Chapter 4 Developing your Research Question

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Chapter 4Developing your Research Question

• Zina OLeary

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• The scientific mind does not so much provide
  the right answers as ask the right questions.
• Claude Lévi-Strauss

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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The Importance of Research Questions

• Developing a well-articulated research
  question is an important part of the process
  because
• it defines the investigation
• sets boundaries
• provides direction
• acts as a frame of reference for assessing your
  work.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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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.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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Concept Map of Potential Research Topics

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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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.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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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.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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Cycles of ResearchQuestion Development

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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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.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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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
• your question centres on an ethnographic study of
  a cultural group
• your aim is to engage in, and research, the
  process of collaborative change.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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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.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage
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Assessing your Question

• In order to assess your question you will
  need to explore whether your question
• is right for you
• is right for the field
• is well articulated
• is doable
• will get the tick of approval from those in the
  know.

Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing
Your Research Project. London Sage