Innovation and Exploration PBL: Research Questions (RQs) Name:

How to: Making Research Questions (RQs)

Once you have learned how to ask relevant and appropriate questions, you have learned how
to learn and no one can keep you from learning whatever you want or need to know. Neil
Postman and Charles Weingartner

Step 1: Brainstorm.
In the centre of the cloud, write your teacher-approved DQ. Write as many questions or ideas
as you can related to this DQ around the cloud; do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer any of
your questions or ideas just write down every question or idea you can think of. Dont forget
to include who, what, where, when, why, and how components.

My teacher-approved DQ:
How does technology affect how we approach problems?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Make us worry less about the problem, as the technology was made to fix the problem
Make it easier to understand and fix the problem
Technology can solve problems for us, making us less willing to solve it ourselves
Since technology can solve basically all our problems, we rely greatly on technology to solve it
for us, and therefore if the technology breaks down we may not be ready
Technology can affect our understanding of the intensity and actual meaning of the problem
since we have tons of access
It helps us fix the problem, therefore we will start to overlook the actual theoretical damage of
the problem, and not caring as much as before the technology was invented

Step 2: Refine.
What is a research question (RQ)? Like a DQ, an RQ is also clear, focused, concise, and

sometimes arguable question around which you centre different components of your research.
RQs can help us answer or find information to a DQ.
Why is an RQ essential to the research process? RQs help us focus our research by providing
a path through the research and writing process.
Make your questions and ideas clearer and more focused.
Original Question or Idea from Brainstorm
Refined RQ: Improve your language, aim for a full sentence, and a question that will help you
answer your DQ.

In what ways has/will technology help(ed) us fix and understand major ongoing problems (such
as a disease or global warming)?

What can technology change about our awareness and level of care for any problem?

Why can technology change our perspective about a problem?

What are examples where technology affected our ability to judge the intensity of a problem?
Where have we relied on technology so greatly that when it is taken out of the equation, we
cant solve the problem ourselves?

Step 3: Understand.
Pick your 5 favourite Refined RQs from Step 2 and then answer the follow-up question.

Favourite 5 Refined RQs

How does this RQ help me answer my DQ?
By making the DQ more specific therefore easier to answer

Step 4: Share. Critical Friends.

Show your work to a few classmates (your critical friends) and record their feedback below:
How I can incorporate their feedback.

Step 6: My Proposed RQs:

Show your teacher for approval.

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