Formulate the Research Question
Getting Started
Gather background information. Work with a librarian, if possible, to search relevant sources to see what’s been written about your topic so far. Consider your audience. Who might be interested in this issue?
Pro Tips
- Identify a framework that works for your topic. Some topics won’t fit into a predetermined framework, and that’s okay.
- Start documentation to keep all your ideas in one place.
- Get input from collaborators, peers, and mentors.
- Consult with a librarian so that you can complete a thorough search of existing research.
There are many different types of frameworks. Which one you use will depend on the scope of your project and which framework fits best. We have listed just a few of them below.
Research Question Frameworks
Clinical or Quantitative
CoCoPop
Condition, Context, Population
Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer’s manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/
PEO
Population, Exposure of Interest, Outcome or Response
Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer’s manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/
PICO
Population or Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparison or Control, Outcome
Heneghan, C., & Badenoch, D. (2002). Evidence-based medicine toolkit. London: BMJ Books.
PICOS
Population or Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparison or Control, Outcome, Study Type
Methley, A. M., Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C., McNally, R., & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2014). PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: a comparison study of specificity and sensitivity in three search tools for qualitative systematic reviews. BMC health services research, 14, 579. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0579-0
PICOT
Population or Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparison or Control, Outcome, Time
Richardson, W. S., Wilson, M. C., Nishikawa, J., & Hayward, R. S. (1995). The well-built clinical question: A key to evidence-based decisions. ACP journal club, 123(3), A12-A12.
PIRD
Population, Index Test, Reference Test, Diagnosis of Interest
Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer’s manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/
Thematic or Qualitative
PEO
Population, Exposure of Interest, Outcome or Response
Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer’s manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/
PICo
Population, Interest, Context
Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer’s manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/
SPIDER
Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type
Cooke, A., Smith, D., & Booth, A. (2012). Beyond PICO: the SPIDER tool for qualitative evidence synthesis. Qualitative health research, 22(10), 1435–1443. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732312452938
SPICE
Setting, Perspective, Intervention, Comparison, Evaluation
Cleyle, S., & Booth, A. (2006). Clear and present questions: formulating questions for evidence based practice. Library hi tech. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610692127
Policy or Economics
CLIP
Client Group, Location, Improvement or Information or Innovation, Professionals
ECLIPSE
Expectation, Client Group, Location, Impact, Professionals, Service
Wildridge, V., & Bell, L. (2002). How CLIP became ECLIPSE: a mnemonic to assist in searching for health policy/management information. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 19(2), 113-115. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-1842.2002.00378.x
Miscellaneous Frameworks
PCC
Population, Concept, Context
Aromataris, E., & Munn, Z. (2017). Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer’s manual. The Joanna Briggs Institute. Available from https://reviewersmanual.joannabriggs.org/
PIPOH
Population, Intervention, Professionals, Outcomes, Healthcare Setting
ADAPTE Collaboration. (2009). The ADAPTE Process: Resource Toolkit for guideline adaptation. Version 2.0. Available from https://www.g-i-n.net