Research Questions are Signposts

When the researcher makes an attempt to state the research problem and to formulate the objectives and hypotheses, her/his attention should focus on yet another area, which is the essential component in the planning of a research, that is, research questions.

Research questions are questions formulated by the researcher on the specific concerns of the investigation. These questions are signposts to the investigator to decide; where to go, how to move and when to move forward.

1.   Need of Research Questions

Shall we read certain research questions based on the title;

THE IMPACT OF LISTENING NARRATIVES WITH EMOTIONAL PUNCH ON VERBAL-LINGUISTIC INTELLIGENCE OF THE CHILDREN IN CLASS IV.

a)    What impact is put for the study?

b)    What is the prediction about the impact?

c)     Is the impact observable?

d)    With what instrument the impact be measured?

e)    Which component of verbal linguistic intelligence shows more impact?

f)      Which component of verbal linguistic intelligence shows least impact?

g)    What type of experimental design is required, is it single group design or double group design?

h)    What are the dependent and independent variables of the experiment?

i)      What are the controls of the experimentation?

j)      What are the data to be captured for analysis?

k)     What statistical operations are required for analysis?

If you read the above questions related to the theme referred, read the following set of research questions framed on another topic;

THE INFLUENCE OF CLASSROOM DRAMA ON STUDENTS’ ON-TASK BEHAVIOUR.

a)    What are the variables to be studied in the research?

b)    What influences will the classroom drama make over the on-task behaviour of the students?

c)     What component of classroom drama shows more influence than the other components?

d)    Is influence a factor that can be studied quantitatively?

e)    If so what quantitative analysis is workable?

f)      What qualitative aspects are to be studied?

g)    If there is influence of classroom drama, will it be significant?

h)    Is on-task behaviour measurable?

i)      With what instrument the on-task behaviour can be measured most aptly?

Now you saw two sets of research questions related to two different experimental research. Can you classify these questions into six heads, by posting the questions in column c)?

a) No.	b)   Category	c)     Questions
1.	Questions related to methodology.	………………………………………
2.	Questions related to hypothesis.	………………………………………
3.	Questions related to data collection.	………………………………………
4.	Questions about the phenomenon to be examined.	………………………………………
5.	Questions related to instruments required.	………………………………………
6.	Questions related to analysis of data.	………………………………………
7.	………………………..	………………………………………

 2.   Functions of Research Questions

By doing so, you might have understood that the way in which the research questions might help the researcher to focus specifically on the concerns or issues of investigation. Altogether, these questions give the researcher the dimensions of the research, which make her/him empowered to move in the right path of the investigation to bring about the desired result.

Time spend on by the researcher on asking certain questions to herself/himself like the ones above, is not at all a waste.  The questions sharpen the objectives and procedure of the research. Preparing the most relevant and operational questions is otherwise a good self-assessment tool also to the researcher throughout the investigation.

Dear reader, if you have a theme in your mind for research and you are on the stage of conceptualisation of that research activity, try to practice this strategy of formulating research questions, and respond me on the effectiveness of the same. Or, if you are a researcher who have earlier experiences, please comment on it.

Thank you.