Problem (how to form good research question)

HOW TO FORM A GOOD
RESEARCH QUESTION
Group 5

Outline
1. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH QUESTION
2. CHARACTERISTICS FOR A RESEARCH QUESTION
3. DEVELOPING A RESEARCH QUESTION
4. IDENTIFY A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION
5. TRANSFORM RESEARCH QUESTION TO TESTABLE
HYPOTHESES
6. COMMON MISTAKES IN FORMING A RESEARCH
QUESTION
7. CONCLUSION

Introduction to
Research Question
PRESENTER: HUU LOC

Definition of research question
• A research question is the methodological point
of departure of scholarly research in both the
natural and social sciences.
• The research will answer any question posed
• At an undergraduate level, the answer to the
research question is the thesis statement

The importance of research question
• The RQ is one of the first methodological steps
the investigator has to take when undertaking
research.
• The RQ must be accurately and clearly defined.
• The central element of both quantitative and
qualitative research
• Most of all it indicates what the researcher wants
to know most and first.

• A good research question defines the focus of
your research project.
• Your research question helps readers to know the
specific subject matter you will be addressing
within the large topic.

Characteristics for a
Research Question
PRESENTER: MINH SANG

1 ) Answers something new! Replications, by themselves,
are not good enough. The point of conducting research is to
advanced knowledge.

The best kinds of research studies both replicate previous
research while incorporating something new.

2) Research question is based on and builds upon previous
research. A good research question tests the prediction
of a theory.

3) Research question is often simple, just add a little piece
to existing research. A good piece of advice when
conducting research is "Keep it simple!”

4) Research question is practical (e.g., Can you really do
this study this semester? Do you have the
equipment/resources to sufficiently answer your
question?

5) Research question is based on primary (not
secondary) sources. A secondary source, on the
other hand, is a summary or description of the
primary source. Newspapers, magazines, and topic
books are secondary sources; journal articles are
usually primary sources.

6) Research question is specific. If you're conducting
an experiment or doing a study, the research
question should state a relationship between
variables and say something about testing those
relations. It must be specific without being too
wordy.

Developing a research
question
PRESENTER: NGOC CAM

TOPIC / ISSUE
• One major topic per essay or research paper => a
coherent piece of writing

• An issue is a concept upon which you can take a
stand.
E.g Topic: nuclear waste
---> Issue: "safe and economic disposal of nuclear
waste"

EXERCISE 1 : CAN THE TOPIC BE RESEARCHED?
• Is Prozac a good way to treat clinical depression in
certain cases?

• Does MacDonald's or Burger King make a better
burger?

• Is there a link between hours of television viewing and
violent behavior in children aged 8-14?

Ask interesting questions
• Based on personal experiences, not data

• Include the following:
Have others faced a similar practice problem?
Is this a routinely observed occurrence?
What circumstances would make the situation
controllable?

Identify a good
research question
PRESENTER: NGAN GIANG

• A good research question has to be a logical
statement that is known or believed to be true and
requires recognition.
• Research generates conclusions based on an
analysis of evidence.
• For example:
Do you think getting university graduation is
the only way to succeed in the future?
→ Not a research question
→Depends on individual attitudes and beliefs

Some questions are too broad and must be
broken down.

• What can be done to • What should the city’s
raise the awareness to authority do to raise
protect the the awareness of
environment? primary students to
protect the
environment?
→ Clear object and
scope.

• Research has a purpose and objectives.
• Both the purpose and objectives are clear and
unambiguous: What do we need to know and
why?

• Examine the four S:
- Size refers to the magnitude of the effect that can be
produced by an intervention.
- Scope is concerned with the extent to which existing
program activities could be affected.
- Scalability suggests that the results have the potential
for expansion.
- Sustainability takes the potential for long-term
support of a program into account.

Transform research
question to testable
hypotheses
PRESENTER: TO NGAN

• A declarative sentence predicting the results of a
research study based on existing scientific knowledge
and stated assumptions.

• Hypothesis specifies a relationship between two or
more variables.

• Hypothesis can be assumption of research question,
and won’t be changed during research.

• Ex:

Patients who receive medication counseling
will have greater adherence to the medication
regimen.

 Dependent variable: adherence
 Independent variable : medication counseling

• A project should have no more than three
hypotheses.

• Researchers must be prepared for unexpected results
which represent the possibility of learning something
new about the phenomenon under study.

• Research should not be embarked upon with the idea
that the empirical evidence will prove “truth”.

• Importance of hypotheses:

 Deeply acknowledging the research question, or
research’s aim.
 Limiting research issues.

• Disadvantage of hypotheses:
Researcher’s view is not objective

Common mistakes in
forming a research question
PRESENTER: MINH DANG

Common mistakes

• Too broad

• Too subjective

• Too controversial

• Too familiar

• Too technical

• Too broad: Lots of things to consider  take lots
of time, know nothing precisely of what you wish
to investigate

• Too subjective: A personal topic  unsuitable
because we probably won't be able to support it
from library sources or from the data surveyed

• Too controversial: Avoid any subject about which
we can't write objectively

• Too familiar: a research should lead to discovery
of things we don't already know

• Too technical: Don't write about a topic that we
still don't understand thoroughly after we have
completed our research.

CONCLUSION

• Importance of a good research question.

• Characteristic of a good research question

• Steps to make a good research question

• Must be avoided mistakes

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

• Group members:
1. Dinh Quoc Minh Dang
2. Vo Huu Loc
3. Nguyen Dinh Minh Sang
4. Nguyen Hong To Ngan
5. Nguyen Ngoc Cam
6. Tran Thi Ngan Giang

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