoever did the work (normally, you and your colleagues) as the subject of the sentence: we or perhaps the authors;
  • use a verb expressing a research action: measured , calculated , etc.;
  • set that verb in the past tense.

The three examples below are well-formed tasks.

To confirm this assumption, we studied the effects of a range of inhibitors of connexin channels, such as the connexin mimetic peptides Gap26 and Gap27 and anti-peptide antibodies, on calcium signaling in cardiac cells and HeLa cells expressing connexins.
During controlled experiments, we investigated the influence of the HMP boundary conditions on liver flows.
To tackle this problem, we developed a new software verification technique called oblivious hashing, which calculates the hash values based on the actual execution of the program.

The list below provides examples of verbs that express research actions:

For the object of the document,

  • use the document itself as the subject of the sentence: this paper , this letter , etc.;
  • use a verb expressing a communication action: presents , summarizes , etc.;
  • set the verb in the present tense.

The three examples below are suitable objects of the document for the three tasks shown above, respectively.

This paper clarifies the role of CxHc on calcium oscillations in neonatal cardiac myocytes and calcium transients induced by ATP in HL-cells originated from cardiac atrium and in HeLa cells expressing connexin 43 or 26. This paper presents the flow effects induced by increasing the hepatic-artery pressure and by obstructing the vena cava inferior. This paper discusses the theory behind oblivious hashing and shows how this approach can be applied for local software tamper resistance and remote code authentication.

The list below provides examples of verbs that express communication actions:

Even the most logical structure is of little use if readers do not see and understand it as they progress through a paper. Thus, as you organize the body of your paper into sections and perhaps subsections, remember to prepare your readers for the structure ahead at all levels. You already do so for the overall structure of the body (the sections) in the object of the document at the end of the Introduction . You can similarly prepare your readers for an upcoming division into subsections by introducing a global paragraph between the heading of a section and the heading of its first subsection. This paragraph can contain any information relating to the section as a whole rather than particular subsections, but it should at least announce the subsections, whether explicitly or implicitly. An explicit preview would be phrased much like the object of the document: "This section first . . . , then . . . , and finally . . . "

Although papers can be organized into sections in many ways, those reporting experimental work typically include Materials and Methods , Results , and Discussion in their body. In any case, the paragraphs in these sections should begin with a topic sentence to prepare readers for their contents, allow selective reading, and — ideally — get a message across.

Materials and methods

Results and discussion.

When reporting and discussing your results, do not force your readers to go through everything you went through in chronological order. Instead, state the message of each paragraph upfront: Convey in the first sentence what you want readers to remember from the paragraph as a whole. Focus on what happened, not on the fact that you observed it. Then develop your message in the remainder of the paragraph, including only that information you think you need to convince your audience.

The conclusion

At the end of your Conclusion , consider including perspectives — that is, an idea of what could or should still be done in relation to the issue addressed in the paper. If you include perspectives, clarify whether you are referring to firm plans for yourself and your colleagues ("In the coming months, we will . . . ") or to an invitation to readers ("One remaining question is . . . ").

If your paper includes a well-structured Introduction and an effective abstract, you need not repeat any of the Introduction in the Conclusion . In particular, do not restate what you have done or what the paper does. Instead, focus on what you have found and, especially, on what your findings mean. Do not be afraid to write a short Conclusion section: If you can conclude in just a few sentences given the rich discussion in the body of the paper, then do so. (In other words, resist the temptation to repeat material from the Introduction just to make the Conclusio n longer under the false belief that a longer Conclusion will seem more impressive.)

The abstract

Typically, readers are primarily interested in the information presented in a paper's Introduction and Conclusion sections. Primarily, they want to know the motivation for the work presented and the outcome of this work. Then (and only then) the most specialized among them might want to know the details of the work. Thus, an effective abstract focuses on motivation and outcome; in doing so, it parallels the paper's Introduction and Conclusion .

Accordingly, you can think of an abstract as having two distinct parts — motivation and outcome — even if it is typeset as a single paragraph. For the first part, follow the same structure as the Introduction section of the paper: State the context, the need, the task, and the object of the document. For the second part, mention your findings (the what ) and, especially, your conclusion (the so what — that is, the interpretation of your findings); if appropriate, end with perspectives, as in the Conclusion section of your paper.

Although the structure of the abstract parallels the Introduction and Conclusion sections, it differs from these sections in the audience it addresses. The abstract is read by many different readers, from the most specialized to the least specialized among the target audience. In a sense, it should be the least specialized part of the paper. Any scientist reading it should be able to understand why the work was carried out and why it is important (context and need), what the authors did (task) and what the paper reports about this work (object of the document), what the authors found (findings), what these findings mean (the conclusion), and possibly what the next steps are (perspectives). In contrast, the full paper is typically read by specialists only; its Introduction and Conclusion are more detailed (that is, longer and more specialized) than the abstract.

An effective abstract stands on its own — it can be understood fully even when made available without the full paper. To this end, avoid referring to figures or the bibliography in the abstract. Also, introduce any acronyms the first time you use them in the abstract (if needed), and do so again in the full paper (see Mechanics: Using abbreviations ).

This page appears in the following eBook

Topic rooms within Scientific Communication

Topic Rooms

Within this Subject (22)

  • Communicating as a Scientist (3)
  • Papers (4)
  • Correspondence (5)
  • Presentations (4)
  • Conferences (3)
  • Classrooms (3)

Other Topic Rooms

  • Gene Inheritance and Transmission
  • Gene Expression and Regulation
  • Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
  • Chromosomes and Cytogenetics
  • Evolutionary Genetics
  • Population and Quantitative Genetics
  • Genes and Disease
  • Genetics and Society
  • Cell Origins and Metabolism
  • Proteins and Gene Expression
  • Subcellular Compartments
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Cycle and Cell Division

ScholarCast

© 2014 Nature Education

  • Press Room |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Privacy Notice |

Send

Visual Browse

How to Write a Research Question: Types and Examples 

research quetsion

The first step in any research project is framing the research question. It can be considered the core of any systematic investigation as the research outcomes are tied to asking the right questions. Thus, this primary interrogation point sets the pace for your research as it helps collect relevant and insightful information that ultimately influences your work.   

Typically, the research question guides the stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting. Depending on the use of quantifiable or quantitative data, research questions are broadly categorized into quantitative or qualitative research questions. Both types of research questions can be used independently or together, considering the overall focus and objectives of your research.  

What is a research question?

A research question is a clear, focused, concise, and arguable question on which your research and writing are centered. 1 It states various aspects of the study, including the population and variables to be studied and the problem the study addresses. These questions also set the boundaries of the study, ensuring cohesion. 

Designing the research question is a dynamic process where the researcher can change or refine the research question as they review related literature and develop a framework for the study. Depending on the scale of your research, the study can include single or multiple research questions. 

A good research question has the following features: 

  • It is relevant to the chosen field of study. 
  • The question posed is arguable and open for debate, requiring synthesizing and analysis of ideas. 
  • It is focused and concisely framed. 
  • A feasible solution is possible within the given practical constraint and timeframe. 

A poorly formulated research question poses several risks. 1   

  • Researchers can adopt an erroneous design. 
  • It can create confusion and hinder the thought process, including developing a clear protocol.  
  • It can jeopardize publication efforts.  
  • It causes difficulty in determining the relevance of the study findings.  
  • It causes difficulty in whether the study fulfils the inclusion criteria for systematic review and meta-analysis. This creates challenges in determining whether additional studies or data collection is needed to answer the question.  
  • Readers may fail to understand the objective of the study. This reduces the likelihood of the study being cited by others. 

Now that you know “What is a research question?”, let’s look at the different types of research questions. 

Types of research questions

Depending on the type of research to be done, research questions can be classified broadly into quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies. Knowing the type of research helps determine the best type of research question that reflects the direction and epistemological underpinnings of your research. 

The structure and wording of quantitative 2 and qualitative research 3 questions differ significantly. The quantitative study looks at causal relationships, whereas the qualitative study aims at exploring a phenomenon. 

  • Quantitative research questions:  
  • Seeks to investigate social, familial, or educational experiences or processes in a particular context and/or location.  
  • Answers ‘how,’ ‘what,’ or ‘why’ questions. 
  • Investigates connections, relations, or comparisons between independent and dependent variables. 

Quantitative research questions can be further categorized into descriptive, comparative, and relationship, as explained in the Table below. 

  • Qualitative research questions  

Qualitative research questions are adaptable, non-directional, and more flexible. It concerns broad areas of research or more specific areas of study to discover, explain, or explore a phenomenon. These are further classified as follows: 

  • Mixed-methods studies  

Mixed-methods studies use both quantitative and qualitative research questions to answer your research question. Mixed methods provide a complete picture than standalone quantitative or qualitative research, as it integrates the benefits of both methods. Mixed methods research is often used in multidisciplinary settings and complex situational or societal research, especially in the behavioral, health, and social science fields. 

What makes a good research question

A good research question should be clear and focused to guide your research. It should synthesize multiple sources to present your unique argument, and should ideally be something that you are interested in. But avoid questions that can be answered in a few factual statements. The following are the main attributes of a good research question. 

  • Specific: The research question should not be a fishing expedition performed in the hopes that some new information will be found that will benefit the researcher. The central research question should work with your research problem to keep your work focused. If using multiple questions, they should all tie back to the central aim. 
  • Measurable: The research question must be answerable using quantitative and/or qualitative data or from scholarly sources to develop your research question. If such data is impossible to access, it is better to rethink your question. 
  • Attainable: Ensure you have enough time and resources to do all research required to answer your question. If it seems you will not be able to gain access to the data you need, consider narrowing down your question to be more specific. 
  • You have the expertise 
  • You have the equipment and resources 
  • Realistic: Developing your research question should be based on initial reading about your topic. It should focus on addressing a problem or gap in the existing knowledge in your field or discipline. 
  • Based on some sort of rational physics 
  • Can be done in a reasonable time frame 
  • Timely: The research question should contribute to an existing and current debate in your field or in society at large. It should produce knowledge that future researchers or practitioners can later build on. 
  • Novel 
  • Based on current technologies. 
  • Important to answer current problems or concerns. 
  • Lead to new directions. 
  • Important: Your question should have some aspect of originality. Incremental research is as important as exploring disruptive technologies. For example, you can focus on a specific location or explore a new angle. 
  • Meaningful whether the answer is “Yes” or “No.” Closed-ended, yes/no questions are too simple to work as good research questions. Such questions do not provide enough scope for robust investigation and discussion. A good research question requires original data, synthesis of multiple sources, and original interpretation and argumentation before providing an answer. 

Steps for developing a good research question

The importance of research questions cannot be understated. When drafting a research question, use the following frameworks to guide the components of your question to ease the process. 4  

  • Determine the requirements: Before constructing a good research question, set your research requirements. What is the purpose? Is it descriptive, comparative, or explorative research? Determining the research aim will help you choose the most appropriate topic and word your question appropriately. 
  • Select a broad research topic: Identify a broader subject area of interest that requires investigation. Techniques such as brainstorming or concept mapping can help identify relevant connections and themes within a broad research topic. For example, how to learn and help students learn. 
  • Perform preliminary investigation: Preliminary research is needed to obtain up-to-date and relevant knowledge on your topic. It also helps identify issues currently being discussed from which information gaps can be identified. 
  • Narrow your focus: Narrow the scope and focus of your research to a specific niche. This involves focusing on gaps in existing knowledge or recent literature or extending or complementing the findings of existing literature. Another approach involves constructing strong research questions that challenge your views or knowledge of the area of study (Example: Is learning consistent with the existing learning theory and research). 
  • Identify the research problem: Once the research question has been framed, one should evaluate it. This is to realize the importance of the research questions and if there is a need for more revising (Example: How do your beliefs on learning theory and research impact your instructional practices). 

How to write a research question

Those struggling to understand how to write a research question, these simple steps can help you simplify the process of writing a research question. 

Sample Research Questions

The following are some bad and good research question examples 

  • Example 1 
  • Example 2 

References:  

  • Thabane, L., Thomas, T., Ye, C., & Paul, J. (2009). Posing the research question: not so simple.  Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d’anesthésie ,  56 (1), 71-79. 
  • Rutberg, S., & Bouikidis, C. D. (2018). Focusing on the fundamentals: A simplistic differentiation between qualitative and quantitative research.  Nephrology Nursing Journal ,  45 (2), 209-213. 
  • Kyngäs, H. (2020). Qualitative research and content analysis.  The application of content analysis in nursing science research , 3-11. 
  • Mattick, K., Johnston, J., & de la Croix, A. (2018). How to… write a good research question.  The clinical teacher ,  15 (2), 104-108. 
  • Fandino, W. (2019). Formulating a good research question: Pearls and pitfalls.  Indian Journal of Anaesthesia ,  63 (8), 611. 
  • Richardson, W. S., Wilson, M. C., Nishikawa, J., & Hayward, R. S. (1995). The well-built clinical question: a key to evidence-based decisions.  ACP journal club ,  123 (3), A12-A13 

Paperpal is an AI writing assistant that help academics write better, faster with real-time suggestions for in-depth language and grammar correction. Trained on millions of research manuscripts enhanced by professional academic editors, Paperpal delivers human precision at machine speed.   

Try it for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime , which unlocks unlimited access to premium features like academic translation, paraphrasing, contextual synonyms, consistency checks, submission readiness and more. It’s like always having a professional academic editor by your side! Go beyond limitations and experience the future of academic writing. Get Paperpal Prime now at just US$19 a month!    

Related Reads:

  • How to Write Effective brief Communications
  • What is a Thesis Statement and How to Write It (with Examples) 
  • How to Write a Good Humanities Research Paper
  • Paperpal Copilot is Live: Experience The Generative AI Tool Academics Can Trust

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs in the World of Research

Language and grammar rules for academic writing, you may also like, 6 tips for post-doc researchers to take their..., presenting research data effectively through tables and figures, ethics in science: importance, principles & guidelines , jenni ai review: top features, pricing, and alternatives, 8 most effective ways to increase motivation for..., how to make your thesis supervision work for..., what next after manuscript rejection 5 options for..., how to revise and resubmit rejected manuscripts: a..., paraphrasing in academic writing: answering top author queries, chemistry terms: 7 commonly confused words in chemistry....

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

  • Publications
  • Account settings
  • Advanced Search
  • Journal List

A Guide to Writing a Scientific Paper: A Focus on High School Through Graduate Level Student Research

Renee a. hesselbach.

1 NIEHS Children's Environmental Health Sciences Core Center, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David H. Petering

2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Craig A. Berg

3 Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Henry Tomasiewicz

Daniel weber.

This article presents a detailed guide for high school through graduate level instructors that leads students to write effective and well-organized scientific papers. Interesting research emerges from the ability to ask questions, define problems, design experiments, analyze and interpret data, and make critical connections. This process is incomplete, unless new results are communicated to others because science fundamentally requires peer review and criticism to validate or discard proposed new knowledge. Thus, a concise and clearly written research paper is a critical step in the scientific process and is important for young researchers as they are mastering how to express scientific concepts and understanding. Moreover, learning to write a research paper provides a tool to improve science literacy as indicated in the National Research Council's National Science Education Standards (1996), and A Framework for K–12 Science Education (2011), the underlying foundation for the Next Generation Science Standards currently being developed. Background information explains the importance of peer review and communicating results, along with details of each critical component, the Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results , and Discussion . Specific steps essential to helping students write clear and coherent research papers that follow a logical format, use effective communication, and develop scientific inquiry are described.

Introduction

A key part of the scientific process is communication of original results to others so that one's discoveries are passed along to the scientific community and the public for awareness and scrutiny. 1 – 3 Communication to other scientists ensures that new findings become part of a growing body of publicly available knowledge that informs how we understand the world around us. 2 It is also what fuels further research as other scientists incorporate novel findings into their thinking and experiments.

