Developing Research Questions: A Guide for Social Scientists

by Patrick White

Undertaking a research project is a crucial, but often overwhelming aspect of any social sciences degree, and selecting a research question can be one of the toughest parts of the process. What makes an appropriate topic for research? How do you transform an idea into a 'researchable' question? And, once you've got a question, where do you go from there?

Developing Research Questions steers readers through the complex process of starting a research project. The book explains how to break down initial ideas from broad topics into appropriate research questions, and gives detailed guidance on how to refine questions as the research project develops. Each chapter is packed with handy hints, tips and examples that show how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls in the research process. Linking hypotheses and questions with research design and methods at every step, this text takes readers from the start through to the final stage of answering their questions and drawing conclusions.

This is a no-fuss, practical guide to forming your own research question. It is an indispensable resource for social scientists carrying out research projects at all levels.

Genres: Research, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2008

Reviews

[Ghada Allam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for researchers of social sciences. This book is very useful and easy to comprehend.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's far too little attention paid to the formulation of research questions in most of the over-saturated research skills literature. I think White does a good job in pointing out the importance of questions and offers a refreshing look at other stages of research through the perspective of question formulation. I will adopt this as part of my research design and writing course next year.

[Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding and readable introduction to how you formulate research questions in the behavioral sciences. The advice is sensible and sometimes contrary to what most researchers do. I particularly enjoyed this quote:

"The tendency to use the same research methods or research designs throughout their careers is not restricted to any particular research ‘tradition’, or to either ‘quantitative’ or ‘qualitative’ researchers. It’s common for researchers to define themselves in terms of their preferred methods of data collection or analysis, regardless of their particular area of expertise. While some researchers define themselves as ‘ethnographers’, ‘action researchers’ or ‘conversation analysts’, others happily describe themselves as ‘ANOVA researchers’ (Miles & Shevlin 2001) or ‘multi-level modellers’. Undue attachment to or preference for particular methods, labelled ‘methodolatry’ by Janesick (1994), limits the range of research questions you can address and can also prevent you from fully developing your skills as a researcher. "

Many other parts of the book is equally prescriptive and opinionated, but many parts are applicable advice for all researchers.

[Jennifer]

So much information in this slim book! This is another one I read for my doctorate and will definitely return to it as I work on finishing my degree and get some type of academic job, which will probably require me engaging in research. If you struggle coming up with research ideas/questions like I do, this could be a really helpful tool for you.

[Alice Leung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straightforward and student-friendly. It is a very helpful guide at the beginning of a research project.