I've been learning how to formulate good research questions and kept seeing references to the FINER criteria. Finally looked it up and it's a total game-changer.
FINER stands for:
F - Feasible
Can you actually do this research? Do you have access to data? Time? Skills? If your question requires a year-long study with expensive equipment and you have one semester, it's not feasible.
I - Interesting
Interesting to YOU and interesting to others. If you're not interested, you'll quit. If no one else cares, why do the research?
N - Novel
Does it add something new? Doesn't have to be earth-shattering, but should it fill a gap, look at a new population, or use a new method.
E - Ethical
Can you study this without harming anyone? Vulnerable populations? Informed consent? Privacy?
R - Relevant
Does it matter to the field? To practice? To real people? Why should anyone care about the answer?
A CUNY assignment uses this framework to help students evaluate both their own questions and AI-generated suggestions . You draft your question, then use ChatGPT to get feedback, then apply FINER to see if the AI's suggestions actually improve your question .
My question before FINER: "How does social media affect teenagers?" (too broad, not novel, been done)
After applying FINER + AI feedback: "How does daily TikTok use correlate with self-reported anxiety levels among female adolescents aged 14-18 in the U.S.?" (specific, feasible, interesting, relevant)
Huge difference. Anyone else use FINER? It's helping me so much
FINER stands for:
F - Feasible
Can you actually do this research? Do you have access to data? Time? Skills? If your question requires a year-long study with expensive equipment and you have one semester, it's not feasible.
I - Interesting
Interesting to YOU and interesting to others. If you're not interested, you'll quit. If no one else cares, why do the research?
N - Novel
Does it add something new? Doesn't have to be earth-shattering, but should it fill a gap, look at a new population, or use a new method.
E - Ethical
Can you study this without harming anyone? Vulnerable populations? Informed consent? Privacy?
R - Relevant
Does it matter to the field? To practice? To real people? Why should anyone care about the answer?
A CUNY assignment uses this framework to help students evaluate both their own questions and AI-generated suggestions . You draft your question, then use ChatGPT to get feedback, then apply FINER to see if the AI's suggestions actually improve your question .
My question before FINER: "How does social media affect teenagers?" (too broad, not novel, been done)
After applying FINER + AI feedback: "How does daily TikTok use correlate with self-reported anxiety levels among female adolescents aged 14-18 in the U.S.?" (specific, feasible, interesting, relevant)
Huge difference. Anyone else use FINER? It's helping me so much