HHS4U – Independent Study Project
PHASE 1: THE RESEARCH QUESTION
PROCESS:
Each student will select a topic from the list provided and then conduct
preliminary research in order to see other research has already been done and
what is to be known about this topic. From this initial research, the student must
develop a research question. From this, a proposal will be written that will include
the research question, a hypothesis as well as the perceived importance of the
research question in the study of the family. Further, the proposal should explain
possible methods of research that could be used as well as limitations that may be
encountered in the research process.
CRITERIA:
Proposal: The proposal begins with the research question that will be the
focus of your final report. All research should relate back to this question.
Ultimately, this is the question that should answered by the end of your report;
e.g., “What is the effect of divorce in child development?” Further, a hypothesis
must be devised. This is the predicted answer to the research question. This
must be a focused statement based on your own belief and your understanding
of existing literature on your topic. Explain the purpose or justification of your
research by stating the overall importance of the research question to the study
of the family. Explain the methods of research that could be used in your study.
Examples might include: Surveys/questionnaires, interviews, or observations.
The proposal should also identify limitations that may hinder the research such
as financial limitations, limited sample groups or confidentiality issues. It is
important to explain how these limitations can be minimized.
Format: The word-processed report should employ paragraphs and complete
sentences. It should consist of a 2-3 page entry, double-spaced with suitable
font size/choice for readability and appropriate margins for teacher response.
The report should be accompanied by ‘References’ page using APA style that
indicates the sources of your research. You should include a minimum of three
sources and fill out the “Validity of Sources” page for each source.
ASSESSMENT:
The criteria, as described above are assessed by both by the instructor and
the student using a summary criteria rubric.
HHS4U – Independent Study Project
Developing a Research Question
After exploring and gathering background information on a subject area, it is important to focus in a
specific topic to research.
Each "Topic" Has Two or More "Concepts"
A topic is a relatively narrow area of interest that could be thoroughly researched and written about in
the time and length of the given assignment. Research topics commonly include at least two aspects or
"concepts". If you started with the subject "illegal immigration", for example, and after some preliminary
research or background reading, you might find that many people who are writing about the subject, are
concerned with the impact of illegal immigration on the U.S. economy. The economy could be the
second concept for your research topic. The two (or more) concepts in a research topic can often be
phrased in relationship to each other, such as "The effect of _________ on _________", "The role of
_________ in _________" or "The use of _________ in _________". Following our focusing process
from the subject "illegal immigration", a possible research topic could be: "The effect of illegal
immigration on the U.S. economy."
It can often be helpful to phrase a topic as a research question. For example, you could make this topic
into the following research question: "What is the effect of illegal immigration on the U.S. economy?"
Not Too Broad, Not Too Specific
When you focus in on a research topic from a broad subject area, it's important to select a topic which
is:
1) Interesting to you, and
2) Not too broad and not too specific.
If you select a topic that is too general, you will be overwhelmed with too much information to choose
from and it will be difficult to focus your search. If there are whole books written about your topic, it is
too broad for a research paper.
If you choose a topic that is too specific, it will be difficult to find enough information to support your
ideas and there may not be enough sources to allow you to develop a balanced perspective on a topic.
If your research question can be fully answered in a few paragraphs, your topic is too limited. Narrowing
in on a precise topic often continues well into the research process. As you gather more information, you
will come up with more ideas to focus your research.
Paying attention to the wording of your research question can sometimes help you avoid being too
specific. Research questions beginning with "How..." or "Why..." are usually broader and typically lead to
more substantial research projects than questions beginning with "Who...", "Where..." or "When...",
which can often be too limited for most research assignments. Questions beginning with "What..." tend
to vary in breadth, depending on the wording of the rest of the question. For example, our question,
"What is the effect of illegal immigration on the U.S. economy?" is a relatively broad question, while
"What percentage of total U.S. employees are illegal immigrants?" is a much more specific question and
would not be broad enough for most research assignments.
Research questions that have no simple answers usually lead to more productive research papers.
Topics that are controversial and for which there are various different points of view give you more
possibilities for developing your own ideas and analysis from your research.
Source:
Brenner, Eric (1998) LSCI 105 Computerized Research. Retrieved at: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/brenner/lsci105/rsrchqus.html
HHS4U – Independent Study Project
Evaluate Your Research Question
Ask the following eight questions to evaluate the quality of your research question and the ease with
which you should be able to answer it:
1. Does the question deal with a topic or issue that interests me enough to spark my own thoughts and
opinions?
2. Is the question easily and fully researchable?
3. What type of information do I need to answer the research question?
For example:
The research question, "What impact has deregulation had on commercial airline safety?," will require
certain types of information:
- Statistics on airline crashes before and after
- Statistics on other safety problems before and after
- Information about maintenance practices before and after
- Information about government safety requirements before and after
4. Is the scope of this information reasonable?
5. Given the type and scope of the information that I need, is my question too broad, too narrow, or
manageble?
6. What sources will have the type of information that I need to answer the research question
(journals, books, Internet resources, government documents, people)?
7. Can I access these sources?
8. Given my answers to the above questions, do I have a good quality research question that I actually
will be able to answer by doing research.
http://www.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex.nsf/0/f87fd7182f0ff21c852569c2005a47b7