analytical research questions

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Analytical Research: What is it, Importance + Examples

Finding knowledge is a loose translation of the word “research.” It’s a systematic and scientific way of researching a particular subject. As a result, research is a form of scientific investigation that seeks to learn more. Analytical research is one of them.

Any kind of research is a way to learn new things. In this research, data and other pertinent information about a project are assembled; after the information is gathered and assessed, the sources are used to support a notion or prove a hypothesis.

An individual can successfully draw out minor facts to make more significant conclusions about the subject matter by using critical thinking abilities (a technique of thinking that entails identifying a claim or assumption and determining whether it is accurate or untrue).

What is analytical research?

This particular kind of research calls for using critical thinking abilities and assessing data and information pertinent to the project at hand.

Determines the causal connections between two or more variables. The analytical study aims to identify the causes and mechanisms underlying the trade deficit’s movement throughout a given period.

It is used by various professionals, including psychologists, doctors, and students, to identify the most pertinent material during investigations. One learns crucial information from analytical research that helps them contribute fresh concepts to the work they are producing.

Some researchers perform it to uncover information that supports ongoing research to strengthen the validity of their findings. Other scholars engage in analytical research to generate fresh perspectives on the subject.

Various approaches to performing research include literary analysis, Gap analysis , general public surveys, clinical trials, and meta-analysis.

Importance of analytical research

The goal of analytical research is to develop new ideas that are more believable by combining numerous minute details.

The analytical investigation is what explains why a claim should be trusted. Finding out why something occurs is complex. You need to be able to evaluate information critically and think critically. 

This kind of information aids in proving the validity of a theory or supporting a hypothesis. It assists in recognizing a claim and determining whether it is true.

Analytical kind of research is valuable to many people, including students, psychologists, marketers, and others. It aids in determining which advertising initiatives within a firm perform best. In the meantime, medical research and research design determine how well a particular treatment does.

Thus, analytical research can help people achieve their goals while saving lives and money.

Methods of Conducting Analytical Research

Analytical research is the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information to make inferences and reach conclusions. Depending on the purpose of the research and the data you have access to, you can conduct analytical research using a variety of methods. Here are a few typical approaches:

Quantitative research

Numerical data are gathered and analyzed using this method. Statistical methods are then used to analyze the information, which is often collected using surveys, experiments, or pre-existing datasets. Results from quantitative research can be measured, compared, and generalized numerically.

Qualitative research

In contrast to quantitative research, qualitative research focuses on collecting non-numerical information. It gathers detailed information using techniques like interviews, focus groups, observations, or content research. Understanding social phenomena, exploring experiences, and revealing underlying meanings and motivations are all goals of qualitative research.

Mixed methods research

This strategy combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies to grasp a research problem thoroughly. Mixed methods research often entails gathering and evaluating both numerical and non-numerical data, integrating the results, and offering a more comprehensive viewpoint on the research issue.

Experimental research

Experimental research is frequently employed in scientific trials and investigations to establish causal links between variables. This approach entails modifying variables in a controlled environment to identify cause-and-effect connections. Researchers randomly divide volunteers into several groups, provide various interventions or treatments, and track the results.

Observational research

With this approach, behaviors or occurrences are observed and methodically recorded without any outside interference or variable data manipulation . Both controlled surroundings and naturalistic settings can be used for observational research . It offers useful insights into behaviors that occur in the actual world and enables researchers to explore events as they naturally occur.

Case study research

This approach entails thorough research of a single case or a small group of related cases. Case-control studies frequently include a variety of information sources, including observations, records, and interviews. They offer rich, in-depth insights and are particularly helpful for researching complex phenomena in practical settings.

Secondary data analysis

Examining secondary information is time and money-efficient, enabling researchers to explore new research issues or confirm prior findings. With this approach, researchers examine previously gathered information for a different reason. Information from earlier cohort studies, accessible databases, or corporate documents may be included in this.

Content analysis

Content research is frequently employed in social sciences, media observational studies, and cross-sectional studies. This approach systematically examines the content of texts, including media, speeches, and written documents. Themes, patterns, or keywords are found and categorized by researchers to make inferences about the content.

Depending on your research objectives, the resources at your disposal, and the type of data you wish to analyze, selecting the most appropriate approach or combination of methodologies is crucial to conducting analytical research.

Examples of analytical research

Analytical research takes a unique measurement. Instead, you would consider the causes and changes to the trade imbalance. Detailed statistics and statistical checks help guarantee that the results are significant.

For example, it can look into why the value of the Japanese Yen has decreased. This is so that an analytical study can consider “how” and “why” questions.

Another example is that someone might conduct analytical research to identify a study’s gap. It presents a fresh perspective on your data. Therefore, it aids in supporting or refuting notions.

