Developing a Strong Research Question

What is the first step in developing a strong research question?

• Choose a broad topic

• Do some preliminary reading

• Narrow down to a specific niche

• Identify a research problem

Answer explanation

The first step in developing a strong research question is to choose a broad topic. This allows you to gain an overview of the subject and understand its various aspects. Subsequent steps such as preliminary reading, narrowing down, and identifying a problem come later in the process, once you've chosen your topic.

Why is it important to choose a topic that sparks your interest?

• To make the research more challenging

• To ensure you have enough data

• To keep you motivated throughout the research process

• To impress your professor

Answer explanation

The question is about the significance of selecting a research topic that interests you. Choosing an interesting topic keeps you motivated throughout the research process. This motivation is necessary to maintain the persistence and enthusiasm needed to successfully complete a research project, which is why this option is the right answer.

What is the purpose of narrowing down to a specific niche?

• To make the research more difficult

• To ensure the research is within a feasible scope

• To limit the number of participants

• To make the research more general

Answer explanation

Narrowing down to a specific niche in research is important to ensure the research is within a feasible scope. This makes the research manageable and focused. The other options mentioned either make the research too general, limit its participants, or complicate the research unnecessarily, therefore, they are not correct.

What is the research problem in the given example?

• The effect of social media on academic performance

• The impact of social media on high school students

• The relationship between social media and attention span

• The effect of daily use of Twitter on the attention span of people aged 16 to 20

Answer explanation

The question asks about the research problem in the given context. Among all the options provided, 'The effect of daily use of Twitter on the attention span of people aged 16 to 20' is the most specific and precise, thus identifying the research problem more accurately. The other options are somewhat broader and don't specify the particular platform (Twitter) and the age group (16 to 20).

What type of research question is the given example?

• Comparative research

• Descriptive research

• Correlational research

• Experimental research

Answer explanation

The correct answer is Descriptive research. This type of research question typically attempts to describe a situation, phenomenon, problem or event. Unlike other types, it doesn't involve much comparison, correlation or experimentation.

What should a good research question be?

• Focused, researchable, feasible, specific, complex, and relevant

• Broad, unanswerable, difficult, general, simple, and irrelevant

• Vague, unimportant, impossible, unclear, basic, and outdated

• Random, unrelated, impractical, ambiguous, easy, and insignificant

Answer explanation

A good research question should be focused, researchable, feasible, specific, complex, and relevant. These characteristics ensure that the question can guide a research study effectively, can be investigated, is achievable within resources, is clearly defined, requires in-depth exploration, and is of significance to the field of study.

Why is it important for a research question to be researchable?

• To make the research more challenging

• To ensure the research can be answered with yes or no

• To ensure the research can be answered through empirical data or existing literature

• To limit the scope of the research

Answer explanation

A research question is meant to be answered. If it's unanswerable, it's futile. The best research questions are those that can be addressed via empirical data or existing literature. This helps in gathering concrete and credible results, making the research valid and beneficial. This is why it's crucial for a research question to be researchable.

What does it mean for a research question to be feasible?

• It can be answered with easily found facts

• It can be answered by collecting empirical data

• It can be answered with yes or no

• It can be answered within a certain timeframe and available resources

Answer explanation

A research question is deemed feasible if it can be answered within the constraints of time and resources available. This means that the research needed to answer the question can be done given the current circumstances and limitations. The answer is not necessarily easy to find, not always solved with empirical data, nor addressed with a simple yes or no.

Why is it important for the terms used in a research question to have clear meanings?

• To confuse the readers

• To make the research more challenging

• To ensure the research is complex enough

• To avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity in the research

Answer explanation

The clarity in the terms used in a research question is crucial to avoid ambiguity and ensure that the research findings are accurate and reliable. Using clear terms also helps the reader understand the context and objective of the research effectively. Thus, the correct answer is 'To avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity in the research'.

Why is it important for a research question to be relevant to the field of study or society?

• To make the research more interesting

• To impress the readers

• To contribute knowledge that future research can build on

• To limit the scope of the research

Answer explanation

A research question's relevance to the field of study or society is important to contribute knowledge that future research can build on. It is not merely about making the study interesting, impressing readers, or limiting the scope. It is about paving the way for new insights and discoveries that could potentially benefit society and the academic community.