Develop A Search Strategy
Developing Your Research Question
Formulating a clear, well-defined research question of appropriate scope is key to a successful research project. A research framework can be helpful for this process; in Communication and other social science fields, SPICE is most commonly used.
The SPICE question framework identifies five concepts: Setting, Population or perspective, Intervention/exposure/interest, Comparison, and Evaluation. Research question="What is the effect of media coverage on utilization of breast cancer screening by Women 40 years or older?".
| Element | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Setting is the context for the question (where). | North America |
| Population | Population is the users or stakeholders of the service (for whom). | Women 40+ |
| Intervention / Interest / Exposure | Intervention is the action taken for the users or stakeholders (what). | Media coverage |
| Comparison | Comparison is the alternative actions or outcomes (compared to what). |
No media coverage |
| Evaluation | Evaluation is the result or measurement that will determine the success of the intervention (what is the result, how well). | Utilization of Breast Cancer Screening |
Identify Core Concepts and Keywords
It can be helpful to break down your research question into core concepts and keywords, tied together with Boolean Operators.
