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Summary: Formulating and refining a research question Nicola Green
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Summary: Formulating and refining a research question Nicola Green
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Formulating and refining a research questionNicola Green
KEY POINTS :
Specifying the research question clearly is central to the success of a research project.
Formulating a research question is the first step of a project.
The question must be researchable and answerable.
The question should be used to guide the research.
It is common that the research question changes as the research proceeds.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS
A research question must be
Researchable
Interesting
o Researcher must be passionate, but not biased.
Relevant
o Research should cover a gap in knowledge or contribute to the collective knowledge
base of a study area or discipline.
Feasible
o Consider the timeframe, the costs of the project, the skill of the researcher, and the
access to participants.
Ethical
o You need to consider ethical dimensions
Concise
o The research question should be clearly defined, and precise.
Answerable.
o An interrogative form should be used: who, what, when, where, how, which, and
why.
FORMULATING AND REFINING A RESEARCH QUESTION
STEP 1:
Brainstorm all of your ideas.
Test the questions against your own knowledge & compare to previous research.
Make a concept map.
Think about your sources.
Brainstorm with your peers, colleagues and supervisors.
STEP 2: NARROWING THE LIST
Reconsider your list and exclude any questions that are sub-questions or of peripheral
interest.
Cluster those questions that seem of most central interest
Reconsider if your question obtains all characteristics.
STEP 3: REFINING THE QUESTION
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