Descriptive vs analytical research

Here are the key differences between descriptive research and analytical research:

The study of cause and effect makes extensive use of analytical research. It benefits from numerous academic disciplines, including marketing, health, and psychology, because it offers more conclusive information for addressing research issues.

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A strong analytical question

• speaks to a genuine dilemma presented by your sources . In other words, the question focuses on a real confusion, problem, ambiguity, or gray area, about which readers will conceivably have different reactions, opinions, or ideas.  
• yields an answer that is not obvious . If you ask, "What did this author say about this topic?” there’s nothing to explore because any reader of that text would answer that question in the same way. But if you ask, “how can we reconcile point A and point B in this text,” readers will want to see how you solve that inconsistency in your essay.  
• suggests an answer complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of discussion. If the question is too vague, it won't suggest a line of argument. The question should elicit reflection and argument rather than summary or description.  
• can be explored using the sources you have available for the assignment , rather than by generalizations or by research beyond the scope of your assignment.  

How to come up with an analytical question  

One useful starting point when you’re trying to identify an analytical question is to look for points of tension in your sources, either within one source or among sources. It can be helpful to think of those points of tension as the moments where you need to stop and think before you can move forward. Here are some examples of where you may find points of tension:

• You may read a published view that doesn’t seem convincing to you, and you may want to ask a question about what’s missing or about how the evidence might be reconsidered.  
• You may notice an inconsistency, gap, or ambiguity in the evidence, and you may want to explore how that changes your understanding of something.  
• You may identify an unexpected wrinkle that you think deserves more attention, and you may want to ask a question about it.  
• You may notice an unexpected conclusion that you think doesn’t quite add up, and you may want to ask how the authors of a source reached that conclusion.  
• You may identify a controversy that you think needs to be addressed, and you may want to ask a question about how it might be resolved.  
• You may notice a problem that you think has been ignored, and you may want to try to solve it or consider why it has been ignored.  
• You may encounter a piece of evidence that you think warrants a closer look, and you may raise questions about it.  

Once you’ve identified a point of tension and raised a question about it, you will try to answer that question in your essay. Your main idea or claim in answer to that question will be your thesis.

• "How" and "why" questions generally require more analysis than "who/ what/when/where” questions.  
• Good analytical questions can highlight patterns/connections, or contradictions/dilemmas/problems.  
• Good analytical questions establish the scope of an argument, allowing you to focus on a manageable part of a broad topic or a collection of sources.  
• Good analytical questions can also address implications or consequences of your analysis.
• picture_as_pdf Asking Analytical Questions

Research Question Examples 🧑🏻‍🏫

Research Question Examples

• Psychology research questions
• Business research questions
• Education research questions
• Healthcare research questions
• Computer science research questions

Examples: Psychology

Let’s start by looking at some examples of research questions that you might encounter within the discipline of psychology.

How does sleep quality affect academic performance in university students?

This question is specific to a population (university students) and looks at a direct relationship between sleep and academic performance, both of which are quantifiable and measurable variables.

What factors contribute to the onset of anxiety disorders in adolescents?

The question narrows down the age group and focuses on identifying multiple contributing factors. There are various ways in which it could be approached from a methodological standpoint, including both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Do mindfulness techniques improve emotional well-being?

This is a focused research question aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intervention.

How does early childhood trauma impact adult relationships?

This research question targets a clear cause-and-effect relationship over a long timescale, making it focused but comprehensive.

Is there a correlation between screen time and depression in teenagers?

This research question focuses on an in-demand current issue and a specific demographic, allowing for a focused investigation. The key variables are clearly stated within the question and can be measured and analysed (i.e., high feasibility).

Examples: Business/Management

Next, let’s look at some examples of well-articulated research questions within the business and management realm.

How do leadership styles impact employee retention?

This is an example of a strong research question because it directly looks at the effect of one variable (leadership styles) on another (employee retention), allowing from a strongly aligned methodological approach.

What role does corporate social responsibility play in consumer choice?

Current and precise, this research question can reveal how social concerns are influencing buying behaviour by way of a qualitative exploration.

Does remote work increase or decrease productivity in tech companies?

Focused on a particular industry and a hot topic, this research question could yield timely, actionable insights that would have high practical value in the real world.

How do economic downturns affect small businesses in the homebuilding industry?

Vital for policy-making, this highly specific research question aims to uncover the challenges faced by small businesses within a certain industry.

Which employee benefits have the greatest impact on job satisfaction?

By being straightforward and specific, answering this research question could provide tangible insights to employers.

Examples: Education

Next, let’s look at some potential research questions within the education, training and development domain.

How does class size affect students’ academic performance in primary schools?

This example research question targets two clearly defined variables, which can be measured and analysed relatively easily.

Do online courses result in better retention of material than traditional courses?

Timely, specific and focused, answering this research question can help inform educational policy and personal choices about learning formats.

What impact do US public school lunches have on student health?

