Developing a Research Question Sara Yousef CPIT 221

Developing a Research Question Sara Yousef CPIT 221

Outline Why write the purpose as a question? n Steps to writing a good research question n ¨ Choose a general topic ¨ Focus the general topic ¨ Write factual questions ¨ Write interpretive questions ¨ Choose and form the final research question

Technical Research n Our purpose must be more complex than just “to explain” something

Writing the Purpose as a Question Instead, we want to: motivate, persuade, reassure, or inspire… n To help us achieve this, we will write our report purpose as a question n

Advantages to Writing our Purpose as a Question n Questions require answers ¨A topic is hard to cover completely because it typically encompasses too many related issues ¨ A question has an answer, even if it is indefinite or controversial

Advantages to Writing our Purpose as a Question. . A clear open-ended question calls for real, meaningful research and thinking n Questions allow us to evaluate the evidence n ¨ Helps us decide which information will be useful ¨ Helps us determine when we have enough research to draft an answer

How do I Write a Research Question? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Choose a general topic Focus the general topic Write factual questions Write interpretive questions Choose and form the final research question

Step-1: Start with a general topic ¨ This is my gift to you ; )

Step-2: Focus the General Topic Perform preliminary research on the general topic to get an overview n Then brainstorm possible subtopics n

Brainstorming n Brainstorming: a form of free association used to generate ideas about a topic ¨ The purpose is to get down, on paper, all the thoughts that come to your mind Stimulates creative thinking and reveals new perspectives/connections n Can be done individually or as a group n

How to Brainstorm n n n n Jot down as many random ideas as you can Write quickly Write words/phrases not sentences Don’t stop to analyze ideas Don’t use a computer to write Don’t hold back any ideas in hope of writing just the “best” If in a group, designate a note-taker and use a board/flipchart

After the Storm: After the initial storm, ask the 5 Ws+1 H about each idea to generate more ideas n Analyze n Discard redundant ideas n Group like items n Choose one subtopic to become your focussed topic n

Visual Example

Example n n General Topic: Topic World War II After preliminary research and brainstorming, we define these subtopics: ¨ Geography: concentrating on a certain location n Ex: India and how it was affected as a British colony ¨ Biography: concentrating on a certain person n Ex: Hitler… ¨ Event: concentrating on a certain battle/event n Ex: Hiroshima bombing… ¨ Technology: concentrating on certain weapons, submarines, vehicles, etc. n Ex: The use of the first atomic bomb Choose one

Step-3: Write Factual Questions about the Focused Topic Answers to factual questions will give your reader background information n To generate factual questions, ask: n ¨ Who? n What? When? Where? Why? How? Many of these questions will later become headings in your report ¨ Factual Q: When did the Fraser River clean-up start? ¨ Heading: History of the Fraser River Clean-Up

Factual Questions At this stage, we’re writing an initial list of factual Qs. New ones will arise after research n Example: n ¨ Initial factual Q: Who is responsible for the Fraser River clean-up? ¨ New question: What is the role of tax money in this clean-up? ¨ New question: What role do businesses play in the clean-up if they caused the pollution?

What Questions n n n Ask questions about facts Such as, What is the cause of a particular problem or what caused something to occur Example, “What questions “about professional wrestling might ask: ¨ What are the effects of watching professional wrestling on aggressive behavior among young teenage boys? ¨ What is the driving force behind the growing popularity of professional wrestling?

Why Questions Ask for an explanation of something n Such as , Why something happened or why it did not happen, or why one thing is better than another n Example, a Why question about professional wrestling might ask: n ¨ Why is professional wrestling so popular among young teenage boys?

When Questions Relate to timing or history n Example, a When questions about professional wrestling might ask: n ¨ When did professional wrestling first become popular? ¨ When is the best time to start training to become a professional wrestler?

Where Questions Relate to location, geographic or otherwise n Example, a Where questions about professional wrestling might ask: n ¨ Where in the United States and Canada is professional wrestling most popular? ¨ Where can I learn about becoming a professional wrestler?

Who Questions Relate to people or personalities n Example, a Who question about professional wrestling might ask: n ¨ Who are the most popular professional wrestlers? ¨ Who benefits most from the popularity of professional wrestling?

How Questions Relate to process or origins n Example, a How Question about professional wrestling might ask: n ¨ How can I become a professional wrestler? ¨ How do professional wrestlers avoid injury? ¨ How is professional wrestling marketed in the United States and Canada?

Step-4: Write Interpretive Questions about the Focused Topic Answers to interpretive questions show your own creative thinking n There are 5 types of interpretive questions n Select one/two to answer in your research n

Type-1: Hypothetical How would things be different today if something in the past had been different? n Example: n ¨ What would have happened to the course of World War II if the Atomic Bomb hadn't been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Type-2: Prediction How will something look or be in the future? n Example: n ¨ What is the future of Electric and Hybrid Electric vehicles if their development continues at the current rate?

Type-3: Problem-Solution What solutions can be offered to a problem that exists today? n Example: n ¨ What are the technical and ethical aspects of maintaining privacy on the Internet?

Type-4: Comparison Comparing the similarities and differences between your focused topic and a similar subject n Example: n ¨ What is the difference in performance between a Porsche and a Lamborghini?

Type-5: Judgement Based on your research, what can you say is your informed opinion about the subject? n Example: n ¨ What are the advantages and drawbacks of using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) in cellular telephone systems?

Scope in Interpretive Questions n Ensure your interpretive questions all include scope/limitation: scope/limitation ¨ What are the technical and ethical aspects of maintaining privacy on the Internet?

Step-5: Choose Final Research Question n Choose one or two of your interpretive questions and combine them to create your… Research Question

Remember… n This process is recursive ¨ Thus, you will need to revisit your focused topic and questions more than once before settling on a final research question

Conclusion: Test your Understanding n What are the five steps involved in developing a research question? ¨ Choose a general topic ¨ Focus the general topic ¨ Write factual questions ¨ Write interpretive questions ¨ Choose and form the final research question

Conclusion: Test your Understanding State one advantage of writing a research purpose as a question. n What process do we use to focus our general topic? n Use a computer when brainstorming to keep your ideas organized and neat. T/F? n

Conclusion: Test your understanding What is the difference between a factual vs. interpretive question? n What is wrong with this factual question? n ¨ Do businesses have to contribute to clean-up costs if they caused a pollution accident?

Conclusion: Test your understanding n Label the type of interpretive question in each of the following questions: ¨ How will the world change geographically if global warming continues due to ozone layer depletion? ¨ What are the major causes of eating disorders among young women?