2 Module 1: The Heart of Research: Asking Interesting Questions (2/8) -- NCPA Research Guide

2 Module 1: The Heart of Research: Asking Interesting Questions Lorna Dawes The most important part of research is the research question. If we view “Scholarship as Conversation” (American Library Association, 2015) we see research questions as the framework for the discourse that happen between researchers .These questions also challenge researchers to explore and generate new findings and discoveries. All research that is published or unpublished research brings new discoveries and fresh ideas that then give birth to more complex questions. These questions are then explored, challenged and investigated. They then produce solutions to complex problems, answers to social issues, clarification or insight into of previous research and then inevitably give birth to even more questions. By the end of this section you will be able to: - Identify the characteristics of an interesting research question. - Develop an interesting research question on your chosen subject. - Select the most suitable research question for your project. What is a Research Question? Lipowski (2008) describes a research question as a “narrow, challenging question addressing a problem or controversy that is answered with a conclusion based on the analysis and interpretation of evidence” . These types of questions provide the reason for the research and they cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. They require more scrutiny and constant conversations with other scholars because they are already being discussed, debated and explored. These questions are a part of a larger conversation that is already taking place. Most likely, questions like these have already been asked, examined and analyzed by other researchers and academics who have documented their conclusions in journals, conference proceedings, case studies, reports and other scholarly publications. Your task is to ask questions that have not yet been asked, or to ask questions that have already been asked but not answered to your satisfaction.“narrow, challenging question addressing a problem or controversy that is answered with a conclusion based on the analysis and interpretation of evidence” . Questions are the heart of research. A research question should be: INTERESTING & SIGNIFICANT The subject of your research should be something that interests you. If it interests you, it has inevitably garnered the interest of other researchers and scholars who are talking, writing and also researching in that field. It should have implications for further discussion or research and contribute to a discussion that is already happening. DEBATABLE The question should lead to more questions. The question should not be answerable with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but should have the capacity to entertain different points of view. It should connect to questions asked by other researchers and produce answers that clarify, build on or refute previous research and discussions. SPECIFIC The question should focus on a particular issue or