Targeting a specific, well-defined context, the research could lead to direct changes in public health policies.

To what degree does parental involvement improve academic outcomes in secondary education in the Midwest?

This research question focuses on a specific context (secondary education in the Midwest) and has clearly defined constructs.

What are the negative effects of standardised tests on student learning within Oklahoma primary schools?

This research question has a clear focus (negative outcomes) and is narrowed into a very specific context.

Need a helping hand?

Examples: Healthcare

Shifting to a different field, let’s look at some examples of research questions within the healthcare space.

What are the most effective treatments for chronic back pain amongst UK senior males?

Specific and solution-oriented, this research question focuses on clear variables and a well-defined context (senior males within the UK).

How do different healthcare policies affect patient satisfaction in public hospitals in South Africa?

This question is has clearly defined variables and is narrowly focused in terms of context.

Which factors contribute to obesity rates in urban areas within California?

This question is focused yet broad, aiming to reveal several contributing factors for targeted interventions.

Does telemedicine provide the same perceived quality of care as in-person visits for diabetes patients?

Ideal for a qualitative study, this research question explores a single construct (perceived quality of care) within a well-defined sample (diabetes patients).

Which lifestyle factors have the greatest affect on the risk of heart disease?

This research question aims to uncover modifiable factors, offering preventive health recommendations.

Examples: Computer Science

Last but certainly not least, let’s look at a few examples of research questions within the computer science world.

What are the perceived risks of cloud-based storage systems?

Highly relevant in our digital age, this research question would align well with a qualitative interview approach to better understand what users feel the key risks of cloud storage are.

Which factors affect the energy efficiency of data centres in Ohio?

With a clear focus, this research question lays a firm foundation for a quantitative study.

How do TikTok algorithms impact user behaviour amongst new graduates?

While this research question is more open-ended, it could form the basis for a qualitative investigation.

What are the perceived risk and benefits of open-source software software within the web design industry?

Practical and straightforward, the results could guide both developers and end-users in their choices.

Remember, these are just examples…

In this post, we’ve tried to provide a wide range of research question examples to help you get a feel for what research questions look like in practice. That said, it’s important to remember that these are just examples and don’t necessarily equate to good research topics . If you’re still trying to find a topic, check out our topic megalist for inspiration.

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133 excellent analytical report topics free to use.

In academia, analytical report writing is one of the predominant, essential aspects of research writing. It’s a technical aspect of report writing that requires the collating of a bunch of qualitative and quantitative data, gathering relevant findings which will help the researcher come to a reasonable and workable solution.

This pattern of research writing can be found in different fields but is prevalent within business writing, making it a primarily used writing technique in MBA classes. Topics for analytical reports are widespread among MBA students in both colleges and universities.

On the other hand, Analytical reporting has intrinsic parts that complete the writing process. They include; the title page, table of contents, a clause, the main discussion, the conclusions, the recommendations, and sections for bibliography or appendices, which are required only when necessary.

Understanding the various roles the parts play within an analytical report enables you to select an analytical report topic. You’ll find in this piece some fascinating analytical essay topics for college and easy analytical essay topics for your research.

Uncomplicated Topics for Analytical Report

As a student engulfed with loads of school work to constantly deal with, the last thing you’d want to add to your plate is working on a complicated topic for an analytical essay. Here are some easy, straightforward analytical essay ideas.

• Does digital marketing create more traction than traditional marketing has ever done?
• A study into the effects of the proliferation of digital marketing on young adults
• The relationship and distinction between digital marketing and digital advertising in the 21st century
• A study on how advertising in the 21st century has risen exponentially than in the 20th century using reliable data information
• An overview of some of the areas through which marketing will be challenged in the case of the decline of technology
• Advantages and disadvantages of using personal social media accounts for marketing and advertising reasons
• Some of the growing benefits of online shopping as against physical store shopping
• Accessing the impact of digital marketing on the growth and performance of a company
• Accessing the use of hybrid marketing strategy for upcoming businesses
• The effect of the global pandemic on small scale businesses
• A study of marketing strategy during the global lockdown
• Analyze the preparation of a digital marketing campaign
• Efficient ways to carry out digital marketing
• Effective digital advertising strategies
• Should discounts and gifts be regarded as an effective digital marketing strategy?
• Sampling as an effective marketing tool
• Marketing tips that enabled wellness companies to double their revenue amidst a pandemic
• Effective ways brands can carry out advertisements and marketing on products that are liable to cause health hazards
• Importance of using Instagram for marketing
• How Instagram is gradually turning into a business platform and how business owners can utilize it
• Instagram vs. Twitter: Which is most effective for carrying out products surveys
• A study on how small businesses can utilize Instagram stories to level up their revenue
• A study of social media content creation as a substantial part of marketing.

Advanced Analytical Research Paper Topics

Aside from focusing on easy topics for analytical essays while choosing your analytical report topic ideas, many advanced analytical research papers will need to be written as you advance in your degree. Here are some of the cutting-edge analytical report topics to look into.

