RESEARCH QUESTION

Moazzam Ali

1
 Research Question Defined

 The word RESEARCH means "finding out" or

"discovery", by use of systematic effort,
information or answers to something one wants to
know
 One RESEARCHES by asking questions and by
searching for answers to those questions which
are satisfactory, methodologically valid and
2 balanced
 Research Question Defined

 A Research Question is a statement that identifies

the phenomenon to be studied
 It is one of the first methodological steps the
investigator has to take when undertaking a
research
 The research question must be accurately and
clearly defined
3
 The Purpose of a Research Question

 Choosing a research question is the central

element of both quantitative and qualitative
research
 It makes the theoretical assumptions in the
framework more explicit, indicating what the
researcher wants to know most and first

4
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION

 A research question is the most critical part of a research

proposal—it defines the proposal, it guides the researcher’s
arguments and inquiry, and it provokes the interests of the
reviewer
 If the research question does not work well, no matter how
strong the rest of the proposal, the proposal is unlikely to be
successful
 Because of this, it is common to spend more time on
researching, conceptualizing and forming of each individual
word of the research question than on any other part of the
proposal
 Characteristics of a research question are explained in the
following slides
5
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 The research question should be evocative

– Evocative questions are ones that catch the interest of the
reviewer and draw her/him into the proposal
– They easily adhere in the reviewers’ memory after reading the
proposal
– Questions tend to be evocative because of the ways they
engage with challenging topics: they pose innovative
approaches to the exploration of problems, and because of this
the answers found are far from obvious
– There is no single way to form a conceptually innovative
question. However, some of the qualities discussed on
6 following slides are common to successful proposals
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 Make it timely
– Evocative questions are often extracted from very
contemporary social or theoretical concerns
– For example, questions regarding the energy crisis,
international tribunals, nationalism, or the rise of anti-
globalization protests are likely to peak the interests of
others because they are questions whose relevance will
be clearly determinable for reviewer

7
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 Frame it as a paradox
– Frame your question around a provocative paradox.
– For example, why have violent conflicts over forest
resources increased in the last ten years while the very
people involved in these conflicts have become less and
less dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods?
– There are many potential answers to this question
– These types of paradoxes pull the reader into the proposal
and set up a situation whereby the research will fill in a
provocative piece of the puzzle and make clear a much-
8 needed broader understanding
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 Take a distinctive approach

– A question that approaches an old problem in a
refreshingly new way is likely to prove evocative for
reviewers
– This could involve a new methodology, a new conceptual
approach, or the linking of two previously disparate fields
of knowledge
– These innovative approaches both develop confidence in
the intellect of the researcher and hold promise for new
9 understandings and insights to old and difficult questions
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 The research question should be relevant

– Questions that clearly demonstrate their relevance to society, a
social group, or scholarly literature and debates are likely to be
given more weight by reviewers
 The research question should be clear
– Clear questions tend to be short, conceptually straightforward,
and jargon-free
– In contrast, the most complicated questions tended to appear in
proposals where the researcher seemed more interested in
demonstrating his/her theoretical knowledge than in engaging the
10 research itself
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 Ground the questions

– Keep questions close to the topic
– Questions that are too abstract or obtuse make it difficult for
the reader to determine the question’s relevance and intent
 Limit variables
– If a question is burdened with too many variables or too
many clauses it becomes both difficult to read and difficult
to research

11
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
QUESTION (contd.)

 The research question should be researchable

– Research questions need to be clearly “doable”
– Above all else, the researcher should consider his/her
limitations
TIP
Remember that writing a research question is
an iterative process and the above mentioned
points need to be carefully considered in your
research design
12
 HOW TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH
QUESTION?

 To develop a strong research question, the researcher should ask him/herself

the following:
– Do I know the field and its literature well?
– What are the important research questions in my field?
– What areas need further exploration?
– Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding?
– Has a great deal of research already been done in this topic area?
– Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for improvement?
– Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic, or
is it becoming obsolete?
– What type of information do I need to answer the research question?
– If proposing a service program, is the target community interested?
13 – Most importantly, will my study have a significant impact on the field?
 DEVELOPING A RESEARCH QUESTION
Exercise 1: Can the Topic be Researched?

1. Does McDonald's or Burger King make a better burger?

Answer: This question is not researchable as it is worded, since it has no concrete
meaning. What does "better" mean? Better in terms of nutrition? Better tasting?
Better value? Fewer calories? Better for making your kids happy? This question
could become researchable only if you define its terms

2. Is Prozac a good way to treat clinical depression in certain cases?

Answer: This question is researchable. Researcher would have to sift through a lot
of information, both pro and con, valid and invalid, in order to choose the best
information to answer the research question and support his/her own point of view,
but the point is that there is at least enough information to sift through

3. Is there a link between hours of television viewing and violent behavior

in children aged 8-14?
Answer: This question is also researchable. The researcher would have to sift
through a lot of information, both pro and con, valid and invalid, in order to choose
14 the best information to answer the research question.
 DEVELOPING A RESEARCH QUESTION
Exercise 2: Is the Question Too Broad or Too
Narrow?

1. Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with more

developed skills?
Answer: This question is too broad since it focuses on all skills (e.g., language,
social, small motor skills, large motor skills, etc). One would have to gather too
much diverse information to answer question 1.

2. Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with larger

vocabularies?
Answer: There may or may not be enough information to answer this question. The
researcher would need to find more than just one or two studies. If he/she feels that
there are enough sources dealing with vocabulary only, then he/she could choose to
pursue question 2.

3. Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with more

highly developed language skills?
Answer: The is the best research question. The topic is broad enough to find more
than just one or two sources, but it's limited to one focus - the development of
15 preschool language skills.
 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

16
 THE RESEARCH PROCESS
(contd.)

 The following process can be helpful in refining research

ideas:
i. Ask yourself: “Why is this research important? What
have other people done? What have they found?”
ii. Based on this information, formulate a specific
research question
iii. Develop a hypothesis/hypotheses that stems from
your research question
iv. Identify the specific aims, i.e. the steps you are going
to take to test your hypothesis
17
 SUMMARY

 The research question you start out with forms the

basis for your review of related research literature
 This general question also evolves into your
hypothesis
 When you draw conclusions, they should address
this question. In the end, the success of your
research depends on how well you answer this
18 question
 THANK YOU

19