A research question sets the topic and scope for what you will investigate. A research question is a declaration of what resources will and will not be appropriate for your research. It is what your research proposal should be designed to investigate or answer.
You can expect to edit your research question as you do preliminary research to see what is already out there.
And example of a research question is:
How does the level of citizen participation in local government decision-making processes impact the effectiveness of public service delivery?
The research question above tells us:
You can create a research question, and explore a research topic, by answering structured questions related to an initial interesting topic. These questions help you choose a scope for your research question and will help you if you need to adjust your research question in the future.
Questions are:
You can build a research topic through a mind map. You can use pieces or paper or textboxes to arrange your ideas.
In free association, you allow your thoughts to flow freely without interruption. You later review your thoughts and select what is useful/interesting.