• Reasons why certain businesses experience intense lapses in their first trimester.
• Some of the best ways through which the government can better regulate taxes in favor of small businesses.
• Why large scale businesses need to pay more in taxation.
• The effects of multiple taxations on small scale businesses.
• Causes of insufficient taxation targeted at large scale businesses.
• A Taxing Problem: Why taxing amongst small, medium, and large enterprises should be regulated according to the revenue power.
• A study on why low-income neighborhoods are at the lowest echelon of government care.
• High crime rates in low-income communities and how it’s being propagated by capitalism.
• Capitalism and Socialism: Which is the lesser evil?
• NeoCapitalism and its contribution to poverty rates.
• Pros and Cons of practicing capitalism in America.
• A study of the food waste system and food insecurity in America.
• Agriculture: why it’s not the answer to food insecurity.
• Analyze how poverty promotes the influx of capitalism into low-income neighborhoods.
• Gentrification as a capitalist means of impoverishing people in low-income neighborhoods.
• Should Small and Medium-sized enterprises pay tax?
• Importance of tax refunds.
• How racial inequalities primarily sponsor taxation.
• How does racial equality grow the economic power of a nation?
• Analyze the relationship between capitalism and neo-capitalism.
• Analytically discuss the causes of inflation and how it can be curbed in advanced countries like America
• Rising causes of the present recession faced by countries.
• Cappletalism: the end of Apple’s capitalization?
• Global Jihad and the impact of the Taliban’s victory.
• Analyze the Great Depression and how it shaped the industrial revolution.

Analytics Essay Topics for College Students

For college students looking for analytical topics on various issues for college assignments or which topic is best for an analytical essay, this list contains fascinating topics for analytical essay prompts.

• How does the Internet impact the behaviors of young adults?
• What processes could be carried out by fintech companies to achieve cashless and unrestricted transactions worldwide?
• An overview of the economic benefits of wireless transactions.
• Economic unrestricted transactions proffer.
• Pros and Cons of only using digital media for business transactions.
• Benefits of digital media as the only means of business promotion.
• What is the importance of promoting free healthcare in countries?
• Why older generations are victims of cyber fraud.
• Cyberbullying and ways to address it.
• Is anti-cyberbullying effective?
• Possible ways through which drug addiction amongst youths can be curbed.
• The role of education in enhancing one’s knowledge.
• The benefits of internet connectivity to businesses.
• Exploring the upside and downside of the global pandemic.
• Pros and Cons of online shopping.
• Effective measures to curbing alcohol and drug abuse amongst college students.
• Effective ways through which students can progress in their academics.
• Why screen time should be regulated for college students.
• Substantial causes of depression amongst college students.
• How social media influences character build.
• Worldwide thrifting as a viable means of curbing the rising consequences of fast fashion.
• A look into the causes of food insecurity in low-income neighborhoods.
• What governments fail to know about privacy infringement.
• The rise of cyberfraud and the implications of cryptocurrency.
• Explain how the Blockchain industry is a haven for criminals and frauds.

Analytical Paper Ideas on Environmental Issues

For students who are focusing their analytical report writing on environmental issues, there is a wide range of topics for an analytical essay in this field. Here are some analytical writing prompts to look into.

• What are the intrinsic benefits of encouraging the growth of house and indoor plants?
• Analyze the helpful impacts of encouraging the use of sustainable products in our environments.
• A study of the harmful effects of the constant use of plastics.
• How the continuous dumping of plastics in the ocean affects aquatic lives.
• Ways to encourage go-green strategies in the environment and possible ways to maintain it.
• The cost of moving from plastic to the use of sustainable products.
• How the use of bamboo for production purposes also affects the environment.
• World Earth Day: what does it signify and plausible ways to attain its purpose.
• Ways to find a balance between plastic use and sustainable products.
• Recycling: how does it benefit the environment?
• Ways to promote the use of sustainable products.
• Climate change: how to resolve it or plausible ways to manage it.
• An overview into global warming and how it is affecting our environments today.
• Some unnoticed effects of global warming on the animals in our environments.
• Effective ways to manage and control global warming.
• Agriculture: a study into how it can promote healthy living and curb the existing effects of global warming.
• Analysis on how planting can hinder the continuous upsurge of global warming in our society.
• A look into the cost of managing our environments.
• Health benefits of practicing green living.
• The connections between veganism and sustainable living.
• How to better manage plastic waste
• Effective ways to curb the widespread global warming.
• Why governments should implement the carbon tax.
• Carbon tax: benefiting the rich or the poor?
• Impact of sustainable fashion on global warming and climate change.

Analytical Essay Topic Ideas for Test and Practices

As a college student preparing to write your analytical report essay, most times, to keep you grounded, you’ll be required to carry out some tests and practices to ensure your familiarity with the writing. Here are some analytical essay topic prompts to assist you.

