research-question

name	research-question
description	Campaign: Refine hypotheses into precise, framed research questions
version	1.0.0
category	hypothesis-formation
type	campaign
input	Hypothesis + domain constraints (from hypothesis-formulation or user-provided)
output	Framed research question + scope + success criteria + sub-questions
strategies	["framework-guided-formulation","scope-calibration","decomposition-formulation","comparative-formulation","feasibility-constrained-formulation"]
tactics	["framework-selection-and-application","question-refinement-loop","sub-question-decomposition"]
dependencies	{"campaigns":["hypothesis-formulation"],"strategies":["comparative-formulation","decomposition-formulation","feasibility-constrained-formulation","framework-guided-formulation","scope-calibration"],"sops":["context-checkpoint","context-init","hypothesis-formation-quality-gate-check","hypothesis-formation-saturation-detection","question-synthesis"]}

Research Question Formulation

Refine hypotheses into precise research questions — answering "how do we refine a hypothesis into a precise research question?"

HARD-GATE

Preconditions (all must hold before starting): 1. At least 1 clear hypothesis or research direction has been established 2. The research domain and constraints are known 3. The target audience is clear (academic paper? project report?)

Not satisfied → stop, recommend completing hypothesis-formulation or clarifying the research direction first.

Campaign Goal

Transform a "testable hypothesis" into a "precise research question" — the question must have a clear scope, measurable success criteria, and decomposable sub-questions. The output is a research question that can directly guide experiment design or literature review.

Strategy Selection

Strategy	When to Use	Core action
framework-guided-formulation	Research type is clear, with a corresponding standard framework	Select framework → fill in
scope-calibration	Question is too broad or too narrow	zoom in/out
decomposition-formulation	High question complexity, not answerable by a single experiment	Decompose
comparative-formulation	A comparison of A vs B is needed	Construct the comparison
feasibility-constrained-formulation	The ideal question exceeds available resources	Pragmatic adjustment

The CC selects autonomously based on hypothesis characteristics and constraints. A common combination: framework-guided → scope-calibration → decomposition.

Budget Gate

Tier	Framework assessment	RQ output	FINER check	Sub-questions
S	≥2 framework comparisons	≥1 precise RQ	All 5 items pass	Optional
M	≥3 framework comparisons	≥2 precise RQs	All 5 items pass + success criteria	≥3 sub-questions
L	≥4 framework comparisons	≥3 precise RQs	All 5 items pass + criteria + answering sequence	≥5 sub-questions + dependency graph

Research Question Structure (standard output format)

Every RQ must contain: