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Research 101: Finding a Research Question
This document provides guidance on choosing a research question by outlining four key steps: 1) Choose a broad thematic area of interest, 2) Conduct a literature review on the topic, 3) Identify the units of analysis or targets of the research, and 4) Identify specific concepts, constructs, or variables that will be analyzed within the chosen units. Examples are provided for each step to illustrate how to narrow a topic into an answerable research question that builds on existing knowledge and identifies what or who will be studied and which of their characteristics or behaviors.
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Research 101: Finding a Research Question
- 1. Research 101: Findinga Research Question Harold Gamero
- 2. How to choosea research problem 1º Choose a thematic area 2º Make a literature review (study) 3º Identify your units of analysis 4º Identify concepts, constructs or variables
- 3. 1º Choose athematic area Can be based on: • Personal, academic or professional experience • Thesis, journals, newspapers, books • The more specific the better Examples: Consumer behavior Personality disorders Learning difficulties
- 4. 2º Make aliterature review (study) • What is already known about this phenomenon? • What is the specific problem you want to address? • What are the dynamics within the problem and who are involved? Examples: Factors that increase sustainable consumption Causes that trigger a narcissistic personality Effects of family problems on e-learning Consumer behavior Personality disorders Learning difficulties
- 5. 3º Identify yourunits of analysis “Person, collective, or object that is the target of the investigation” (Bhathacherjee2012, p. 9) Research topic Unit of analysis Attitude of teenagers towards technology Efficiency of work teams Usefulness of quality systems Cultural differences in Latin America Hate Speech on Social Media Teenagers Work teams Organizations Countries / Cities Posts / Tweets
- 6. 4º Identify concepts,constructs or variables “Concepts or generalizable properties or characteristics associated with objects, events, or people” (Bhathacherjee2012, p. 10) “Common" “Evolved" “Borrowed" Age, sex, education level Self-esteem, personality Job burnout, retail gravitation “New" Techno-stress, “green” consumption
- 7. 4º Identify concepts,constructs or variables Vs. Big 5’s Measurable representation of a construct Belong to the empirical level Personality Abstract characteristics that serve to explain a phenomenon Belong to the theoretical level Variables operationalization Variable Construct
- 8. Factors that increasesustainable consumption Consumers Business Societies Families Marketing campaigns Products Effects of the lifestyle on the sustainable consumption behavior among… Net income Education level Values Attitudes Age Lifestyle What or who should we analyze? 3º Identify your units of analysis Which characteristic(s) will be analyzed? 4º Constructs or variables 1º Choose a thematic area 2º Make a literature review + =
- 9. Factors that increasesustainable consumption Consumers Business Societies Families Marketing campaigns Products Lifestyle factors related with sustainable consumption between Net income Education level Values Attitudes Age Lifestyle What or who should we analyze? 3º Identify your units of analysis Which characteristic(s) will be analyzed? 4º Constructs or variables 1º Choose a thematic area 2º Make a literature review + =
- 10. Factors that increasesustainable consumption Consumers Business Societies Families Marketing campaigns Products Relationship between product accessibility and sustainable consumption among… Price Quality Convenience Accessibility Brand Information What or who should we analyze? 3º Identify your units of analysis Which characteristic(s) will be analyzed? 4º Constructs or variables 1º Choose a thematic area 2º Make a literature review + =
- 11. Factors that increasesustainable consumption Consumers Business Societies Families Marketing campaigns Products Insights about the accessibility of products among consumers with sustainable consumption Price Quality Convenience Accessibility Brand Information What or who should we analyze? 3º Identify your units of analysis Which characteristic(s) will be analyzed? 4º Constructs or variables 1º Choose a thematic area 2º Make a literature review + =
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