Succinctly defining the research question is key to a successful resident research project. The research question should be defined as early as possible in the residency year. In their book, Designing Clinical Research, Hulley and Cummings describe the use of the mnemonic FINER1 in developing the research question. FINER1 is defined below:
Feasible
• Adequate number of subjects
• Adequate technical expertise
• Affordable in time and money
• Manageable in scope
Interesting to the Investigator
Novel
• Confirms or refutes previous findings
• Extends previous findings
• Provides new findings
Ethical
Relevant
•To scientific knowledge
•To clinical and health policy
•To future research directions
Once the research question is drafted, it should be circulated to experienced researchers associated with the residency program for review. One forum for review of the research question, and other components of the proposed study, is a regular research seminar that is attended by the residents and the residency faculty, including those with research experience.
For an extensive discussion of his topic, see Dr. Earlene Lipowski’s article on developing great research questions.
1Cummings SR, Browner WS, Hulley SB. Conceiving the Research Question. In: Hulley SB, Cummings SR, eds. Designing Clinical Research. Vol 1. 1 ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1988:12-17.
Also see: