Introduction:

The research question is the genesis of knowledge; it represents the need to answer something unknown or at least suspected about reality. This article aims to show the fundamental elements of a research question for its adequate formulation.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted in search of articles that presented the most valuable and practical steps for formulating a research question. Emphasis was placed on essential words such as feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant, summarized in the acronym FINER.

Results:

To adequately structure the question, the following aspects were included: population, patients or problem; intervention or indicator being studied; comparison group; outcome of interest; and time frame of the study, summarized in the acronym PICOT.

Conclusions:

Research questions can be phrased to address essential elements of the study, including the population to be studied, the expected outcomes, and the time it will take to achieve them.

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