Depending upon the researcher's position, intent, and needs, communication can take different forms. The gold standard is writing scientific papers that describe original research in such a way that other scientists will be able to repeat it or to use it as a basis for their studies. 1 For some, it is expected that such articles will be published in scientific journals after they have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. Scientists must submit their articles for examination by other scientists familiar with the area of research, who decide whether the work was conducted properly and whether the results add to the knowledge base and are conveyed well enough to merit publication. 2 If a manuscript passes the scrutiny of peer-review, it has the potential to be published. 1 For others, such as for high school or undergraduate students, publishing a research paper may not be the ultimate goal. However, regardless of whether an article is to be submitted for publication, peer review is an important step in this process. For student researchers, writing a well-organized research paper is a key step in learning how to express understanding, make critical connections, summarize data, and effectively communicate results, which are important goals for improving science literacy of the National Research Council's National Science Education Standards, 4 and A Framework for K–12 Science Education, 5 and the Next Generation Science Standards 6 currently being developed and described in The NSTA Reader's Guide to A Framework for K–12 Science Education. 7 Table 1 depicts the key skills students should develop as part of the Science as Inquiry Content Standard. Table 2 illustrates the central goals of A Framework for K–12 Science Education Scientific and Engineering Practices Dimension.

Key Skills of the Science as Inquiry National Science Education Content Standard

National Research Council (1996).

Important Practices of A Framework for K–12 Science Education Scientific and Engineering Practices Dimension

National Research Council (2011).

Scientific papers based on experimentation typically include five predominant sections: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion . This structure is a widely accepted approach to writing a research paper, and has specific sections that parallel the scientific method. Following this structure allows the scientist to tell a clear, coherent story in a logical format, essential to effective communication. 1 , 2 In addition, using a standardized format allows the reader to find specific information quickly and easily. While readers may not have time to read the entire research paper, the predictable format allows them to focus on specific sections such as the Abstract , Introduction , and Discussion sections. Therefore, it is critical that information be placed in the appropriate and logical section of the report. 3

Guidelines for Writing a Primary Research Article

The Title sends an important message to the reader about the purpose of the paper. For example, Ethanol Effects on the Developing Zebrafish: Neurobehavior and Skeletal Morphogenesis 8 tells the reader key information about the content of the research paper. Also, an appropriate and descriptive title captures the attention of the reader. When composing the Title , students should include either the aim or conclusion of the research, the subject, and possibly the independent or dependent variables. Often, the title is created after the body of the article has been written, so that it accurately reflects the purpose and content of the article. 1 , 3

The Abstract provides a short, concise summary of the research described in the body of the article and should be able to stand alone. It provides readers with a quick overview that helps them decide whether the article may be interesting to read. Included in the Abstract are the purpose or primary objectives of the experiment and why they are important, a brief description of the methods and approach used, key findings and the significance of the results, and how this work is different from the work of others. It is important to note that the Abstract briefly explains the implications of the findings, but does not evaluate the conclusions. 1 , 3 Just as with the Title , this section needs to be written carefully and succinctly. Often this section is written last to ensure it accurately reflects the content of the paper. Generally, the optimal length of the Abstract is one paragraph between 200 and 300 words, and does not contain references or abbreviations.

All new research can be categorized by field (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, geology) and by area within the field (e.g., biology: evolution, ecology, cell biology, anatomy, environmental health). Many areas already contain a large volume of published research. The role of the Introduction is to place the new research within the context of previous studies in the particular field and area, thereby introducing the audience to the research and motivating the audience to continue reading. 1

Usually, the writer begins by describing what is known in the area that directly relates to the subject of the article's research. Clearly, this must be done judiciously; usually there is not room to describe every bit of information that is known. Each statement needs one or more references from the scientific literature that supports its validity. Students must be reminded to cite all references to eliminate the risk of plagiarism. 2 Out of this context, the author then explains what is not known and, therefore, what the article's research seeks to find out. In doing so, the scientist provides the rationale for the research and further develops why this research is important. The final statement in the Introduction should be a clearly worded hypothesis or thesis statement, as well as a brief summary of the findings as they relate to the stated hypothesis. Keep in mind that the details of the experimental findings are presented in the Results section and are aimed at filling the void in our knowledge base that has been pointed out in the Introduction .

Materials and Methods

Research utilizes various accepted methods to obtain the results that are to be shared with others in the scientific community. The quality of the results, therefore, depends completely upon the quality of the methods that are employed and the care with which they are applied. The reader will refer to the Methods section: (a) to become confident that the experiments have been properly done, (b) as the guide for repeating the experiments, and (c) to learn how to do new methods.

It is particularly important to keep in mind item (b). Since science deals with the objective properties of the physical and biological world, it is a basic axiom that these properties are independent of the scientist who reported them. Everyone should be able to measure or observe the same properties within error, if they do the same experiment using the same materials and procedures. In science, one does the same experiment by exactly repeating the experiment that has been described in the Methods section. Therefore, someone can only repeat an experiment accurately if all the relevant details of the experimental methods are clearly described. 1 , 3

The following information is important to include under illustrative headings, and is generally presented in narrative form. A detailed list of all the materials used in the experiments and, if important, their source should be described. These include biological agents (e.g., zebrafish, brine shrimp), chemicals and their concentrations (e.g., 0.20 mg/mL nicotine), and physical equipment (e.g., four 10-gallon aquariums, one light timer, one 10-well falcon dish). The reader needs to know as much as necessary about each of the materials; however, it is important not to include extraneous information. For example, consider an experiment involving zebrafish. The type and characteristics of the zebrafish used must be clearly described so another scientist could accurately replicate the experiment, such as 4–6-month-old male and female zebrafish, the type of zebrafish used (e.g., Golden), and where they were obtained (e.g., the NIEHS Children's Environmental Health Sciences Core Center in the WATER Institute of the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee). In addition to describing the physical set-up of the experiment, it may be helpful to include photographs or diagrams in the report to further illustrate the experimental design.

A thorough description of each procedure done in the reported experiment, and justification as to why a particular method was chosen to most effectively answer the research question should also be included. For example, if the scientist was using zebrafish to study developmental effects of nicotine, the reader needs to know details about how and when the zebrafish were exposed to the nicotine (e.g., maternal exposure, embryo injection of nicotine, exposure of developing embryo to nicotine in the water for a particular length of time during development), duration of the exposure (e.g., a certain concentration for 10 minutes at the two-cell stage, then the embryos were washed), how many were exposed, and why that method was chosen. The reader would also need to know the concentrations to which the zebrafish were exposed, how the scientist observed the effects of the chemical exposure (e.g., microscopic changes in structure, changes in swimming behavior), relevant safety and toxicity concerns, how outcomes were measured, and how the scientist determined whether the data/results were significantly different in experimental and unexposed control animals (statistical methods).

Students must take great care and effort to write a good Methods section because it is an essential component of the effective communication of scientific findings.

The Results section describes in detail the actual experiments that were undertaken in a clear and well-organized narrative. The information found in the Methods section serves as background for understanding these descriptions and does not need to be repeated. For each different experiment, the author may wish to provide a subtitle and, in addition, one or more introductory sentences that explains the reason for doing the experiment. In a sense, this information is an extension of the Introduction in that it makes the argument to the reader why it is important to do the experiment. The Introduction is more general; this text is more specific.

Once the reader understands the focus of the experiment, the writer should restate the hypothesis to be tested or the information sought in the experiment. For example, “Atrazine is routinely used as a crop pesticide. It is important to understand whether it affects organisms that are normally found in soil. We decided to use worms as a test organism because they are important members of the soil community. Because atrazine damages nerve cells, we hypothesized that exposure to atrazine will inhibit the ability of worms to do locomotor activities. In the first experiment, we tested the effect of the chemical on burrowing action.”

Then, the experiments to be done are described and the results entered. In reporting on experimental design, it is important to identify the dependent and independent variables clearly, as well as the controls. The results must be shown in a way that can be reproduced by the reader, but do not include more details than needed for an effective analysis. Generally, meaningful and significant data are gathered together into tables and figures that summarize relevant information, and appropriate statistical analyses are completed based on the data gathered. Besides presenting each of these data sources, the author also provides a written narrative of the contents of the figures and tables, as well as an analysis of the statistical significance. In the narrative, the writer also connects the results to the aims of the experiment as described above. Did the results support the initial hypothesis? Do they provide the information that was sought? Were there problems in the experiment that compromised the results? Be careful not to include an interpretation of the results; that is reserved for the Discussion section.

The writer then moves on to the next experiment. Again, the first paragraph is developed as above, except this experiment is seen in the context of the first experiment. In other words, a story is being developed. So, one commonly refers to the results of the first experiment as part of the basis for undertaking the second experiment. “In the first experiment we observed that atrazine altered burrowing activity. In order to understand how that might occur, we decided to study its impact on the basic biology of locomotion. Our hypothesis was that atrazine affected neuromuscular junctions. So, we did the following experiment..”

The Results section includes a focused critical analysis of each experiment undertaken. A hallmark of the scientist is a deep skepticism about results and conclusions. “Convince me! And then convince me again with even better experiments.” That is the constant challenge. Without this basic attitude of doubt and willingness to criticize one's own work, scientists do not get to the level of concern about experimental methods and results that is needed to ensure that the best experiments are being done and the most reproducible results are being acquired. Thus, it is important for students to state any limitations or weaknesses in their research approach and explain assumptions made upfront in this section so the validity of the research can be assessed.

The Discussion section is the where the author takes an overall view of the work presented in the article. First, the main results from the various experiments are gathered in one place to highlight the significant results so the reader can see how they fit together and successfully test the original hypotheses of the experiment. Logical connections and trends in the data are presented, as are discussions of error and other possible explanations for the findings, including an analysis of whether the experimental design was adequate. Remember, results should not be restated in the Discussion section, except insofar as it is absolutely necessary to make a point.

Second, the task is to help the reader link the present work with the larger body of knowledge that was portrayed in the Introduction . How do the results advance the field, and what are the implications? What does the research results mean? What is the relevance? 1 , 3

Lastly, the author may suggest further work that needs to be done based on the new knowledge gained from the research.

Supporting Documentation and Writing Skills

Tables and figures are included to support the content of the research paper. These provide the reader with a graphic display of information presented. Tables and figures must have illustrative and descriptive titles, legends, interval markers, and axis labels, as appropriate; should be numbered in the order that they appear in the report; and include explanations of any unusual abbreviations.

The final section of the scientific article is the Reference section. When citing sources, it is important to follow an accepted standardized format, such as CSE (Council of Science Editors), APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), or CMS (Chicago Manual of Style). References should be listed in alphabetical order and original authors cited. All sources cited in the text must be included in the Reference section. 1

When writing a scientific paper, the importance of writing concisely and accurately to clearly communicate the message should be emphasized to students. 1 – 3 Students should avoid slang and repetition, as well as abbreviations that may not be well known. 1 If an abbreviation must be used, identify the word with the abbreviation in parentheses the first time the term is used. Using appropriate and correct grammar and spelling throughout are essential elements of a well-written report. 1 , 3 Finally, when the article has been organized and formatted properly, students are encouraged to peer review to obtain constructive criticism and then to revise the manuscript appropriately. Good scientific writing, like any kind of writing, is a process that requires careful editing and revision. 1

A key dimension of NRC's A Framework for K–12 Science Education , Scientific and Engineering Practices, and the developing Next Generation Science Standards emphasizes the importance of students being able to ask questions, define problems, design experiments, analyze and interpret data, draw conclusions, and communicate results. 5 , 6 In the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, we found the guidelines presented in this article useful for high school science students because this group of students (and probably most undergraduates) often lack in understanding of, and skills to develop and write, the various components of an effective scientific paper. Students routinely need to focus more on the data collected and analyze what the results indicated in relation to the research question/hypothesis, as well as develop a detailed discussion of what they learned. Consequently, teaching students how to effectively organize and write a research report is a critical component when engaging students in scientific inquiry.

Acknowledgments

This article was supported by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) grant (Award Number R25RR026299) from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. The SEPA program at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee is part of the Children's Environmental Health Sciences Core Center, Community Outreach and Education Core, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Award Number P30ES004184). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Disclosure Statement

No competing financial interests exist.

PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

author image

General Education

feature_pencilpaper

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

  • Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
  • Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
  • How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
  • How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
  • How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
  • How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

music-277279_640

Current Events

  • What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
  • How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
  • How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
  • Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
  • What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
  • What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
  • How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
  • How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
  • How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
  • What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
  • What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
  • What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
  • Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
  • Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
  • Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
  • Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
  • Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
  • Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
  • How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
  • Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
  • What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
  • How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
  • What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
  • Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
  • Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
  • Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
  • How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
  • Should graduate students be able to form unions?

body_highschoolsc

  • What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
  • How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
  • Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
  • Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
  • How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
  • How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
  • Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
  • Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
  • Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
  • Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
  • Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
  • Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
  • Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
  • Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
  • Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
  • How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
  • How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
  • What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
  • What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
  • Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
  • What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
  • What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
  • Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
  • Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
  • How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
  • Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
  • What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
  • How does stress affect the body?
  • Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
  • What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
  • Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
  • How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
  • What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
  • What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
  • Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
  • What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
  • What were the causes of the Civil War?
  • How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
  • Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
  • What caused Hitler's rise to power?
  • Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
  • What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
  • How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
  • What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

main_lincoln

  • Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
  • Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
  • How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
  • How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
  • What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
  • What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
  • How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

  • How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
  • How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
  • Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
  • Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
  • How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
  • How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
  • What are the pros and cons of fracking?
  • What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
  • What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
  • How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
  • Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
  • Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
  • What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
  • What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
  • How are black holes created?
  • Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
  • How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
  • Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
  • How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
  • Has social media made people more or less connected?
  • What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
  • Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
  • What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
  • How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
  • When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
  • Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

body_iphone2

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

Thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner? Nurse practitioners have one of the fastest growing careers in the country, and we have all the information you need to know about what to expect from nurse practitioner school .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).

Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

Connect With a Tutor Now

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

author image

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Join the Conversation

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

  • For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

scientific research paper questions

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

When you choose to publish with PLOS, your research makes an impact. Make your work accessible to all, without restrictions, and accelerate scientific discovery with options like preprints and published peer review that make your work more Open.

  • PLOS Biology
  • PLOS Climate
  • PLOS Complex Systems
  • PLOS Computational Biology
  • PLOS Digital Health
  • PLOS Genetics
  • PLOS Global Public Health
  • PLOS Medicine
  • PLOS Mental Health
  • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • PLOS Pathogens
  • PLOS Sustainability and Transformation
  • PLOS Collections
  • How to Write Discussions and Conclusions

How to Write Discussions and Conclusions

The discussion section contains the results and outcomes of a study. An effective discussion informs readers what can be learned from your experiment and provides context for the results.

What makes an effective discussion?

When you’re ready to write your discussion, you’ve already introduced the purpose of your study and provided an in-depth description of the methodology. The discussion informs readers about the larger implications of your study based on the results. Highlighting these implications while not overstating the findings can be challenging, especially when you’re submitting to a journal that selects articles based on novelty or potential impact. Regardless of what journal you are submitting to, the discussion section always serves the same purpose: concluding what your study results actually mean.

A successful discussion section puts your findings in context. It should include:

  • the results of your research,
  • a discussion of related research, and
  • a comparison between your results and initial hypothesis.

Tip: Not all journals share the same naming conventions.

You can apply the advice in this article to the conclusion, results or discussion sections of your manuscript.

Our Early Career Researcher community tells us that the conclusion is often considered the most difficult aspect of a manuscript to write. To help, this guide provides questions to ask yourself, a basic structure to model your discussion off of and examples from published manuscripts. 

scientific research paper questions

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Was my hypothesis correct?
  • If my hypothesis is partially correct or entirely different, what can be learned from the results? 
  • How do the conclusions reshape or add onto the existing knowledge in the field? What does previous research say about the topic? 
  • Why are the results important or relevant to your audience? Do they add further evidence to a scientific consensus or disprove prior studies? 
  • How can future research build on these observations? What are the key experiments that must be done? 
  • What is the “take-home” message you want your reader to leave with?

