This comment by Megan A. K. Peters, offers a detailed, iterative framework for developing high-quality research questions that go beyond standard criteria like clarity and tractability. This process is broken down into four phases: Phase 1: a self-critical brainstorm, which encourages curiosity and self-dialogue; Phase 2: building context and connections, which involves wide reading across disciplines; Phase 3: distilling to the essence, where previous work is critically evaluated for opportunities for extension; and Phase 4: the final product, which focuses on pinpointing a precise and novel question. The text also outlines four common traps to avoid, such as the unnecessary "hypothesis requirement" or becoming overly attached to an initial question. Ultimately, the author frames the creation of good research questions not as an isolated insight, but as an ongoing process fueled by creativity and critical self-evaluation.
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