This document discusses key concepts in developing a research question and hypothesis for a research project. It defines a research question as expressing a gap in existing literature and being the core of a dissertation by answering it. A hypothesis is defined as a tentative answer to a research question that can be tested, and helps indicate the direction of the investigation. The document outlines best practices for formulating clear and testable hypotheses and different types of research questions such as what, why and how questions.

1. .
RESEARCH
QUESTION
RESEARCH
LOCATION
ARGUMENT
CONCLUSIONS
CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK
LITERATURE
SEARCH
LITERATURE
REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Topic
Research
Paradigms
Validation
Method
Before
After
Value-
adding
Value-
adding
Value-
adding
Conceptualising the Research Process
RESEARCH
QUESTION
.

2. .
RESEARCH QUESTION
A Research Question
expresses a gap in the
literature. It is a Question
or Questions posed so
that an answer or
answers to it will add
knowledge in a particular
area or subject
What is a
RESEARCH
QUESTION

3. .
RESEARCH QUESTION
Role of a
RESEARCH
QUESTION
A research
question is the
core of the
dissertation

4. .
RESEARCH QUESTION
Role of a
RESEARCH
QUESTION
Answering it is the
purpose of the
dissertation

5. .
RESEARCH QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
QUESTION
and
HYPOTHESIS
The early
identification of a
Research Question
will help in the
formulation of a
hypothesis

6. .
HYPOTHESIS - Definition
What is a
HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis
“ is a proposition
which can be put to
the test to determine
it's validity ”Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

7. .
HYPOTHESIS - Definition
In
PLAIN
ENGLISH
A hypothesis is a
tentative (unsure)
answer to a research
question
• It is a hunch(guess)
• A possible
explanation for a
cause

8. .
HYPOTHESIS - Definition
Yet again in
PLAIN
ENGLISH
A hypothesis is a
POTENTIAL
ARGUMENT

9. .
HYPOTHESIS - Nature
Nature of a
HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis
“ … may seem
contrary (conflicting)
to or in accordance
with common sense ”Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

10. .
HYPOTHESIS - Nature
Nature of a
HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis
“ It may prove to be
correct or incorrect ”
Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

11. .
HYPOTHESIS - Testing
Testing a
HYPOTHESIS
“ In any event,
however, it leads to
an
empirical(experiment
al) test ”
.

12. .
HYPOTHESIS - Testing
Testing a
HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis
is not held to be true
until proven

13. .
HYPOTHESIS - Testing
When proven
a
HYPOTHESIS
becomes a
THESIS (theory)

14. .
HYPOTHESIS - Purpose
The purpose
of a
HYPOTHESIS
It's defined purpose
is to indicate the
direction of the
investigation or the
research and to
suggest what facts
are to be collected

15. .
HYPOTHESIS - Origins
Some origins
of
HYPOTHESES
• Personal
Experience
• As exceptions to
accepted theory
• Analogy
(similarity,correlation,comparisi
on,resemlance)
• Review of the
literature
• Research question

16. .
HYPOTHESIS - Formulation
A well
formulated
HYPOTHESIS
should
• Contain conceptual
clarity
• Avoid subjective (biased)
referents
• Be specific and precise
• Relate to a body of
knowledge
• Relate to the Research
question

17. .
FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS - Difficulties
3
Main
difficulties in
formulating
HYPOTHESIS
• Phrasing the
hypothesis properly
• Absence of a
conceptual or
theoretical framework
(a theoretical framework defines the kinds of
variables that you will want to look at.)
• Not using that
theoretical framework
logically

18. .
RESEARCH QUESTION - Origins
Origins of the
RESEARCH
QUESTION
• PRACTICE
• THEORY
• THEORY & PRACTICE

19. .
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
Types of
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• WHAT questions
• HOW questions
• WHY questions

20. .
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
WHAT
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• Tend to be descriptive
• Do not offer
explanations

21. .
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
WHY
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• Tend to produce
reasons
• Tend to words such as
because

22. .
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
HOW
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• Tend to suggest
outcomes of causes
• Offers insights for
practice & policy
change