How to structure a discussion

Trying to fit a complete discussion into a single paragraph can add unnecessary stress to the writing process. If possible, you’ll want to give yourself two or three paragraphs to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of your study as a whole. Here’s one way to structure an effective discussion:

scientific research paper questions

Writing Tips

While the above sections can help you brainstorm and structure your discussion, there are many common mistakes that writers revert to when having difficulties with their paper. Writing a discussion can be a delicate balance between summarizing your results, providing proper context for your research and avoiding introducing new information. Remember that your paper should be both confident and honest about the results! 

What to do

  • Read the journal’s guidelines on the discussion and conclusion sections. If possible, learn about the guidelines before writing the discussion to ensure you’re writing to meet their expectations. 
  • Begin with a clear statement of the principal findings. This will reinforce the main take-away for the reader and set up the rest of the discussion. 
  • Explain why the outcomes of your study are important to the reader. Discuss the implications of your findings realistically based on previous literature, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of the research. 
  • State whether the results prove or disprove your hypothesis. If your hypothesis was disproved, what might be the reasons? 
  • Introduce new or expanded ways to think about the research question. Indicate what next steps can be taken to further pursue any unresolved questions. 
  • If dealing with a contemporary or ongoing problem, such as climate change, discuss possible consequences if the problem is avoided. 
  • Be concise. Adding unnecessary detail can distract from the main findings. 

What not to do

Don’t

  • Rewrite your abstract. Statements with “we investigated” or “we studied” generally do not belong in the discussion. 
  • Include new arguments or evidence not previously discussed. Necessary information and evidence should be introduced in the main body of the paper. 
  • Apologize. Even if your research contains significant limitations, don’t undermine your authority by including statements that doubt your methodology or execution. 
  • Shy away from speaking on limitations or negative results. Including limitations and negative results will give readers a complete understanding of the presented research. Potential limitations include sources of potential bias, threats to internal or external validity, barriers to implementing an intervention and other issues inherent to the study design. 
  • Overstate the importance of your findings. Making grand statements about how a study will fully resolve large questions can lead readers to doubt the success of the research. 

Snippets of Effective Discussions:

Consumer-based actions to reduce plastic pollution in rivers: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach

Identifying reliable indicators of fitness in polar bears

  • How to Write a Great Title
  • How to Write an Abstract
  • How to Write Your Methods
  • How to Report Statistics
  • How to Edit Your Work

The contents of the Peer Review Center are also available as a live, interactive training session, complete with slides, talking points, and activities. …

The contents of the Writing Center are also available as a live, interactive training session, complete with slides, talking points, and activities. …

There’s a lot to consider when deciding where to submit your work. Learn how to choose a journal that will help your study reach its audience, while reflecting your values as a researcher…

Illustration

  • Research Paper Guides
  • Research Paper Topics

Top 250+ Science Topics for Research Papers

  • Speech Topics
  • Basics of Essay Writing
  • Essay Topics
  • Other Essays
  • Main Academic Essays
  • Basics of Research Paper Writing
  • Miscellaneous
  • Chicago/ Turabian
  • Data & Statistics
  • Methodology
  • Admission Writing Tips
  • Admission Advice
  • Other Guides
  • Student Life
  • Studying Tips
  • Understanding Plagiarism
  • Academic Writing Tips
  • Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

Illustration

  • Essay Guides
  • Formatting Guides
  • Basics of Research Process
  • Admission Guides
  • Dissertation & Thesis Guides

science_research_topics

Table of contents

Illustration

Use our free Readability checker

Science has been a fascination since the dawn of time. It allows us to explore new dimensions and learn about the world. As such, science research paper topics are becoming increasingly popular among students. However, choosing the right one for your assignment can be daunting. There is a wide range of interesting topics in science, from studying our universe to the microscopic world. This article helps you understand science research topics in-depth, guiding you to choose a title that fits your needs and your professor's expectations. We will also provide over 250 topics to help you explore areas you are most interested in. Get ready to pick a topic to your liking or ask a paper writer for expert help.

What Are Science Research Paper Topics?

Science research paper topics require a scientific inquiry to answer. They focus on the natural world, such as the environment, climate change, energy sources, and the medical field. People may explore topics that range from basic principles to cutting-edge discoveries. Students should consider current issues and debates when choosing a scientific research topic. They need to ensure that the chosen title is within the scope of their scientific discipline and can be researched using accepted tools. Furthermore, an element of novelty to spur further discovery is a must. Ultimately, topics in science should be chosen to expand knowledge in a particular field.

Characteristics of Good Science Topics for Research Papers

Good science research topics should have the following characteristics:

  • Relevance to real-world issues: Focus on current societal issues with implications for policy or decision-making.
  • Novelty and originality: This brings new insights to the field while providing an opportunity to improve knowledge or discoveries.
  • Accessibility: Should be easily researched using available resources, including primary research materials such as data sets, surveys, interviews, or experiments.
  • Clarity of purpose and scope: Focus on a clearly defined problem or question and cover the time frame, geographical area, or other relevant parameters.
  • Feasibility: Can be completed within the time frame available to researchers.
  • Ethics: Adheres to ethical research standards, ensuring informed consent.

These characteristics should be considered while selecting good research topics for science.

How to Choose a Science Research Paper Topic?

Choosing a science research paper topic requires careful consideration, as the subjects must meet academic and personal interests. Here are some steps to consider when selecting a science related topic to research :

  • Identify a research area Examine the field of science and an area of interest.
  • Research available resources It is essential to evaluate which resources are available to you.
  • Brainstorm relevant topics Take time to brainstorm potential research paper titles and themes related to the area of science.
  • Narrow your focus Narrow your focus by considering what information is available and how feasible it would be to write an in-depth paper on the subject.
  • Analyze current research Explore existing studies as well as theories related to your topic so that the research paper can provide new insights.
  • Select a topic Finally, select one of your proposed titles that meets all the above criteria.

By following these steps and considering the characteristics discussed earlier, it is possible to select science topics for a research paper that are both interesting and achievable. However, it is also important to remember that your paper's success depends mainly on how well a chosen topic suits your skills and knowledge.

Best Scientific Research Topics List

When selecting scientific topics to research, it is crucial to ensure that your subject is interesting, relevant, and achievable. This list provides some of the best science topics students can use to develop their knowledge:

  • Artificial intelligence's role in the future of medicine.
  • Age-related diseases.
  • Genetics and gene therapy.
  • The potential of personalized medicine to reduce health care disparities in low-income populations.
  • Impact of nanotechnology on health care.
  • Developing renewable energy sources.
  • Deforestation effect on global warming.
  • Robotics in manufacturing and industrial production.
  • Social media impact on youth mental health .
  • How climate change affects biodiversity.

Interesting Science Topics

Interesting science research topics must have both academic and personal appeal. Your chosen title should excite your curiosity and encourage further exploration. Use some of the most interesting science topics or create your own ideas with our Topic Generator :

  • Gene therapy application.
  • Development of self-driving cars.
  • Dark matter and its role in the universe.
  • Extraterrestrial life forms and their environment.
  • Global warming mitigation strategies.
  • Developing technologies in renewable energy sources.
  • Possibility of life beyond Earth.
  • Impact of climate change on human health.
  • Genetic engineering advancements in plants and animals.
  • The use of robotics in healthcare.
  • Virtual reality's use for medical applications.
  • Investigation of the role of microbial biofilms in antibiotic resistance development.
  • The effects of molecular structure on drug interaction.
  • Nanotechnology's importance in medical research and treatments.
  • Technology's role in the education sector.

By researching one or more subjects discussed above, students can gain valuable insights into interesting science topics to research. In addition, doing so will also help to expand their scientific knowledge, thus aiding in academic pursuits.

Intriguing Science Research Paper Topics

When looking for intriguing science research paper topic ideas, you need to consider topics that your reader can spend time reading without reconsidering. Here are some intriguing areas:

  • Biological impacts of climate change on humans and other species.
  • Space exploration's effect on Earth's environment.
  • Researching the potential implications of artificial intelligence on our society.
  • Nanotechnology's effects on human health and the environment.
  • Latest advancements in gene therapy and genetic engineering.
  • The potential of virtual reality for medical applications.
  • Implications of robotics in manufacturing, production, and healthcare.
  • Bioinformatics' role in transforming biology.
  • Potential of renewable energy sources.
  • How self-driving cars affect people's lives.
  • Dark matter application on our universe.
  • Developing strategies to mitigate global warming effects .
  • Technology's impact on education, work, and daily life.
  • Effects of deforestation on climate change.
  • Potential benefits and implications of self-driving cars.

By researching any one of these intriguing science topics for a research paper, students can gain valuable insights into possible ideas to cover in their paper.

Cool Science Topics to Research

There are plenty of fun options for you regarding cool science research topics. Here are some interesting yet achievable areas that you can consider exploring:

  • Effects of global warming on sea levels.
  • The use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
  • Potential implications of artificial intelligence on our lives.
  • How genetic engineering and gene therapy can be used in cancer treatments.
  • Latest advancements in robotics technology and its impact on the workforce.
  • Sleep's importance in brain development.
  • Exploring the possibilities of life on other planets.
  • Technology's role in transforming healthcare.
  • Cancer survivors' vulnerability to Covid-19.
  • Possibilities for sustainable urban development strategies.
  • The downside of genetic modification.
  • Strategies to reduce human-caused global warming effects.
  • The future of NASA and its possible impact on humanity.
  • Gradual change in forensic science over the years.
  • Implications of self-driving cars on transportation systems.

By researching any cool science topics, you can gain valuable knowledge and develop interesting content.

Popular Scientific Topics

Popular science topics are preferred by students due to their relative ease of research as well as interesting concepts. Here are some scientific topics for research papers:

  • Implantation of false memory and its implications.
  • Nanotechnology's use in medical and industrial applications.
  • Recent advancements in quantum computing and its potential.
  • Blockchain technology's impact on the global economy.
  • Implications of virtual reality on society.
  • Injury-related falls in the elderly population.
  • Impact of human activities on water pollution and ocean acidification.
  • Artificial intelligence implications on employment and the workforce.
  • Equipment introduced to improve AIDS treatment.
  • Space exploration's impact on our knowledge of the universe.
  • Understanding the nuances of dark matter and its implications.
  • Potential applications of robotics in production and healthcare.
  • Psychological effects of social media usage.
  • Effectiveness of asylums in treating mental problems.
  • Potential of renewable energy sources for industrial and commercial applications.

Your work will be more exciting and comprehensive by exploring any popular scientific areas listed above.

Outstanding Science Topics to Write About

When looking for science topics to research, choosing one that is interesting and researchable is essential. So here are some interesting science topic ideas:

  • Global positioning systems use for navigation and communication.
  • Impact of nanotechnology on drug delivery and medical diagnostics.
  • Implications of artificial intelligence for criminal justice systems.
  • Effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.
  • Understanding the possibilities of life on other planets and moons.
  • Applying virtual reality in education.
  • How blockchain technology can be used to prevent cyber-attacks.
  • Potential implications of 3D printing technologies on the manufacturing industry.
  • Temperature's impact on matter's chemical reaction.
  • Exploring strategies for sustainable urban development designs.
  • Understanding the implications of dark matter in space exploration efforts.
  • Technology's impact on education and work-related activities.
  • Negative impact of mining on the environment.
  • Developments geared towards converting arid areas to fertile land.

By researching these areas, you can write a persuasive work that will provide valuable information while contributing to the scientific community.

Excellent Science Topics for Research Papers

An excellent science topic for research paper provides an opportunity to explore innovative and exciting ideas. Here are some great topics for scientific research papers:

  • Understanding the implications of gene therapy and genetic engineering on human health.
  • Using big data analytics to predict natural disasters and their effects.
  • Impact of renewable energy sources on environmental conservation and sustainability.
  • Potential applications of robotics for healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation.
  • Future use of robotics in eliminating invasive species.
  • Climate change effect on global food security and nutrition outcomes.
  • Future use of artificial intelligence in research.
  • Social media usage impact interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
  • The science behind extraterrestrial life and space exploration efforts.
  • Strategies for sustainable urban planning designs to reduce environmental impacts.
  • Efforts towards eliminating weeds through technology.
  • The use of food distribution systems in preventing food waste.
  • Modern-day use of drone technology in agriculture.
  • Efforts by agricultural scientists in preparation for natural disasters.
  • The nuances of dark matter and its implications in space science research.

Science Research Papers Topics for Students

Your goal when choosing science topics for research paper should be to select a subject that is interesting, relevant, and has enough information available in the literature so you can develop an argument. An assignment for science class requires more effort than simply writing about your favorite idea. Here, we offer you multiple science topics to research, ranging from physical science to life science and beyond. Let us begin by looking into possible research topics for middle-school students.

Science Research Topics for Middle School

Students in middle school are often required to write science research papers. These middle school science research topics for papers are full of interesting ideas. They can be used in courses such as Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Environmental Science. See a list of research areas for middle school students below.

  • How stream pollution generated from mining affects aquatic life.
  • Sun's role in weather patterns.
  • Benefits and risks of genetically modified organisms.
  • The impact of acid rain on waterways.
  • Benefits of implementing an electronic health system in healthcare facilities.
  • The use of chemical reactions to create everyday products.
  • Plate tectonics' impact on the Earth's surface.
  • Formation of different types of rocks.
  • What causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?
  • Impact of human activity on oceans.
  • Photosynthesis' s role in plant growth.
  • How solar winds and radiation affect atmospheric conditions.
  • Impact of human activities on ecosystems.
  • Benefits and risks associated with nuclear energy.
  • How sound travels through different mediums.

These science topics to research for middle school offer a huge starting point for your assignment on a wide range of scientific prompts. We hope that this list has provided you with some exciting ideas to write about.

Science Topics for High School

The science research topics for high school students are designed to stimulate thought and encourage you to explore the scope further. Here are 15 scientific research projects for high school students to review:

  • How nanotechnology helps fight cancer.
  • Benefits and risks of using pesticides.
  • Vaccines' use in protecting against diseases.
  • The role of humans in animal and plant evolution.
  • The different types of renewable energy.
  • Impact of fossil fuels on the environment.
  • Genetics' role in human diseases.
  • Methods for conserving natural resources.
  • Space exploration's benefit to humanity.
  • DNA's use in identifying individuals.
  • Role of microorganisms in bioremediation .
  • How artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing our lives.
  • The role of physics in robotics.
  • Use of big data and analytics in solving problems.
  • Air pollution and its impact on human health.

With careful research and writing, you can craft a paper that is both interesting as well as informative. We hope these high school science research topics will spackle your curiosity while motivating you to start writing.

Science Research Topics for College Students

When you go to college, research requires more effort and a deeper understanding of scientific ideologies. Here are 15 science topics for college students to explore:

  • The role of genetics in obesity.
  • Utilizing nanotechnology in improving drug delivery.
  • Correlation between marine geology and natural hazards.
  • Benefits of genetically engineered crops.
  • Exploring the limits of quantum computing.
  • Artificial intelligence' impact on human society.
  • Big data role in smart cities.
  • Efforts driven towards reducing food waste.
  • Smart textile technology benefits.
  • Limits to human life expectancy.
  • The Internet of Things (IoT) impacts human lives.
  • Renewable energy's role in reducing carbon emissions.
  • Blockchain technology and its use in the healthcare industry.
  • Role played by gravity in speeding rolling objects.
  • Robotics' role in manufacturing.

These topics for college challenge students to delve deeper into scientific concepts as well as explore potential applications. They present an opportunity to gain an understanding of scientific research paper topics at an advanced level while putting knowledge into practice.

