The research question generally dictates the research approach: quantitative or qualitative (Curry, n.d.). Qualitative questions are exploratory in foundation, inductive, but scientific, with purposeful sampling in a natural setting (Curry, n.d.). The research statement and questions summarize the goals of the research (Glesne, 2016). The interrelatedness of the statement and questions first help to provide answers to the question ultimately connected to the purpose of the research and thus briefly described in the purpose statement (Glesne, 2016). Furthermore, since the main question is expansive, a set of sub-questions are helpful in narrowing the focus (Richards, 2020). As Glesne (2016) points out, the research statement and the research questions define components of what will be studied. Research questions guide the researcher in choosing appropriate theories for data collection and in the creation of interview questions (Glesne, 2016). The development of a research question should provide information about the topic to potential readers, help the researcher in determining theoretical background, and assess decisions through the process (O’Leary, 2005).
