LA 2910 / LA 6910: Landscape Design History II: Research is an Exploration

LA 2910 / LA 6910 Library Guide

https://guides.library.cornell.edu/LA2910_LA6910

Here's an excellent guide to formulating your research question, from the Duke Writing Center:

While all research questions need to take a stand, there are additional requirements for research questions in the sciences and social sciences. That is, they need to have repeatable data. Unreliable data in the original research does not allow for a strong or arguable research question.

 In addition, you need to consider what kind of problem you want to address. Is your research trying to accomplish one of these four goals?

 1) Define or measure a specific fact or gather facts about a specific phenomenon.

 2) Match facts and theory.

3) Evaluate and compare two theories, models, or hypotheses.

4) Prove that a certain method is more effective than other methods.

Moreover, the research question should address what the variables of the experiment are, their relationship, and state something about the testing of those relationships. The Psychology department at California State University, Fresno, provides the following examples and explanations:

Examples:

Possible research question: Are females smarter than males? This question delineates the variables to be measured: gender and intelligence. Yet, it is unclear how they will be evaluated: What method will be used to define and measure intelligence?

Revised question: Do females age 18-35 score higher than adult males age 18-35 on the WAIS-III? (The WAIS-III is a standardized intelligence test.) This research question produces data that can be replicated. From there, the author can devise a question that takes a stand.

In essence, the research question that guides the sciences and social sciences should do the following three things:

 1) Post a problem.

2) Shape the problem into a testable hypothesis.

3) Report the results of the tested hypothesis.

There are two types of data that can help shape research questions in the sciences and social sciences: quantitative and qualitative data. While quantitative data focuses on the numerical measurement and analysis between variables, qualitative data examines the social processes that give rise to the relationships, interactions, and constraints of the inquiry.

For additional information about writing a research question visit Grand Canyon University, Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching site: https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/tutorials/question.