How to Formulate and Evaluate Your Research
Questions
Three Related Concepts
• Topic : It is the general area of knowledge that interests you. For example, reading learning, innova>ve art, hospital primary care, decision making, animal rights, differen>al equa>ons, etc.
• Research Problem: It is what calls your aDen>on within the topic because it seems not to be working properly and consequently has to be studied.
• Research Ques>on: : It is what you specifically want to answer or test conduc>ng a study. In other words, the ques>on that states what you will look for.
Process to Formulate Your Research Questions
List Topics
Evaluate Topics Using Criteria
Choose Topic
Iden>fy Problems for the Topic
Evaluate Problems Using Criteria
Choose Research Problem
Iden>fy What You Want to Know or Test about the Problem
Formulate the Research Ques>on(s)
Evaluate Research Ques>on(s) Using Criteria
You can read criteria for evaluating topics and problems at:
www.doctoralnet.com www.slideshare.net/Silvercusa/selecting-the-research-problem-for-your-doctoral-dissertation
What is a Research Question?
• It is what you want to answer or test in order to solve the iden>fied problem or understand it beDer.
• It is the guiding element to make decisions on deepening literature review, choosing a valid research method, and analyzing findings.
Elements of a Good Research Question
• The what, who, when, where, how, and why of the research study. The first four interroga>ves relate to descrip>on of elements of the problem, the fiQh to a process of it, and the last one to causa>on.
• What is intended to do (describe, explore, compare, explain, or even evaluate)
Examples of Scripts for Research Questions
Focus of the research question:
Description of the elements of the
identified problem
• What/How ____(the unknown element) __ (central phenomenon) ___ (par>cipants) ___(research site/period of >me)?
1. What are the digital wri>ng tools more used by Texan college students to prepare essays? 2. How oQen do Bri>sh police recruits ask for mentoring during their first year in the
force? 3. How is domes>c violence perceived by Mexican rural communi>es?
Examples of Scripts for Research Questions (II)
Focus of the research question: Exploration of the elements of the problem
• What _____(unknown element)__(central phenomenon) __(par>cipants)__(research site/period of >me)?
1. What differen>ated strategies are used to teach minori>es at elementary public schools in Dade county?
2. What are the opinions of Italian community leaders about current illegal immigra>on from Africa?
Examples of Scripts for Research Questions (III)
Focus of the research question: Compare elements of the problem
• What is/are the difference(s) between/among__(central phenomenon) _(par>cipants)__(research site/period of >me)?
1. What are the differences in social network usage between Australian female and male university students?
2. What is the difference in percep>on toward insurance among drivers of three California coun>es?
Examples of Scripts for Research Questions (IV)
Focus of the research question: Explanation of the problem
• What/Why__(unknown element)__(central phenomenon)_(par>cipants)_ (research site/period of >me)?
1. What is the rela>onship between the teaching strategy and the scores high school students achieve in the math sub-‐test of the TAKS?
2. Why do first year Bri>sh policemen leave the force?
f
Formulate a research question applying one of the scripts presented
Criteria to Evaluate a Research Question
Adapted from: Green, N. (2008). Formulating and
refining a research question. In Gilbert, N. (Ed.). Researching social life. Guildford, UK: University of Surrey
• Specific (what needs to be answered is clearly and concisely stated) • Key elements are present (what, who, where, when, how, and/or why) • Answerable (possible to know what would take to answer it) • Interesting for you and others • Feasible (in terms of time, costs, skills, required information, access to it, etc.) • Meaningful to you, others, and the field of study • Timely (Is it a hot question these days ? Is it possible to generate new directions to research) • Ethical (maintain ethical standards in relation to participants, data, and researcher)
Apply the criteria to the research question you formulated
Now you know :
1. What a research question is
2. Its role in the research process
3. What elements should be in a research question
4. How to formulate a research question
5. How to evaluate its appropriateness
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