Read the whole series on research questions

Throughout 2021, MethodSpace will explore phases of the research process, with a focus on design steps for the first quarter. In January, our focus was on research questions and ways qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods researchers think about research questions.

This month includes posts from Janet Salmons on approaches to developing your research question, Dr. Gary Burkholder on Developing the Research Question for a Thesis, Dissertation, or Doctoral Project, and a selection of open access articles about processes researchers use to define questions.

Making Sense of Social Research Methodology: A Student and Practitioner Centered Approach

This book introduces students to research methods by illuminating the underlying assumptions of social science inquiry. Authors Pengfei Zhao, Karen Ross, Peiwei Li, and Barbara Dennis show how research concepts are often an integral part of everyday life through illustrative common scenarios, like looking for a recipe or going on a job interview.

Read a sample chapter or request a review copy of the full book here.

Qualitative Research by Johnny Saldana and Matt Omasta

This book presents a fresh approach to teaching and learning qualitative methods for social inquiry—one that focuses on analysis from the very beginning of the text.

Read the sample chapters one and two.

Find the Theory in Your Research by Janet Salmons

This book in the Little Quick Fix series covers one of the most crucial foundational steps in any research project; understanding and choosing an appropriate theory to frame the research question.

Read a sample chapter.

Watch the dissertation tip from Dr. Sarah Mills

In this video from SAGE Research Methods, Dr. Sarah Mills discusses the importance of taking time to formulate a research question for a dissertation.

Developing a research question

Watch this tutorial overview of how to develop and design a research question, including focusing the research and deciding on methodology.

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