Research Question
Once you have selected an area of research, you will need to identify a problem for research, i.e., research question.
A research question is a brief, clear, and focused argument/issue on which research is carried out.
The research question must be:
- Relevant (important)
- Interesting
- Focused and specific
- Researchable (manageable).
The process of formulating a research question is a way of narrowing and focusing the area of study until it becomes truly researchable.
In this stage the researchers will:
- select a topic/area of research and identify a suitable question for the research,
- find out important concepts, and develop a hypothesis
- make sure that an area/topic is of great interest.
Hypothesis
Upon making the research question, the researcher will propose a hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a research question (or it is a statement about possible results or expected results).
E.g., Research Question:
What are the teacher's factors influencing the students’ performance in private schools?
Hypothesis:
Motivation has a positive effect on students’ performance
E.g., Research Question:
Does the consumption of fast food lead to obesity in the UAE?
Hypothesis:
Eating fast food is the major reason for obesity in the UAE
Qualities of Good Hypothesis
A well-formulated hypothesis should be:
- a statement that can be tested (this is the most essential requirement)
- based on known facts and must have roots in the existing theories of knowledge
- quite simple, straightforward, and brief
- relevant to the given problem
A good hypothesis is stated in a declarative form, NOT as a question.
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Academic Research Foundations: Quantitative
