2. Three
Related
Concepts
• Topic
:
It
is
the
general
area
of
knowledge
that
interests
you.
For
example,
reading
learning,
innova>ve
art,
hospital
primary
care,
decision
making,
animal
rights,
differen>al
equa>ons,
etc.
• Research
Problem:
It
is
what
calls
your
aDen>on
within
the
topic
because
it
seems
not
to
be
working
properly
and
consequently
has
to
be
studied.
• Research
Ques>on:
:
It
is
what
you
specifically
want
to
answer
or
test
conduc>ng
a
study.
In
other
words,
the
ques>on
that
states
what
you
will
look
for.
3. Process
to
Formulate
Your
Research
Questions
List
Topics
Evaluate
Topics
Using
Criteria
Choose
Topic
Iden>fy
Problems
for
the
Topic
Evaluate
Problems
Using
Criteria
Choose
Research
Problem
Iden>fy
What
You
Want
to
Know
or
Test
about
the
Problem
Formulate
the
Research
Ques>on(s)
Evaluate
Research
Ques>on(s)
Using
Criteria
4. You
can
read
criteria
for
evaluating
topics
and
problems
at:
www.doctoralnet.com
www.slideshare.net/Silvercusa/selecting-
the-research-problem-for-your-doctoral-
dissertation
5. What
is
a
Research
Question?
• It
is
what
you
want
to
answer
or
test
in
order
to
solve
the
iden>fied
problem
or
understand
it
beDer.
• It
is
the
guiding
element
to
make
decisions
on
deepening
literature
review,
choosing
a
valid
research
method,
and
analyzing
findings.
6. Elements
of
a
Good
Research
Question
• The
what,
who,
when,
where,
how,
and
why
of
the
research
study.
The
first
four
interroga>ves
relate
to
descrip>on
of
elements
of
the
problem,
the
fiQh
to
a
process
of
it,
and
the
last
one
to
causa>on.
• What
is
intended
to
do
(describe,
explore,
compare,
explain,
or
even
evaluate)
7. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
Focus of the research
question:
Description of the
elements of the
identified problem
• What/How
____(the
unknown
element)
__
(central
phenomenon)
___
(par>cipants)
___(research
site/period
of
>me)?
1.
What
are
the
digital
wri>ng
tools
more
used
by
Texan
college
students
to
prepare
essays?
2. How
oQen
do
Bri>sh
police
recruits
ask
for
mentoring
during
their
first
year
in
the
force?
3. How
is
domes>c
violence
perceived
by
Mexican
rural
communi>es?
8. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
(II)
Focus of the research
question:
Exploration of the
elements of the
problem
• What
_____(unknown
element)__(central
phenomenon)
__(par>cipants)__(research
site/period
of
>me)?
1. What
differen>ated
strategies
are
used
to
teach
minori>es
at
elementary
public
schools
in
Dade
county?
2. What
are
the
opinions
of
Italian
community
leaders
about
current
illegal
immigra>on
from
Africa?
9. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
(III)
Focus of the research
question:
Compare elements of
the problem
• What
is/are
the
difference(s)
between/among__(central
phenomenon)
_(par>cipants)__(research
site/period
of
>me)?
1. What
are
the
differences
in
social
network
usage
between
Australian
female
and
male
university
students?
2. What
is
the
difference
in
percep>on
toward
insurance
among
drivers
of
three
California
coun>es?
10. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
(IV)
Focus of the research
question:
Explanation of the
problem
• What/Why__(unknown
element)__(central
phenomenon)_(par>cipants)_
(research
site/period
of
>me)?
1. What
is
the
rela>onship
between
the
teaching
strategy
and
the
scores
high
school
students
achieve
in
the
math
sub-‐test
of
the
TAKS?
2. Why
do
first
year
Bri>sh
policemen
leave
the
force?
11. f
Formulate a research question applying
one of the scripts presented
12. Criteria
to
Evaluate
a
Research
Question
Adapted from:
Green, N. (2008). Formulating and
refining a research question. In
Gilbert, N. (Ed.). Researching social
life. Guildford, UK: University of
Surrey
• Specific (what needs to be
answered is clearly and
concisely stated)
• Key elements are present
(what, who, where, when,
how, and/or why)
• Answerable (possible to
know what would take to
answer it)
• Interesting for you and
others
• Feasible (in terms of time,
costs, skills, required
information, access to it, etc.)
• Meaningful to you, others,
and the field of study
• Timely (Is it a hot question
these days ? Is it possible to
generate new directions to
research)
• Ethical (maintain ethical
standards in relation to
participants, data, and
researcher)
14. Now
you
know
:
1. What a research
question is
2. Its role in the
research process
3. What elements
should be in a
research question
4. How to formulate a
research question
5. How to evaluate its
appropriateness
15. Upcoming
News/Events
Research
the
helps
you
develop
your
world:
Ac>on
research
+
doctoral
disserta>on
10/06/2013
Chapter
1:
The
lighthouse
of
your
disserta>on
10/12/2013
Upcoming
Conferences:
16. Thanks
for
reading
Hope you find this conference useful and
want to meet us soon