Science Topics for Research Papers by Subject

Science has a wide range of subjects, and students must understand their interests before choosing a topic. Selecting science paper topics also requires engaging your professor on the ideas to be presented. Here, we delve into possible science research paper topics by subject to help you get a glimpse of the titles available. These subjects include Natural Science, Biology, Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Medical Science, Environment, and Psychology.

Natural Science Topics for a Research Paper

Natural science is a fascinating and rewarding subject to study. Students interested in exploring the natural world may be particularly excited by the chance to write assignments. Natural science topics for research papers allow you to discover areas in Physical, Chemical, And Biological Sciences. Here are 15 natural science research topics for you to consider:

  • Photosynthesis's role in plant growth.
  • Significance of soil health for plant growth.
  • Climate change's impact on marine life.
  • Microbes' role in the arctic ecosystem.
  • The impact of light pollution on wildlife.
  • Genes' role in human evolution.
  • Change in neuron structure during sleep.
  • Exploring the emergence of new species.
  • Volcanoes' role in the Earth's ecosystem.
  • Ocean acidification's impact on marine life.
  • Mass extinction events' role in shaping the natural world.
  • Effects of deforestation on animal habitats.
  • Human impact role on wildfire frequency.
  • Ozone layer depletion role in global warming.
  • Impact of pollution on marine life.

Biology Research Paper Topics for Science

Biology students have a range of biology project topics in science to choose from for their papers. Research is done to gain knowledge and understand the world around us. These Biology research paper topics can provide an opportunity for students to explore life science and its related fields. See interesting science research paper topic ideas you can choose for your biology project below:

  • Space flight companies and their role in future exploration.
  • GMO foods' impact on human health.
  • Cells and cell division: a look at the cell cycle.
  • Assessing the benefits of organic farming practices.
  • Plant growth hormones' role in agriculture.
  • The use of stem cell treatment now and in the future.
  • The future of genetically modified plans in the world economy.
  • Microorganisms' role in wastewater treatment.
  • Body systems and homeostasis: how the body maintains balance.
  • Understanding the role of soil conservation in crop yields.
  • Parasites' role in human diseases.
  • Insects' contribution to food production and preservation.
  • Causes of high survival rates of tumor cells.
  • Understanding the genetic basis for hereditary diseases.
  • Cell division's role in developmental biology.

Geology Science Research Topics

Geology is a scientific exploration of the Earth's geologic features and history, including its rocks, minerals, soils, oceans, and landforms. Researching geology scientific research ideas can be an excellent way for students to gain knowledge about geology and explore the geologic processes that shape the Earth. Scientific article topics for your consideration are:

  • Volcanic eruptions' role on the atmosphere.
  • Exploring the role of oceans in climate change.
  • Earthquakes' impact on human settlements.
  • Examining glaciers and their global impact.
  • Plate tectonics's role in shaping landscapes.
  • Investigating soil characteristics and their impact on agriculture.
  • Exploring the significance of meteorites in geology.
  • Examining the role of fossils in geological dating.
  • Investigating oceanic currents and their impact on climate change.
  • Examining human impacts on natural landscapes and ecosystems.
  • Exploring the role of groundwater in geology.
  • Examining the causes and effects of coastal erosion.
  • Investigating geological landforms and their impact on human activity.
  • Understanding the role of rocks in climate change.
  • Understanding earth's tectonic plates and their movement.

Science Research Paper Topics on Physics

Physics deals with the fundamental laws of nature. Researching physics science paper topics can be an engaging way to gain knowledge and explore the universe around us. Topics providing ideas for science research projects which may help students better know how the forces interact are provided below:

  • Quantum mechanics' role in particle physics.
  • Understanding the role of forces in motion in space-time.
  • Investigating the physics behind dark energy and dark matter.
  • Relationship between vacuum and intensity of sound.
  • The role of electromagnetism in our lives.
  • Investigating the impact of friction on the motion.
  • Exploring the physics behind sound and light.
  • Understanding nuclear energy and its impact on society.
  • Examining the role of black holes in space-time.
  • Investigating wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics.
  • Exploring the physics of light refraction and reflection.
  • Role of thermodynamics in physics.
  • Nuclear fusion's role in energy production.
  • Exploring the physics behind fluid dynamics.
  • Superconductivity's role in materials science.

Science Research Topics on Chemistry

Students interested in chemistry can explore science reports ideas through either lab-based or theoretical studies. The scientific paper topics on chemistry cover various aspects of chemistry while providing students an opportunity to develop creative ideas in the field. See these ideas below for guidance:

  • The impact of particle size on reaction rate.
  • Effects of PH on enzyme activity.
  • The products formed in different types of chemical reactions.
  • Effectiveness of catalysts in organic chemistry reactions.
  • Methods used to synthesize nanoparticles for use in drug delivery.
  • Alternative energy sources and their impact on the environment.
  • The use of polymer chemistry in developing lightweight structures.
  • Nanoparticles in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
  • Effectiveness of green chemistry technologies in industrial production.
  • The use of renewable resources to produce cleaner fuels.
  • The chemical composition of oceans and rivers to understand pollution.
  • Reactions of metals with different chemicals in variable environments.
  • Organic molecules break down during waste treatment.
  • The use of reagents in liquid chromatography and gas chromatography.
  • Interaction of different organic compounds with various ions.

Couldn’t spot a fitting idea? Look through more research topics for Chemistry to find the best title. 

Medical Science Research Paper Topics

Medical science research is an essential component of medical schools and universities. The topics provided below cover different areas in medical sciences and facilitate the development of innovative ideas. Here are 15 interesting scientific research paper topic ideas:

  • 3D bioprinting for tissue engineering.
  • Stem cell therapy for heart disease treatment.
  • Investigating the long-term impact of drug use on human health.
  • Role of genetics in cancer prediction and treatment.
  • Impacts of vaccines on immunization and infectious diseases .
  • Assessing the effects of mental illness on cognitive functioning across lifespan development.
  • The role of ultrasound in diagnostic imaging and treatment.
  • Prevention of bacterial diseases and hope for future development.
  • Investigating the impact of nutrition on mental well-being.
  • Ethics in using animals for medical research.
  • Use of robotics for physiotherapy in rehabilitation patients.
  • Artificial intelligence's role in clinical care delivery.
  • Impact of technology on mental health diagnosis and treatment.
  • Using natural products for antibiotic resistance against pathogens.
  • Effects of exercise on cognitive functioning and mental health.

You can choose from the above scientific topics for a research paper. Additionally, consult with your lecturer or professor to ensure your chosen idea falls within the scope of your course.

>> Read more: Medical Research Topics

Environmental Science Topics for a Research Paper

Environmental science research is a scientific inquiry that aims to understand and address environmental challenges. Environmental science report topics range from law and policy, climate change, air pollution, marine conservation, and energy production. Here are some environmental science research paper ideas:

  • Environmental impact of industrial waste on human health.
  • Possible change in environmental sustainability.
  • The impact of population growth on the environment.
  • Role of renewable energy sources in mitigating climate change impacts.
  • Air pollution affects human health in urban areas.
  • Contribution of urban green spaces to climate change mitigation.
  • Geospatial technology's role in disaster risk management.
  • Effects of genetically modified organisms on human health and ecosystems.
  • Soil sustainability practices' use for food security.
  • Water scarcity's impact on human health and the environment.
  • Interaction between the atmosphere, soil, and water for sustainable land management.
  • The role of drones in wildlife conservation and population monitoring.
  • Most recent effective methods used in controlling invasive species.
  • The use of ocean acidification for marine conservation.
  • Deforestation's role in wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

Check our list of Environmental research paper topics in case you need more ideas.

Science Research Paper Topics on Psychology

Psychology involves the study of behavior, cognition, and emotion. Research areas in psychology cover emotions, consciousness, personality, as well as social behavior. Here are some scientific topics for a research paper on psychology:

  • Attachment theory role in mental health.
  • The role of language in revealing stress responses.
  • Effects of stress on cognitive functioning.
  • Emotion regulation role in mental well-being.
  • The impact of childhood trauma on adolescent development.
  • Sleep deprivation's impact on memory and learning.
  • Impact of mindfulness and meditation on mental health.
  • Self-esteem role in social interactions.
  • Gender roles' impact on mental health outcomes.
  • The association between cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.
  • Group therapy's role in mental health treatment.
  • Music's impact on mood regulation and emotions.
  • Link between belief bias and cognitive performance.
  • Interpersonal relationships' role in mental well-being.
  • Factors influencing self-control and self-regulation.

Psychology research paper topics in science can provide opportunities for students to explore various mental health topics and build research skills.

Science Research Questions

Scientific research questions are designed to explore a topic's phenomenon, understand concepts and develop knowledge. Therefore, they should be specific, focused, and answerable. We have come up with some questions for science research ideas for you to check out:

  • What is the relationship between air pollution and climate change?
  • How can renewable energy sources reduce global warming?
  • How do urban green spaces help mitigate climate change?
  • What are the effects of genetically modified organisms on human health and ecosystems?
  • What is the impact of air pollution on human health in cities?
  • How can geospatial technology be used for disaster risk management?
  • What are the effects of soil sustainability practices on food security?
  • How does water scarcity affect human health and the environment?
  • What is the interaction between atmosphere, soil, and water for sustainable land management?
  • What is the relationship between lung capacity and age?
  • What impact does diet have on the flow of sex hormones in women?
  • What role do telescopes play in studying protoplanetary disks?
  • What are the effects of stress on cognitive functioning?
  • How does attachment theory influence mental health outcomes?
  • What role can industries play in conserving energy consumption?
  • How does emotion regulation affect mental well-being?
  • How does childhood trauma influence adolescent development?
  • What impact does sleep deprivation have on memory and learning?
  • What relationship exists between a hen's diet and its egg size?
  • How do gender roles influence mental health outcomes?

You can choose from the above scientific research questions or use them to generate your idea and understand scientific research projects. The possibilities are endless!

Bottom Line on Science Research Paper Topics

Science related research topics can provide great ideas for students to explore. The lists in this article give you a wide range of science topics for research papers to choose from and adapt to your specific requirements. From climate change and air pollution to mental health and gender roles, questions can be used to develop knowledge and understand scientific phenomena. With the proper research and writing skills, you can create fantastic science research topic ideas to impress your peers. So get creative and start exploring!

Illustration

If you’re struggling with selecting a theme or writing an academic piece, our writing service is what you need. Pay for a research paper and enjoy quick delivery and high-quality result. 

FAQ About Science Research Topics

1. what are the most interesting topics in science.

The most interesting scientific topics are current and relevant. Some areas include:

  • Artificial Intelligence: AI is becoming increasingly important in our world, and its implications are vast.
  • Climate Change: Scientists study how it affects our environment and health as the planet gets warmer.
  • Space Exploration: From robotic probes to human-led missions, space exploration remains an exciting field of research.
  • Genetics: With the emergence of gene editing technology, genetic research has taken center stage in many fields of science and medicine.

Your selection of interesting topics about science will depend on your preferences.

2. Are there any funny science research topics?

Some students might prefer funny science topics for research papers, which can be interesting to explore. Some examples are:

  • How does music affect plant growth?
  • Does the color of food affect how we perceive taste?
  • Does talking to animals affect their behavior?

3. How to find easy science research topics?

Easy scientific research topics can be found by exploring scientific fields such as health and medicine, technology, biology, ecology, psychology, and sociology. Students need to choose an area that answers the 5Ws (who, what, when, where (place), why), thus allowing them to conduct comprehensive scientific research. Additionally, you must select a topic that interests you to make your research enjoyable.

Joe_Eckel_1_ab59a03630.jpg

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

You may also like

thumbnail@2x.png

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Big Ideas Articles & More

10 questions to ask about scientific studies, never take a study at face value, including one you read about in greater good .

Here at Greater Good , we cover research into social and emotional well-being, and we try to help people apply findings to their personal and professional lives. We are well aware that our business is a tricky one.

Summarizing scientific studies and applying them to people’s lives isn’t just difficult for the obvious reasons, like understanding and then explaining scientific jargon or methods to non-specialists. It’s also the case that context gets lost when we translate findings into stories, tips, and tools for a more meaningful life, especially when we push it all through the nuance-squashing machine of the Internet. Many people never read past the headlines, which intrinsically aim to overgeneralize and provoke interest. Because our articles can never be as comprehensive as the original studies, they almost always omit some crucial caveats, such as limitations acknowledged by the researchers. To get those, you need access to the studies themselves.

And it’s very common for findings to seem to contradict each other. For example, we recently covered an experiment that suggests stress reduces empathy—after having previously discussed other research suggesting that stress-prone people can be more empathic. Some readers asked: Which one is correct? (You’ll find my answer here .)

scientific research paper questions

But probably the most important missing piece is the future. That may sound like a funny thing to say, but, in fact, a new study is not worth the PDF it’s printed on until its findings are replicated and validated by other studies—studies that haven’t yet happened. An experiment is merely interesting until time and testing turns its finding into a fact.

Scientists know this, and they are trained to react very skeptically to every new paper. They also expect to be greeted with skepticism when they present findings. Trust is good, but science isn’t about trust. It’s about verification.

However, journalists like me, and members of the general public, are often prone to treat every new study as though it represents the last word on the question addressed. This particular issue was highlighted last week by—wait for it—a new study that tried to reproduce 100 prior psychological studies to see if their findings held up. The result of the three-year initiative is chilling: The team, led by University of Virginia psychologist Brian Nosek, got the same results in only 36 percent of the experiments they replicated. This has led to some predictably provocative, overgeneralizing headlines implying that we shouldn’t take psychology seriously.

I don’t agree.

Despite all the mistakes and overblown claims and criticism and contradictions and arguments—or perhaps because of them—our knowledge of human brains and minds has expanded dramatically during the past century. Psychology and neuroscience have documented phenomena like cognitive dissonance, identified many of the brain structures that support our emotions, and proved the placebo effect and other dimensions of the mind-body connection, among other findings that have been tested over and over again.

These discoveries have helped us understand and treat the true causes of many illnesses. I’ve heard it argued that rising rates of diagnoses of mental illness constitute evidence that psychology is failing, but in fact, the opposite is true: We’re seeing more and better diagnoses of problems that would have compelled previous generations to dismiss people as “stupid” or “crazy” or “hyper” or “blue.” The important thing to bear in mind is that it took a very, very long time for science to come to these insights and treatments, following much trial and error.

Science isn’t a faith, but rather a method that takes time to unfold. That’s why it’s equally wrong to uncritically embrace everything you read, including what you are reading on this page.

Given the complexities and ambiguities of the scientific endeavor, is it possible for a non-scientist to strike a balance between wholesale dismissal and uncritical belief? Are there red flags to look for when you read about a study on a site like Greater Good or in a popular self-help book? If you do read one of the actual studies, how should you, as a non-scientist, gauge its credibility?

I drew on my own experience as a science journalist, and surveyed my colleagues here at the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. We came up 10 questions you might ask when you read about the latest scientific findings. These are also questions we ask ourselves, before we cover a study.

1. Did the study appear in a peer-reviewed journal?

Peer review—submitting papers to other experts for independent review before acceptance—remains one of the best ways we have for ascertaining the basic seriousness of the study, and many scientists describe peer review as a truly humbling crucible. If a study didn’t go through this process, for whatever reason, it should be taken with a much bigger grain of salt.

2. Who was studied, where?

Animal experiments tell scientists a lot, but their applicability to our daily human lives will be limited. Similarly, if researchers only studied men, the conclusions might not be relevant to women, and vice versa.

This was actually a huge problem with Nosek’s effort to replicate other people’s experiments. In trying to replicate one German study, for example, they had to use different maps (ones that would be familiar to University of Virginia students) and change a scale measuring aggression to reflect American norms. This kind of variance could explain the different results. It may also suggest the limits of generalizing the results from one study to other populations not included within that study.

