Level 1-2: Defining Your Research Question and Objectives

The question you ask decides everything that follows. This level turns the fuzzy "I'd like to study something about... " into a crisp, answerable, fundable research question, then pressure-tests it with the very tools reviewers and funders use. Master this and you master the skill that separates researchers who get funded from those who don't.

Who this level is for

Anyone with a research idea or curiosity they want to sharpen, from first-time researchers to experienced clinicians who were never taught how to frame a question, plus motivated learners from any field. No statistics needed. Recommended after Level 1, though the momentum carries anyone.

What you'll learn

• What separates a strong research question from a vague topic
• How to narrow a broad concern into one clear, specific question
• Where good questions come from, literature, clinical practice, conferences and mentors
• How to screen your question with the FINER test (Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant)
• How to set primary vs secondary questions and translate them into SMART objectives
• A first, gentle look at hypotheses and what they add

You finish with: Your polished research question + SMART objectives.