Good Research Questions The difficulty of focusing on a good question

Good Research Questions Your research hinges on a good question. A good idea and a good interest is not enough. ‘Without the articulation of a good question you are travelling blind’ (O’Leary 2010:47)

Good Research Questions Your research hinges on a good question. They Define an investigation - it can define the topic; Define the nature of the research endeavour; define the questions you are interested in; Define your constructs and variable –and indicate whether you foresee a relationship between variables –

Good Research Questions Set boundaries – It makes your research doable and when faced with an interesting tangent, ask yourself ‘what does this have to do with my question – nothing, its relevant, well nothing really but its at the heart of what I want to know (than rethink the question.

Good Research Questions Provide direction – blueprint for your project, your engagement with literature, your data gathering, Act as a frame of reference for assessing your work

Good Research Questions A research project should in some way enlarge our understanding of a subject or problem. In simple terms, research is about asking a good question, finding an answer, and arguing your case.

Good Research Questions A research project should in some way enlarge our understanding of a subject or problem. In simple terms, research is about asking a good question, finding an answer, and arguing your case.

Good Research Questions One Research question Finding the question If you are struggling you are not alone What interests you What makes you curious What will make a difference in your ministry What do you know something about Reading for sensitivity Something you can critically engage with (more than description)

Good Research Questions “Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen, and thinking what no one else has thought” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Good Research Questions Focusing the question A research question is not the same as a dissertation title. A linear process for narrowing the question… What is your topic? What is the context for your research? What do you want to achieve? Are there any potential relationships you want to explore? Is this too broad Continued refinement

Good Research Questions Refining the question Synthetic- ties together both theological and practical discourses Analytic - not likely to be self-evident. It should summon a further line of quite specific questions Provocative - engagement with some known problem or promises to transgress current assumptions.

Good Research Questions A Good Research Hypothesis A good research question can also be re-stated as a hypothesis, i.e. formulating a tentative answer that can be tested by further investigation. It is something taken to be true for the purpose of argument.

Good Research Questions Sub Questions: What needs to be asked in order to answer this question? You have your question now ask ‘how do I answer it?’ Reading

Good Research Questions Groups of 4 to come up with questions to examine or refine/affirm your research question.