Can the Research Paper Title be a Question? Start How or What?
The question of whether a research paper title can be a question is not a new one. Many people claim that research paper titles cannot be questions; however, there are some who believe otherwise.
The research paper title should be a question that invites your reader in as if you were opening a mystery novel, and the first few pages want to force the reader to read on.
In this article, you will learn how to make research paper titles clickable and why titles should be questions. Keep reading for more additional information.
Can Research Paper Titles be Questions?
A research paper title can be a question if it encompasses both the study and the thesis the paper seeks to prove. That is the best way to summarize the contents of the paper and present the thesis of the study in brief. If the question brings out the thesis summary, then it is OK to have it as your research paper title.
Also, as long as it highlights the work involved and is informative, they can also be questions. Some disciplines prefer that research paper titles should be interrogative.
For example, in the biological sciences, an interrogative title might be preferable:
How Does Environmental Stress Affect Cell Division in Daphnia?
Although this title is informative and specific, it does not reveal the presented information or the methodology being used.
You will have to decide if an interrogative title is better for your discipline. An interrogative approach might be best if you are writing about experimental data.
Situations when a Question fits to be a Title
While many headlines start with a question, there are some special circumstances where it may be especially effective:
1. When your Brand is Known for Answers/Solutions
Such applies in specific circumstances. For instance, a company known as a source of answers to questions or solutions to problems can use a question as a headline. For example, “How Do I Become a Millionaire?” or “How Do I Get Rid of This Pimple?”
2. When you want to get Personal
A question in the headline can help you connect with the reader by getting personal. For example, “Was the virus mutating with time or not?
3. When you want to Create Mild Controversy
A question can be useful to tease something controversial and make people wonder. For example, “Why Are We Still Fighting About Evolution?”
4. When you have an Unexpected Answer
A question that leads readers to believe they already know the answer but then gives them an unexpected answer can be effective and memorable.
5. When your Question is Especially Clear and Unambiguous
If you put your research question concisely and clearly, it makes you hit the facts right. It is great to put everything in plain and help the audience know how you answered the research question.
6. When your Question is Specific and can be Answered by a Single Post
You make your title to be in a question form to allow you to answer it in the entire post. It makes more sense if the audience discovers that you are answering whatever the title is seeking answers.
7. When the Question is an Essential Premise or Conclusion of the Post
In whatever case, as you use a question in the title, the audience should follow the flow of your paper and get the right answer as per what the title is demanding. As earlier captured, the answer can be in the entire body before you conclude.
Tips on How to Write Good Research Paper Titles
Writing a research paper title may seem a simple task, but it requires serious thought. It might come as a surprise to most people that an author, having successfully written a detailed account of their research study, experiences a block while attempting to title the research paper.
This happens because the author has not yet had the opportunity to develop the appropriate language needed to summarize their work and therefore falls into the trap of merely naming the research project.
A good title should provide information about the focus of your research study.
In other words, it should reflect the main idea and the subject matter that you investigate in the paper.
If you are writing a research paper for a particular course, the professor may require that you use a specific citation style for the assignment.
Read through your assignment sheet and any information in the textbook.
For example, some professors prefer that you use APA style, while others may want MLA formatting. Others can request you to write personal essays that need little to no research.
Whatever is required, be sure to check your guidelines to find out the specific rules to follow.
The title of your research paper should appear in the center of the page, about halfway down it. The title should not be underlined or italicized; it should be written in title case (meaning that most nouns in the title are capitalized).
If there is a subtitle, it should also be centered on its line beneath the title, not underlined or italicized (and only capitalize its first word).
In summary, here are the tips on how to write good research paper titles:
1. Write titles that are interesting
2. Use keywords in your title
3. Make sure that your title is clear, concise, and descriptive
4. Avoid using abbreviations in your research paper title
5. Write the first draft of your research paper title without worrying too much about word length or cutting and trimming words.
Can a Research Title start with How or What?
A research paper title can start with ‘How’ or What if the content seeks to prove the how or the what of the topic or question. Not only can a title start with How, but it must start that way if you are asking a question. You can start with How, When, What, Where, Why, Who. It all depends on what your research is about.
The only thing that matters is that the title describes your research content. If a title makes sense for your research, it’s perfectly OK to use it.
More importantly, if a research title starts with ‘How,’ it is not wrong, but it might be a little cliche.
Your title should be simple and inform the reader of what they can expect to find in the rest of your paper.
The title is the first thing that editors, reviewers, and readers see, and it is your chance to make a good first impression.
Example:
- How to Write a Research Paper
- How to Apply for a Loan
- How to Install a New Operating System
The word “how” denotes that such research is being conducted to find out how a certain condition may occur or how an organism can perform a certain task. It is very common to see words like “what, when, why, and where” in the title of papers or articles that are published online.
Moreover, if your title starts with “How,” the introduction should explain how something works and why it is important to examine in a research paper. If your title starts with “The Importance of,” then your thesis statement should also explain why this topic is important enough to study.
Question title examples?
The most interesting research questions are those that are novel as well as relevant to the field. Beware, some research topics have already been done to death; it is very difficult to contribute something new and original to them. e.g., anxiety and depression, childhood trauma, etc.
Some examples of research questions:
1. What is the prevalence of mental illness in prison inmates?
2. Is there a connection between intelligence (IQ) and anorexia nervosa?
3. Does the type of family structure (e.g., single-parent, nuclear family, and stepfamily) impact child development?
4. Can you associate different types of exercise with different types of injury?
5. What are the causes of injuries in professional American football players?
6. Do female runners have more knee injuries than male runners?
7. How do injuries affect the performance of tennis players?