This week’s topics
Research Aims and Questions
- Establishing SMART research objectives
- Formulating exploratory and explanatory research questions
- Directional and non-directional hypotheses
- Aligning objectives with business outcomes
- Research Questions, Aims and Objectives
- Research questions: Descriptive, exploratory, explanatory and evaluative questions
- Research Aims, Objectives & Research Questions (The Golden Thread) - Definitions + Examples ?
What you will be able to do
- 1.1 Appraise research problems.
- 1.2 Develop appropriate research objectives and justify their choice.
- 4.2 Create a research question, literature review and methodology.
Activity
Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: appraise research problems.
Study materials
Videos
- Research Questions, Aims and Objectives · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 9 min · for registered students
- Research questions: Descriptive, exploratory, explanatory and evaluative questions · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 7 min · for registered students
- Research Aims, Objectives & Research Questions (The Golden Thread) - Definitions + Examples ? · YouTube · Grad Coach · 25 min · for registered students
Further resources
- Improving the development of students' research questions and hypotheses · PDF · ERIC, article · for registered students
- Principles of Sociological Inquiry, ch. 4: Beginning a Research Project · PDF · Saylor Academy, textbook chapter; pp. 37–50 · for registered students
- Writing Guide, 12.5: Formulating a research question · PDF · OpenStax, textbook chapter; pp. 402–404 · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