• What is the distinction between personality and one’s upbringing?
• How does one’s upbringing interfere with their personality?
• On dealing with issues of the abortion ban, how does this deny women access to care for their bodies?
• The effects of promoting abortion pill control
• A study on how abortion regulation tampers with human and women’s rights
• How could suicide as a growing social epidemic be curbed in our societies
• Harmful effects of cyberbullying on teenagers and how it affects their psyche
• Mental health: Why therapy should be a free healthcare benefit
• Teacher-Student relationship and how it interferes with the etiquettes of teaching and learning
• What are the ways government can promote free therapy services to underserved citizens?
• Psychology: A case study of some of the vital ways through which family affects the psychological reactions of children
• How living in foster homes and growing up as foster kid impacts how most people see the world
• Food insecurity and how it affects the academic performance of most students
• Welfare services: A study on whether or not welfare services should be promoted in underdeveloped countries
• At what stage does a country move from underdeveloped to developing?
• What is the significant distinction between underdeveloped countries and developing countries?
• An analysis into the root causes of child mortality rate in black and low-income neighborhoods in America
• A study of recession and inflation and how they both impact the economic well-being of a given country
• An analytical study of sex, gender, gender roles and how they all impact the society
• A study of the harmful results of unresolved cases of teenage drug abuse and how it causes growth deficit
• Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and how government should help in promoting them
• The distinction and similarities between rehabilitation centers and alcoholic anonymous meetings

Interesting Analytical Writing Topics

It’s important to note that analytical essay topics can focus on any particular issue at all. The following contains some exciting analysis topics and ideas you can explore.

• A study on how GRE exams enable college students to make better choices in school
• A look into the benefits of GRE exams to international students
• Why international students should pay attention to exams like IELTS
• The importance of introducing race relation topics to high school and college students
• An in-depth comparison of the education system in the UK and that of the US
• Exploring the issue of student loans and possible ways to curb it
• Why every student, both foreign and local students should aspire towards fully funded scholarships
• The importance of fully-funded scholarships to students from underdeveloped countries
• The devaluation of currencies and how this affects the global economy
• An in-depth analysis into how the global pandemic disrupted the global economy
• Analyze the Pros and Cons of government stimulus checks handed out during the pandemic
• What are the ways through which coronavirus can be curbed effectively across the globe
• Is Coronavirus an effect of global warming?
• The emergence of 5G networks and where technology hopes to go shortly
• Compare and Contrast the 4G network and 5G network and ways through which they promote globalization
• Is email marketing the most viable means of digital marketing?
• What are some of the underlying influences of the interference of politics in business and how it could hinder or promote sustainable growth
• The importance of restricting the upsurge of gentrification in low-income neighborhoods
• Gender roles: how does the social assigning of various functions to different genders contribute to gender-based violence in our society?
• Screen time: Why students should ensure to practice boundaries on how they use the internet and social media
• Possible ways to regulate the high risk of crimes prevalent in low-income neighborhoods
• A study of the effects of policing the female body.

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• Writing Strong Research Questions | Criteria & Examples

Writing Strong Research Questions | Criteria & Examples

Published on October 26, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research question pinpoints exactly what you want to find out in your work. A good research question is essential to guide your research paper , dissertation , or thesis .

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

Table of contents

How to write a research question, what makes a strong research question, using sub-questions to strengthen your main research question, research questions quiz, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research questions.

You can follow these steps to develop a strong research question:

• Choose your topic
• Do some preliminary reading about the current state of the field
• Narrow your focus to a specific niche
• Identify the research problem that you will address

The way you frame your question depends on what your research aims to achieve. The table below shows some examples of how you might formulate questions for different purposes.

Using your research problem to develop your research question

Note that while most research questions can be answered with various types of research , the way you frame your question should help determine your choices.

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Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them. The criteria below can help you evaluate the strength of your research question.

Focused and researchable

Feasible and specific

Complex and arguable

Relevant and original

Chances are that your main research question likely can’t be answered all at once. That’s why sub-questions are important: they allow you to answer your main question in a step-by-step manner.

Good sub-questions should be:

• Less complex than the main question
• Focused only on 1 type of research
• Presented in a logical order

Here are a few examples of descriptive and framing questions:

• Descriptive: According to current government arguments, how should a European bank tax be implemented?
• Descriptive: Which countries have a bank tax/levy on financial transactions?
• Framing: How should a bank tax/levy on financial transactions look at a European level?

Keep in mind that sub-questions are by no means mandatory. They should only be asked if you need the findings to answer your main question. If your main question is simple enough to stand on its own, it’s okay to skip the sub-question part. As a rule of thumb, the more complex your subject, the more sub-questions you’ll need.

