2.4. Research Questions and Hypotheses

Research questions guide the inquiry and are closely tied to the research purpose (Yin, 2013). We have previously stated that asking the right questions will make the researcher's job much easier during the research process. When determining these questions, it should not be overlooked that the literature should be utilized to the maximum extent. For instance, one research question could be "What are the individual-level barriers that academics face when publishing in scientific journals?" Hypotheses can then be formed to guide the empirical testing of these questions.

Example:  Aim of the study and research questions

Aim

The aim of this research is to identify the obstacles academics encounter in the process of publishing articles in scientific journals and to determine effective strategies for overcoming these obstacles.

Research Questions

• What types of obstacles do academics encounter when publishing articles in scientific journals?
• How prevalent are these obstacles that academics encounter?
• What strategies are employed to overcome these obstacles?
• How can the effectiveness of these strategies be evaluated?
• Are there significant differences in these obstacles and strategies among academics in different disciplines or career levels?
• How are issues of ethics and integrity related to these obstacles and strategies?

Research questions are the guiding elements of a study and are closely related to the research purpose. Asking the right questions helps the researcher guide the study process effectively. It is important to determine these questions by making maximum use of the literature. Hypotheses can be formulated to test answers to questions. Research questions and purpose determine the focus of the study and draw the direction of the research.