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How to Formulate High-Impact Research Questions Using Signals from Citation & Reference Contexts (QM)

5 min read
By Questinno Team

Using signal extraction from titles, abstracts, citation contexts, and reference contexts

QM’s method for generating research questions is fundamentally different from “creative brainstorming.”

High-impact scientific questions are not invented — they are extracted from signals embedded in how literature cites, defines, limits, and positions itself.

QM implements this principle as a structured system:

Signal → Structured Question → Opportunity Evaluation

This article shows how the method works using your two real QM tasks.


🔍 Step 1 — Extract Signals (Title → Abstract → Citation → Reference)

QM looks for 4 classes of signals (L1–L4):

+-------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| Level | Meaning                           | Examples                                           |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| L1    | Explicit limitations or failures  | "K-group element may not host gapless states"      |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| L2    | Assumption dependencies           | "Symmetry indicators rely on strict constraints"   |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| L3    | Performance or scope contradictions | "Dynamic assignment vs route optimization conflict"|
+-------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| L4    | Theoretical or technological boundaries | "Clifford algebra extension limits classification" |
+-------+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+

These appear both in:

  • citation contexts (what others emphasize)
  • reference contexts (what the paper builds upon)

🧪 Example Signals from Real Case 1

Topological Insulators (TI/TSCs) Classification

:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

QM extracted:

  • L1: Majorana surface state instability
  • L2: dependency on symmetry indicators
  • L4: Clifford algebra extension boundaries
  • L1: K-group incompatible elements
  • L2: quotient classification dependency

These signals were converted to structured questions such as:

“What is the potential of applying Clifford algebra extensions in broader topological classifications?”

and

“How can we classify K-group elements that do not host gapless surface states effectively?”

Each question is tightly bound to a real citation-context signal — not a guess.


🧪 Example Signals from Real Case 2

UAV Swarm Logistics

:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Signals included:

  • L1: stochastic assignment failures
  • L2: dependency on aerial highways
  • L3: multi-dimensional assignment complexity
  • L1: interference with aircraft
  • L2: regulatory constraints
  • L1: optimization algorithm limitations

QM generated structured questions like:

“What approaches can optimize dynamic task assignments and routing for UAV swarms?”

and

“How can UAV logistics systems be improved to function within current regulatory frameworks?”

Again — these questions are grounded in real literature signals.


🔍 Step 2 — Transform Signals into Structured Scientific Questions

QM uses a consistent format:

How can we improve / extend X under Y limitation within Z boundary to achieve A scientific goal?

This removes noise and enforces clarity.


🔍 Step 3 — Evaluate Question Value (Impact × Feasibility)

QM ranks each question by:

  • Impact (scientific relevance, generalizability)
  • Feasibility (resources, complexity, constraints)

Producing:

  • Gold-tier opportunities
  • Silver-tier
  • Bronze-tier

This allows researchers to select a topic with measurable reasoning.


🧩 Conclusion

High-value research questions do not come from creativity alone.
They come from:

  • structured signal extraction
  • citation-context mapping
  • systematic contradiction recognition
  • scientific boundary analysis

QM automates this workflow, producing:

  • defensible reasoning
  • cross-domain opportunities
  • structured research questions
  • ranked opportunity maps

From a single title input.


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