die  Fragestellung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfʁaːɡəˌʃtɛlʊŋ/

🧐 What does "die Fragestellung" mean?

Die Fragestellung (feminine noun) refers to the way a question is formulated or the central problem or topic that is to be examined through one or more questions. It's more than just a simple Frage (question); it's often the core of an Untersuchung (investigation), a Diskussion (discussion), or a wissenschaftliche Arbeit (academic paper).

• Formulation of a question: The precise wording and structure of a question. Example: "Die Fragestellung war unklar, daher gab es viele Missverständnisse." (The formulation of the question was unclear, so there were many misunderstandings.)
• Central problem/topic: The subject of investigation or the core problem being addressed. Example: "Die Fragestellung dieser Doktorarbeit ist die Auswirkung des Klimawandels auf die Biodiversität." (The research question / central topic of this doctoral thesis is the impact of climate change on biodiversity.)

It's an important concept in academic, scientific, and problem-solving contexts.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar in Detail: Die Fragestellung

The word "Fragestellung" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Fragestellung des Experiments muss präzise sein.
   (The research question of the experiment must be precise.)
2. Wir diskutierten lange über die Relevanz der Fragestellung.
   (We discussed the relevance of the research question for a long time.)
3. Die Ergebnisse hängen stark von der gewählten Fragestellung ab.
   (The results depend heavily on the chosen research question / formulation.)
4. Im Seminar wurden verschiedene Fragestellungen zur künstlichen Intelligenz erörtert.
   (Various key questions / topics concerning artificial intelligence were discussed in the seminar.)

Context and Usage of Fragestellung

Die Fragestellung is frequently used in formal and intellectual contexts:

• Wissenschaft & Forschung (Science & Research): Every academic paper (Seminararbeit, Bachelorarbeit, Masterarbeit, Dissertation) is based on a clear Fragestellung. It defines the focus and goal of the investigation.
• Bildung & Lehre (Education & Teaching): Teachers and lecturers formulate Fragestellungen for assignments, exams, or discussions to promote students' understanding and critical thinking.
• Problemlösung & Projektmanagement (Problem Solving & Project Management): When analyzing a problem or defining a project, the precise Fragestellung is crucial to grasp the core of the challenge.
• Diskussionen & Debatten (Discussions & Debates): A clear Fragestellung helps structure discussions and ensure all participants are talking about the same topic.

In everyday life, one would often just say Frage (question) instead of Fragestellung when referring to a simple inquiry. Fragestellung implies a deeper, more complex, or fundamental investigation.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). Think of: die Meinung (opinion), die Lösung (solution), die Untersuchung (investigation)... and also die Fragestellung! The -ung ending is a strong clue for die.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you are 'posing' or 'setting' (Stellung comes from stellen - to put, place, set) a specific 'question' (Frage) as the main focus – that's die Fragestellung. It's the question 'posed' to investigate a topic.

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

⚠️ Note: A simple Frage (e.g., „Wie spät ist es?“ - "What time is it?") is not the same as a Fragestellung, which is usually more complex.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum war der Student bei der Prüfung so verwirrt?
(Why was the student so confused during the exam?)

Die Fragestellung war: "Warum?"
(The question/topic was: "Why?")

📜 A Little Poem

Im Kopf ein Wirbeln, tief und schwer,
eine Antwort finden, das ist nicht leer.
Doch erst muss klar sein, wohin die Reise geht,
die Fragestellung, die am Anfang steht.
Sie weist den Weg, präzis und klar,
damit das Denken Früchte trug, wunderbar.

(In the head a whirl, deep and severe,
finding an answer, that's not just mere.
But first, it must be clear where the journey leads,
the research question, which stands at the start indeed.
It shows the way, precise and clear,
so that thinking bore fruit, wonderfully dear.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin der Kern von Forschung klug,
bin mehr als eine Frage nur am Zug.
Ich lenke Denken, Bahn für Bahn,
beginne oft mit "Inwiefern?" oder "Wann?".

Was bin ich?

(I am the core of clever research,
more than just a question on the perch.
I guide thinking, track by track,
often start with "To what extent?" or "When?", no turning back.)

(What am I?)

(Answer: die Fragestellung)

✨ More Information

Word Composition:

The word "Fragestellung" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:

• Frage (noun): A question; an utterance seeking an answer.
• Stellung (noun): Here in the sense of 'posing', 'positioning', or 'formulation' (from the verb stellen - to place, pose, set).

Together, the meaning emerges: the way a question is posed/positioned, or the central question that is posed.