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Developing Your Research Question

Developing Your Research Question. I know what general area, but I’m not sure of my research question?. The Importance of Good Questions. A good research question: Defines the investigation Sets boundaries Provides direction. Defining Your Topic.

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Developing Your Research Question

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  1. Developing Your Research Question I know what general area, but I’m not sure of my research question? O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  2. The Importance of Good Questions A good research question: • Defines the investigation • Sets boundaries • Provides direction O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  3. Defining Your Topic If you are finding it a challenge to generate a research topic you can: • Hone in on your passions • Use your curiosity • Look for inspiration from the creative arts • Develop ‘right brain’ skills such as concept mapping O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  4. Concept Map of Potential Research Topics O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  5. Minding Practicalities Research directions are not always at the full discretion of the researcher. Practicalities include: • Appropriateness of the topic • Your ability to get supervisory support • Funding opportunities and commitments O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  6. From Interesting Topics to Researchable Questions An ‘angle’ for your research can come from insights stemming from: • personal experience • theory • observations • contemporary issues • engagement with the literature O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  7. Narrowing and Clarifying • Narrowing, clarifying, and even redefining your questions is essential to the research process. • Forming the right ‘questions’ should be seen as an iterative process that is informed by reading and doing at all stages. O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  8. Cycles of ResearchQuestion Development O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  9. Do parents teach their daughters that worth is dependent onexternal beauty? You’re so pretty!! You look so nice in that! Attraction to opposite sex Compliments Desire to be popular Peers Poor Self Image in Young Girls Parents Weight obsessed mother School ridicule Diet ads Do young girls have an unrealistic perception of normal? Media Size of ‘stars’ is newsworthy Thin TV Stars Magazine Models The Concept Map Revisited O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  10. The Hypothesis Dilemma • Hypotheses are designed to express relationships between variables. If this is the nature of your question, a hypothesis can add to your research • If your question is more descriptive or explorative, generating a hypothesis may not be appropriate O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  11. The Hypothesis Dilemma A hypothesis may not be appropriate if: • You do not have a hunch or educated guess about a particular situation • You do not have a set of defined variables. • Your question centres on phenomenological description (see Chapter 9) • Your question centres on an ethnographic study of a cultural group (see Chapter 9)  • Your aim is to engage in, and research, the process of collaborative change (see Chapter 10) O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  12. Good Question Checklist • Is the question right for me? • Will the question hold my interest? • Can I manage any potential biases/subjectivities I may have? O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  13. Good Question Checklist • Is the question right for the field? • Will the findings be considered significant? • Will it make a contribution? O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  14. Good Question Checklist • Is the question well articulated? • Are the terms well-defined? • Are there any unchecked assumptions? O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  15. Good Question Checklist • Is the question doable? • Can information be collected in an attempt to answer the question? • Do I have the skills and expertise necessary to access this information? If not, can the skills be developed? • Will I be able to get it all done within my time constraints? • Are costs likely to exceed my budget? • Are there any potential ethics problems? O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

  16. Good Question Checklist • Does the question get the tick of approval from those in the know? • Does my supervisor think I am on the right track? • Do ‘experts’ in the field think my question is relevant/ important/ doable? O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. Chapter Three

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