Selecting a focus for the study

Question 1

Selecting a research topic - BOBRUKFIFACE

Answer 1

• BRAINSTORM to get research topic ideas

> Determine your OPINION on current controversial social and political issues.

• Read BACKGROUND information

> Engaging with REFERENCE sources can help researcher get valuable background information on a topic

• List USEFUL keywords

> The researcher has to be aware of key terms that are used in the topic

• Be FLEXIBLE

> If there is not enough INFORMATION on the topic, you might have to broaden it or change it at least once

• FORMULATE thesis statement

> basically the main ARGUMENT that the researcher will support through the research

• CHOOSE a subject

> Where the EVENT takes, the people involved, the time of the events and the type of human activity involved have to be answered

Question 2

Unit of Analysis & Variables - OLAVIDIC

Answer 2

• These are the OBJECTS that your research will focus on, ranging from people and groups to places

> The LEVEL of analysis can be individual or aggregate

> AGGREGATE level of analysis refers to research that looks at groups or larger units

• a VARIABLE is an element that can take on different values e.g., gender, age, social and economic status, political party affiliation, educational level

> INDEPENDENT variables refers to things we think might make a difference in the outcome of what we are studying. These variables are like the “cause” in a cause in a cause and effect relationship

> DEPENDENT variables are the outcomes of what we are studying based on the independent variable. they are the “effects” in a cause and effect relationship

> INTERVENING variables are factors that can influence the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

• CONTROL variables are those that need to be kept the same or monitored to understand how much effect the independent variables actually has on the dependent variable

Question 3

hypothesis - TARNC

Answer 3

• A hypothesis is a statement that a researcher think is TRUE but still needs to verified - it is an educated guess
• It ASSUMES a relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable
• Once a RESEARCH question has been identified, a hypothesis can be created
• The NULL hypothesis is a stricter way to test a hypothesis because it allows for a straightforward comparison with the observed data.
• it assumes that there is no CONNCECTION between the independent variable and the dependent variable

Question 4

Research question - OMPKI

Answer 4

• OBSERVING a phenomenon starts with a research question
• There can be MULTIPLE research questions to be addressed
• A PRIMARY research question is usually followed by a set of sub-research questions

> KEY terms connect research questions to each other

> Each question can be researched INDEPENDENTLY

Question 5

Research objectives - GACCR

Answer 5

• There should be specific GOAL in mind when conducting research.
• This allows for the ASSESSMENT of what the research aims to achieve
• Goals provide CONTEXT for explaining the purpose of the research.
• The goal should not only be to COMPLETE the research but to contribute to human knowledge in a specific way
• the objectives have to be REALISTIC

Question 6

Title - F2FE

Answer 6

• outlines FOCUS of research
• should be 2 lines long maximum
• Makes the FIRST impression of the research
• Describes ELEMENTS of the research to set expectations for what is to follow