Hovedspørgsmålet

Hovedspørgsmålet is a Danish term meaning the central or main question that guides inquiry, discussion, or decision-making in a text or debate. It is used across fields such as academia, journalism, policy analysis, and everyday reasoning to identify the core issue that must be addressed.

Etymology and form: hoved means main or chief, and spørgsmål means question. The compound noun is commonly written as hovedspørgsmål in its indefinite form and as hovedspørgsmålet when used with a definite article, for example in the phrase "hovedspørgsmålet er..." In practice, writers frame and refer to the hovedspørgsmålet to anchor their analysis.

Usage: In academic writing, the hovedspørgsmålet delineates the scope of a study and motivates the research design. It is often complemented by delspørgsmål (sub-questions) and specific criteria or hypotheses for evaluating answers. In journalism and policy analysis, the term helps readers understand the central issue being examined and the lens through which information is presented.

Formulation and considerations: A well-defined hovedspørgsmålet should be clear, focused, and answerable within the work’s constraints. It may evolve as the inquiry progresses, but maintaining a stable core question helps preserve coherence and direction. The term is flexible and appears in both theoretical discussions and practical reports.

See also: research question, problem formulation, thesis statement. The concept is not tied to a single work or author but is a common methodological tool in Danish-language writing.