Slides to support the development of RQs for a Masters dissertation

1. Developing Your Title and
Research Questions
‘I know my issue, but
I’m not sure of my title or research
questions.......’
1

2. A ‘Good Title’....
 defines the investigation;
 sets boundaries;
 provides direction.
2

3. Titles are in draft.....
 As you read and talk more about the
title, it will start to develop and change.
 This is a natural process showing you
are open to new ideas.
 At some point you will need to settle on
a title and move on...
3

4. Minding Practicalities
Research directions/fields are not always
at the full discretion of the researcher.
Practicalities include:
 Is it doable?
 Are there any ethical limits?
 Can you get access to those who you may
need to involve?
4

5. From Issues and Titles, to
Research Questions...
Research questions pin down the issues in your
title and provide ‘angles’.
An ‘angle’ for your research can come from
insights stemming from:
 personal and professional experience/interest;
 theory;
 observations/conversations;
 engagement with wider reading.
5

6. Research Questions help to
‘narrow’ and ‘clarify’...
 Narrowing and clarifying are essential to the
research process and research questions help you
do this.
 Forming ‘questions’ about your title should be
seen as an iterative process that is informed by
reading and doing at all stages.
 Researchers often have 2-3 research questions
but this is just a guide line – there is no formula
6

7. Cycles of Research
Question Development
Adapted from: O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London:
Sage. 7

8. Checklist (1)
 Are the research questions right for
me?
 Will the questions hold my interest?
 Can I manage any potential self
interests I may have?
 Do they carry me into a paradigm of
research I am comfortable with?
8

9. Checklist (2)
 Are the research questions well
articulated?
 Are there any unchecked assumptions?
 Do the questions have a clear relationship to
one another to create a coherent direction
which covers your title?
 Can they be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’?
Adapted from: O'Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London:
Sage. 9

10. Checklist (3)
 Are the questions doable?
 Can information be collected in an attempt to
answer the questions?
 Do I have the skills and expertise necessary
to access this information? If not, can the
required skills be developed?
 Will I be able to get it all done within my time
constraints?
 Are there any potential ethical problems?
10

11. Checklist (4)
 Do the questions get the tick of
approval from those in the know?
 Does my supervisor think I am on the right
track?
 Do other ‘experts’ (in your cluster, or in your
workplace?) think your questions are
relevant/ important/doable?
11