research-questionlisted

# Research Question Improvement Skill ## Purpose Help students transform vague, overly broad, or poorly structured research questions into clear, focused, and answerable questions suitable for academic research. ## When to Activate Activate this skill when: - User explicitly invokes `/research-question` - User shares a research question and asks for feedback - User mentions struggling with their thesis question - User asks how to make their research question better - User is in early stages of thesis/paper planning **InfAU-specific triggers:** - Research involving computational design, AI/ML, or generative methods - Studies using VR/AR for visualization or evaluation - Simulation-based research (agent-based, pedestrian, energy) - Sustainable building research (timber, straw, lifecycle assessment) - Urban planning and mobility studies ## Process ### Phase 1: Diagnosis First, identify specific problems with the research question. Do not use vague criticism like "too broad" without explanation. **Check for these issues:** | Issue Type | What to Look For | |------------|------------------| | **Scope** | Too broad (multiple dissertations needed), too narrow (trivial answer), bundled questions (multiple questions disguised as one) | | **Clarity** | Undefined jargon, ambiguous terms, unclear what "success" means | | **Measurability** | No way to know when the question is answered, no observable outcomes | | **Context** | Missing population, missing setting, missing timefra