/formulate-research-question

name: formulate-research-question
description: "Convert a hypothesis into a precise research question with fit-for-purpose framework, scope, feasibility, and success criteria."

formulate-research-question

Purpose

Convert a hypothesis into a precise research question with fit-for-purpose framework, scope, feasibility, and success criteria.

Input contract

required: [hypothesis_or_gap, candidate_frameworks, feasibility_constraints]
optional: [assumptions, prior_findings, evidence_updates]
constraints: [consume named scientific objects; preserve provenance; keep unresolved uncertainty visible]

Execution protocol

Do not perform called SOP operations inline; each loaded SOP owns its contract and thresholds.

1. You MUST load skill `apply-question-framework` to construct the question under the selected framework. 2. You MUST load skill `assess-question-quality` to assess answerability, significance, and precision. 3. You MUST load skill `define-criteria` to define the question-quality criteria. 4. You MUST load skill `set-threshold` to set the acceptance thresholds. 5. You MUST load skill `adjust-abstraction-scope` to correct the abstraction level and scope. If the accepted question contains dependent subproblems, consider `decompose-research-question` as the next tactic.

Deviation: reorder only when a dependency is already satisfied or unavailable; record the reason and confidence effect.

Output contract

produces: [research_question, success_criteria, scope_decision]
delta_fields: [decisions, open_questions]

Thresholds and quality gates

• Each output is traceable to an input object, operation, and evidence reference.
• Scope, assumptions, and unresolved alternatives remain explicit.
• Retain $\alpha$ 0.05 and power 0.8 wherever the predeclared statistical design requires them.

Failure and counterexamples

Stop synthesis when a required object is absent, a precondition is violated, or a counterexample invalidates the proposed conclusion; return the partial delta with the failure recorded.

Provenance map

• resolved: research-question
• resolved: framework-guided-formulation
• resolved: scope-calibration
• resolved: comparative-formulation
• resolved: feasibility-constrained-formulation
• resolved: framework-selection-and-application
• resolved: question-refinement-loop

Preserved source criteria ledger

| source | criterion | treatment | |---|---|---| | resolved v3 entries above | node-specific criteria | retained and specialized to the v4 object contract | | experiment-execution/statistical-testing | $\alpha$ = 0.05 | fixed value retained where applicable | | experiment-execution/sample-size-estimation | power = 0.8 | fixed value retained where applicable |

Context checkpoint / Delta notes

Return the node-specific research-state delta and preserve findings, evidence updates, uncertainties, decisions, open questions, and recommended jumps as applicable.