Q: How to find an original research question?
How should I find a unique research question? The topic that I wish to work on has been covered extensively and I find it difficult to settle on an aspect that has not been worked on before.
Finding a unique and novel research question is the first step to successful publication. An original research question based on a problem that has not been addressed before increases your chances of publication as journals look for original and unique research work.
To find a unique problem in your research area, you will have to conduct an extensive literature search. You can read scientific articles, magazines, editorials, survey reports, etc. Reading a vast amount of literature will familiarize you with the different aspects of your topic and help you identify gaps in research that have remained unaddressed. This can eventually lead you to the unique question you are looking for.
That being said, it may not always be possible for researchers to pick a question that has never been touched upon. A vast amount of research literature is being published each year and a lot of research often overlaps. You should not lose hope if you find it difficult to find a problem that has not been explored before. You can in fact explore further the problems that have been researched already. You can also consider conducting a replication study if you find that interesting. However, note that replication studies may be difficult to publish.
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This content belongs to the Conducting Research Stage