Try to limit yourself to 4 or 5 sub-questions, maximum. If you feel you need more than this, it may be indication that your main research question is not sufficiently specific. In this case, it’s is better to revisit your problem statement and try to tighten your main question up.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, it’s important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. Use preliminary evaluation to determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth.

This involves:

• Reading abstracts , prefaces, introductions , and conclusions
• Looking at the table of contents to determine the scope of the work
• Consulting the index for key terms or the names of important scholars

A research hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question. The research hypothesis usually includes an explanation (“ x affects y because …”).

A statistical hypothesis, on the other hand, is a mathematical statement about a population parameter. Statistical hypotheses always come in pairs: the null and alternative hypotheses . In a well-designed study , the statistical hypotheses correspond logically to the research hypothesis.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

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Writing Resources

Asking analytical questions.

This handout is available for download in DOCX format and PDF format .

An important step in writing academic essays is to ask a good analytical question: one that poses a challenging way to address the central text(s) you will write about. Establishing that question won’t be your first step—you will need to do some observing and annotating, and even some interpreting, as a way of developing the question itself. But focusing on what that question might be early in your analysis helps you approach your essay with something to explore: an idea to discover (that will inform your thesis) for both you and your readers.

Think of the question as something you’re truly interested in exploring as you read—an exploration you want to guide your reader through, since not everyone reading the text will come away with the same impressions and interpretations you do. (One of the truisms of writing is that if you’re not discovering something as you write your essay, your readers probably aren’t either!)

A good analytical question:

• Speaks to a genuine dilemma in the text . In other words, the question focuses on a real confusion, ambiguity or grey area of the text, about which readers will conceivably have different reactions, opinions, or interpretations. It is NOT responding to a misreading or an oversimplification of the text.
• Yields an answer that is not obvious . In a question such as “Why did Romeo flee to Mantua” there’s nothing to explore; it’s too specific and can be answered too easily. (Because the Capulets wanted to kill him.) By contrast, a question such as “How does Romeo’s reaction to his banishment complicate our understanding of his character?” will lead to an answer that is not immediately obvious.
• Suggests an answer complex enough to require a whole essay’s worth of argument . If the question is too vague—for example, “Why do the same kinds of people always appear in advertisements?”—it won’t suggest a line of argument. The question should elicit analysis and argument rather than summary or description: for example, “How do the models who appear in cosmetics advertisements demonstrate a Western cultural obsession with youth?”
• Can be answered by the text, rather than by generalizations or by copious external research . For example, “How did common Elizabethan attitudes toward mental illness affect Shakespeare’s depiction of madness?” would require significant historical research. By contrast, a question like “How do the differences between Shakespeare’s portrayals of madness in Ophelia and in King Lear demonstrate the author’s differing gender expectations?” is readily answerable using the texts themselves.

Tips to keep in mind

• “How” and “why” questions generally require more analysis and complex thinking than “who,” “what,” “when,” and “where” questions; they are thus generally better suited for essay writing.
• Good analytical questions have the potential to highlight relationships between different sources or phenomena: patterns, connections, contradictions, dilemmas, and problems.
• Good analytical questions can also ask about some implications or consequences of your analysis.

In summary, your analytical question should be answerable, given the available evidence—but not immediately, and not in the same way by all readers. Your thesis should give at least a provisional answer to the question, an answer that needs to be defended and developed. Your goal is to help readers understand why this question is worth answering, why this feature of the text is problematic, and to send them back to the text with a new perspective or a different focus.

Adapted from Kerry Walk by Doug Kirshen & Robert Cochran

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• Research Topics

100 Free Analytical Research Paper Topics For College Students

When students start looking for analytical research paper topics, it usually means that they got an assignment that’s making them nervous. Writing could be an exciting process, but the academic kind of it is worrisome because you risk receiving a failing grade and ruining your score. A lot of things depend on the topics you select for your research, not to mention your general understanding of concepts.

Analytical paper is an analysis where you introduce an issue, divide it into several points, explore and analyze them, and reach a specific conclusion. Such a task is important because it gives you a chance to sharpen your skills at offering criticism and boosts your analytical thinking. With this question out of the way, it is time to focus on topic selection. Once you get a grasp on it, writing will become easier!

Secret of Picking Good Analytical Research Paper Topics

As long as you have some great ideas for research, developing a paper is likely to go smoothly. But where to find something to get yourself going? You could contact your teacher and discuss ideas with them — or you could check different tips we’ve developed.

