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Developing an Effective Research Question

Developing an Effective Research Question. Learning how to go from choosing a topic to generating a question. What is a research question?.

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Developing an Effective Research Question

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  1. Developing an Effective Research Question Learning how to go from choosing a topic to generating a question

  2. What is a research question? “A research question is a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which you center your research. You should ask a question about an issue that you are genuinely curious about.” (http://writingcenter.gmu.edu)

  3. Why is a research question essential to the research process? Helps writers focus their research. Provides a path for writers to follow as they research. Prevents the writer from going off on tangents. Helps the writer avoid the more report-like paper and work toward developing an arguable thesis. (http://writingcenter.gmu.edu)

  4. Steps to Developing a Research Question

  5. Make sure you love your topic! Your topic should... • Make your brain say “hmmm.” • Make you interested in learning more. • Be focused enough that it is “researchable.” (Review multiple sets of annotations before making a final decision.) Step 1:Picking Your Topic

  6. Who will benefit from your research? • If you had to choose one person or group to read your paper, who would it be? Why did you make that choice? Step 2: Consider Your Audience

  7. Start Asking Questions…Lots of Them! • Ask yourself open-ended questions… “how” and “why” about your topic. • Sample topic: “Slavery” • “How did the slave trade evolve in the 1850s in the American South?” • “Why were slave narratives effective tools in working toward the abolishment of slavery?” Step 3: Start Asking Questions

  8. Start asking questions…lots of them! • Is your research question clear? • Must be clear in order to effectively direct the research. • Is your research question focused? • Must be specific enough to be well covered in the page limitation, which is 7-10pp. • Is your research question sufficiently complex? • Should not be answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” or by easily found facts. What you have researched should be in greater depth and greater analysis than something easily found on the Internet.

  9. Start asking questions…lots of them! What kind of data could you collect to support your research question? What kind of study could you potentially do? Will your research, study and data collection fill a gap in the current research? If your question has been asked before, how could you modify it without dumping the whole topic? Is there room for improvement? Where? How?

  10. Step 4: Ask yourself…SO WHAT? “A strong research idea should pass the ‘so what’ test. Think about the potential impact of the research you are proposing. What is the benefit of answering your research question?” If you cannot answer this question, then you need to rewrite your question and/or choose a different topic. If you have a strong passion for your topic, there must be a reason why. Use this passion to help develop an effective question.

  11. Step 5:Is your question too narrow?Too broad? A research question should be focused and narrow, not broad. Too Broad… “What can be done to prevent substance abuse?” More focused… “What is the relationship between specific early childhood experiences and subsequent substance-abusing behaviors?” (http://www.theresearchassistant.com)

  12. UNCLEAR: Why are social networking sites harmful? CLEARER: How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook? SAMPLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  13. Explanation… Unclear version: Does not specify which social networking sites or suggest what kind of harm the sites are causing. Assumes that this “harm” is proven and/or accepted. Clearer version: Specifies the sites, the type of harm, and who the issue is harming. A strong research question should never leave room for ambiguity or interpretation.

  14. UNFOCUSED: What is the effect on the environment from global warming? MORE FOCUSED: How is glacial melting affecting penguins in the Arctic Circle? SAMPLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  15. Explanation… Unfocused version: Could not be adequately answered in a 7-10 page paper due to being too broad. Focused version: Narrows down to a specific cause, a specific place, and a specific group that is affected. When in doubt, make a research question as narrow and focused as possible.

  16. TOO SIMPLE: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the United States? MORE COMPLEX: What are common traits of those suffering from diabetes in America, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease? SAMPLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  17. Explanation… Simple version: Can be looked up online and answered in a few factual sentences. Leaves no room for analysis. Complex version: Is written in two parts. Is thought provoking and requires both significant investigation and evaluation from the writer. As a general rule of thumb, if a quick Google search can answer a research question, it is likely not very effective.

  18. TOO OBJECTIVE: How much time do youth between the ages of 10 and 15 spend playing video games? MORE ARGUABLE: What are the effects of video-gaming on the attention spans of youth between the ages of 10 and 15? SAMPLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  19. Explanation… Too objective: Is likely to lead to some data, though not necessarily to an argument or issue. Leaves no room for analysis. More Arguable: Might lead the researcher to formulate an argument for or against time spent playing video games.

  20. Does McDonald’s or Burger King make a better burger? NOT RESEARCHABLE (as worded) • No concrete meaning. • What does “better” mean? • Better in terms of nutrition? Better tasting? Better value? Could become researchable if terms are defined. Step 6: Is It Researchable?

  21. Is there a link between hours of television viewing and violent behavior in children aged 8-14? IS RESEARCHABLE. • Offers sufficient information to research. • Requires siftingthrough information (pro/con, valid/invalid)in order to choose the best information to answer the research question and support your point of view. Step 6: Is It Researchable?

  22. Finally…Is my question effective???? Is the scope of your question appropriate: not too broad, not too narrow? Is the research manageable with the time constraints allowed? Will the answer fit the 7-10 page limitation? Can you find sufficient and timely information on the topic? Will the results be interesting? Does it concern a real and debatable issue? Does your question really interest you? Do you honestly want to know the answer? (http://writing.colorstate.edu)

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