Qualitative methods apply designs that are emergent and flexible, and this is characteristic of their questions. Creswell recommends some classified words for use at the start of the research questions. This entails the use of words ‘how’ or ‘what’ that imply room for improvement of the current structure of the question subject to new developments. These are similar implied in an emerging theme or phenomenal. However, the use of the word ‘why’ in qualitative research questions may be in conflict; it has more of a quantitative inclination. Each written question should concentrate on a single item. This becomes imperative when revising the question to suit the furtherance of the study as study phenomenal or concept take new dimensions.
Qualitative studies seek the choice of exploratory verbs to communicate emerging themes. These verbs ought to capture the intended value addition once the theme is studied. Creswell discourages the use of exploratory verbs (in research questions) that are directional as these may import a quantitative parameter into the study. In the case of emerging design in the qualitative study, the extent to which research questions remain unaltered depends on whether the current developments lead to a significant shift and whether any revisions made are within the stated assumptions. According to Creswell, ground theory studies exemplify this nature. In quantitative vis-á-vis, qualitative studies are hardly research questions flexible about the new developments of the ongoing study.
Creswell notes that two kinds of information can be included in the stated qualitative research questions though subject conditions specified. First, the qualitative strategy of the inquiry influences whether references are to feature; thus, such have limited appearance within research questions. Second, research questions can capture study participants as well as where the study is to be undertaken in cases where such information had not been referenced before.