From research question to objectives via a literature review

research question significance background research question methodology objectives WHAT & HOW? WHY?

Hi Brad! Say, what’s your PhD topic? the influence of Andy Warhol and American pop art on the look and feel of PowerPoint presentations! I’m looking at something really cool, Jen:

Amazing! So what do you want to know about the influence of pop art on PowerPoint? Wow! Good question! What I want to know is …. ummm …

Heck, I want to know everything! Like, how important has pop art actually been in the design of software interfaces? Was Andy Warhol a digital prophet? Does Bill Gates collect pop art? Can PowerPoint be art? But most of all, Jen…

I want to know whether PowerPoint turns us all into mindless Microsoft clones Deep! And is that a good thing or a bad thing? ……you know, like all those Andy Warhol soup cans!

So I guess one research question might be: “Does presentation software destroy creative thinking in modern corporations, or does it actually enhance it?” You know, you could maybe get some industry funding for that!

Gee, that’s brilliant Jen! Thanks. So to answer that I guess I need to find out … uuhhh? “Does presentation software destroy creative thinking in modern corporations, or does it actually enhance it?” I like that!

Well, what kind of work do you need to do in order to answer your question? You need a list of OBJECTIVES, Brad! Boy, is she smart!

This is a very important process, Brad, so listen up…! Objectives are not questions—they’re statements. In your objectives, you’re working out the steps you need to take in order to answer your research question.

… because later your objectives will form the basis of your METHODOLOGY. After all: your objectives are really statements of what you intend to do to find the answer to your research question … and your methodology just applies a particular approach or set of approaches to that same process of finding out

Your objectives are therefore structured using action-words like: interpret assess examine develop analyse elucidate explore articulate establish construct propose argue They’re rather methods-ish in feel, don’t you think Brad? Brad?

… Brad? Brad? Oh no … he’s gone straight off to the library to write his candidacy application … but he doesn’t know that he has to do a LITERATURE REVIEW first!! I’ve got to find him! What if his research question has already been answered? What if it’s just not an important question? Brad! Brad! Wait up…!

research question significance background research question methodology objectives WHAT & HOW? WHY?

BACKGROUND: Literature Review What it should NOT be: A descriptive list: a series of paragraphs beginning with yet another author's name; or a series of summaries

What it should be: A thoughtful thematic review of the exemplary, theoretical and methodological issues you are dealing with -- focused around your research question, and written discursively telling your readers which academic conversations you are taking part in - and why.

You need to tell your readers which academic conversations you are taking part in - and why: 1.exemplary - historical, comparative 2. theoretical - historical and contemporary frameworks of explanation 3. methodological - how others have tackled similar (or even very different) problems

Use the literature review: 1. to help you determine and articulate what is known and what is not known, or what has and what hasn’t been done, in the area; that is, the questions that need further research/creative exploration

2. to identify areas of debate or disagreement, controversy or inconsistency. Some of the most useful pieces of work are revisionist in nature They take older positions/frameworks and reposition and rethink them

Use the literature review 3. to practice and develop research techniques and skills to read in a targeted way to develop skills of critical appraisal and your capacity to identify the objectives and arguments of those you are reading, and to articulate their strengths and weaknesses

Use the literature review 4. to think laterally and creatively about other potential search areas