Get a quantitative research question in 4 steps:
  1. Add the data below;
  2. Look at the examples;
  3. Click “Generate”;
  4. Grab your result.
Add your population here
Add your population’s activity here
Add your predicted outcome here
Add your research group 2 here
Add your timeframe here
Quantitative Question Examples

    Stuck with quantitative research question formulation? No more suffering! Our quantitative research question generator will do all the work for you in several minutes.

    🛠️ Quantitative Research Question Generator: How to Use It

    If you are one of those few who read the instruction before something stops functioning, here’s the simplest how-to section you’ve ever read. So, how to use this quantitative research question generator?

    • Define the studied population group.
    • Describe their actions.
    • Give the tentative result of this activity.
    • Define the comparison group.
    • Provide the research framework.

    The action list above may look bewildering. Still, everything will fall into place once you put away the theory and try the tool. And if not, press “Show example” at the bottom to see how the result should look. It will add some clarity to your actions.

    🔍 What Is a Research Question & Why Is It Important?

    A research question is an issue that researchers aim to answer as a result of their study. Most research projects you work on at college focus on only one research question. Meanwhile, large-scale university studies can dwell on many more.

    A research question usually addresses a problem resolved in the paper’s conclusion. You can often find its explicit formulation in the introduction, where the author lists the study objectives.

    A research question is flexible, i.e., researchers may refine it during their work. It mostly happens during a literature overview or defining the study framework.

    Now you know what it is. Why do you need it?

    A research question narrows a broad topic into a specific study field. Research questions combined with hypotheses form the boundaries of the research (guiding framework) and set its limits. Besides, a research question influences the choice of research methodology, data collection methods, and sample size. Thus, it has a “domino effect” on the entire project.

    Finally, a research question keeps researchers away from scattering unnecessary details. Without it, how would you know the research is complete? Once you can answer the central question, you can write the conclusion.

    🆚 Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research Questions

    Qualitative Quantitative
    Question word Why? How much/many?
    Researched data Categorical data: words and symbols
    • Gender
    • Job
    • Education
    • Marital status
    Numerical data: numbers and statistics
    • Age
    • Income
    • Time
    • Number of mistakes
    Methods to obtain data Observation and interpreting Testing and measuring
    Methods to analyze data Non-statistical analysis (grouping of similar results) Statistical analysis (Comparing numbers)
    Purpose Hypothesis formulation Hypothesis validation
    Point of view Insider’s perspective Objective reality
    Surveying method Questions can be updated depending on the previous answers Standardized questions for all participants
    Answer Descriptive or explaining Evaluating. Cannot be answered by “yes” or “no.”

    🔢 Quantitative Research Questions: Types & Examples

    Quantitative research questions seek objective answers about a topic. Numerical data obtained by asking them is statistically provable. These questions look into the trends and patterns, making logical sense of the entire study.

    Statistical reports are the best examples of answers to quantitative research questions. The collected data usually characterizes the population of a particular locality or the entire world. Thus, correct answers to quantitative research questions allow for data-driven and reasonable decisions.

    Differentiating between the quantitative research questions will make it more transparent for you.

    Descriptive Research Questions

    These questions focus on one group and its single variable, with some rare exceptions. The typical starters will be:

    • How many?
    • Which percentage?
    • Which proportion?
    • How often?

    The questions aim at collecting information about the measured variable over the chosen group.

    Example 1

    How often do first-year students check their messengers during a typical school day?

    • Variable: Times to open a messenger per day
    • Group: First-year students

    Example 2

    How many Americans between 20 and 25 years have a full-time job?

    • Variable: Availability of a full-time job
    • Group: US citizens between 20 and 25 years old.

    Comparative Research Questions

    These questions explore the differences two or more groups show regarding the same variable. That’s why comparative research questions usually start with “What is the difference?” The number of variables depends on the aims and depth of the research.

    Example 1

    What is the difference between the income rates of men and women in managerial marketing positions?

    • Variable: Income rates
    • Group 1: Men in managerial positions
    • Group 2: Women in managerial positions

    Example 2

    What was the difference in the volume of investments between people under and above 50?

    • Variable: volume of investments
    • Group 1: People under 50 y.o.
    • Group 2: People above 50 y.o.

    Relationship-based Research Questions

    Relationship-based research questions serve the best to identify causal relationships, associations, and trends between variables. In statistics, the term “relationship” denotes the cause-and-effect results of experimental research.

    As a rule, these questions start with “What is the relationship between.” It explores independent and dependent variables or compares two or several groups. As you may see below, these questions provide the most freedom to the researcher in establishing trends and finding associations.

    Example 1

    What is the relationship between low income and crime rates among men between 20 and 30?

    • Independent variable: Income
    • Dependent variable: Crime rates
    • Group: Men between 20 and 30 y.o.

    Example 2

    What is the relationship between marital situation and high job satisfaction in men and women above 40?

    • Independent variable: Marital situation
    • Dependent variable: Job satisfaction
    • Group 1: Men above 40 y.o.
    • Group 2: Women above 40 y.o.

    Thank you for reading this article! Check the other college tools that we’ve made: summarizer and sentence rephraser.

    ❓ Quantitative Research Question Generator FAQ

    ❓ What Is a Quantitative Research Question?

    Quantitative research questions are used to give precise answers. A typical question of this type includes dependent and independent variables, the studied population, and the research design used. Such inquiries shall be outlined and finalized in the first paragraphs of the study. 

    ❓ What Makes a Good Quantitative Research Question?

    A good quantitative research question finds the link between the query and research design. One cannot answer it with a “yes” or “no.” This question aims to understand a particular sphere of social experiences or processes in a specific context. 

    ❓ How to Write a Quantitative Research Question?

    1. Decide if the question will be descriptive, comparative, or relationship-based. 
    2. Identify the variables you plan to measure or manipulate.
    3. Select the groups you will scrutinize in this respect.
    4. Choose the appropriate question structure, keeping in mind the type of quantitative research question. 

    ❓ What Is an Example of a Quantitative Research Question?

    1. How many calories does an average middle-aged man need for wellbeing?
    2. How long does it take American students to get from home to class?
    3. What percentage of American children below ten years old have never attended school?
    4. What is the difference in the duration of military service between developed and developing countries?

    🖇️ References

    1. Examples of Good and Bad Research Questions
    1. How to Write a Research Question – GMU Writing Center
    1. Developing research questions – Library – Monash University
    1. How To Write a Research Question: Steps and Examples