A research question must address a gap in the literature, something unknown or understudied. Your problem statement, purpose, and questions need to use the same specific terms so they reinforce each other and keep you focused on solving the actual problem.
Quite simply your problem, or your problem statement, as many schools call it, boils down to what don't we know? What hasn't been studied? What's the gap in the literature? Your purpose is ultimately to get to the problem. The purpose of this study is to address the problem. And finally, your research questions are the questions that are going to allow you to get to your problem. So you want them all to go in the same direction. And here's a hint. If you use specific words, you're going to need to use the same words over and over again. And if you're looking for assistance with your research questions, join our free Dissertation Help community to get help from dissertation chairs who've helped many people get through this process and graduate.
