The choice between research question and hypothesis for paradigm harmony

Purpose The purpose of this viewpoint is to distinguish between the roles of research questions and hypotheses in different paradigms of research and guide future research for the proper use of these research elements to avoid paradigmatic contradiction and achieve paradigmatic harmony. Design/methodology/approach Recent tourism and hospitality journal publications using both research questions and hypotheses were acquired through convenience sampling on Google Scholar. These articles were analyzed to identify their paradigms based on the methodology described and to conclude if the use of both research questions and hypotheses was leading to paradigm contradiction or harmony. Findings Many studies published in tourism and hospitality journals use both research questions and hypotheses while they are purely positivist research that needs to be guided by only research hypotheses. Examples are provided to guide future research for the proper use of research questions and hypotheses to avoid paradigmatic contradiction and achieve paradigmatic harmony. Originality/value Even though the use of both research questions and hypotheses in purely positivist research is a pervasive issue in scientific research, a clarifying argument on the proper uses of research questions and hypotheses together in scientific research has not been provided so far. This viewpoint is intended to guide researchers in the proper use of these research elements for paradigm harmony.