Zainab Hamdani

M.A. Psychology
Part-1 (sem-II)

Subject:-

Cogni
Topic:-
tive
Psych
Form
ology
ulatio
n of
Resea
 rch
-Formulation
Formulation means translating and transforming the
selected research problem into a scientifically answerable research
question. This is the aim of the every study.

-Formulation Of Research Question

Formulation of research question (RQ) is an essentiality
before starting any research. It aims to explore an existing
uncertainty in an area of concern and points to a need for deliberate
investigation.

In Formulating a problem, specificity of the research question is an

important consideration.

Example :-

 “What effect does the environment have on learning ability?”

 Vague

 The concept of environment & learning ability are vague.

 The experimenter must specify what is meant by environment?

/what environment characteristics? Learning of what?

 What effect does the amount of exposure to words have on the

speed with which they are learned?

The literature review is the mother of research

question. Maxwell (2005)
 A research question is a question that a research project
sets out to answer'. Choosing a research question is an essential
element of both quantitative and qualitative research. Investigation
will require data collection and analysis, and the methodology for
this will vary widely. Good research questions seek to improve
knowledge on an important topic, and are usually narrow and
specific.
To form a research question, one must determine what
type of study will be conducted such as a qualitative, quantitative, or
mixed study. Additional factors, such as project funding, may not
only affect the research question itself but also when and how it is
formed during the research process.
Literature suggests several methods for selecting criteria
in the development of a research question, two of which are the
FINER and PICO methods.

-Construction method examples

FINER criteria
The FINER method can be a useful tool for outlining
research criteria used in the construction of a research question. Due
to the flexibility of the criteria, this method may be used for a variety
of research scenarios. The FINER method prompts researchers to
determine whether one has the means and interest to conduct the
study. It also asks one to consider the ethical ramifications, as well as
the relevancy of the research.
 According to Farrugia the FINER criteria "highlight
useful points that may increase the chances of developing a
successful research project". These criteria were first suggested in the
book Designing Clinical Research by Hulley detailed below.

F – Feasible

 Adequate number of subjects

 Adequate technical expertise
 Affordable in time and money
 Manageable in scope

I – Interesting

 Getting the answer intrigues investigator, peers and community

N – Novel

 Confirms, refutes or extends previous findings

E – Ethical

 Amenable to a study that institutional review board will approve

R – Relevant

 To scientific knowledge
 To clinical and health policy
 To future research

PICOT criteria
PICOT criteria tend to be used to frame questions
used in evidence-based studies, such as medical studies. Such
research may focus on assessment or evaluation of patients or
problems, as well as what may be the causal factor(s) with control
and experimental groups.

P – Patient (or Problem)

I – Intervention (or Indicator)
C – Comparison group
O – Outcomes
T – Time

Continuing the research process, the investigator then

carries out the research necessary to answer the research question,
whether this involves reading secondary sources over a few days for
an undergraduate term paper or carrying out primary research over
years for a major project. When the research is complete and the
researcher knows the (probable) answer to the research question,
writing up can begin (as distinct from writing notes, which is a
process that goes on through a research project). In term papers, the
answer to the question is normally given in summary in
the introduction in the form of a thesis statement.
-Types and purpose
The research question serves two purposes:

1. It determines where and what kind of research the writer will

be looking for.
2. It identifies the specific objectives the study or paper will
address.
Therefore, the writer must first identify the type of study (qualitative,
quantitative, or mixed) before the research question is developed.
Qualitative study
A qualitative study seeks to learn why or how, so the writer's
research must be directed at determining the what, why and how of
the research topic. Therefore, when crafting a research question for
a qualitative study, the writer will need to ask a why or how
question about the topic. For example: How did the company
successfully market its new product? The sources needed for
qualitative research typically include print and internet texts
(written words), audio and visual media.
Here is Creswell's (2009) example of a script for a qualitative
research central question:

 _________ (How or what) is the _________ ("story for" for

narrative research; "meaning of" the phenomenon for
phenomenology; "theory that explains the process of" for
grounded theory; "culture-sharing pattern" for ethnography;
"issue" in the "case" for case study) of _________ (central
 phenomenon) for _________ (participants) at _________
(research site).
Quantitative study
A quantitative study seeks to learn where, or when, so the writer's
research must be directed at determining the where, or when of the
research topic. Therefore, when crafting a research question for a
quantitative study, the writer will need to ask a where, or when
question about the topic. For example: Where should the company
market its new product? Unlike a qualitative study, a quantitative
study is mathematical analysis of the research topic, so the writer's
research will consist of numbers and statistics.
Here is Creswell's (2009) example of a script for a quantitative
research question:

 Does _________ (name the theory) explain the relationship

between _________ (independent variable) and _________
(dependent variable), controlling for the effects of _________
(control variable)?
Alternatively, a script for a quantitative null hypothesis might be as
follows:

 There is no significant difference between _________ (the control

and experimental groups on the independent variable) on
_________ (dependent variable).
Quantitative studies also fall into two categories:

1. Correlational studies: A correlational study is non-

experimental, requiring the writer to research relationships
 without manipulating or randomly selecting the subjects of the
research. The research question for a correlational study may
look like this: What is the relationship between long distance
commuters and eating disorders?
2. Experimental studies: An experimental study is experimental in
that it requires the writer to manipulate and randomly select
the subjects of the research. The research question for an
experimental study may look like this: Does the consumption
of fast food lead to eating disorders?
Mixed study
A mixed study integrates both qualitative and quantitative studies, so
the writer's research must be directed at determining the why or
how and the what, where, or when of the research topic. Therefore,
the writer will need to craft a research question for each study
required for the assignment. A typical study may be expected to have
between 1 and 6 research questions.
Once the writer has determined the type of study to be used and the
specific objectives the paper will address, the writer must also
consider whether the research question passes the "so what" test. The
"so what" test means that the writer must construct evidence to
convince the audience why the research is expected to add new or
useful knowledge to the literature.

-Guidelines
 Ask 1-2 central questions and no more than 5-7 sub-
questions
  These questions should:
o Relate the central question to the strategy of inquiry
o Begin with "what" or "how"
o Focus on a single phenomenon or concept
o Use exploratory verbs like discover or describe
o Avoid directional words such as "affect" or "impact"
o Evolve during the study
o Be open-ended without reference to the literature
o Specify the participants and research site (unless stated
previously). cresswell (2008)

-Limitation
 Research questions cannot be formulate along with hypothesis.
 Research question should be researchable,
 Research question should be feasible,
 Research question should be evocative,
 Research question should be relevant to the field,
 Research question should be clear,
 Research question should be ethical,
 Research question should not be too long,
 Research question should address the data,
 Research question is limited within the research problem.