As a matter of approach, readers must remember that many psychological studies rely on WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic) samples, mainly college students, which creates an in-built bias in the discipline’s conclusions. Does that mean you should dismiss Western psychology? Of course not. It’s just the equivalent of a “Caution” or “Yield” sign on the road to understanding.

3. How big was the sample?

In general, the more participants in a study, the more valid its results. That said, a large sample is sometimes impossible or even undesirable for certain kinds of studies. This is especially true in expensive neuroscience experiments involving functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, scans.

And many mindfulness studies have scanned the brains of people with many thousands of hours of meditation experience—a relatively small group. Even in those cases, however, a study that looks at 30 experienced meditators is probably more solid than a similar one that scanned the brains of only 15.

4. Did the researchers control for key differences?

Diversity or gender balance aren’t necessarily virtues in a research study; it’s actually a good thing when a study population is as homogenous as possible, because it allows the researchers to limit the number of differences that might affect the result. A good researcher tries to compare apples to apples, and control for as many differences as possible in her analysis.

5. Was there a control group?

One of the first things to look for in methodology is whether the sample is randomized and involved a control group; this is especially important if a study is to suggest that a certain variable might actually cause a specific outcome, rather than just be correlated with it (see next point).

For example, were some in the sample randomly assigned a specific meditation practice while others weren’t? If the sample is large enough, randomized trials can produce solid conclusions. But, sometimes, a study will not have a control group because it’s ethically impossible. (Would people still divert a trolley to kill one person in order to save five lives, if their decision killed a real person, instead of just being a thought experiment? We’ll never know for sure!)

The conclusions may still provide some insight, but they need to be kept in perspective.

6. Did the researchers establish causality, correlation, dependence, or some other kind of relationship?

I often hear “Correlation is not causation” shouted as a kind of battle cry, to try to discredit a study. But correlation—the degree to which two or more measurements seem to change at the same time—is important, and is one step in eventually finding causation—that is, establishing a change in one variable directly triggers a change in another.

The important thing is to correctly identify the relationship.

7. Is the journalist, or even the scientist, overstating the result?

Language that suggests a fact is “proven” by one study or which promotes one solution for all people is most likely overstating the case. Sweeping generalizations of any kind often indicate a lack of humility that should be a red flag to readers. A study may very well “suggest” a certain conclusion but it rarely, if ever, “proves” it.

This is why we use a lot of cautious, hedging language in Greater Good , like “might” or “implies.”

8. Is there any conflict of interest suggested by the funding or the researchers’ affiliations?

A recent study found that you could drink lots of sugary beverages without fear of getting fat, as long as you exercised. The funder? Coca Cola, which eagerly promoted the results. This doesn’t mean the results are wrong. But it does suggest you should seek a second opinion .

9. Does the researcher seem to have an agenda?

Readers could understandably be skeptical of mindfulness meditation studies promoted by practicing Buddhists or experiments on the value of prayer conducted by Christians. Again, it doesn’t automatically mean that the conclusions are wrong. It does, however, raise the bar for peer review and replication. For example, it took hundreds of experiments before we could begin saying with confidence that mindfulness can indeed reduce stress.

10. Do the researchers acknowledge limitations and entertain alternative explanations?

Is the study focused on only one side of the story or one interpretation of the data? Has it failed to consider or refute alternative explanations? Do they demonstrate awareness of which questions are answered and which aren’t by their methods?

I summarize my personal stance as a non-scientist toward scientific findings as this: Curious, but skeptical. I take it all seriously and I take it all with a grain of salt. I judge it against my experience, knowing that my experience creates bias. I try to cultivate humility, doubt, and patience. I don’t always succeed; when I fail, I try to admit fault and forgive myself. My own understanding is imperfect, and I remind myself that one study is only one step in understanding. Above all, I try to bear in mind that science is a process, and that conclusions always raise more questions for us to answer.

About the Author

{author}

Jeremy Adam Smith

Uc berkeley.

Jeremy Adam Smith edits the GGSC’s online magazine, Greater Good . He is also the author or coeditor of five books, including The Daddy Shift , Are We Born Racist? , and (most recently) The Gratitude Project: How the Science of Thankfulness Can Rewire Our Brains for Resilience, Optimism, and the Greater Good . Before joining the GGSC, Jeremy was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University. You can follow him on Mastodon.

You May Also Enjoy

What is the Relationship Between Stress and Empathy?

This article — and everything on this site — is funded by readers like you.

Become a subscribing member today. Help us continue to bring “the science of a meaningful life” to you and to millions around the globe.

Useful Links

Share on Facebook

300 Cutting-Edge Science Research Topics to impress Your professor

blog image

Science research forms the foundation of human knowledge and drives innovation in every aspect of our lives. Through rigorous investigation, experimentation, and analysis, we gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. That being said, it is always challenging to get started with your science research paper, but beginning with a good topic works as a stepping stone. As professional paper writing solutions  providers, we took it upon ourselves to inform you about a few topics to help you craft an impressive piece. Let’s get to read them all.

Table of Contents

Why is Science Research Important?

Before we begin reading the lists of a few science topics to research on, let’s first try to understand the importance of a scientific paper. 

Advances Our Knowledge

  • Science research expands our understanding of the natural world.
  • It uncovers new insights, theories, and principles.

Drives Innovation

  • Scientific research leads to the development of new technologies, products, and solutions.
  • It fosters innovation across various industries and sectors.

Solves Problems

  • Science research tackles complex problems and challenges.
  • It offers evidence-based approaches to finding solutions.

Improves Our Lives

  • Scientific research contributes to advancements in healthcare, medicine, and treatments.
  • It enhances the quality of life by addressing societal issues and improving living standards.

Addresses Global Challenges

  • Science research is crucial in understanding and mitigating global challenges like climate change, pollution, and resource depletion.
  • It helps inform sustainable practices and policy-making.

Creates a Better Future

  • Scientific research contributes to creating a better future for humanity.
  • It enables progress, fosters critical thinking, and paves the way for a more sustainable and innovative society.

300 Interesting Science Research Topics You Are Looking for

Opting to go with a new or unique topic will always give you an edge in writing an impressive paper. Fortunately, we have huge lists filled with such topics. So, let’s get to reading our first one without further ado. 

Science Research Paper Topics Related To COVID-19

Be prepared to dive into an interesting look at science studies related to COVID-19. Discovering essential information about the virus, its consequences, and the continuous attempts to fight and reduce its effects.

  • Role of scientists in developing SOPs to control the spread of COVID
  • How did science help us create the vaccine for COVID-19?
  • Is it necessary to understand science when protecting residents and staff of long-term care homes from COVID-19?
  • Science of mental health and Addiction in the Country during the Pandemic
  • Is Covid19 more dangerous to addicts?
  • Experiences of Native American communities surrounding COVID-19
  • China’s Coronavirus Epidemic: what are its consequences
  • After the Pandemic, China faces a new challenge: regaining control of its image and discourse
  • Using the Digital Fence system in epidemic prevention is crucial
  • Management of the Covid-19 epidemic by China’s social credit system
  • Research projects in the humanities and social sciences for COVID 19
  • Research projects related to COVID-19 in the basic sciences
  • Evaluating epidemiological research projects
  • in diagnostics, clinical trials, and therapeutics
  • Bats in China are factories for new Coronaviruses
  • Epidemiology-related research projects in the humanities and social sciences
  • Are we on the brink of a novel wave of infectious disease outbreaks?
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic: questions about the ability of the World to Cope with a global health crisis
  • Preventive measures to ensure our collective safety
  • Distribution of Victims: quality of Service and Behavior
  • Mental Health Issues of patients cured of the Coronavirus Covid-19
  • Distribution of respondents according to history before COVID-19 diagnosis
  • COVID-19 before diagnosis
  • Epidemiological comparison between the different viral respiratory infections
  • Elucidating the epidemiological outbreak in the world
  • Evaluation of the health of COVID19 Victims: the possibility of monitoring using technological tools
  • Patients Cured of the “Covid-19” Coronavirus: Care and Evaluation
  • The viral cycle of SARS-CoV-2, the molecular structure of the virus, and host factors
  • Global evolution of the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19
  • A study of the applications on a mobile phone that helped combat the Coronavirus
  • AI Detection Software to Detect and Analyze the Epidemiology of Coronavirus: A case study
  • Scientific and Medical  Achievements Related to Covid-19

Science Research Topics for High School Students

Here’s another list of intriguing scientific research paper topics to help you with writing a good piece. 

  • Recent scientific successes on the front of climate change
  • A research paper on the basics of astronomy
  • Harnessing the seismic potential of white dwarf stars
  • Research Paper on Representations and Fusion
  • Search and analysis of chemically stratified white dwarf stars
  • Search for dark matter using super-heated liquid detectors
  • Is dark matter natural? Have there been any solid proofs, or is it hypothetical?
  • Contribution to the study of the inactivation of microorganisms by plasma
  • Process improvement and the creation of experimental simulators
  • Research Paper on Methods for Detecting and classifying brown dwarfs
  • Research Paper on Numerical Study of self-organized Systems
  • Calculations of the electronic properties of carbon compounds
  • Research Paper on Survey of giant planets around nearby stars
  • Molecular evidence related to human behaviour and human speech development

Unique Science Research Topics

Choosing a topic from this list will take you on a captivating journey through various science research topics encompassing cutting-edge advancements and breakthroughs.

  • Determination of the structure of self-assembled peptide nanofibers
  • Stress correlations in glass-forming liquids
  • Research Papers Topics on the Physics of drying colloidal suspensions
  • Mechanics of a sliding contact on polymer surfaces
  • Nuclear observables for nucleosynthesis processes
  • Synthesis and spectroscopy of boundary superheavy nuclei
  • Intelligent system for neutron radiation protection at accelerators
  • Conducting nanofibers from organic semiconductor polymers
  • Research Paper on Photosynthesis at the Nanoscale
  • How can science help us grow more and help terminate hunger with just a few crops?
  • Famous science research initiatives made related to environmental sciences
  • Study of charge transfer in molecular assemblies by numerical simulation
  • Development of hydrogels and sourced antibacterial films
  • Sustainable Manufacturing Labs with an interdisciplinary approach
  • Near-surface and near-interface materials and fluids
  • Morphological analysis at ranges ranging from nanometers to decimeters
  • Ultrasonic wave characterization of materials at the near surface
  • Create fresh implementation plans and take recycling into account

Good Science Research Topics

Here’s another collection of good scientific research topics to captivate your curiosity.

  • Coefficients of the super-algebra
  • Hepatic tumors applied to stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Interesting research papers topics on stem cells
  • Role of science museums in the Motivation for scientific efforts
  • Ultrasound elastography after endovascular repair of an aneurysm
  • Detection and characterization of new circumstellar disks around low-mass stars
  • Research and characterization of large-separation exoplanets
  • The Effect of elastic stresses on phase separation kinetics in Alloys
  • The search for brown dwarf stars in the solar neighborhood
  • Study of the variability of massive stars
  • Photometric study of white dwarf stars
  • A brief history of science museums
  • Is space exploration a viable commercial idea
  • Organic farming on Mars with genetically modified crops and ideas to finding a food distribution system
  • Commercial space flights: A new step towards evolution

Biology Science Research Topics

Step into the captivating realm of  biology  as we delve into a diverse array of science research titles.

  • The discovery and cure of medical breakthroughs
  • Analyzing the interactions between the mineral and organic worlds
  • A list of human biology research topics in the trending literature
  • Biological and Scientific Debates on Ethics
  • Was there any molecular evidence ever found on Mars to assure the existence of life?
  • The ethical dilemmas associated with biological research
  • What is the importance of studying biology?
  • Geological storage and deposit system that is deep in the Earth
  • Research Paper: What will be the most promising topics in biology shortly?
  • Earth’s primordial state and the emergence of life
  • A process of mineral nucleation and growth
  • The relationship between geochemistry and seismic activity
  • Budget of chemicals in subduction zones
  • Amorphous precursors: a strategy for the future
  • Research Paper: What is space biology, and how does it relate to Mars exploration?
  • Medical, cosmetic, and industrial nanotechnology Its rapid development.
  • Biological constituents of soils and aquatic environments
  • A central volcanic area and a climatic and biological crisis
  • An investigation of the reactivity and kinetics of nucleation, growth, and dissolution of solid phases
  • Famous science research projects of 2022 related to human biology
  • Why are stem cell research papers important?
  • Research papers ideas on stem cells
  • Can artificial intelligence help diagnose human patients of cancer fast?
  • What is the most effective science program for genetic abnormalities in the human body
  • How animal biology made a permanent spot in modern sciences
  • Cool science topics related to cancer research and genetic abnormalities
  • A survey of the scientific research topics on evolutionary biology

Chemistry Science Research Topics

Pick a science best topic from this list and join us on a journey that delves into the realm of chemical reactions, materials, and the intricate workings of the microscopic world

  • Study of the thermal evolution of implantation damage in silicon
  • Radiation effects on pixel silicon detectors
  • Scope of the chemical research in 2023
  • Chemistry of the chemicals found in space resources
  • Plasma spectroscopy for real-time characterization of nanomaterials
  • Implants with bioactive properties for intracranial use
  • What is the role of chemists in alternative energy companies?
  • Catalyst supporting carbon with electroactive properties
  • Evolutionary study of chemistry
  • Physiology and chemistry of substances
  • The Role of Islamic Scientists in the Development of Chemistry
  • The life and contributions of Jaber Ben Heyman, the father of chemistry
  • Protecting heritage cuprous metals
  • The capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide using nanofluids
  • Polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte-based solid-state batteries
  • The use of CO2 gasses to synthesize molecules of high value
  • Triple mesoscopic perovskites: stability and reactivity
  • The age-related chemical reactivity of polymer matrices
  • The relationship between mechanochemistry and biology
  • The structure-property relationship of graphene nanoparticles
  • Chemical engineering, chemistry, and related research tools
  • Analyzing and applying chemical processes to the environment
  • A molecularly imprinted polymer membrane is used to detect toxic molecules
  • An organic semiconductor synthesized by electrosynthesis and chemical modification
  • Characterization of acid-base interactions electrochemically

Zoology Science Research Topics

Embark on a captivating adventure into the world of zoology as we explore an array of scientific research topics dedicated to the study of animals.

  • Veterinary medicine is the study of the biomedical and clinical sciences
  • Detection and analysis of wildlife forensic evidence
  • Scientists are studying toxicogenomics to determine how toxic substances affect the body
  • Wildlife is at risk from a variety of industrial chemicals, drugs, effluents, and pesticides
  • Analyzing biological samples through the development of test methods
  • Using animals in research is fraught with controversy
  • A study of the relationship between agriculture, land use, and ecosystems
  • A study of the evolution of biology and ethology
  • Veterinary science, particularly food pathologies and epidemiology, is studied in zoos.
  • Can zoology research help treat cancer patients?
  • Can commercial space flights help trigger an extraterrestrial migration for humans?
  • Involvement in reproductive physiology research
  • Genetically and taxonomically-based research

Medical Science Research Topics

Delve into a vast array of medical science by choosing a captivating topic from this list of  medical research topics .

  • Promising malaria protocol to reduce transfusion-related transmission
  • Treatment of cancer with cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Developing, rehabilitating, and managing chronic diseases throughout life
  • The reprogramming of skin cells
  • How artificial intelligence can help discover and cure genetic abnormalities in humans
  • Use of space resources in preparation for medicine
  • Resurgent infectious diseases as a significant health threat worldwide
  • How can we treat cancer patients by studying human evolution and genetic engineering?
  • Using ultrasound to permeate the brain for the treatment of cancer
  • The link between neuroscience and mental health
  • Premature death caused by cancer is among the leading causes.