• Pick Among Your Interests.  What do you like? Compose a list of your hobbies or issues that intrigue you. This could be a favorite movie — for instance, you could explore how the media changed over the years and use this movie as an example. Books are also a solid idea: analyze how writer’s techniques helped make a particular piece outstanding. Research how your favorite activity started, examine someone’s background, etc.
• Read Articles.  Conduct research on current critical issues. As soon as you access some news site, you’ll see lots of articles on different topics. Skip through them briefly. Leave the ones you liked open, and sooner or later, you’ll locate your analytical research paper topic.
• Brainstorm with Friends. Your friends could offer you some great prompts if you discuss your paper with them. Overall, discussions are fun, and they trigger creativity, so it’s a sure way to find interesting topics. Your classmates could fit the bill as well: since they are facing the same task, you could benefit from talking to them about your ideas.
• Find Online Help.  A huge number of students were where you are now. They all wrote papers and looked for appropriate topics. You can find these discussions online and get some inspiration from them. Picking useful sources is also important because without them, you won’t know whether you’ll be able to support your work properly. Be sure you find enough of them before you proceed with your writing.

Formal, Technical, Personal, and Literary Analysis Research Paper Topics

Another popular way of finding topics is through looking at prepared online lists. They have many options you could use for your paper, and that’s what we tried to do below. Look at these 100 ideas. Try them out, and if anything stirs your interest, use it in your work.

Past is often dark and mysterious. There are many intricate aspects that could be made into analytical research paper topics ideas for history, so why not explore them?

• How Did the United Kingdom Succeed in Creating Many Colonies Around the World?
• Explain How African Continent Evolved Over the Last 50 Years: Why Is It Still Poor?
• What Made Nazis Forget About Humanity So Quickly and Participate in Monstrosities Against Others With No Hesitation?
• Examine What Caused the Trade War between US, Russia, & China
• What Goals Did Protestant Formation Follow & What Did They Achieve?
• Elaborate on How Vietnam War Began & What Results It Had
• Which Ancient War Victories Still Affect Our World?
• Why Do Many People Consider the Start of US Development as Bloody and Violent?
• Which Victories Helped Women Gain More Rights?
• Why Do Many People in Mexico Try to Immigrate Even If It Is Illegal?

Nursing and Healthcare Topics

Medical world is getting profoundly relevant due to the spread of COVID. Look at these topics for analytical research paper nursing to understand this problem better.

• Is There a Professional Way of Sharing Bad News with Victims’ Families?
• What Makes People Amenable to the Idea of Using COVID Vaccine Despite the Lack of Trials
• Which Genetic Problems Are Likely to Be Passed to Children & Why
• How Many Autistic Children Grow Up to Be Completely Independent
• Is It Really Possible to Strengthen Someone’s Immune System?
• What Are the Likeliest Factors of Cancer & Could They Be Alleviated?
• What Makes Hand Hygiene So Essential in Hospitals?
• Why Did Scientists Decide to Learn How to Grow New Cells?
• Why Do We Need Stem Cell Research & What Could It Lead To?
• Does Anxiety Have Any Positive Effects on a Body?

Business Analytical Research Paper Topic Ideas

How about research paper business analytics topics? Companies are suffering because of lockdowns, and their operations are changing. It could be exciting to study them.

• How Is Strong Organizational Culture Built at the Workplace?
• How Did the Idea for SWOT Analysis Evolve & What Is Its Purpose?
• What Threats Do Businesses Face in the Current Time?
• Analyze the Origins of Coca Cola Company: Why and How Did It Reach Such a Tremendous Success?
• Is Corporate Social Responsibility Really That Important?
• Are There Strategies That Could Help Save a Business That Is Going Bankrupt?
• Who Are Stakeholders and How Much Responsibility Do They Have?
• In What Ways Does Cognitive Computing Improve Business Performance?
• Pick Any Data Analytics Software & Perform Its Analysis
• Are Performance Scorecards Effective or Demotivating for Employees?

Literature Analytical Paper Topics

Literature analytical research paper topics are always in demand because no matter how many years pass, people’s love for reading prevails. Would you like to offer your critique on something?

• Conduct Rhetorical Analysis on Any Speech In a Story You Like: What Makes It Effective?
• Explain Why Some Books Received Negative Critics’ Review in the Past Only to Become Wildly Popular Now
• How Is Violence Depicted in Old Novels versus in New Ones?
• How Did World War 2 Inspire Writers of That Time and Beyond?
• Analyze Character Development in Your Favorite Novel
• What Is Special About Shakespeare’s Works That Makes People Passionate About Them Even Today?
• What Is the Meaning of Escapism & How Important Is It for People?
• What Could We Derive About People’s Social Status From Books of 18-20th Centuries?
• Did JK Rowling Create a Consistent Narrative or Does It Have Major Plot holes?
• What Can We Say About Shifts in Morality When Comparing Old and New Literature?

Analytical Research Topics in Psychology

Understanding humans’ minds is fascinating. These psychology analytical research paper topics will let you pick some of the best ones.

