IntroductionIntroductionThe start of a research article providing background information and an overview of the research presented in the article.
Figure 1, created by Nina Exner for LibParlor Online Learning, 2023.
Research questions are to research studies as thesis statements are to papers. The research question tells us what we will and will not want to include in the study and serve as our touchstone throughout to help ourselves stay on-track and not let the study grow beyond what we can handle. Researchers go back and forth quite a lot as we consider possible questions and approaches to answering them. Sometimes we even adjust when we are into our survey or interview question creation or even further into the research design! The research question is important because it guides our process, so it should be reflected on and adjusted to fit methodological realities and our personal priorities.
In this lesson, you will compare important factors between methodologies. You will then be refreshed on ways to find initial inspiration and narrow your focus to a specific question based on personal priorities and the disciplinary context. Finally, you will be prompted to choose among the possible question-and-methodologyMethodologyThe theoretical framework that informs how a researcher approaches their work and what methods are used to collect data. scenarios to pick one that best suits your priorities and needs.
IntroductionIntroduction The start of a research article providing background information and an overview of the research presented in the article.
Research questions are to research studies as thesis statements are to papers. The research question tells us what we will and will not want to include in the study and serve as our touchstone throughout to help ourselves stay on-track and not let the study grow beyond what we can handle. Researchers go back and forth quite a lot as we consider possible questions and approaches to answering them. Sometimes we even adjust when we are into our survey or interview question creation or even further into the research design! The research question is important because it guides our process, so it should be reflected on and adjusted to fit methodological realities and our personal priorities.
In this lesson, you will compare important factors between methodologies. You will then be refreshed on ways to find initial inspiration and narrow your focus to a specific question based on personal priorities and the disciplinary context. Finally, you will be prompted to choose among the possible question-and-methodologyMethodology The theoretical framework that informs how a researcher approaches their work and what methods are used to collect data. scenarios to pick one that best suits your priorities and needs.