Developing a Research Question
COMM 1007 with Professor A. Song
start
What's covered in this presentation?
1. what is a research question?
2. Why is it important?
3. How do I develop a research question?
4. Examples/ checking for understanding
What is a Research Question?
What is a research question?
A research question is the question in which you centre your research. This is the question that you are striving to answer in your research essay (the answer you develop is your argumentative thesis statement). This is the question that drives and steers your research process – it will help you find, read, think through, and evaluate sources.
What is a Research Question?
A Research Question should be...
clear
focused
concise
Click on each criterion to learn more!
open-ended
complex
arguable
researchable
worth investigating
Why is it important?
Why is it important?
A well-developed research question helps writers to stay focused through the research and writing process.
A well-developed research question helps writers to work toward asserting a thesis or position on the issue while avoiding an “all-about” paper that reports general facts about an issue. You want to aim for an analysis of an issue/problem, not a simple description.
How do I develop a Research Question?
How do I develop a research question?
Step 1:
Choose a debatable issue, topic, or problem that piques your interest and matters deeply to the members of our community.
Click here for more brainstorming tips!
How do I develop a research question?
Step 2:
Do some preliminary research to learn more about your topic. Preliminary research refers to the early stage of research that helps you get a better understanding on what types of sources are available and what is being said about the topic. What types of sources are out there on your topic? What are other experts, journalists, researchers, activists, and industry leaders already saying about this topic? Most importantly, what questions occur to you as you read these articles?
How do I develop a research question?
tip!
The goal in this early stage of research is to familiarize yourself with a few key readings, so don’t focus on taking extensive notes. You can come back to that later. At this stage, focus on the main ideas and arguments (found in the introduction and conclusion) of the sources.
How do I develop a research question?
Step 3:
After doing preliminary research, narrow down your topic to a more specific area or aspect. You might also consider the knowledge gaps in the literature – what is not being discussed? Identifying gaps in literature can also help you construct a research question. It’s important, however, to consider the literature that is available to you – if there isn’t a lot of sources available, this means your topic is too narrow and you will struggle to develop an argument.
How do I develop a research question?
Step 4:
Start asking and drafting questions. Take into consideration the checklist provided earlier and start asking yourself open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your topic. For example, “How do physical barriers prevent disabled Canadians from accessing healthcare facilities and services?” or “To what extent is virtual care effective in improving patient outcomes compared to face-to-face care?”
How do I develop a research question?
Step 5:
Evaluate your question. After you’ve drafted a few options, ask the following questions to ensure that your chosen question is a well-developed research question...
How do I develop a research question?
content
Is your research question clear and focused?
Is your research question sufficiently complex?
Is your research question arguable and researchable?
Is your research question worth investigating?
Examples/ Checking For Understanding
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
Click the strong research question:
How do video games harm young gamers?
How do violent video games and their gender portrayals affect young gamers’ perception of gender roles?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Very good! Question B is clear – it specifies what type of video games and a specific aspect of those games (gender portrayal), as well as its potential measurable harm (perception of gender roles).
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
Click the strong research question:
What is the most important technological innovation in garment production that can lessen the microplastic pollution caused by the fashion industry?
How does the fashion industry impact the environment?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Excellent work! This focused version narrows down to a specific effect (microplastic pollution) and a specific solution (technological innovation).
It also requires the writer to take a stance on which solution has the greatest impact/ is the most important to resolving the specific harm of microplastic pollution.
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
click the strong research question:
What are common treatments for chronic pain?
What main environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors predict problematic use of opioid pain relief medications, and what is the most important strategy healthcare centres can use to reduce problematic use?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Beautiful! Question B is sufficiently complex that it requires significant investigation and evaluation of ideas, sources, and evidence from the writer.
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
click the strong research question:
What effect does social media have on user?
What effect does the daily use of Instagram have on the attention span of users under 16?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Amazing work! This question focuses on a specific social media platform (Instagram) and a potential measurable harm (on attention span) on specific users (under the age of 16).
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
Practice more here!
Link
Conclusion
Once you have a research question, you're ready go jump into the research process! After you’ve come up with a question, think about the possible paths your research could take. What sources should you consult as you seek answers to your question? What sources will ensure that you find a variety of perspectives and responses to your question? Find sources through the GBC Library and reputable publications!
