*
The Research Question…
* A research question is a statement that
identifies the phenomenon you are wanting to
study.
*
* To develop a strong research question from your
ideas, you should ask yourself a few of these things.
* Do I know the field and its literature well?
* What are the important research questions in my
area of interest?
* What other areas need further exploration?
* Could your research lead to a greater
understanding?
* Has a great deal of study already been conducted in
your area of interest? What can I add to it?
* Is the timing right for this question to be answered?
Is it a hot topic? Or is it becoming obsolete?
*
* A strong research question should be able to
pass the ‘so what’ test.
* Think about the potential your research could
have on yourself and your readers.
* What is the benefit of answering your research
question? Who will it help and how?
* If you cannot make a definitive statement
about your research, you might want to
reconsider that topic.
*
* Your research question should be as narrow as
possible and not broad-based.
* For example:
* What can be done to prevent substance abuse?
* This topic is too broad.
* What is the relationship between specific early
childhood experiences and subsequent
substance-abuse?
* This topic is narrow.
*
* A well thought-out and focused research
question leads you directly into your
hypothesis.
* Hypothesis are more specific predictions about
the nature and direction of your research
question.
* For example:
* Individuals who suffer from traumatic childhood
events will have a higher rate of developing a
substance abuse problem.
*
* A hypothesis is a tentative statement that
proposes a possible explanation to some
phenomenon or event
* A hypothesis should:
* Give insight into a research question.
* Are testable and measurable between two
variables and how they might be related.
* A hypothesis should not be confused with a
theory. Theories are general explanations
based on a large amount of data.
*
* Once you have developed your research question
and hypothesis, you can now develop your
keywords.
* The use of keywords will allow you to search
databases, catalogs, etc. to find material that
supports you research question and hypothesis.
* For example:
* What effect does the use of alcoholic beverages
have on the health of college students?
* Keywords: alcoholic beverages and health and
college students
*
* Once you have thought through your keywords,
hypothesis and research question, you will
have the perfect ingredients to conduct a
research paper.
* Your next step would be to conduct your
research and write your paper.
*
Broad Topic
Restricted Topic
Narrowed Topic
Research Question
Pollution
Acid Rain
Acid Rain in the US
Commercial Fishing
Fishing and Regulations
Fishing Regulations and
New England
Marketing
Nike and Marketing
Nike and International
marketing
Nutrition
Diets and Nutritional
Benefits
Vegetarianism
What can the US do to
prevent acid rain?
What impact do fishing
regulations have on
commercial fishing in
New England?
What are Nike’s business
practices in international
sales?
What nutritional benefits
are there to
vegetarianisms?
*
* Please contact Tracy Ponder at:
* 417-447-8173
* pondert@otc.edu
*