Developing Research Questions: A Guide For Social Scientists

Undertaking a research project is a crucial, but often overwhelming aspect of any social sciences degree, and selecting a research question can be one of the toughest parts of the process. What makes an appropriate topic for research? How do you transform an idea into a 'researchable' question? And, once you've got a question, where do you go from there? Developing Research Questions steers readers through the complex process of starting a research project. The book explains how to break down initial ideas from broad topics into appropriate research questions, and gives detailed guidance on how to refine questions as the research project develops. Each chapter is packed with handy hints, tips and examples that show how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls in the research process. Linking hypotheses and questions with research design and methods at every step, this text takes readers from the start through to the final stage of answering their questions and drawing conclusions. This is a no-fuss, practical guide to forming your own research question. It is an indispensable resource for social scientists carrying out research projects at all levels. Cover Developing Research Questions: A Guide for Social Scientists Copyright © Patrick White 2009 ISBN-13 978—1—4039—9815—6 ISBN-10 1—4039—9815—9 H62 W453 2009 300.72—dc22 Dedicated For BG Contents Acknowledgements Introduction WHY SHOULD YOU READ A BOOK ON RESEARCH QUESTIONS? WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR? HOW SHOULD I USE THIS BOOK? THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK 1 Where do research ideas come from? CURIOSITY AND SURPRISE: THE BASIS OF INQUIRY THE ROLE OF THE LITERATURE: KNOWING THE FIELD Starting with the literature or starting with a question Where to start reading and when to stop reading Not re-inventing the wheel: what counts as a 'gap' and how big does it need to be? Originality Influence THE ROLE OF THEORY What is theory? Theory testing and theory generation 'PRACTICAL' STIMULI FOR RESEARCH QUESTIONS The policy context and social problems 'Applied' research SUMMARY FURTHER READING 2 What makes a research question? RESEARCH TOPICS, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS THE FORM OF QUESTIONS AND THEIR CONTENT Problems of form Questions and other statements 'Many questions' and 'false dichotomies' Tautological questions Problems of subject Metaphysical questions Normative questions Data collection questions QUESTION TYPES Descriptive and explanatory questions W-Questions: four descriptive and two explanatory question types Purpose-led typologies 'Empowerment' Comparison HYPOTHESES What are hypotheses? HYPOTHESIS RESEARCH QUESTION Where do hypotheses come from? Hypotheses and research design SUMMARY FURTHER READING 3 What makes a question 'researchable'? THE 'RESEARCHABILITY' OF QUESTIONS A question of scope Prioritizing Creating hierarchies: main and subsidiary questions MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION SUBSIDIARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION ANCILLARY SUB-QUESTIONS How many research questions? A QUESTION OF LANGUAGE Brevity Clarity Precision Population of interest Geographical location or coverage Historical context Comparisons Summary A QUESTION OF RESOURCES Funding and financial considerations Travel and subsistence Equipment Hidden costs Dissemination Training Time and human resources Research questions and resources SUMMARY FURTHER READING 4 Questions, methods and indicators QUESTIONS AS THE STARTING POINTOF RESEARCH Questions first, methods later Research 'traditions Methodsied research and 'methodolatry' THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH DESIGN What is research design? OPERATIONALIZING CONCEPTS An example of a social scientific concept: social class Unoperational concepts SUMMARY FURTHER READING 5 Answering research questions: claims, evidence and warrant THE STRUCTURE OF ARGUMENTS CLAIMS Qualifying claims DATA AND EVIDENCE Differentiating between evidence, claims and warrant WARRANT ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES SUMMARY FURTHER READING Afterword Bibliography Index Back Cover