What do 'they' refer to in the sentence or what does 'they' refer to...?

[Interrupts]

What do 'they' refer to in the sentence or what does 'they' refer to...?
Which one is correct?
Thanks!

[Kitosdad]

What do 'they' refer to ?. is correct.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.

[Daemon99]

Hi Kitosdad!

Shouldn't it be, "What does 'they' refer to?"?

I think we are talking about the word they. That's why they is in single quotes. What do you think?

If they refers to a group of people then it should be What do they refer to?
_________________
Non-native speaker of English
=================================
I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

[Kitosdad]

Live forever my friend, but only if you accept my answer as being correct.

What does you think ....???????????????? Not right eh.!!
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.

[Gray]

I am still confused

Few replacements creating that confusion --

1) What does the term 'they' refer to? OR

2) What do the term 'they' refer to?

3) What does it refer to? OR

4) What do it refer to?

Can we conclude on similar lines? Or 'What do 'they' refer to?' is a special case?
_________________
First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Kitosdad]

What do they refer to.? They being a thing in this instance.

What does that refer to.? That being a printed comment being referred to.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.

[Alan]

Hi Gray,

To make this question clearer it's necessary to say: What does the word/pronoun 'they' refer to? Then the ambiguity disappears. And also I hope, the confusion.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/run

[Kitosdad]

Exactly Alan.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.