Selecting a research question and defining it is one of the first and most crucial steps before embarking on the journey of a systematic review. Selecting and defining a research question is important because the quality of the research question and the clarity and precision it has affect the success of the review process, shaping the search strategy, selecting the study, extracting the data, and synthesising the results. A specific gap in knowledge is addressed by the systematic review of a well-constructed research question. This systematic review contributes meaningfully to the existing body of research.
In this article, you are going to be enlightened by the guidance on how to select and define a research question for a systematic review. Here have been mentioned key steps and frameworks. Frameworks such as the PICO(T) model help in crafting a clear, specific, and relevant research question. The best practices like refining the question, defining its inclusion/exclusion criteria and balancing scope and feasibility have been accentuated in this article. These practices are used to ensure that the presenting gap in the literature is addressed effectively by the review.
1. Comprehend the Role of a Research Question in a Systematic Review
For the entire review process, a research question works as a pole star for a wayward traveller. A research question is distinct from the focus, scope, and boundaries of the review. The research question should be unambiguous, sharply focused, and pragmatically attainable because the systematic review, with the assistance of transparent and reproducible methodology, addresses specific and precisely articulated questions. It delineated the population of interest, the outcomes of interest, and the time frame to evaluate those outcomes.
Systematic review is in contrast to traditional reviews or narrative summaries because a systematic review aims to minimise bias and proffer a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence. To ensure that the review is both rigorous and relevant, it is important that a good research question be formulated.
2. Pivotal Characteristics of a Good Research Question
From the above paragraph, you have got the insight that a research question is imperative to a good systematic review A good research question must be adorned with the pivotal characteristics as follows:
- Clarity: The first thing that should not be avoided anyway is that the research question should be distinct and it should be unambiguous.
- Feasibility: The research question you are articulating must be crafted by taking into account that the question is addressable through the extant studies and pragmatically attainable with the area of temporal and resource constraints allocated for the review.
- Relevance: The research question you are designing must be like that; it is pinpointing a gap in the extant literature or tackling an issue of considerable significance within the field.
- Measurability: The research question should focus on measurable outcomes that can be evolved based on the studies available.
3. Structure Frameworks to Define Research Questions
Employing the structured framework is one of the most effective ways to delineate research for systematic review. The main concern of these frameworks is that all the key components of the question are considered. For example, in healthcare research, PICO(T) is one of the most popular frameworks. This framework is not constrained to work in healthcare research only; in fact, it can be adopted in other fields, too.
PICO(T) Framework
The PICO(T) framework comprises Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Time. PICO (T) is a methodical tool that is used to craft-focused, evidence-based clinical research questions, ensuring precise, relevant, and temporally contextualised enquiries for enhanced clinical applicability.
The PICO(T) framework is an acronym that stands for:
(P) population/Patient:
What population or patient group is being studied? What are the characteristics of the individuals that are going to be investigated, such as health status, age, gender, or any other defining features?
(I) Intervention/Exposure:
What intervention, treatment, or exposure is going to be studied? Factors like medical treatments, policy changes, or other interventions are being tested to assess their impact on effectiveness at outcomes.
(C) Comparison:
Is there a comparison group there, such as a placebo, standard treatment, or alternative intervention? If the question is exploratory, this component may be omitted.
(O) Outcome:
What are the outcomes of interest? This can include the effect of the intervention on health, behaviour, performance, or any other measurable result.
(T) Time:
What is the time for the study or the duration for which the outcome is measured? This is particularly important for studies assessing long-term effects.
Example Using PICO(T):
Research Question: What is the effect of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) (I) on reducing anxiety (O) in children aged 6-12 years (P) compared to no treatment (C) over 6 months (T)?
In this research question:
‘Cognitive-behavioural therapy’ is an intervention.
‘On reducing anxiety’ is the Outcome in which the researcher is interested.
The children aged 6-12 years is the Population that is going to be studied.
The Comparison here is to the ‘children with no treatment.’
This is going to be studied during the Time of ‘over 6 months.’
Other Frameworks
Except for PICO(T), there are other frameworks also that are used to delineate a research question for a perfect systematic review, such as SPICE and PECO. Let’s get an overview of how these frameworks work.
- SPICE: SPICE framework is the framework used when the subject of focus is social science. Here, SPICE is very useful, and it stands for:
- S (Setting) = The environment in which the concerned research is conducted, such as a community, school, or hospital.
- P (Population) = The population or group that is under study.
- I (Intervention) = The main factor that is going to be investigated.
- C (Comparison) = nother group or an alternative intervention that is compared to the main intervention or the group which is under study.
- E (Evaluation) = The desired result or results.
