LibGuides: Help with research question frameworks: Guide to research question frameworks

Guide to research question frameworks

See below for examples of research question frameworks (this is not an exhaustive list). For every example we have listed what each letter stands for, further explanation and an example research question that would fit into this framework.

Population - who is the focus of the research?
Exposure – what is the issue or experience or intervention of interest?
Outcomes – what is the impact of the exposure on the population of interest?

Example question:

What is the impact of short-term study abroad on the cultural competence of undergraduate students?

P = undergraduate students

E = short-term study abroad

O = cultural competence

Patient, Population or Problem – who or what is the focus of the research?
Intervention – what intervention is being investigated?
Comparison – what intervention is this being compared with (if any)?
Outcome – what are the effects of the intervention?

Example question:

How effective is mindfulness training versus cognitive behavioural therapy for smoking cessation?

P = smoking, smokers

I = mindfulness training

C = cognitive behavioural therapy

O = effectiveness

Patient, Population or Problem – who or what is the focus of the research?
Intervention – what intervention is being investigated?
Comparison – what intervention is this being compared with (if any)?
Outcome – what are the effects of the intervention?
Context – In what context or place is the problem being investigated?

Example question:

What is the impact of short-term study abroad on the cultural competence of undergraduate students on exchange to a low-income country?

P = undergraduate student

I = short-term study abroad

C = none

O = cultural competence

C = low-income country

Patient, Population or Problem – who or what is the focus of the research?
Intervention – what intervention is being investigated?
Comparison – what intervention is this being compared with (if any)?
Outcome – what are the effects of the intervention?
Study type – what study design(s) is being considered?

Example question:

How effective is mindfulness training versus cognitive behavioural therapy for smoking cessation: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

P = smoking, smokers

I = mindfulness training

C = cognitive behavioural therapy

O = effectiveness

S = randomised controlled trials

Setting – where is the study set?
Perspective – who’s perspective is under investigation i.e. service user or service provider?
Intervention / Area of Interest – what intervention or area of interest is being investigated?
Comparison – what is the comparison (if any)?
Evaluation – what are the outcomes?

Example question:

What are the experiences of postgraduate students of learning with students from other countries in online courses as compared with in-person education?

S = online

P = postgraduate students

I = learning online with students from other countries

C = in-person education

E = outcomes measured by the research

Sample – the group of people being investigated
Phenomenon of interest – what is being investigated
Design – research methods used
Evaluation – outcome measures
Research type – qualitative / quantitative / mixed methods
Example question:

How motivated are young adults to quit smoking after a short mindfulness intervention? A representative population survey in Scotland.

S = young adult smokers in Scotland

PI = short mindfulness intervention

D = survey

E = self-reported motivation to quit

R = quantitative