Developing a Strong Research Question

Introduction

• Lighthouse Analogy: A good research question is like a lighthouse guiding your research paper, providing purpose and focus.
• Speaker: Jessica from Scribbr.

Steps to Develop a Strong Research Question

Step 1: Choose a Broad Topic

• Select a topic of interest for sustained engagement.
• Example Topic: Social media.

Step 2: Preliminary Reading

• Conduct initial research to understand the topic better.
• Example Finding: Social media impacts high school students' academic performance.

Step 3: Narrow Down to a Specific Niche

• Focus the research to a manageable scope.
• Example Niche: Attention span related to academic performance.

Step 4: Identify a Research Problem

• Find a gap in existing research.
• Example Problem: Limited research on social media's effect on adolescents' attention spans.

Step 5: Write Your Research Question

• Convert the research problem into a descriptive question.
• Example Question: "What effect does daily use of Twitter have on the attention span of people aged 16 to 20?"

Types of Research Questions

• Descriptive
• Comparative
• Correlational

Checklist for a Good Research Question

Focused

• Concentrates on a single, specific problem.

Researchable

• Can be answered using empirical data or literature.
• Example Method: Quantitative approach (e.g., eye-tracking).

Feasible

• Can be completed within a given timeframe and with available resources.
• Suitability depends on the project's timeline.

Specific

• Uses precise terms (e.g., "daily" instead of "often").

Complex

• Cannot be answered with a simple yes/no or obvious facts.

Relevant

• Should contribute to the field or society.
• Example: Social media relevance and unanswered questions.

Additional Considerations

• Multiple Research Questions: Suitable for larger projects.
  • Example: Investigate the impact of Twitter's infinite scroll on attention span.

Conclusion

• Follow these steps to build a solid foundation for your research.
• Further Resources: Articles on literature review and methodology.
• Encouragement: Good luck with writing, and see you in the next video.