Physics Science Research Topics

Prepare to be captivated by the awe-inspiring realm of physics as we journey into diverse research topics.

  • White dwarf stars studied photometrically in the infrared
  • Detectors based on silicon pixels and radiation effects
  • An approach to molecular dynamics based on tight-binding approximations
  • Quantum Hall effect and non-commutative geometry
  • Physicochemical etching of high-density plasma: a fundamental study
  • At high energies, vector boson scattering occurs
  • How to use space resources effectively and end the energy crisis
  • Electrolytic cells and magnetohydrodynamic stability
  • Molecular crystal charge transport studied from energy bands
  • The study of energy transfer mechanisms from a theoretical perspective
  • Research Paper on Molecular crystals and their electronic properties
  • AFM imaging based on atomic force microscopy
  • Performing a transient absorption experiment at femtoseconds
  • Research Paper on Detector Response to Neutrons of deficient energy
  • Managing phase separation in active systems
  • Active materials: topological defects and many-body physics

The first step of writing a good research paper is to pick a good topic. Ensure the one you choose must have relevant data available that is both credible and supportive with evidence. This interesting article was all about letting you know about scientific topics for research. If you still need help picking up a topic or writing your science research paper, don’t hesitate to count on  our writers .

Get Your Custom Essay Writing Solution From Our Professional Essay Writer's

timely deliveries

Timely Deliveries

premium quality

Premium Quality

unlimited revisions

Unlimited Revisions

Calculate Your Order Price

Related blogs.

blog-img

Connections with Writers and support

safe service

Privacy and Confidentiality Guarantee

quality-score

Average Quality Score

Scientific Writing: Peer Review and Scientific Journals

by Natalie H. Kuldell

  • Peer review can best be summarized as: a process for evaluating the safety of boat docks. a process by which independent scientists evaluate the technical merit of scientific research papers. a process by which a scientist's friends can give him or her advice. a method of typesetting in publishing.
  • The process of peer review always ensures that a scientific paper is correct. true false
  • One of the main purposes for including a "Materials and Methods" section in a paper is: to advertise scientific products. to demonstrate that your methods are superior to other scientists' methods. to allow other scientists to reproduce your findings. for no reason; most journals do not require this section.
  • The main purpose of a "References" section in a scientific paper: is to acknowledge your colleagues who gave you advice. is to present other papers that the reader might want to consult. is to provide a list of scientists who have repeated your research. is to acknowledge research and concepts upon which your work builds.
  • Tables and figures are used in a scientific paper to present and explain research results. true false
  • Often, one of the best places to start reading an article is: at the end, in the "Discussion" section. at a random spot in the middle of the article. in the "Materials and Methods" section. in the "References" section.

Help | Advanced Search

Computer Science > Computation and Language

Title: a question answering based pipeline for comprehensive chinese ehr information extraction.

Abstract: Electronic health records (EHRs) hold significant value for research and applications. As a new way of information extraction, question answering (QA) can extract more flexible information than conventional methods and is more accessible to clinical researchers, but its progress is impeded by the scarcity of annotated data. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that automatically generates training data for transfer learning of QA models. Our pipeline incorporates a preprocessing module to handle challenges posed by extraction types that are not readily compatible with extractive QA frameworks, including cases with discontinuous answers and many-to-one relationships. The obtained QA model exhibits excellent performance on subtasks of information extraction in EHRs, and it can effectively handle few-shot or zero-shot settings involving yes-no questions. Case studies and ablation studies demonstrate the necessity of each component in our design, and the resulting model is deemed suitable for practical use.

Submission history

Access paper:.

  • Download PDF
  • Other Formats

license icon

References & Citations

  • Google Scholar
  • Semantic Scholar

BibTeX formatted citation

BibSonomy logo

Bibliographic and Citation Tools

Code, data and media associated with this article, recommenders and search tools.

  • Institution

arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs .

InterviewPrep

30 Scientific Researcher Interview Questions and Answers

Common Scientific Researcher interview questions, how to answer them, and example answers from a certified career coach.

scientific research paper questions

Embarking on a career as a scientific researcher is an exhilarating journey into the unknown. You know better than anyone that discovery and innovation are born from curiosity, critical thinking, and meticulous attention to detail. As you stand on the threshold of your next career step, it’s time to prepare for one of the most important stages in your job pursuit: the interview.

In this article, we’ll delve into some typical questions asked during interviews for scientific researchers. Along with our expert tips and sample answers, these insights will equip you to articulate your skills, experiences, and passion for scientific exploration compellingly and convincingly.

1. What is your experience with statistical analysis and data reconfiguration?

A key component of scientific research is the ability to analyze and interpret data. The interviewer wants to gauge your experience and proficiency with statistical analysis and data reconfiguration. These skills are essential in the research process and in drawing accurate conclusions from the data. Understanding your competency in these areas helps the interviewer determine if you’re equipped to handle the quantitative aspects of the research role.

Example: “I have a strong background in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration. During my PhD, I extensively used these skills to analyze large datasets for my research projects.

My proficiency lies in using software like R, Python, and SPSS for data manipulation and interpretation. I am also adept at hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and predictive modeling.

In terms of data reconfiguration, I’ve worked on transforming raw data into a more suitable format for analysis. This includes handling missing values, outliers, and normalizing variables. My experience allows me to efficiently clean, manage, and interpret complex datasets, providing valuable insights for scientific research.”

2. How have you ensured the ethical handling of test subjects in previous research projects?

The query is intended to gauge your understanding and adherence to ethical guidelines in scientific research. Ethical considerations are paramount in any research, especially when it involves human or animal subjects. Your answer will let the interviewers assess your commitment to maintaining dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of the subjects, which is a critical aspect in the field of scientific research.

Example: “In my previous research projects, I’ve always adhered to the ethical guidelines outlined by the Declaration of Helsinki. This included obtaining informed consent from all test subjects and ensuring their anonymity in data presentation.

I emphasized transparency about the purpose, benefits, and potential risks of the study. Moreover, I made sure that participation was voluntary, with participants having the right to withdraw at any time without penalty.

To ensure fair treatment, I used a non-discriminatory selection process for test subjects. Regular audits were conducted to maintain compliance with these ethical standards.”

3. Which software tools or technologies do you use for data management and why?

In a field as data-driven as scientific research, the tools and technologies you use to manage and analyze your data can have a huge impact on your work. The interviewer wants to understand your familiarity with these tools, and how you use them to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and integrity in your research. This gives them a sense of your technical skills and your approach to the critical task of data management.

Example: “I primarily use SQL for data management due to its efficiency in handling large datasets. It allows me to query, manipulate and structure the data effectively.

For statistical analysis and modeling, I prefer R or Python as they have robust libraries like Pandas and NumPy that make data manipulation and cleaning easier.

Moreover, I utilize Tableau for data visualization because it provides interactive dashboards which are essential for understanding complex data patterns.

In terms of managing workflows and pipelines, I find Apache Airflow useful. It helps automate, schedule and monitor complex workflows, ensuring data integrity and consistency.”

4. Describe a time when you had to adjust your research methodology mid-project.

Adaptability is key in the world of scientific research. Sometimes, experiments don’t go as planned, new information becomes available, or resources change in some way. Interviewers want to know that you can handle these curveballs and continue to make progress on your research. They are interested in your problem-solving skills and your ability to innovate under pressure.

Example: “During a project on studying the effects of certain chemicals on plant growth, our initial methodology involved using a control group and an experimental group. However, we noticed that the results were inconsistent and didn’t align with our hypothesis.

Upon reviewing our process, we realized the inconsistency was due to varying sunlight exposure across different parts of our greenhouse. To rectify this, we adjusted our methodology by standardizing light conditions for all plants through artificial lighting systems.

This change not only improved the reliability of our data but also highlighted the importance of considering all environmental factors in research design. This experience has strengthened my ability to critically evaluate methodologies and make necessary adjustments for accurate results.”

5. In what ways have you contributed towards scientific literature in your field?

In the field of scientific research, contributing to the existing body of knowledge is of paramount importance. It’s not just about conducting experiments and gathering data, but also about sharing your findings with the wider scientific community. By asking this question, hiring managers are looking to gauge your experience, your dedication to enriching the field, and your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.

Example: “I have contributed to scientific literature through publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals. My work primarily focuses on molecular biology and genetics, where I’ve explored the role of certain genes in disease development.

Moreover, I’ve also reviewed articles for several high-impact factor journals, providing critical feedback to enhance the quality of published works. This not only contributes to the body of knowledge but also ensures that accurate and reliable information is disseminated within our field.

Additionally, I’ve presented my findings at international conferences, engaging with other researchers and fostering collaborative efforts towards advancements in our field.”

6. How would you handle disagreements with team members regarding research findings?

Diving into the world of scientific research, disagreements and debates are part and parcel of the process. They help refine theories, improve models, and lead to new discoveries. Hiring managers ask this question to gauge your ability to handle conflicts professionally, your capacity for open-mindedness, and your potential to work collaboratively, even in the face of differing perspectives. They want to ensure you can navigate these challenges while maintaining a productive and respectful work environment.

Example: “Disagreements in research findings are common and can often lead to deeper understanding. If such a situation arises, my first step would be to ensure that we all understand each other’s perspectives thoroughly.

Next, I’d suggest revisiting the data collectively, as it’s possible that different interpretations could stem from how the data is analyzed or presented.

If disagreements persist, seeking an external opinion, perhaps through peer review, might provide new insights. It’s crucial to remember that the goal isn’t to prove who is right, but rather to arrive at the most accurate conclusion based on our collective knowledge and expertise.”

7. What steps do you take to ensure accuracy and reproducibility in your experiments?

Accuracy and reproducibility are the bedrock of scientific research. They help maintain the integrity of the scientific process and ensure that findings are robust, reliable, and can be trusted. This question allows hiring managers to assess your understanding and application of good scientific methodology and your commitment to producing high-quality, dependable results.

Example: “To ensure accuracy in my experiments, I meticulously follow standard operating procedures and protocols. I also use calibrated equipment and validated methods.

For reproducibility, I maintain detailed lab notebooks that outline each step of the experiment. This includes data collection methods, observations, deviations, and results.

I perform tests in triplicate to confirm consistency of findings. To minimize bias, I incorporate controls and blind testing when applicable.

Furthermore, peer review is a key part of maintaining quality. I invite colleagues to critique my methodology and results, providing an additional layer of scrutiny.

Lastly, I stay updated with latest research practices and guidelines for ethical conduct in scientific research.”

8. Detail how you’ve used computational models in your past research.

As a scientific researcher, you’re expected to be at the forefront of innovation and technology. Computational models are powerful tools that can greatly enhance research, offering insights and predictions that might not be readily apparent. By asking about your experience with these models, interviewers are gauging your technical skills, your ability to apply advanced techniques to your research, and your capacity for innovative thinking. They want to know if you’re comfortable using these tools and if you understand their potential impact on your work.

Example: “In my previous research, I utilized computational models to analyze large data sets and predict outcomes. For instance, during a project on climate change, I used these models to simulate the effects of various environmental factors on global temperatures.

The model allowed us to manipulate variables such as CO2 levels or solar radiation in order to see their potential impact. This not only helped us understand current trends but also forecast future scenarios based on different interventions.

This approach was instrumental in providing insights that were otherwise difficult to obtain through traditional methods. The ability to test hypotheses virtually before implementing them in real-world situations proved invaluable.”

9. Have you ever encountered unexpected results during your research? How did you respond?

Unanticipated outcomes are part and parcel of scientific research. This question is designed to assess your problem-solving skills, your adaptability, and your ability to think critically. It is also a test of your resilience and determination, as research often involves unexpected twists and turns. The interviewer wants to see how you handle setbacks, how you interpret data, and how you can adjust your plans to move forward when things don’t go as expected.

Example: “Yes, encountering unexpected results is a common occurrence in scientific research. In one instance, my team was conducting an experiment to understand the effects of certain compounds on cell growth. The initial results were contrary to our hypothesis.

Instead of disregarding these findings, we decided to reanalyze our approach and data. We performed additional tests to rule out experimental error and revisited literature for any overlooked information.

This process led us to identify gaps in our original understanding and helped refine our hypothesis. Although it extended our timeline, this experience reinforced the importance of critical analysis and flexibility in research.”

10. How do you keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in your specific field of study?

The world of scientific research is dynamic and ever-evolving. Staying ahead of the curve is absolutely essential, not only to produce valid and relevant research but also to ensure your knowledge base isn’t obsolete. This question helps hiring managers gauge your passion for your field, your commitment to continuous learning, and your proactive nature in ensuring your work contributes to cutting-edge discoveries.

Example: “Staying updated in the field of scientific research is crucial. I regularly read peer-reviewed journals such as Nature and Science, which publish cutting-edge research. Attending conferences also keeps me abreast with new developments and provides networking opportunities.

Online platforms like ResearchGate are valuable for discussions and insights from fellow researchers globally. Webinars and online courses help me gain deeper understanding of complex topics.

Moreover, participating in collaborative projects exposes me to diverse perspectives and novel methodologies. This multi-pronged approach ensures that I remain at the forefront of my field.”

11. What’s your approach to managing multiple research projects simultaneously?

In the dynamic world of scientific research, multitasking is a must-have skill. Researchers often juggle between different projects, each with its unique timelines, objectives, and complexities. Therefore, the question aims to gauge your project management skills, ability to prioritize, and how well you handle pressure without compromising the quality of your research.

Example: “Managing multiple research projects simultaneously requires a strategic approach. I prioritize tasks based on deadlines and project importance, ensuring the most critical work is addressed first.

Utilizing project management tools helps me keep track of each project’s progress and stay organized. These platforms provide visibility into timelines, resources, and milestones which are crucial for successful execution.

Regular communication with team members and stakeholders is also key. This ensures everyone is aligned, aware of their responsibilities, and any issues are identified early.

Lastly, I always allocate time for unexpected challenges or delays. This flexibility allows me to adapt quickly when necessary, maintaining productivity without compromising the quality of the research.”

12. Could you share an instance where you had to secure funding for your research project?

Securing research funding is a key aspect of a scientific researcher’s role. It’s not just about having brilliant ideas, but also about convincing others of their worth. Therefore, hiring managers want to understand your abilities in writing compelling grant proposals, your creativity in finding alternative funding sources, and your resilience in the face of potential rejections. Your experiences and success in securing research funding can be a strong indicator of your capability to sustain and progress in your research career.

Example: “In one of my previous projects, we were studying the effects of certain compounds on cell regeneration. However, due to the high costs associated with procuring these compounds, we needed additional funding.

I took the initiative and drafted a proposal detailing our research objectives, potential impact, and budget requirements. I also included preliminary data to demonstrate the feasibility of our project.

We submitted this proposal to various scientific grant organizations and managed to secure sufficient funding from two sources. This not only allowed us to continue our research but also led to significant findings that were later published in a renowned scientific journal.”

13. How do you manage the balance between detail-oriented work and big picture strategy in research?

Research is a meticulous process, often requiring painstaking attention to detail. However, it’s equally important to keep a clear vision of the overarching objectives and goals. With this question, employers want to gauge your ability to maneuver between these two aspects of the job. They want to ensure you can concentrate on the minutiae without losing sight of the larger strategic picture.

Example: “Balancing detail-oriented work and big picture strategy in research requires a structured approach. I usually start with the end goal, identifying key objectives and milestones. This provides a clear vision of what needs to be achieved.

From there, I break down each milestone into smaller tasks, focusing on the details necessary for their completion. This ensures accuracy and thoroughness in the data collection and analysis process.

To maintain balance, I regularly revisit the overarching goals. This helps to align my detailed work with the larger objective and adjust course if needed. Regular communication with team members also plays a crucial role in maintaining this equilibrium.”

