SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCHQUESTION

RESEARCHLOCATION

ARGUMENT

CONCLUSIONS

CONCEPTUALFRAMEWORK

LITERATURESEARCH

LITERATUREREVIEW

INTRODUCTION

Topic

ResearchParadigms

Validation

Method

Before

After

Value-adding

Value-adding

Value-adding

SA 452.3A

Conceptualising the Research Process

© Dr Sunil Kumar, Department of Social Policy

RESEARCH QUESTION

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04 Research Question | …

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION

• What is a research question• How does it link to the literature

review and conceptual framework• Link between a research question and

a hypothesis• Types of research questions• Hierarchy of research questions

Learning Outcomes – week 6

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION

A Research Question embodies a gap in the literature. It is a Question or Questions posed so that an answer or answers to it will add knowledge in a particular area or subject

What is a RESEARCH QUESTION

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION

Role of a RESEARCH QUESTION

A research question is the core of the dissertation

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION

Role of a RESEARCH QUESTION

Answering it is the purpose of the dissertation

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS

RESEARCH QUESTION

andHYPOTHESI

S

The early identification of a Research Question will help in the formulation of a hypothesis

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Definition

What is aHYPOTHESI

S

A hypothesis“ is a proposition which can be put to the test to determine it's validity ”Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Definition

InPLAIN

ENGLISH

A hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research question•It is a hunch•A possible explanation for a cause

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Definition

Yet again inPLAIN

ENGLISH

A hypothesis is aPOTENTIAL ARGUMENT

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Nature

Nature of aHYPOTHESI

S

A hypothesis“ … may seem contrary to or in accordance with common sense ”Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Nature

Nature of aHYPOTHESI

S

A hypothesis“ It may prove to be correct or incorrect ”Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Testing

Testing aHYPOTHESI

S

“ In any event, however, it leads to an empirical test ”Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Testing

Testing aHYPOTHESI

S

A hypothesisis not held to be true until proven

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Testing

When proven

aHYPOTHESIS becomes

a

THESIS

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Purpose

The purpose of

a HYPOTHESI

S

It's defined purpose is to indicate the direction of the investigation or the research and to suggest what facts are to be collected

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Origins

Some origins of HYPOTHESE

S

•Personal Experience

•As exceptions to accepted theory

•Analogy•Review of the literature

•Research question

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

HYPOTHESIS - Formulation

A well formulated HYPOTHESIS

should

•Contain conceptual clarity

•Avoid subjective referents

•Be specific and precise

•Relate to a body of knowledge

•Relate to the Research question

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS - Difficulties

3Main

difficulties in

formulating HYPOTHESIS

•Phrasing the hypothesis properly

•Absence of a conceptual or theoretical framework

•Not using that theoretical framework logically

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION - Origins

Origins of the

RESEARCH RESEARCH QUESTIONQUESTION

•PRACTICE•THEORY •THEORY & PRACTICE

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION - Types

Types ofRESEARCH RESEARCH QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

•WHAT questions•HOW questions•WHY questions

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION - Types

WHATWHATRESEARCH QUESTIONS

•Tend to be descriptive

•Do not offer explanations

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION - Types

WHYWHYRESEARCH QUESTIONS

•Tend to produce reasons

•Tend to words such as because

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

RESEARCH QUESTION - Types

HOWHOWRESEARCH QUESTIONS

•Tend to suggest outcomes of causes

•Offers insights for practice & policy change

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

LITERATURE REVIEW - 6

Task for

Week

7

Write down your research question and examine it to see if it is aWHAT, HOW or WHY QUESTION

Change its wording to convert it into aWHAT, HOW and WHY QUESTION

SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE

TOPICfor Week

7

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

S

RESEARCHQUESTION

RESEARCHLOCATION

ARGUMENT

CONCLUSIONS

CONCEPTUALFRAMEWORK

LITERATURESEARCH

LITERATUREREVIEW

INTRODUCTION

Topic

ResearchParadigms

Validation

Method

Before

After

Value-adding

Value-adding

Value-adding

SA 452.3A

Conceptualising the Research Process© Dr Sunil Kumar, Department of Social Policy