Most PhD students fail at research questions. (I used to be one of them) See, back when I started my research journey, I thought coming up with research questions was luck. Just throw something at the wall and hope it sticks. Wrong. After helping 100s of students with their research, I've discovered a secret 4-step question formula: 1. Start with scope Don't jump straight to questions. First, outline your broad area in 1-2 sentences. Example: "Virtual reality user interactions" This gives you boundaries to work within. 2. Identify the gap & problem What specific problem needs solving? Make it obvious. Example: "VR motion sickness during extended use" • Look for contradictions in existing studies • Spot practical problems without solutions • Find areas with limited research 3. Justify your research This is where 90% mess up! Ask yourself: • What's missing in current research? • Why does this need investigation? • How will this add value? Without solid justification, R2 kills your question. 4. Write down your questions Start broad, then get specific: 1. Write down every possible question 2. Pick out your main research question 3. Add supporting questions that help answer it It's logical. It's connecting. It's a kind of magic. I've used this exact formula to get published. Top journals. Top conferences. Top students. Bye, bye, random ideas. Hello, research systems.