14. Share an example of a complex scientific concept you had to explain to a non-scientific audience.

Being able to communicate complex scientific concepts in a way that non-scientists can understand is a critical part of being a researcher. It’s not just about doing the research, but also about sharing the findings and their implications with the world. This could mean speaking to journalists, policymakers, funders, or the general public. Demonstrating this skill in an interview can show that you’re not just a great scientist, but also a great communicator.

Example: “During a community outreach event, I was tasked with explaining the concept of genetic modification to a non-scientific audience. I used the analogy of a recipe book, where each gene in our DNA is like a recipe for a specific trait. Genetic modification, then, is like swapping out one recipe for another to achieve a desired outcome – such as creating crops that are more resistant to pests or disease. This made the process relatable and easier to understand for those unfamiliar with scientific jargon.”

15. How familiar are you with patent applications related to your research?

In the landscape of scientific research, it’s not only about making discoveries, but also protecting intellectual property. If you’ve been involved in novel research, it’s likely that there will be patentable aspects. Hiring managers need to know if you are comfortable with this process, as it is a critical component in turning research outputs into viable products or technologies. This question helps assess your experience with, and understanding of, the patent application process, which can be a major asset to research institutions and companies.

Example: “I am quite familiar with patent applications in the context of scientific research. Understanding intellectual property rights is crucial when developing new technologies or methodologies.

During my PhD, I was involved in a project that led to a patent application. This process gave me firsthand experience on how to draft a patent document, conduct prior art search and respond to office actions.

Moreover, as part of my ongoing professional development, I regularly attend webinars and workshops on IP management. This helps me stay updated about changes in patent laws and regulations.”

16. Tell us about a time when your initial hypothesis was proven wrong.

Science is all about discovery and learning. Sometimes, this means admitting that your initial hypothesis was incorrect. By asking this question, hiring managers want to see that you are open-minded, flexible, and not afraid to admit when you are wrong. They want to know that you have the ability to adapt and learn from your mistakes, which are critical traits for any successful scientific researcher.

Example: “During my PhD, I was investigating a potential new drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease. My initial hypothesis was that the drug would reduce neuroinflammation and improve cognitive function in mice.

However, after conducting several experiments, the data showed no significant reduction in inflammation or improvement in cognition. This was unexpected and initially disappointing.

But this failure led to further exploration. We discovered that the drug had other beneficial effects, such as reducing oxidative stress in brain cells. It was an important lesson about adaptability in scientific research: hypotheses can guide us, but they shouldn’t limit our ability to observe and learn from the data we collect.”

17. What strategies do you employ to maintain meticulous record-keeping for future reference?

As a scientific researcher, keeping meticulous records is not just a good habit, it’s a fundamental requirement. This is because research is a methodical process, with every step needing to be documented in detail. This allows for the replication of studies and for others to understand and build upon your work. Therefore, interviewers ask this question to gauge your organization skills and your understanding of the importance of record-keeping in scientific research.

Example: “I utilize digital tools for effective record-keeping. For instance, I use cloud-based platforms such as Google Drive and Dropbox to store data securely and ensure easy access from anywhere.

Moreover, I employ project management software like Trello or Asana to track the progress of different tasks and experiments. This helps in maintaining an organized workflow.

Furthermore, I adhere strictly to labelling conventions when storing physical records. It’s crucial to have a systematic approach towards this to avoid confusion later on.

Lastly, regular audits are conducted to check for any discrepancies or missing information. This ensures that our records remain accurate and up-to-date.”

18. How proficient are you in using laboratory equipment relevant to our research?

Your ability to navigate around a lab is essential to carrying out experiments and procedures smoothly and safely. Familiarity with relevant lab equipment doesn’t just mean you can do the job efficiently—it also means you can do it safely. Plus, it’s an indicator of your overall experience and knowledge in the field, which is something every hiring manager wants to see.

Example: “I have extensive experience using various laboratory equipment, including spectrophotometers, centrifuges, and microscopes. My proficiency extends to more specialized apparatus like flow cytometers and chromatography systems.

During my PhD research, I regularly utilized these tools for data collection and analysis. This hands-on experience has equipped me with the necessary skills to operate, troubleshoot, and maintain such equipment effectively.

Moreover, I have a strong understanding of lab safety protocols and good laboratory practices. I believe this combination of practical skills and theoretical knowledge makes me adept at handling any laboratory equipment relevant to your research.”

19. Describe any innovative ideas you’ve implemented in your previous research.

Innovation is the lifeblood of scientific progress. Hiring managers want to understand your ability to think outside the box, to challenge existing norms, and to develop new solutions or novel approaches in your research. Your answer will shed light on your creative thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and capacity to contribute positively to the team’s research objectives.

Example: “In my previous research, I developed a novel method for analyzing the genetic structure of bacteria. Traditional methods were time-consuming and often resulted in incomplete data.

I implemented machine learning algorithms to analyze genomic sequences more efficiently. This approach not only reduced analysis time by 50%, but also increased the accuracy of our findings.

This innovation led to new insights into bacterial evolution and antibiotic resistance, contributing significantly to our field.”

20. How do you prioritize safety while conducting potentially hazardous experiments?

Safety is paramount in any laboratory setting, especially when hazardous materials or procedures are involved. This question is designed to gauge your understanding of safety protocols, risk management, and your ability to prioritize these elements while conducting experiments. It’s also a chance to demonstrate your commitment to maintaining a safe and secure workplace for yourself and your colleagues.

Example: “Safety is paramount in any experimental setup. I prioritize it by:

1. Thoroughly understanding the potential hazards of each experiment before starting, and ensuring all team members are aware.

2. Implementing strict adherence to safety protocols and guidelines, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

3. Regularly maintaining and checking equipment to prevent malfunctions that could lead to accidents.

4. Having an emergency response plan in place for quick action if something goes wrong.

5. Encouraging a culture of safety where everyone feels responsible and empowered to report unsafe conditions or practices.”

21. What process do you follow for peer review of your research papers?

The essence of science lies in the validity and reproducibility of research. Peer reviews are a critical part of scientific research, ensuring that the studies and conclusions are sound, unbiased, and contribute meaningfully to the field. By asking this question, interviewers want to gauge how well you understand and value the peer review process, and how diligent you are in ensuring your work withstands scrutiny.

Example: “The peer review process I follow begins with a self-review. I thoroughly check the paper for clarity, coherence, and adherence to guidelines. Then, I share it with my team or colleagues for an internal review. They provide constructive feedback on content, methodology, and presentation.

Post this, I submit the paper to external peers who are experts in the field. Their suggestions help me improve the quality of the research. After implementing these changes, I do another round of self-review before final submission. This iterative process ensures that the paper is accurate, comprehensive, and contributes value to the scientific community.”

22. How familiar are you with drafting and submitting grant proposals?

Securing funding is a critical part of scientific research. It’s not enough to simply have brilliant ideas; you need the financial resources to bring those ideas to fruition. As such, experience with drafting and submitting grant proposals is highly valued. This not only demonstrates your ability to secure funding, but also your ability to effectively communicate your research plans and their potential impact.

Example: “I have substantial experience with grant proposals. My knowledge spans from identifying funding opportunities to drafting and submitting the applications. I’ve developed a knack for translating complex scientific ideas into accessible language that resonates with diverse audiences, including non-scientific reviewers.

My approach involves thorough research on the funder’s priorities and tailoring our proposal accordingly. This has led to successful acquisitions of grants in my past projects. Understanding both the science and the art of persuasive writing is crucial in this process.”

23. Provide an instance of when you effectively managed a research budget.

Budgeting is a critical part of scientific research. Just as important as your ability to design and conduct experiments is your ability to plan for and manage the resources those experiments require. Whether you’re buying new equipment, procuring chemicals, or paying research assistants, your interviewer wants to ensure that you can handle the financial side of the job with just as much skill as the scientific side.

Example: “In one of my recent projects, I was responsible for managing a $500,000 budget. The project involved extensive lab work and required precise allocation of resources.

To manage this effectively, I created a detailed forecast that broke down costs by category – personnel, equipment, supplies, etc. This helped in tracking spending and identifying any potential overruns early on.

During the course of the project, we encountered an unexpected expense related to equipment maintenance. However, due to prudent management and constant monitoring, we were able to reallocate funds without compromising other areas or exceeding our budget.

This experience reinforced the importance of proactive budget management in research, ensuring efficient use of resources while maintaining scientific integrity.”

24. How comfortable are you with presenting your research at conferences or seminars?

Public speaking and networking are integral parts of a successful research career. It’s not enough to simply do the research—you have to share it with others in your field and the larger scientific community. That’s why hiring committees want to know if you’re comfortable presenting your work to others, whether it’s at a small seminar or a large international conference. You’ll be expected to represent your institution and your research team, and your ability to communicate your work effectively can have a big impact on your career progression.

Example: “I am quite comfortable presenting my research at conferences and seminars. I believe that sharing findings is a crucial part of the scientific process. It allows for peer review, collaboration, and further advancement in the field.

In my experience, effective communication skills are as important as rigorous research methods. Therefore, I have taken steps to improve my presentation abilities, including attending workshops and seeking feedback from colleagues.

Overall, I view these presentations not only as an opportunity to showcase my work but also to learn from others, making me a better researcher.”

25. Share an example where you used interdisciplinary knowledge in your research.

There’s an adage that says, “In the heart of complexity lies simplicity.” As a scientific researcher, you are often dealing with complex systems and concepts. This question is designed to test your ability to draw connections between different areas of knowledge and apply a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving. It is this blending of knowledge from various fields that often leads to the most groundbreaking discoveries in science.

Example: “In my research on climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, I utilized interdisciplinary knowledge. I integrated principles from oceanography to understand sea temperature changes and their effects on species distribution. Additionally, I used knowledge from ecology to predict how these shifts could affect food chains and biodiversity.

Moreover, insights from social sciences were critical in understanding the human dimensions of these ecological changes. For instance, I analyzed how fishing communities would be affected by changing fish populations and proposed adaptive strategies based on socio-economic factors. This approach allowed me to provide a comprehensive view of the problem and suggest holistic solutions.”

26. How have you handled criticism or rejection of your published work?

Research is a rigorous field and it’s not uncommon for findings to be scrutinized, challenged, or even rejected. Interviewers want to gauge how you handle criticism, as it’s an inevitable part of the scientific process. They are also interested in your grit and resilience, as well as your ability to learn and grow from these experiences, ultimately improving your research quality.

Example: “Criticism and rejection are inherent parts of scientific research. When my work is critiqued, I view it as an opportunity to refine and improve the quality of my research.

For instance, if a peer reviewer points out flaws or suggests improvements in my methodology, I take these comments seriously and make necessary adjustments. This process not only enhances the robustness of my findings but also helps me grow professionally.

Rejection can be disheartening, but I understand it’s part of the publication journey. If a paper gets rejected, I analyze the feedback, address the concerns raised, and consider other suitable journals for submission. The goal is always progress, not perfection.”

27. Detail any experience with collaborative international research projects.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of scientific research, and in many instances, these collaborations span across borders. This question seeks to understand your ability to work with diverse teams and navigate the challenges that may arise in international collaborative efforts. It also provides insight into your communication and interpersonal skills, along with your ability to handle projects of varying scales and complexities.

Example: “During my PhD, I was part of a team that collaborated with researchers from Japan and Germany on a project investigating climate change impacts on marine biodiversity. This required effective communication across different time zones and cultural contexts.

I coordinated the data collection process, ensuring consistency in methods across countries. We also held regular virtual meetings to discuss progress and troubleshoot issues. Despite the challenges, our collaboration resulted in several high-impact publications.

This experience taught me the importance of clear communication, flexibility, and adaptability in international collaborations. It also highlighted how diverse perspectives can enrich scientific research.”

28. What role does continuous learning play in your career as a scientific researcher?

The realm of science is constantly evolving, with new discoveries and advancements regularly challenging established theories and practices. As a scientific researcher, it’s critical to be on top of these changes and developments. A commitment to continuous learning shows that you’re willing and able to stay abreast of new techniques, methodologies, and knowledge, which can significantly impact the quality and relevance of your research.

Example: “Continuous learning is integral to my career as a scientific researcher. It ensures I stay updated with the latest advancements and discoveries in my field, which directly impacts the quality of my research.

Moreover, science is an ever-evolving discipline. New theories replace old ones, novel technologies emerge, and our understanding of the world constantly shifts. Therefore, continuous learning is not just beneficial but necessary for staying relevant and contributing effectively to the scientific community.

In essence, it fuels innovation, enhances problem-solving skills, and fosters intellectual growth, making me a better researcher capable of pushing boundaries in my area of study.”

29. Describe the most challenging aspect of conducting fieldwork, if applicable.

Fieldwork is a key aspect of most scientific research roles. It often involves unexpected challenges and requires adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving skills. By asking this question, hiring managers want to gauge your ability to navigate these challenges, your approach to problem-solving, and how you handle unexpected circumstances or setbacks in a real-world, non-laboratory environment.

Example: “One of the most challenging aspects of conducting fieldwork is dealing with unpredictable variables. These can range from sudden changes in weather conditions to unexpected behaviors or responses from subjects under study.

Another challenge is ensuring data integrity, as field conditions may not always be conducive for precise measurements or observations. It requires meticulous planning and adaptability to overcome these obstacles while maintaining scientific rigor.

Moreover, logistical issues such as transport, accommodation, and access to remote locations can also pose significant challenges. Despite these difficulties, the richness of data collected through fieldwork often outweighs the hardships, making it a rewarding endeavor.”

30. In what ways have you incorporated sustainability principles into your research?

Sustainability is a hot topic these days, and for good reason. It’s not just about preserving the environment – it’s about creating a world where we can all thrive for generations to come. As a scientific researcher, your work has the potential to contribute to this goal in significant ways. Hence, potential employers are interested in understanding how you’ve considered and incorporated sustainability principles in your research, demonstrating forward-thinking, responsibility, and innovation.

Example: “Incorporating sustainability principles into my research has been a key focus. For instance, in my work on developing novel biofuels, I prioritized the use of renewable resources and designed experiments to minimize waste.

I also implemented life-cycle analysis techniques to assess the environmental impact of our processes from cradle-to-grave. This holistic approach ensures that we’re not just shifting burdens from one stage to another but truly reducing overall harm.

Moreover, I’ve advocated for open science practices, such as sharing data and methods publicly. This promotes resource efficiency by preventing duplication of efforts and enabling others to build upon our work.”

30 Senior General Manager Interview Questions and Answers

30 internal audit consultant interview questions and answers, you may also be interested in..., 30 public relations assistant interview questions and answers, 30 plumbing supervisor interview questions and answers, 30 quality assurance consultant interview questions and answers, 20 utility locator interview questions and answers.

  • Skip to main content
  • Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Shots - Health News

  • Your Health
  • Treatments & Tests
  • Health Inc.
  • Public Health

Reproductive rights in America

Research at the heart of a federal case against the abortion pill has been retracted.

Selena Simmons-Duffin

Selena Simmons-Duffin

scientific research paper questions

The Supreme Court will hear the case against the abortion pill mifepristone on March 26. It's part of a two-drug regimen with misoprostol for abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

The Supreme Court will hear the case against the abortion pill mifepristone on March 26. It's part of a two-drug regimen with misoprostol for abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

A scientific paper that raised concerns about the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone was retracted by its publisher this week. The study was cited three times by a federal judge who ruled against mifepristone last spring. That case, which could limit access to mifepristone throughout the country, will soon be heard in the Supreme Court.

The now retracted study used Medicaid claims data to track E.R. visits by patients in the month after having an abortion. The study found a much higher rate of complications than similar studies that have examined abortion safety.

Sage, the publisher of the journal, retracted the study on Monday along with two other papers, explaining in a statement that "expert reviewers found that the studies demonstrate a lack of scientific rigor that invalidates or renders unreliable the authors' conclusions."

