Research Question Development

Today we’re discussing how to develop effective research questions. What’s the challenge in formulating these questions?

I think they can sometimes be too narrow or too broad, making them hard to answer.

Exactly! If a question is too narrow, there may not be enough evidence to support it. But if it’s too broad, it becomes overwhelming. To help with this, we can use something called a feasibility matrix to map our ideas against the available resources. Can someone tell me what that might involve?

Maybe we list questions on one side and see if we have enough sources for each?

Great idea! This visual helps us assess which questions are viable for research. Remember the acronym "SPB"—Specific, Plausible, Broad—to keep in mind what kind of question you need.

So, can I turn a very broad question into something more specific easily?

Yes! Think about breaking the broad question down into sub-questions. This way, you can research each part deeply. Let's summarize the key points: we want our questions to be specific enough to gather evidence yet broad enough to explore different angles.

Now, let's dive into how Bloom's taxonomy can guide us in formulating our research questions. Who remembers what Bloom's levels are?

Yeah, I know it includes levels from remembering to creating questions.

Exactly! By employing this taxonomy, we can create questions that require higher-order thinking. For example, you might ask 'How did…?' which encourages analysis, or 'To what extent…?' for evaluation. Can anyone suggest another question format we could use?

What about ‘In what ways might...?’ That sounds like it would inspire creativity!

Absolutely! This format can lead to innovative solutions and discussions. Remember to apply the taxonomy as a checklist during your question development.

That makes it way easier to focus on the type of question I want to ask.

Great insight! Let's recap: Bloom's taxonomy is a tool that can help us create questions at various levels such as analysis, evaluation, and creation.

Finally, let’s talk about refining your research questions. We can use an iterative workshop model. What does that mean?

It means we keep adjusting our question based on feedback?

Spot on! You’ll draft a question, evaluate it against criteria like relevance and originality, get peer feedback, and revise accordingly. Why do you think this process is valuable?

It helps make sure the question is strong and really focused on what matters.

Exactly! This process cultivates a robust inquiry approach. Remember the acronym 'R.A.O.E.'—Relevance, Originality, Accessibility, and Ethics—as the criteria for evaluation.

That’s a good way to remember what to look for!

Thank you for your participation! Let's summarize: refining research questions iteratively ensures they are well-defined, relevant, and ethically sound.