Overview
This skill guides the Research Agent in formulating research questions (Research Questions/RQ) that are sharp, measurable, and focused based on the research gap (research gap) that has been previously identified. The goal is to ensure that the research has clear operational boundaries, explicit objectives, and measurable scientific contributions.
Dependencies
discover-phenomenon-and-gap
Quick Start
Example usage: "Use the research-question-builder skill to formulate research questions and scientific contributions based on the methodological gap in evaluating the robustness of LLM models."
Workflow
1. Deconstruction & Gap Analysis
- Evaluate the targeted research gap (research gap) from the search stage.
- Ensure that the gap is not merely "not much studied", but has academic justification (such as methodological limitations, inconsistent findings, or data bias).
2. Formulation of Research Questions (RQ)
- Formulate 2 to 4 specific research questions (RQs).
- Ensure the questions use question words that encourage critical analysis (e.g., "How...", "To what extent...", "Why...") instead of closed yes/no questions.
3. Determining Research Objectives
- Align each RQ with concrete research objectives (Objectives).
- Use measurable operational verbs (e.g., "Analyze...", "Develop...", "Evaluate...", "Validate...").
4. Mapping Research Contributions
Classify the potential contributions of this research into three dimensions:
- Theoretical Contribution: How the research extends, refines, or challenges existing conceptual theory.
- Methodological Contribution: New tools, metrics, experimental workflows, or algorithm modifications offered.
- Practical Contribution: Solutions or direct implications for industry, policy, or practical problem-solving in the field.
5. Scope Limitation
- Determine what limitations will not be discussed in this research (for example, specific dataset types, hardware platform limitations, or certain parameter ranges) to maintain research focus.
6. Research Question Formulation Report Format
The formulation results must be presented in the following structured table format:
| Research Gap | Research Question (RQ) | Objective (Purpose) | Main Contributions (Theoretical/Methodological/Practical) | Scope Limitations (Scope) |
|---|
Common Mistakes & Critical Rules
- RQ Too Descriptive or Simple: Creating an RQ whose answer can be obtained only with a basic Google search (e.g., "What is algorithm X?"). The RQ must require empirical testing or in-depth analysis.
- Objectives and RQ Not Aligned: The number or essence of the research objectives is not aligned with the research questions posed.
- Overclaiming Contributions: Claiming revolutionary contributions without a realistic basis of proof within the research limitations.
- Absence of Scope Limitations: Making the research scope too broad so that it is difficult to complete within the research timeframe.