Developing A Research Question

SNHU Media

13 Mar 202302:23

Summary

TLDRThis video script guides viewers on crafting a research question that sharpens focus on their topic and leads to a persuasive essay thesis. It emphasizes the importance of formulating arguable questions that streamline research, eliminate off-topic sources, and support strong positions. The script provides examples to illustrate how to refine questions for specificity and persuasiveness. It also highlights the role of the research question in receiving early, constructive feedback from instructors to develop a more compelling argument.

Takeaways

🔍 A research question is essential for focusing on a specific topic and guiding the research process.
📝 It should lead to a persuasive essay thesis, which is a strong argument or claim that the essay will support.
📑 Early in the course, students are encouraged to draft a research question to help structure their work.
❓ The question should be arguable, meaning it should provoke discussion and have varying perspectives.
💡 Examples are provided to help students formulate their research questions, such as addressing healthcare equity issues.
📚 A research question helps streamline the research process by identifying relevant sources and eliminating off-topic ones.
💼 It aids in finding sources that support a strong position and filters out those that weaken the argument.
👨‍🏫 The research question allows the instructor to provide early feedback on the topic and direction of the research.
🔑 Instructors may suggest refining the research question to make it more specific or persuasive.
👩‍⚕️ An example of a more specific question is given, focusing on training and resources for nursing staff regarding postpartum depression.
🌐 Another example shows how to make a question more persuasive, addressing solutions to digital redlining in the United States.
🆘 Students are encouraged to seek help from their instructors if they need assistance with formulating their research question.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a research question?
-A research question helps to focus on a specific topic, provides a direction for research and writing, and should lead to a persuasive essay thesis.
At what stage of the course should a research question be drafted?
-A research question should be drafted early in the course to guide the research process effectively.
What should a research question achieve in terms of the answer it seeks?
-A research question should lead to an arguable answer, which means it should be open to debate and not have a straightforward or obvious answer.
Can you provide an example of a research question related to healthcare and equity?
-One example is: 'To solve the problem of healthcare and equity, what does the president of the State College need to do?'
What is the role of a research question in the debate over employee health care?
-A research question in this context might explore the effectiveness of employer-funded healthcare, such as: 'Why might employer-funded healthcare be more effective and why?'
How does a research question streamline the research process?
-A research question helps to find sources that directly speak to the question, eliminates off-topic sources, and supports a strong position by weeding out sources that might weaken the argument.
What assistance can an instructor provide regarding a research question?
-An instructor can provide helpful feedback on the topic and general direction, suggest developing a more specific or persuasive research question, and guide the student to refine their question.
Why might a research question need to be more specific?
-A research question might need to be more specific to narrow down the scope of research, making it easier to find relevant sources and arguments, and to develop a focused thesis.
Can you give an example of a research question that needs to be more specific?
-A revised question for 'What should we do to help women with postpartum depression?' might be 'What training and resources should hospitals provide nursing staff regarding the signs of postpartum depression?'
What is the importance of making a research question persuasive?
-A persuasive research question is one that not only seeks information but also aims to influence or convince the reader about a particular viewpoint or solution to a problem.
Can you provide an example of a research question that needs to be more persuasive?
-A revised question for 'What is digital redlining?' might be 'What is a viable solution to the problem of digital redlining in the United States?'

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Understanding Research Questions

This paragraph introduces the concept of a research question, emphasizing its role in guiding research and writing throughout a course. A research question is essential for focusing on a specific topic and formulating a persuasive essay thesis. Students are encouraged to draft a research question early on that leads to an arguable answer. Examples are provided to illustrate the formation of a research question, such as addressing healthcare equity or digital redlining. The paragraph also explains the benefits of a research question, including streamlining the research process, eliminating off-topic sources, and supporting a strong argument. Additionally, it highlights the importance of instructor feedback in refining a research question for specificity and persuasiveness.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Research question

A research question is a focused inquiry that guides the direction of a research project. It is central to the video's theme as it helps to narrow down the scope of the research and provides a clear path for investigation. In the script, it is mentioned that a research question should lead to a persuasive essay thesis and should be specific enough to yield an arguable answer, as illustrated by the example questions provided.

💡Focus

Focus refers to the concentration on a specific area or topic. In the context of the video, having a clear focus is crucial for developing a research question that will guide the research process and writing. The script emphasizes that a research question helps to concentrate on the topic and avoid straying off-topic.

💡Persuasive essay thesis

A persuasive essay thesis is a statement that presents an argument or a point of view that the writer intends to support throughout the essay. The video script explains that a research question should lead to such a thesis, indicating that the research question is not just a neutral inquiry but one that sets the stage for a persuasive argument.

💡Drafting

Drafting in the context of research refers to the initial creation of a document or, in this case, a research question. The script mentions that early in the course, students will be asked to draft a research question, which is an essential step in the research process that helps to refine the direction and scope of the investigation.

💡Arguable answer

An arguable answer is one that can be debated or contested, suggesting that there are multiple viewpoints or interpretations. The video script states that a research question should lead to an arguable answer, which implies that the question should be complex enough to warrant discussion and exploration.

💡Streamline

To streamline means to make a process more efficient and less complicated. In the video, the research question is said to streamline the research process by helping to find sources that directly address the question and eliminating those that are irrelevant, thus making the research more focused and efficient.

💡Sources

Sources in research refer to the materials, such as books, articles, and data, that provide information and support for a research project. The script explains that a research question helps to find sources that support a strong position and eliminate those that are off-topic or weaken the argument.

💡Overwhelming

Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience when starting a research project due to the vast amount of information available. The video script acknowledges this and suggests that a well-defined research question can help keep the researcher focused and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.

💡Instructor feedback

Instructor feedback is the guidance and suggestions provided by a teacher or mentor to help a student improve their work. The video script mentions that the research question allows the instructor to give helpful feedback on the topic and general direction early in the course, which is crucial for refining the research question and the overall research project.

💡Specific

Being specific means being clear and precise. The video script advises that a research question should be specific to ensure that it is focused and can lead to a well-defined area of research. An example given in the script is the revision of a general question about postpartum depression to a more specific one regarding hospital training for nursing staff.

💡Persuasive

Persuasive refers to the ability to convince others of a particular point of view. The script suggests that a research question should be persuasive, meaning it should be compelling and thought-provoking. An example provided is the transformation of a descriptive question about digital redlining into a question about viable solutions to the problem, which is more persuasive and argumentative.

Highlights

A research question is essential for guiding your research and writing throughout the course.

It should lead to a persuasive essay thesis.

Draft a research question early in the course to focus on your topic.

The question should be arguable to foster a compelling discussion.

Examples are provided to help formulate a research question.

The research question streamlines the research process by finding relevant sources.

It eliminates off-topic sources and strengthens the argument.

The question helps to keep the research focused and prevents digression.

Instructors can provide early feedback on the research question to guide the student.

Instructors may suggest developing a more specific research question.

An example of a vague research question is given and how it can be improved.

Instructors may also suggest making the question more persuasive.

An example of a non-persuasive research question and its persuasive revision is provided.

Students are encouraged to reach out to their instructors for help with their research questions.

The video ends with an upbeat music cue.