The document provides guidance on formulating and evaluating research questions by outlining the relationship between topics, research problems, and specific research questions. It highlights essential criteria for creating a good research question, emphasizing clarity, relevance, feasibility, and ethical considerations. Additionally, it offers examples of research questions and frameworks for structuring them effectively.

1. How
to
Formulate
and
Evaluate
Your
Research
Questions

2. Three
Related
Concepts
• Topic
:
It
is
the
general
area
of
knowledge
that
interests
you.
For
example,
reading
learning,
innova>ve
art,
hospital
primary
care,
decision
making,
animal
rights,
differen>al
equa>ons,
etc.
• Research
Problem:
It
is
what
calls
your
aDen>on
within
the
topic
because
it
seems
not
to
be
working
properly
and
consequently
has
to
be
studied.
• Research
Ques>on:
:
It
is
what
you
specifically
want
to
answer
or
test
conduc>ng
a
study.
In
other
words,
the
ques>on
that
states
what
you
will
look
for.

3. Process
to
Formulate
Your
Research
Questions
List
Topics
Evaluate
Topics
Using
Criteria
Choose
Topic
Iden>fy
Problems
for
the
Topic
Evaluate
Problems
Using
Criteria
Choose
Research
Problem
Iden>fy
What
You
Want
to
Know
or
Test
about
the
Problem
Formulate
the
Research
Ques>on(s)
Evaluate
Research
Ques>on(s)
Using
Criteria

4. You
can
read
criteria
for
evaluating
topics
and
problems
at:
www.doctoralnet.com
www.slideshare.net/Silvercusa/selectingthe-research-problem-for-your-doctoraldissertation

5. What
is
a
Research
Question?
• It
is
what
you
want
to
answer
or
test
in
order
to
solve
the
iden>fied
problem
or
understand
it
beDer.
• It
is
the
guiding
element
to
make
decisions
on
deepening
literature
review,
choosing
a
valid
research
method,
and
analyzing
findings.

6. Elements
of
a
Good
Research
Question
• The
what,
who,
when,
where,
how,
and
why
of
the
research
study.
The
first
four
interroga>ves
relate
to
descrip>on
of
elements
of
the
problem,
the
fiQh
to
a
process
of
it,
and
the
last
one
to
causa>on.
• What
is
intended
to
do
(describe,
explore,
compare,
explain,
or
even
evaluate)

7. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
Focus of the research • What/How
____(the
question:
unknown
element)
__
(central
phenomenon)
___
Description of the
(par>cipants)
___(research
elements of the
site/period
of
>me)?
identified problem
1.
What
are
the
digital
wri>ng
tools
more
used
by
Texan
college
students
to
prepare
essays?
2. How
oQen
do
Bri>sh
police
recruits
ask
for
mentoring
during
their
first
year
in
the
force?
3. How
is
domes>c
violence
perceived
by
Mexican
rural
communi>es?

8. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
(II)
Focus of the research • What
_____(unknown
question:
element)__(central
phenomenon)
Exploration of the
__(par>cipants)__(research
elements of the
site/period
of
>me)?
problem
1. What
differen>ated
strategies
are
used
to
teach
minori>es
at
elementary
public
schools
in
Dade
county?
2. What
are
the
opinions
of
Italian
community
leaders
about
current
illegal
immigra>on
from
Africa?

9. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
(III)
Focus of the research • What
is/are
the
difference(s)
question:
between/among__(central
phenomenon)
Compare elements of
_(par>cipants)__(research
the problem
site/period
of
>me)?
1. What
are
the
differences
in
social
network
usage
between
Australian
female
and
male
university
students?
2. What
is
the
difference
in
percep>on
toward
insurance
among
drivers
of
three
California
coun>es?

10. Examples
of
Scripts
for
Research
Questions
(IV)
Focus of the research • What/Why__(unknown
question:
element)__(central
phenomenon)_(par>cipants)_
Explanation of the
(research
site/period
of
problem
>me)?
1. What
is
the
rela>onship
between
the
teaching
strategy
and
the
scores
high
school
students
achieve
in
the
math
sub-­‐test
of
the
TAKS?
2. Why
do
first
year
Bri>sh
policemen
leave
the
force?

11. Formulate a research question applying
f
one of the scripts presented

12. • Specific (what needs to be
answered is clearly and
concisely stated)
• Key elements are present
(what, who, where, when,
how, and/or why)
• Answerable (possible to
know what would take to
answer it)
• Interesting for you and
others
• Feasible (in terms of time,
costs, skills, required
information, access to it, etc.)
• Meaningful to you, others,
and the field of study
• Timely (Is it a hot question
these days ? Is it possible to
generate new directions to
research)
• Ethical (maintain ethical
standards in relation to
participants, data, and
researcher)
Criteria
to
Evaluate
a
Research
Question
Adapted from:
Green, N. (2008). Formulating and
refining a research question. In
Gilbert, N. (Ed.). Researching social
life. Guildford, UK: University of
Surrey

13. Apply the criteria to the research
question you formulated

14. Now
you
know
:
1. What a research
question is
2. Its role in the
research process
3. What elements
should be in a
research question
4. How to formulate a
research question
5. How to evaluate its
appropriateness

15. Thanks
for
Reading
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