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

Upcoming  News/Events  

Research  the  helps  you  develop  your  world:  Ac>on  research  +  doctoral  disserta>on  10/06/2013  

Chapter  1:  The  lighthouse  of  your  disserta>on    10/12/2013  

 

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