1. Formulating and clarifying the research topic

2. How to find a question
...how the process of generating research topic which is
waterproof
intriguing
exiting
manageable
feasible
...should go?
...what are the parameters of a good question?
...why was Einstein brilliant?
... process with occasional dead ends, time consuming and stressful  Have fun!

3. Attributes of a good research topic
practical considerations - requirements of your uni
your capability – have/develop the skills and competencies to manage the research
excitement - your genuine interest
resources – money, equipment, expert knowledge, time
accessibility of data – especially when sensitive topics
linkage to the theory - previous theories give a context to your topic; avoid you to “discover” well-known things
clarity of research questions and objectives – will there be new insights or not
practical considerations AGAIN - Congruence with your career goals – in the end, you will be, want it or not, kind of an expert in the specific area you studied

4. Generating and refining research ideas
Generating research ideas: range of tips and techniques
rational AND creative techniques
Using these techniques usually may have two outcomes:
one or more possible project idea VERSUS absolute panic

5. Rational techniques
examine your own strengths and interests – look back and look into the future
look at past project titles – let your imagination and attention to guide you; note down
discussion – colleagues; friends; university supervisors, tutors; practitioners; proffesionals
searching the literature – academic and professional journals; review articles

6. Creative techniques
keep a notebook of ideas – short-time memory is a ... (you fill the gap)
explore your personal preferences using past projects –
what appeals me about the project?
what is good about this project?
Why is the project good?
Find out aspects in projects you consider as excellent and important to you
relevance trees or mind mapping
Brainstorming – not only for solving, but also for generating problems!

7. Relevance trees or mind mapping – for example...

8. For refining research ideas...
... conduct a preliminary study – literature, experts, research context (e.g., organisation)
... topic from your organisation – how to do two things out of one?

9. Turning research ideas into research projects
Good research question:
sufficient to generate a project accepted by your institution
not too difficult – you can’t solve all the problems in the world
not “too big” – demanding significant funding
not “too small” – irrelevant; not enough substance
not “too hot” – sensitive topics – no one wants to talk to you
will generate new insights

10. Phrasing a good research question
General focus research question:
I’m interested in sustainable worldview of companies
Following more detailed questions/ research objectives:
I want to know, how the environmentally sensitive or green image of a company affects their profit?
Going from more general level to the more specific focus

11. ...phrasing a good research question
Implications for future studies in scientific articles and publications – need only to rephrase as a research question 

12. Writing research objectives
General focus research question -> research objectives
...lead you to greater specifity than research questions;
are more precise;
require more rigorous thinking
RQ: “how the environmentally sensitive image affects the profit of a company?”
->
RO: “To determine the role that the environmental-friendly image plays in customers’ decisions when choosing between different products/companies”
Research objectives ->
- what to you want to know;
- specify, where is the end point of your work;
- help you to understand that your question is answered

13. The importance of theory in writing research questions and objectives
theory - a formulation regarding the cause and effect relationships between two or more variables, which may or may not been tested
- ...explain and predict
Often, researchers do not ask those questions that allow to meaningfully conclude why the state of affair is as it is
– in order to understand the mechanism of change, you have to ask questions about this mechanism of change
- most studies stop where the starting point should be
Gathering of facts versus intelligence gathering
Why-questions go beyond description and require analysis

14. If you want to do a research, you need to answer four very simple :P questions:
1. What do I want to find out?
2. Why I want to find it out? (Why is it interesting?)
3. How will I found it out? (Maybe it is already known?)
4. Are the answers to the three previous questions in accord with each other?

15. Generate a research topic that is interesting to you:
Homework
Generate a research topic that is interesting to you:
- phrase your central research question;
- phrase your research objective(s).
NB – it is also ok if you follow the 4 questions on the previous page!
length: 0,5-1 A4 pages
send it by at least 2 workdays before our next lecture: