Writing a research question

Qualitative

Theory developing: generate a hypothesis to explain

Get the root of misconceptions: understand a complex process

Identify variables: what would affect the phenomenon

Why something does and does not work

Examine organizational structures

Examine new constructs

Quantitative

Find variables you can measure: student achievement, gender differences, relationships

Determine the effect of something on something else: a new teaching methodology on student achievement, etc.

In order to be researchable, you have to be able to answer your question, supported by the data you collected

Questions based on opinion, personal philosophies or belief are generally not researchable

The involvement of ethics with the question is an important consideration in developing a researchable topic

Prompts that may be helpful

Think about a (past, future, present) phenomenon you wish to describe

Identify a problem you want to try to develop

Check validity of research findings if you want to replicate

Have you seen a problem or concerned raised around you?

Look at the Review of Educational Research for ideas

Read the literature and see what the implications sections offer

Look at “hot topics” in current education to see if something piques your interest

It is important to look for a coherent and plausible topic you are interested in

Being realistic

Realize you will have time constraints

Keep your study simple to start

Come up with a manageable question simple to answer

Choose a convenient sample

Choose your own environment as an optimal place to look

Your sample may respond in a way they feel you want to see

Bear in mind ethical considerations

Consider ease of access

Consider when you will be able to have access to your sample

Be aware of the implication of your data collection

Avoid looking for data which are not going to be available later

Avoid being too abstract

Think about what really concerns you in a certain area

Do background research will help you in focusing your question

Have some basic ideas before doing much exploring

Be flexible

Adjust or refine your question as you progress if you wish

Review your question to see if it has a slightly different focus

Eventually, your problem statement will need to become permanently fixed but not necessarily at the beginning

Ask yourself whether your study has any importance

Practical importance

Revise what you would gain by doing your study

Theoretical importance

Check if your study will add something important

Analyze if your study has already been replicated (see if it works in your context)

Be interested in your topic

Plan to study something you are excited about

Work on a topic you don’t really have a vested interest in will not keep you motivated

Given all the other demands on your time, feel what you devote to your research project

Qualitative questions

Useful for describing or answering questions about particular localized occurrences or contexts and the perspectives of a particular group toward events, beliefs or practices

The general form of a qualitative problem statement is: what are the patterns and perspectives of a group about something in a particular setting

Quantitative questions

Quantitative research is based on the collection and analysis of numerical data

The general form of quantitative questions is: what are the descriptions of the characteristics of a group

For studies in which groups will be compared statistically, the general form of a quantitative question is: what are the comparisons of characteristics of groups based on an intervention

Mixed studies are looking at two questions, one to be answered with a quantitative methodology and one with a qualitative methodology

This is the only time we recommend the use of the word “and” in writing a problem statement

The statement typically starts with “The purpose of this study…”

Write for clarity: avoid technical jargon or complicated grammatical construction

Especially for new researchers, avoid the use of the word “and” in a problem statement

Depending on the nature of the study, the research project may fall into one of three categories

Full review

Privacy of individuals

Subjects must also be willing participants

Expedited review

Privacy of individuals

Subjects must also be willing participants

Exempt from review

Do not require written consent forms

Check with your institution to get the specific guidelines to follow to get your research proposal approved