It also noted that most of the authors on the paper worked for the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of anti-abortion lobbying group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and that one of the original peer reviewers had also worked for the Lozier Institute.

The Sage journal, Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology , published all three research articles, which are still available online along with the retraction notice. In an email to NPR, a spokesperson for Sage wrote that the process leading to the retractions "was thorough, fair, and careful."

The lead author on the paper, James Studnicki, fiercely defends his work. "Sage is targeting us because we have been successful for a long period of time," he says on a video posted online this week . He asserts that the retraction has "nothing to do with real science and has everything to do with a political assassination of science."

He says that because the study's findings have been cited in legal cases like the one challenging the abortion pill, "we have become visible – people are quoting us. And for that reason, we are dangerous, and for that reason, they want to cancel our work," Studnicki says in the video.

In an email to NPR, a spokesperson for the Charlotte Lozier Institute said that they "will be taking appropriate legal action."

Role in abortion pill legal case

Anti-abortion rights groups, including a group of doctors, sued the federal Food and Drug Administration in 2022 over the approval of mifepristone, which is part of a two-drug regimen used in most medication abortions. The pill has been on the market for over 20 years, and is used in more than half abortions nationally. The FDA stands by its research that finds adverse events from mifepristone are extremely rare.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, the district court judge who initially ruled on the case, pointed to the now-retracted study to support the idea that the anti-abortion rights physicians suing the FDA had the right to do so. "The associations' members have standing because they allege adverse events from chemical abortion drugs can overwhelm the medical system and place 'enormous pressure and stress' on doctors during emergencies and complications," he wrote in his decision, citing Studnicki. He ruled that mifepristone should be pulled from the market nationwide, although his decision never took effect.

scientific research paper questions

Matthew Kacsmaryk at his confirmation hearing for the federal bench in 2017. AP hide caption

Matthew Kacsmaryk at his confirmation hearing for the federal bench in 2017.

Kacsmaryk is a Trump appointee who was a vocal abortion opponent before becoming a federal judge.

"I don't think he would view the retraction as delegitimizing the research," says Mary Ziegler , a law professor and expert on the legal history of abortion at U.C. Davis. "There's been so much polarization about what the reality of abortion is on the right that I'm not sure how much a retraction would affect his reasoning."

Ziegler also doubts the retractions will alter much in the Supreme Court case, given its conservative majority. "We've already seen, when it comes to abortion, that the court has a propensity to look at the views of experts that support the results it wants," she says. The decision that overturned Roe v. Wade is an example, she says. "The majority [opinion] relied pretty much exclusively on scholars with some ties to pro-life activism and didn't really cite anybody else even or really even acknowledge that there was a majority scholarly position or even that there was meaningful disagreement on the subject."

In the mifepristone case, "there's a lot of supposition and speculation" in the argument about who has standing to sue, she explains. "There's a probability that people will take mifepristone and then there's a probability that they'll get complications and then there's a probability that they'll get treatment in the E.R. and then there's a probability that they'll encounter physicians with certain objections to mifepristone. So the question is, if this [retraction] knocks out one leg of the stool, does that somehow affect how the court is going to view standing? I imagine not."

It's impossible to know who will win the Supreme Court case, but Ziegler thinks that this retraction probably won't sway the outcome either way. "If the court is skeptical of standing because of all these aforementioned weaknesses, this is just more fuel to that fire," she says. "It's not as if this were an airtight case for standing and this was a potentially game-changing development."

Oral arguments for the case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA , are scheduled for March 26 at the Supreme Court. A decision is expected by summer. Mifepristone remains available while the legal process continues.

  • Abortion policy
  • abortion pill
  • judge matthew kacsmaryk
  • mifepristone
  • retractions
  • Abortion rights
  • Supreme Court

Jump to navigation

Global Perspectives on Soccer and the Media and Entertainment Industry

Global Perspectives on Soccer and the Media and Entertainment Industry  

Floribert Patrick C. Endong (Editor)

University of Dschang, Cameroon

Introduction

"Justice" (SCLA, November 6-8, 2024, Austin TX)

2024 Meeting of the Society for Comparative Literature and the Arts

November 6-8, 2024 Embassy Suites Austin Central Austin, TX

Bordering Queerness | MLA 2025 (New Orleans)

Thinking critically about both borders and sexuality, this panel invites papers that border on queer theory by putting it in conversation with texts and contexts that still seem illegible within its dominant, white, and Western mappings.

Energy, Empire and Extractivism in the Age of Conrad

Energy, Empire, and Extractivism in the Age of Conrad   May 14-15, 2024, Université Paris Cité, France

https://conradparis.weebly.com/  

Jewett Unbound: Global Perspectives on New England Regionalism

Jewett Unbound:

Global Perspectives on New England Regionalism

 October 18-19, 2024

Université Paris Cité Paris, France

https://jewettparis2024.weebly.com/

Conference co-organizers: Vesna Kuiken (SUNY-Albany) & Cécile Roudeau (LARCA, Université Paris Cité  and the National Centre for Scientific Research)

The Medieval Today and Tomorrow: Lives that Matter and the Question of Relevance (MLA 2025)

The Medieval Today and Tomorrow: Lives that Matter and the Question of Relevance

MLA - New Orleans, LA (Jan. 9-12, 2025)

Ecologies of Resistance: Spaces and Embodiments in Medieval Texts (MLA 2025)

Ecologies of Resistance:  Spaces and Embodiments in Medieval Texts

2024 EALA Annual Conference -- Filter

Filter deadline for submissions: February 29, 2024 full name / name of organization: 2024 EALA Annual Conference contact email:  [email protected]   

2024 EALA Annual Conference will be held on October 19, 2024 in National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. The theme for the conference is "Filter." The deadline for abstract submission is February 29, 2024. 

Please refer to the webpage for detailed information and schedule.

https://eala.org.tw/zh-hant/news/2024322024-eala-annual-conference-cfp 

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Visual media symposium 2024, state of visual evidence symposium.

We invite experts in the field of visual communication to discuss the current challenges and opportunities that synthetic media pose for the contemporary media environment, and how we can utilize visuals as data to answer social scientific questions.

Date: Monday, April 8, 3-6:30 p.m. (central time USA)

Conference Mode: Zoom  

Register here

Opening Remarks: 3-3:15 p.m.

Melissa Tully, Sang Jung Kim, Alex Scott and Bingbing Zhang

Keynote 1: 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Speaker: Bryce Dietrich  

Moderator: Sang Jung Kim

Topic: Video-as-data; Seeing Racial Avoidance on Virtual Streets

Speaker Bio: Dietrich is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Purdue University. He is also a Research Scholar at the Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor of Social Science Informatics at the University of Iowa and a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School and Northeastern University.

Dietrich's research uses novel quantitative, automated, and machine learning methods to analyze non-traditional data sources such as audio (or speech) data and video data. He uses these to understand the causes and consequences of non-verbal political behavior, such as vocal inflections and walking trajectories, especially in relation to descriptive representation and implicit gender/racial bias. Underlying this research is a love for high-performance computing and a genuine desire to make "big data" more accessible, while his substantive interests are firmly grounded in American political behavior at both the mass- and elite-level.

Keynote 2: 4:15-5:15 p.m

Speaker: Cindy Shen  

Moderator: Bingbing Zhang

Topic: Perception, mechanism, and intervention of visual misinformation 

Speaker Bio: Cuihua (Cindy) Shen is a professor of communication at UC Davis and the co-director of the Computational Communication Research lab. Her recent research focuses on computational social science and multimodal (mis)information in AI-mediated environments. She is the past chair of the Computational Methods Division of the International Communication Association, and the founding associate editor of the journal Computational Communication Research , as well as the associate editor of Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication . Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and Facebook. She is a recipient of numerous top paper awards from ICA as well as a Fulbright US Scholar Award. 

Keynote 3: 5:15-6:15 p.m.

Q & A with  T. J. Thomson  

Moderator: Alex Scott

Topic: Impact of AI generated images & visual misinformation 

Speaker Bio:   A majority of Thomson's research centers on the visual aspects of news and journalism and on the concerns and processes relevant to those who make, edit, and present visual news. He has broader interests in digital media, journalism studies, and visual culture and often focuses on under-represented identities, attributes, and environments in his research. Thomson is committed to not only studying visual communication phenomena but also working to increase the visibility, innovation, and quality of how research findings are presented, accessed, and understood.

Thomson has obtained more than $1.32 million in external research funding from a number of organizations, including the Australian Academy of the Humanities, the Australian Research Council, the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, and the International Visual Literacy Association. He has also been awarded research fellowships in China and Germany.

Closing Remarks: 6:15-6:30 p.m.

Sang Jung Kim, Alex Scott and Bingbing Zhang

Symposium Co-Sponsors

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Visual Media Lab would like to thank the symposium co-sponsors for their support of this event:

  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Department of Communication Studies
  • Department of Cinematic Arts
  • SPARTA Lab - Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Political Science
  • Public Policy Center
  • The Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

IMAGES

  1. How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples)

    scientific research paper questions

  2. Research Questions

    scientific research paper questions

  3. Example Of An Introduction For A Scientific Research Paper

    scientific research paper questions

  4. How to Write a Scientific Paper: My 10 Steps

    scientific research paper questions

  5. Checklist For Evaluating A Scientific Research Paper

    scientific research paper questions

  6. writing scientific research papers

    scientific research paper questions

VIDEO

  1. How to Review a Research Paper

  2. How to Use ChatGPT to Write Scientific Research Paper

  3. Scientific Research Paper

  4. Unknown Lab Report Writing Expectations Video

  5. Research Study Introduction

  6. How to Write a Scientific Research Paper

COMMENTS

  1. 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

    10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023. The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper, thesis or dissertation. It's important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

  2. 100 Science Topics for Research Papers

    Science papers are interesting to write and easy to research because there are so many current and reputable journals online. Start by browsing through the STEM research topics below, which are written in the form of prompts. Then, look at some of the linked articles at the end for further ideas. COVID-19 Topics

  3. How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples)

    Sep 7, 2022 338,155 How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples) Wordvice KH There are some surprising and resourceful ways to find a good research question for your study. What is a Research Question? A research question is the main question that your study sought or is seeking to answer.

  4. A Practical Guide to Writing Quantitative and Qualitative Research

    INTRODUCTION. Scientific research is usually initiated by posing evidenced-based research questions which are then explicitly restated as hypotheses.1,2 The hypotheses provide directions to guide the study, solutions, explanations, and expected results.3,4 Both research questions and hypotheses are essentially formulated based on conventional theories and real-world processes, which allow the ...

  5. Ten simple rules for reading a scientific paper

    Although there is no one best way to do this, we present 10 simple rules, relevant to novices and seasoned scientists alike, to teach our strategy for active reading based on our experience as readers and as mentors of undergraduate and graduate researchers, medical students, fellows, and early career faculty.

  6. How to Develop a Good Research Question?

    Research questions guide the focus and direction of a research study. Here are common types of research questions: 1. Qualitative research question: Qualitative questions concern broad areas or more specific areas of research. However, unlike quantitative questions, qualitative research questions are adaptable, non-directional and more flexible.

  7. Research Question: Definition, Types, Examples, Quick Tips

    Regardless of whether it is a qualitative research or quantitative research project, research questions provide writers and their audience with a way to navigate the writing and research process. Writers can avoid "all-about" papers by asking straightforward and specific research questions that help them focus on their research and support a ...

  8. Scientific Papers

    Scientific Papers. Scientific papers are for sharing your own original research work with other scientists or for reviewing the research conducted by others. As such, they are critical to the ...

  9. How to Write a Research Question: Types and Examples

    What is a research question? A research question is a clear, focused, concise, and arguable question on which your research and writing are centered. 1 It states various aspects of the study, including the population and variables to be studied and the problem the study addresses.

  10. A Guide to Writing a Scientific Paper: A Focus on High School Through

    Table 1. Key Skills of the Science as Inquiry National Science Education Content Standard Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigation Design and conduct scientific investigations Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications

  11. 113 Great Research Paper Topics

    #1: It's Something You're Interested In A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject.

  12. How to Write Discussions and Conclusions

    Begin with a clear statement of the principal findings. This will reinforce the main take-away for the reader and set up the rest of the discussion. Explain why the outcomes of your study are important to the reader. Discuss the implications of your findings realistically based on previous literature, highlighting both the strengths and ...

  13. 250+ Science Research Paper Topics & Questions for Students

    250+ Science Research Paper Topics & Questions for Students What is StudyCrumb? How It Works? Dissertation Writing Service Term Paper Writing Service Research Paper Writing Service Coursework Writing Service Write My Assignment Case Study Writing Service Capstone Project Writing Service Book Report Writing Service Personal Statement Writing Service

  14. 919 questions with answers in SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

    Questions related to Scientific Research 1 2 3 4 5 Abdennour Idir asked a question related to Scientific Research Why do researchers globally, especially between the North and the South,...

  15. 10 Questions to Ask about Scientific Studies

    10 Questions to Ask about Scientific Studies Never take a study at face value, including one you read about in Greater Good! By Jeremy Adam Smith | September 8, 2015 Here at Greater Good, we cover research into social and emotional well-being, and we try to help people apply findings to their personal and professional lives.

  16. 300 Science Research Topics to Get You Started

    300 Cutting-Edge Science Research Topics to impress Your professor Science research forms the foundation of human knowledge and drives innovation in every aspect of our lives. Through rigorous investigation, experimentation, and analysis, we gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.

  17. Scientific Writing

    a process by which independent scientists evaluate the technical merit of scientific research papers. a process by which a scientist's friends can give him or her advice. a method of typesetting in publishing. The process of peer review always ensures that a scientific paper is correct. true.

  18. 109 questions with answers in SCIENTIFIC WRITING

    Explore the latest questions and answers in Scientific Writing, and find Scientific Writing experts. Questions (109) ... These tools are useful for keeping track of research papers, books, and ...

  19. basic scientific questions: Topics by Science.gov

    Since a scientific paper poses a research question, demonstrates the events that led to the answer, and poses new questions, we attempted to examine the effect of studying through research papers on students' ability to pose questions. Students were asked before, during, and after instruction what they found interesting to know about embryonic ...

  20. Question Answering on Scientific Research Papers

    Imagine the typical process involved in reading a research paper. You first read the title and the abstract, and have a pretty good idea of what the paper is about. You might have some follow-up questions to the ideas introduced in the abstract that you then try to answer by reading the rest of the paper. ... Question Answering on Scientific ...

  21. [2402.11177] A Question Answering Based Pipeline for Comprehensive

    Electronic health records (EHRs) hold significant value for research and applications. As a new way of information extraction, question answering (QA) can extract more flexible information than conventional methods and is more accessible to clinical researchers, but its progress is impeded by the scarcity of annotated data. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that automatically ...

  22. 30 Scientific Researcher Interview Questions and Answers

    8. Detail how you've used computational models in your past research. As a scientific researcher, you're expected to be at the forefront of innovation and technology. Computational models are powerful tools that can greatly enhance research, offering insights and predictions that might not be readily apparent.

  23. The abortion pill case on its way to the Supreme Court cites a

    A research paper that raises questions about the safety of abortion has been retracted. The research is cited in a federal judge's ruling about the abortion pill mifepristone.

  24. cfp

    Call for Papers. a service provided by www.english.upenn ... and the National Centre for Scientific Research) The Medieval Today and Tomorrow: Lives that Matter and the Question of Relevance (MLA 2025) ... Friday, March 15, 2024. The Medieval Today and Tomorrow: Lives that Matter and the Question of Relevance. MLA - New Orleans, LA (Jan. 9-12 ...

  25. Visual Media Symposium 2024

    Previously, he was an Assistant Professor of Social Science Informatics at the University of Iowa and a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School and Northeastern University.Dietrich's research uses novel quantitative, automated, and machine learning methods to analyze non-traditional data sources such as audio (or speech) data ...