DePoy does a nice job explaining the research question.  I do make one observation: The distinction between a research question and a query seems artificial to me.  Textbooks do not agree on this language, and for the purposes of this class, I will use the terms:
    Quantitative Research Question
    Qualitative Research Question

Quantitative Research Question - a more concise, narrow statement of the research problem.  I see the topic, problem, purpose, and question on a continuum going from more general to more specific. You should review the course notes on the research problem and the text's coverage of framing the problem, and the research question to better appreciate the close connection.
        An example:

• topic: Isokinetic strength testing of shoulder rotators of postoperative patients.
• problem: It is not known if relative shoulder position makes a difference in the results when testing isokinetic strength of shoulder rotators of postoperative patients.
• purpose: Evaluate isokinetic strength measures in the scapular and neutral planes for surgical and nonsurgical shoulders.
• quantitative research question: Is there a difference between isokinetic strength measures of the shoulder rotators in the scapular and neutral planes for surgical and nonsurgical shoulders?

Qualitative Research Question (DePoy calls this a query)- a more general question that guides qualitative, hypothesis generating studies

          You state your question, and do not formulate the hypothesis at this early stage of
          qualitative research.
 

                                        The Hypothesis
 

     Hypothesis - a prediction used in the attempt to answer the question posed by the research
     problem
 

•           an assumptive statement about the relationship between two or more variables that

          suggests an answer to the research problem; predicts an expected outcome
 
•           derived from theories; a sound hypothesis is consistent with an existing body of theory

          and research literature, regardless of whether the hypothesis is arrived at inductively or
          deductively
 
•           subjected to empirical testing (through the hypothesis the theory can be tested)

 
•           the hypothesis provides direction to the research endeavor

 
•           a hypothesis stated as a relationship statement identifies the predicted relationship

          between two or more variables
 
•           the variables of the hypothesis should lend themselves to observation, measurement

          and analysis

          The hypothesis logically follows the problem, the literature review, the theoretical framework, and the question because
            the hypothesis should reflect the culmination and expression of this conceptual process.  Also, recall that this is a
            spiraling, iterative process that allows for review and revision as you move along with this process - at least until you
            are ready to collect data in the quantitative approach.  In the qualitative approach, recall that you don't usually have
            theory or an hypothesis until the end of the process, and the literature review and question may evolve as you proceed
            with the data collection

  Characteristics of an hypothesis:

          variables are identified

          population is clear

          the predicted outcome is stated

Directional hypothesis: expected direction of the relationship between the independent
     and dependent variables is stated - the researcher committed herself

          a deductive hypothesis derived from theory will almost always be directional

          analysis of data can be accomplished in a statistically more sensitive way with a
          directional hypotheses
 

 Two other types of hypotheses:

•      Research Hypothesis - a statement about the expected relationship between the

          "If the researcher obtains statistically significant findings for a research hypothesis, the
          hypothesis is supported." - is this true? look at the statistic!
 

•      Statistical (Null) Hypothesis - states that there is no relationship between the independent

          "Rejection of the statistical (null) hypothesis is equivalent to acceptance of the research
          hypothesis." (LoBiondo-Wood, 1999)???  Actually, we commonly draw that conclusion, but never
          prove it!  Rejection of the null hypothesis implies that there is insufficient evidence to
          support the idea of the hypothesis.
 

                                         Variables
 

     Variables - properties of objects or events which can take on different values
 

•      Dependent Variable - the responding variable (usually symbolized by Y)

          it is the dependent variable that the researcher is interested in understanding,
          explaining, or predicting

          it is your "data"
 

•      Independent Variable - the manipulated variable of experimental research (usually

          the variable that has the presumed effect on the dependent variable

          in nonexperimental research the independent variable is not manipulated and is
          assumed to have occurred naturally

          remember: relationships do not imply causation