Writing Qualitative Research Purpose and Questions A Cheat Sheet Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya

Research Purpose The purpose of this research is to…. Explore Understand Investigate Identify Evaluate Describe Interrogate

Contextual Details How many participants? Where (use pseudonyms) What will you explore? – be specific If exploring experience, then experience of what? Be narrowly focused If exploring perception, then perception of what? Be narrowly focused Avoid jargon use as much as possible

Operationalize Jargon What is it that you are trying to measure? What are your indicators for that measure? How will you know that you have measured X? Break down your jargon to easily verifiable constructs

Tips for Research Questions Make sure they are aligned with the research purpose Generate research questions from the operationalization of jargons One question can be the conversion of the purpose statement into a question Keep it simple. Don’t try to solve everything within the topic of your interest

Tips for Research Questions Pursue one point of inquiry in one question i.e. don’t ask how does the participant describe experiences of belongingness and the effects it has on her self esteem?

Tips for Research Questions Ask questions that have open-ended possibilities for answers – such as What are the experiences of … How does a participant describe X… In what ways does X play a role in Y How does the participant identify X…

Tips for Research Questions Do not ask closed ended research questions – those are quantitative questions. (examples below) Does this program benefit learning experiences of students? Do the participants like X more than Y? Does X cause Y?

Sample Research Questions In what ways do 5 survivors of Katrina who stayed in the Superdome describe their strategies for surviving? How do students perceive the value of the new math program in relation to standardized testing?

Sample Research Questions What are the experiences of belongingness of 5 female African American graduate students in the College of Education in a mid-southern university? How does participating in a professional development workshop regarding technology integration influence the teaching practices of 5 middle school teachers in a mid-southern town?

Sample Research Questions What is the role of the TV show “America’s Next Top Model” in informing diet choices of 4 teenage girls (13-17) who watch the show regularly?