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Research Question

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14 views

Research Question

Uploaded by

pipong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RESEARCH

QUESTION
It is likely that at some point during your
degree you will be required to create your
own research question.
The research question states the specific
issue or problem that your assignment will
focus on. It also outlines the task that you
will need to complete.
TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Descriptive Research Questions
These questions aim to describe characteristics or
phenomena. They focus on what, when, where, or how.
Descriptive research is often used to gather information
and provide a detailed account of a situation.
Example: What are the common dietary habits of college
students?
2. Comparative Research Questions
These questions seek to compare two or more groups or
variables. They often address differences or similarities
between populations, treatments, or conditions.
Example: How do stress levels compare between students
who study in groups versus those who study alone?
3. Causal Research Questions
Causal research questions aim to establish cause-and-
effect relationships between variables. These
questions investigate whether changes in one
variable directly result in changes in another.
Example: Does increasing physical activity lead to a
reduction in anxiety levels among adolescents?
4. Exploratory Research Questions
These questions are used when the researcher is
looking to explore a topic that is not well understood.
Exploratory questions are open-ended and often lead
to more specific questions.
Example: What factors influence the choice of career
paths among recent graduates?
5. Explanatory Research Questions
Explanatory questions aim to explain why or how
something happens. They often build on exploratory
questions and seek to provide insights into underlying
mechanisms or reasons.
Example: What factors contribute to the high dropout
rates in high school?
6. Evaluative Research Questions
These questions assess the effectiveness of a
program, intervention, or policy. They often involve
measuring outcomes and determining whether
objectives have been met.
Example: How effective is the new reading program in
improving literacy rates among third grader
key characteristics of a good research question:
Focused and Specific: A good research question
should be narrow enough to be manageable. It
should target a specific aspect of a broader topic
rather than being too vague or broad.
Researchable and Answerable: The question
should be feasible to investigate within the
available resources, time frame, and scope of the
study. It should also allow for gathering evidence
or data.
Relevant and Significant: The question should
address an important issue within the field of
study. It should contribute to knowledge, spark
interest, or fill a gap in existing research.
7. Predictive Research Questions
Predictive questions aim to forecast outcomes
based on certain variables or conditions. They are
often used in studies involving trends or patterns.

Example: How will changes in economic policy


impact unemployment rates over the next five
years?
Open-Ended: Good research questions typically
cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."
They should encourage exploration, analysis,
and discussion.

Clear and Concise: The question should be


articulated in straightforward language, free
from ambiguity. Clarity helps ensure that the
research is focused and the purpose is
understood.

Complex Enough: A good research question


should not be overly simplistic. It should involve
In general, however, a good research question should be:
1. Clear and focused. In other words, the question
should clearly state what the writer needs to do.
2. Not too broad and not too narrow. The question
should have an appropriate scope. If the question is too
broad it will not be possible to answer it thoroughly
within the word limit. If it is too narrow you will not have
enough to write about and you will struggle to develop a
strong argument
3. Not too easy to answer. For example, the question
should require more than a simple yes or no answer.
4. Not too difficult to answer. You must be able
to answer the question thoroughly within the given
timeframe and word limit.
5. Researchable. You must have access to a
suitable amount of quality research materials, such
as academic books and refereed journal articles.
6. Analytical rather than descriptive. In other
words, your research question should allow you to
produce an analysis of an issue or problem rather
than a simple description of it.

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