• Why Do People Have Different Ideas on What Love Is?
• Explain What Being a Latent Homosexual Means
• What Is Dangerous About Repressing Your Feelings?
• Have Freud’s Works Become Outdated at This Point?
• Did Erikson Define the Stages of Human Psychological Development Correctly?
• What Factors Trigger Pack Mentality in People?
• Do Gender Stereotypes Have Any Roots in Psychology?
• Do Women Who Had an Abortion Experience Any Negative Post-Effects?
• Explore How Children Who Saw Abuse Might Build Their Own Families
• Is the Oedipus Complex Real or Is Something Else Lying Behind It?

Not everyone likes economics, but there are still plenty of cool topics for analytical research paper in this sphere. Check them out!

• What Economic Impacts Does Aging Population Have?
• Is Governments’ Refusal to Control Birth Number Dangerous From the Point of Economy?
• Does Past Slavery Still Affect World Economy?
• What Tensions Do US and China Experience in Their Economic Relationship?
• Did Sanctions Affect the Economic Development of Russia?
• Examine Globalization as a Concept: How Does It Affect Us?
• Do the Flows of Immigrants Contribute to Economic Growth?
• What Causes Economic Recession in Countries?
• Which Factors Help Establish Interest Rates
• Rise and Fall of a Dollar: How and Why Does Currency Change?

Sports Topics for Analytical Research Paper

What is your opinion on sports? Would you like to learn more about some events or people involved in it? If so, look at these examples of analytical research paper topics.

• Is Being a Sportsman Profitable These Days?
• Is There a Chance of Sportive Activities Surviving After Repeated Lockdowns?
• Why Is Sport Regarded as Masculine Kind of Hobby?
• Examine Most Popular Sport in Your Country: What Made It Stand Out?
• What Makes Many Sportsmen Turn to Doping?
• Does Caffeine Improve or Damage Sport Performance?
• Do the Costs Involved in Rehabilitation of Sportsmen Justify the Results?
• What Is Free Style Boxing & How Legal Is It?
• Are Female Sport Stars More Prone to Getting Injuries?
• What Motivates Young Sportsmen to Keep Trying Despite Few Chances at Success They Have?

Our cultural norms differ across countries and continents. Sociology is an undoubtedly interesting sector, so check these US, UK, Russia, and Canada analytical research paper topics.

• Why Is It So Easy to Fake News These Days?
• What Pushes People to Engage in Feminism?
• Explore the Existing Youth Cultures & Find Out What They Say About New Generations
• How Easy Is It For People to Make Friends with Those Living in Other Countries?
• What Social Movements Shaped Our World Most Significantly?
• Is There a Link between Gender and Social Position?
• What Causes Conflicts between Different Classes?
• Does Equality Exist in Our Society Or Is This Concept a Myth?
• How Do Gender Stereotypes Affect Boys’ and Men’s Behavior?
• Why & For How Long Have People Been Fighting Against Birth Control?

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Politics Analytical Research Ideas

Politics never fails to make people passionate. Sometimes it happens in a bad way, sometimes in a good one. Look at options we’ve devised.

• Is There Fairness in Politics or Does Money Buy Everything?
• Are Male and Female Politicians Treated Equally by the Media in the US?
• Do You Approve of Political Regiments in Your Country? Why & Why Not?
• Should Actions of Politicians Be Controlled by Independent Entities?
• Explain Why Monarchy Grew to Be Relevant
• Which Electoral System Is Better in Terms of Countries?
• Is the US Responsible for Helping ISIS Rise and Unleash Terror?
• Could Speeches Given by Politicians Be Considered Inspiring?
• Why Is US Government Spreading Stereotypes About Other Countries?
• Should Democracy Be Absolute for Establishing Peace?

Education Research Topics for Analytical Paper

High school, college, university — education is certainly many-layered. As a student, you might find the following topics useful.

• Is Studying Online Better Than Studying Physically?
• Is Making Students Wear Uniform an Acceptable Decision?
• Examine the Value of Modern Education for Our Youth
• What Is Giving Homework Supposed to Accomplish?
• Are E-Books the Answer to Cutting Costs on Education?
• Is the Modern American Education System Corrupt?
• How Do Teachers Encourage Bullying at Schools?
• Have Some Subjects Become Redundant at This Point?
• Do Teachers Play a Relevant Role in Students’ Lives?
• Why Is Education Becoming More Expensive?

Enjoy Writing and Seek Assistance When In Need

The choice of themes is never-ending. You could pick analytical research paper topics in business, culture, politics, history, etc. — all depends on your preferences. But of course, even this strategy doesn’t always help as students often get into difficult situations where they cannot find time for writing. It could be a fight with loved ones, depression, physical tiredness, or any other issues. Sometimes instructions are overly complex, and in these instances, outside help is essential.

Our firm employs a competent team of the best writers who have a long and solid experience. They’ll study your guidelines, conduct research, and compose a unique paper in a way that your professors will like. No risks are involved because our terms protect you first and foremost: in case of any problem, your money will be returned to you. Chat with us, ask any questions, and we’ll get started right away!

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