More Information on Good Research Questions by Dr. Krueckeberg and Dr. Noel of Plymouth State University
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A good research question is...

Good questions compare and contrast, look for cause and effect, impact, and they contextualize.  They also look for change over time, illustrate trends, and evaluate relationships.

Significant

There must be something important at stake in the answer-- it must have consequences.

Researchable

There need to be valid scholarly and available sources, both primary and secondary, on the topic.

Narrow

The question should not be open ended and have a credible and concise answer.

Debatable

The answer to the question needs to be complex in that there are many possible answers, but one answer you believe is superior.

Bad Questions:

  • Rewords the topic, ie. What war was fought against the German Nazis in the European Theater?
  • Can be answered by simple facts, ie. What years did WWII take place?
  • Are too big, ie. What caused WWII?
  • Are too vague, ie. Does history repeat itself?
  • Are morally one sided, ie. Is genocide a legitimate political solution?
  • Cannot be disproved, ie. Did the Allied forces win WWII?
  • Do not have legitimate primary sources accessible to answer, ie. Were aliens responsible for U.S. involvement in WWII?
  • Draw out a report-like response, ie. What were the events of WWII?

Good Questions:

  • Help choose evidence, ie. What arguments were made at the time against the United State's use of atomic bombs against Japan?
  • Require critical thinking, ie. What military advances enabled the air force to deliver the atom bomb?  
  • Give a position on which to build an argument, ie. Who benefitted from the dropping of the atom bomb?
  • Suggest what primary sources you will need, ie. How did domestic newspapers represent dropping of the atom bomb to the U.S. public?
  • Suggest what secondary sources you will need, ie. In what ways do early responses to the atom bomb differ from modern interpretations?
  • Answers other's curiosity, ie. In what ways is the lesson of the atomic bomb applicable today?