Developing a Research Question Presentation
Anne Song
Created on June 15, 2022
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Transcript
Developing a Research Question
COMM 1007 with Professor A. Song
start
What's covered in this presentation?
1. what is a research question?
2. Why is it important?
3. How do I develop a research question?
4. Examples/ checking for understanding
What is a Research Question?
What is a research question?
A research question is the question in which you centre your research. This is the question that you are striving to answer in your research essay (the answer you develop is your argumentative thesis statement). This is the question that drives and steers your research process – it will help you find, read, think through, and evaluate sources.
What is a Research Question?
A Research Question should be...
clear
focused
concise
Click on each criterion to learn more!
open-ended
complex
arguable
researchable
worth investigating
Why is it important?
Why is it important?
A well-developed research question helps writers to stay focused through the research and writing process. A well-developed research question helps writers to work toward asserting a thesis or position on the issue while avoiding an “all-about” paper that reports general facts about an issue. You want to aim for an analysis of an issue/problem, not a simple description.
How do I develop a Research Question?
How do I develop a research question?
Step 1:
Choose a debatable issue, topic, or problem that piques your interest and matters deeply to the members of our community.
Click here for more brainstorming tips!
How do I develop a research question?
Step 2:
Do some preliminary research to learn more about your topic. Preliminary research refers to the early stage of research that helps you get a better understanding on what types of sources are available and what is being said about the topic. What types of sources are out there on your topic? What are other experts, journalists, researchers, activists, and industry leaders already saying about this topic? Most importantly, what questions occur to you as you read these articles?
How do I develop a research question?
tip!
The goal in this early stage of research is to familiarize yourself with a few key readings, so don’t focus on taking extensive notes. You can come back to that later. At this stage, focus on the main ideas and arguments (found in the introduction and conclusion) of the sources.
How do I develop a research question?
Step 3:
After doing preliminary research, narrow down your topic to a more specific area or aspect. You might also consider the knowledge gaps in the literature – what is not being discussed? Identifying gaps in literature can also help you construct a research question. It’s important, however, to consider the literature that is available to you – if there isn’t a lot of sources available, this means your topic is too narrow and you will struggle to develop an argument.
How do I develop a research question?
Step 4:
Start asking and drafting questions. Take into consideration the checklist provided earlier and start asking yourself open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your topic. For example, “How do physical barriers prevent disabled Canadians from accessing healthcare facilities and services?” or “To what extent is virtual care effective in improving patient outcomes compared to face-to-face care?”
How do I develop a research question?
Step 5:
Evaluate your question. After you’ve drafted a few options, ask the following questions to ensure that your chosen question is a well-developed research question...
How do I develop a research question?
content
Is your research question clear and focused?
Is your research question sufficiently complex?
Is your research question arguable and researchable?
Is your research question worth investigating?
Examples/ Checking For Understanding
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
Click the strong research question:
How do video games harm young gamers?
How do violent video games and their gender portrayals affect young gamers’ perception of gender roles?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Very good! Question B is clear – it specifies what type of video games and a specific aspect of those games (gender portrayal), as well as its potential measurable harm (perception of gender roles).
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
Click the strong research question:
What is the most important technological innovation in garment production that can lessen the microplastic pollution caused by the fashion industry?
How does the fashion industry impact the environment?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Excellent work! This focused version narrows down to a specific effect (microplastic pollution) and a specific solution (technological innovation). It also requires the writer to take a stance on which solution has the greatest impact/ is the most important to resolving the specific harm of microplastic pollution.
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
click the strong research question:
What are common treatments for chronic pain?
What main environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors predict problematic use of opioid pain relief medications, and what is the most important strategy healthcare centres can use to reduce problematic use?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Beautiful! Question B is sufficiently complex that it requires significant investigation and evaluation of ideas, sources, and evidence from the writer.
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
click the strong research question:
What effect does social media have on user?
What effect does the daily use of Instagram have on the attention span of users under 16?
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
CORRECT!
Amazing work! This question focuses on a specific social media platform (Instagram) and a potential measurable harm (on attention span) on specific users (under the age of 16).
Examples/ Checking for Understanding
Practice more here!
Link
Conclusion
Once you have a research question, you're ready go jump into the research process! After you’ve come up with a question, think about the possible paths your research could take. What sources should you consult as you seek answers to your question? What sources will ensure that you find a variety of perspectives and responses to your question? Find sources through the GBC Library and reputable publications!