Research theory and research question

Question 1

What is a research question and what do we use it for?

Answer 1

A research question is fundamental in order to keep track of the research and summarizes the purpose of the study and what we are trying to achieve. It should reflect the design and method. These questions narrow the research objective and research purpose to specific questions that researchers attempt to address in their studies - RQs are tools for managing research projects. - RQs should reflect the design and choice of method

Question 2

Explain what ontology is

Answer 2

Ontological issues concerns about whether the social world is regarded as something external to social actors or as something that people are in the process of fashioning;

• Realism: social phenomena and their meanings have anexistence that is independent of social actors. We, therefore, try to remove subjectivebiases.
• Relativism: social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors - only produced through social interaction and in a constant state of revision.

Question 3

Explain what epistemology is

Answer 3

Epistemological issues—have to do with what is regarded as appropriate knowledge about the social world; one of the most crucial aspects is the question of whether or not a natural science model of the research process is suitable for the study of the social world;

• Objectivity (Realist): epistemological positions where knowledge has arrived through a gathering of facts - quan
• Subjective (Relativist): integrates human interest into a study - qual

Question 4

What is methodology?

Answer 4

Methodology: the ways in which knowledge is acquired - how to investigate?

• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Ontology (what is out there to know) → epistemology(what and how can we know about it) → methodology (how can we go about acquiring that knowledge) → methods (which precise procedures can we acquire) → sources (which data can we collect?).

Question 5

Which role does theory play in a project?

Answer 5

• Frameworks for organising and categorisingrelevant information.
• Schemata for interpreting situations, cases and events.
• Complexity reductions.
• A basis for developing models that can predictfuture events.
• The potential to take charge and controlfuture events
• Communicate ideas and research results

Question 6

Describe a typical quantitative RQ

Answer 6

Very specific in nature; descriptive, comparative, relationship

Descriptive: Words such as “what is, what are”
Comparative: Words such as “differ, compare”
Relationship: Words such as “relate, relationships, association, trend”

Should identify the population and dependent variable(s)

Avoid “do, does, is, are” because they motivate yes/no responses

Seek to quantify responses on one or more variables

Question 7

Describe a typical qualitative RQ

Answer 7

Open-ended, evolving, non-directional. Seek to discover and/or explore a process or describe experiences.

Seek to describe rather than relate or compare.

Avoid use of words such as “affect, influence, compare, relate”

Question 8

Tell me about the principles of Mixed Methods RQ’s

Answer 8

• In mixed methods research studies, researchers typically must develop at least one qualitative research question and at least one quantitative research question. Although both quantitative research questions and qualitative research questions give direction and focus to their respective components of the mixed methods study, they differ somewhat with respect to their structures
• RQs that embed both qual and quant within same RQ
• Both and quant and qual data has to be collected and analyzed before addressing the RQ