How to Research a Topic with 5W1H Questioning Technique

How to Research a Topic with 5W1HQuestioning Technique

4-5 minutes

The 5W1H questioning technique is a framework that you can use when gathering information and investigating a problem. It is an iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem which allows you to understand a situation, to discern a problem by analyzing all the dimensions from different perspectives one at a time; This framework can help you to expand a discussion, scope your research, and organize your findings and reports.

When to Use the 5W1H Technique?

5W + 1H is the structural analysis of work. Based on the investigation and research of a certain job by asking 5W + 1H:

5W + 1H Sample Questions

1. What – Object (What has happened?)

• What products does the company produce?
• What spare parts are produced in the workshop?
• Can you produce anything else?
• What should I produce?

2. Where – Location

• Where is production done?
• Why do you want to do this place?
• Can you change places?
• Where should I do it?
• This is something to consider when choosing a workplace.

3. When – Time

• When did this process or component work?
• Why did you do it at this time?
• Can you do it at other times?
• Would it be okay to bring the post process to the front?
• When should I do it?

4. Who – Responsible person

• Who is doing this?
• Why let him do it?
• If he is both irresponsible and has a strong temper, can he change individuals?
• Sometimes changing people will improve their overall production.

5. Why – Reason

• Why use this technical parameter?
• Why can’t there be changes?
• Why can’t I use it?
• Why does it turn red?
• Why did you make this shape?
• Why use machines instead of humans?
• Why do we have to do it?

6. How – Mean

• How do we do it?
• Why use this method?
• Is there any other way to do it?
• What should I do? Sometimes when the method is changed, the overall situation will change.

How to Conduct 5W + 1H?

People often use 5W1H in drafting plans and analyzing and planning work which enables us effectively perform work. We can first choose a template, and follow this template to ask the question for facilitating the discussion and organize the findings and record the data in the template.