Another Extremely Exciting Powerpoint byYour Professor Research Questions Another Extremely Exciting Powerpoint byYour Professor

Now… What is a Research Question? A research question, also known as a scholarly/academic inquiry, is a question that guides your research. Seems obvious, right? The research question is NOT a thesis/central claim or a topic. It is quite literally a question.

What Makes a Good Research Question? A good research question should encourage focused research and analysis. It should be: Clear Concise Complex Invite analysis Note that you will probably have one main research question and several smaller ones.

What’s a Good Research Question Look Like? The next three slides are some great examples from George Mason University’s Writing Center: Unclear: Why are social networking sites harmful? Clear: How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook? The unclear version of this question doesn’t specify which social networking sites or suggest what kind of harm the sites are causing. It also assumes that this “harm” is proven and/or accepted. The clearer version specifies sites (MySpace and Facebook), the type of harm (privacy issues), and who the issue is harming (users). A strong research question should never leave room for ambiguity or interpretation.

What’s a Good Research Question Look Like? (cont.) Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global warming? Focused: How is glacial melting affecting penguins in Antarctica? The unfocused research question is so broad that it couldn’t be adequately answered in a book-length piece, let alone a standard college-level paper. The focused version narrows down to a specific cause (glacial melting), a specific place (Antarctica), and a specific group that is affected (penguins). When in doubt, make a research question as narrow and focused as possible.

What’s a Good Research Question Look Like? (cont.) Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the U.S.? Appropriately 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? The simple version of this question can be looked up online and answered in a few factual sentences; it leaves no room for analysis. The more complex version is written in two parts; it 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’s likely not very effective. 

A Pointer It’s ok to start broad, but don’t leave the broad question as your research question. Use it as a jumping off point. You can ask the 5 Ws to get a more specific question. Who? What? When? Where? Why? (my personal favorite) And sometimes the H… How?

Example How do people use theory in research? How do compositionists use grounded theory in research on writing? In what ways can a grounded theory approach to research on writing shape analysis differently than traditional hypothesis-proof methods?

Brainstorming Great research questions don’t just happen by magic, they take planning and careful thought. Think about what interests you and how that can be turned into an inquiry the requires discipline-specific research! You’re going to be stuck with this topic for more than a month. Personally, I like to use visuals when I brainstorm. Here’s something you might like: http://padlet.com/

Researching the Research Question Now that I’ve got this great question, I need to start thinking about what kind of research I need to do.

Brainstorming Grounded Theory What is it? Who are the major theorists? How was it developed? Who are the major theorists? How has it been applied in research studies? Here, I start with a question and web out some related questions. You could also free-associate related keywords that may become search terms.

Don’t Just Think About How to Prove It Students often simply ask, “where can I find research that says exactly what I’m saying to show that I’m right?” Think of what helps you think about your topic, lends new insights, or says things in ways you couldn’t possibly say it. Think of what your reader needs to know more about or what your reader will expect to come from an expert opinion.

Example I want to write a paper that asks, “Are fluffy cats better pets than smooth-haired ones?” (awesome example, I know). I might look up: The breeding path that led to fluffy cat breeds vs. smooth-haired cat breeds How we assess what makes a good pet– if it’s, let’s say cuteness, I might further venture into what our culture considers “cute” I might interview fluffy cat and smooth-haired cat owners I might even refine my question… better pets for whom? The elderly? Americans? The First Family?

Don’t Be This Girl If you bracket the racy outfit for a minute, this video is a great example of what NOT to do when performing research. Her research question is “Do dogs even have brains?” She is not interested in considering opposition. She is focused on “proving” her hypothesis, despite new evidence. She lets her bias lead her. Her subquestions and subclaims have no actual relevance to the topic– Does life exist on other planets? How does that have to do with dog brains? It doesn’t.