In AP Research, students are required to develop original research questions, which they will then pursue and investigate for the duration of the academic year. They will use their questions to develop a scholarly focus in a topic under study by a specific academic discipline, using the conventions of that discipline to conduct original research.

In my courses, I have students apply the FINER research question acrostic to determine if they have a good research question.

The RAVEN acrostic stands for:

F = Feasible

I = Interesting

N = Novel

E = Ethical

R = Researchable

The fillable assignment gives students an accessible way to assess the quality of their research questions, and to begin considering some of the most important considerations in the research process.

This could be used in any course in which students are required to develop independent research questions.