Developing Your Research Question

I know about general area, but I ’ m not sure of my research question?

What is a research question? Each research project starts with a research question. The research answers the research question. It can be a problem or issue yet unsolved. It can be an interesting phenomenon to be explained.

What is your research question? In which field are you going to work? What is the problem to be solved/question to be answered? What are you going to do? Why is that interesting? Take a couple of minutes to answer these questions in writing.

The Importance of Good Questions A good research question: Defines the investigation Sets boundaries Provides direction

Concept Map of Potential Research Topics

Look at the area from a number of view points Identify its parts and wholes Trace its history and changes Identify its categories and characteristics Determine its value [to you as well] Review and rearrange your answers From Topics to Questions

From Interesting Topics to Researchable Questions An ‘ angle ’ for your research can come from insights stemming from: personal experience theory observations contemporary issues engagement with the literature

Narrowing and Clarifying Narrowing, clarifying, and even redefining your questions is essential to the research process. Forming the right ‘ questions ’ should be seen as an iterative process that is informed by reading and doing at all stages.

Cycles of Research Question Development

How do I find a research question? Find a field of research that interests you Review the literature to reconnoitre the field Divide into three piles: Definitely relevant (read + notes) Perhaps relevant (skim-read + decide) not relevant to my studies (keep references) Result: A web of people, studies and publications

How do I find a research question? Find interesting holes in the web What has not been done (yet)? In the beginning make notes and carry on looking for gaps Later stage: Zoom into particular gaps

The Hypothesis Dilemma Hypotheses are designed to express relationships between variables. If this is the nature of your question, a hypothesis can add to your research If your question is more descriptive or explorative, generating a hypothesis may not be appropriate

Good Question Checklist Is the question right for me?  Will the question hold my interest?  Can I manage any potential biases/subjectivities I may have?

Good Question Checklist Is the question right for the field?  Will the findings be considered significant?  Will it make a contribution?

Good Question Checklist Is the question well articulated?  Are the terms well-defined?  Are there any unchecked assumptions?

Good Question Checklist Is the question doable?  Can information be collected in an attempt to answer the question?  Do I have the skills and expertise necessary to access this information? If not, can the skills be developed?  Will I be able to get it all done within my time constraints?  Are costs likely to exceed my budget?  Are there any potential ethics problems?

Criteria of a “ good ” research question Explicit (distinct & testable concepts) Clear (Meaning obvious and clear relationships between concepts) Original Has theoretical significance or managerial relevance (can be basic or applied research)

Example of a Bad Research Question Development of an e-commerce Website for an XYZ-company in Nigeria selling Nigerian products worldwide Level of abstraction is too low Has been done before: not sufficiently novel not at the cutting edge of CS No contribution to CS Wrong type of research, wrong focus

Example of a Bad Research Question The role of SMEs in fast growing Indian Economy too general Very large-scale Not doable No focus