- PECO: As the PICO(T) framework is used mainly in the healthcare industry and the SPICE framework is used in social science, PECO is used in environmental and ecological studies. The framework focuses on:
- P (Population/Problem)
- E (Exposure)
- C (Comparison)
- O (Outcome)
The main use of these frameworks is only to ensure that the research question is exhaustive, encompassing all critical elements while structuring it to facilitate quantifiable outcomes and pragmatic application.
4. Refining the Research Question
Once the researcher has identified a preliminary research question, the immediate second step should be to refine it. The refinement of any research question is important due to the fact that the research question is focused, clear, and answerable. The process of refining the research question incorporates the following:
- Conducting Preliminary Searches: Conducting preliminary searches in databases such as PUBMED or Google Scholar enables the identification of extant studies, safeguarding against redundant research. The refinement of your research question, uncovering gaps in the literature, and appraising the available evidence are facilitated under this process. Furthermore, this process informs methodological choices and evaluates the relevance and feasibility of your inquiry.
- Consultation With the Experts: Engaging with the subject-matter experts, researchers, and stakeholders is instrumental in ensuring that the research question is pertinent, innovative, and congruent with prevailing academic and pragmatic priorities. The contributions of the experts offer crucial perspectives on feasibility, methodological rigour, and the identification of knowledge gaps, thereby enhancing the conceptual and operational robustness of the inquiry. This feedback serves to refine the question, mitigating biases and augmenting its capacity to address significant, real-world complexities.
- Evaluating Feasibility: The feasibility of a question is contingent upon the accessibility of pertinent data, studies, and resources. A question of excessive breadth risks becoming unwieldy and surmountable, whereas one overly specific may lack sufficient empirical support for substantive conclusions. Refining the question’s scope ensures alignment with available resources, which enhances the viability of the research.
5. Considering the Type of Systematic Review
A systematic review represents a rigorous and methodical approach to synthesising the extant evidence on a specific subject; it ensures a comprehensive and objective analysis of the literature. The nature of the systematic review you are undertaking profoundly dictates the formulation of your research question.
- Effectiveness Reviews: Effectiveness reviews typically evaluate the impact of an intervention or treatment, making it important to focus on measurable outcomes and comparisons.
- Diagnostic Reviews: The questions are framed around sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy because diagnostic reviews focus on the accuracy of diagnostic tests.
- Qualitative Reviews: Qualitative reviews seek to delve into and comprehend individual experiences or perceptions, necessitating research questions that are open-ended, exploratory, and centred on uncovering themes or narratives. The objective of qualitative reviews is to extract nuanced insights rather than quantify discrete variables.
- Meta-analysis: Your research question must ensure that quantitative data are accessible for synthesis. This is necessary in the case when your systematic review involves statistical data analysis.
6. Assuring Relevance and Importance
To address unexplored or understudied areas, a researcher should select a research question for a systematic review that involves identifying gaps in the current literature. By focusing on gaps, the review can guide future research, inform decision-making, and clarify conflicting evidence, ultimately advancing the field. The question should address:
- A Gap in Existing Research: The question should address areas that comprise gaps in evidence, contradictory findings, or areas where novel data could surmount extant uncertainties. This approach assists in driving research and provides clarity in areas that remain nebulous and insurmountable.
- A Real-World Requirement: To ensure that the review is going to have a tangible effect, the question should have pragmatic imperativeness for clinicians, policymakers, or other stakeholders.
- Research Priorities: Take into consideration that prevailing scholarly priorities or nascent challenges within the field are congruent (aligned) with the research question, ensuring the pertinent and substantive contribution to the progression of scientific inquiry.
7. Scrutinising the Research Question
To commit to a research question, first of all, it is important that the research question is scrutinised by the following mentioned tests.
- Conducting a Pilot Search: To assess whether studies exist on the topic, whether they are pertinent, and whether the research question has too much breadth or not, the researcher should perform a limited search.
- Encountering with Stakeholders: The pragmatic imperativeness and pertinence of the question are confirmed by incorporating stakeholders or the target population.
8. Finalising the Research Question
Once the researcher has refined the research question, the last step is to ensure that the research question is articulated lucidly and congruent with the objective of the systematic review. The finalised research question should have the following qualities:
- Address a gap in the literature
- Be pertinent and of importance to the field
- Be answerable based on extant studies
- Be precise and focused
Conclusion
A research question which is well-defined serves as a blueprint. A well-defined research question guides every aspect of the systematic review process, and it ensures that the final outcomes are meaningful and contribute to advancing the knowledge in the field. If you need expert guidance in crafting a strong research question, professional assignment help can be a valuable resource. In the process of review, the research question should be selected and defined for a perfect systematic review because it is the foundational step in the review process if you use a structured framework for systematic reviews like PICO(T) or SPICE because it ensures lucidity, feasibility, and pertinence. The process of refinement of the question hinges upon feedback and pilot studies. By following these steps, researchers can set the stage for a rigorous and impactful review.