Topic
SA 452.3A
Before
Research
Paradigms
Conceptualising the Research Process
© Dr Sunil Kumar, Department of Social Policy
INTRODUCTION
LIT ERAT URE
REVIEW
LIT ERAT URE
SEARCH
CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEW ORK
Valueadding
RESEARCH
QUEST ION
RESEARCH
LOCATION
RESEARCH
QUESTION
Method
Valueadding
Validation
Valueadding
ARGUMENT
CONCLUSIONS
After
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SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION
Learning Outcomes – week 6
• What is a research question
• How does it link to the literature
review and conceptual framework
• Link between a research question and
a hypothesis
• Types of research questions
• Hierarchy of research questions
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION
What is a
RESEARCH
QUESTION
A Research Question
embodies a gap in the
literature. It is a Question
or Questions posed so
that an answer or
answers to it will add
knowledge in a particular
area or subject
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION
Role of a
RESEARCH
QUESTION
A research
question is the
core of the
dissertation
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION
Role of a
RESEARCH
QUESTION
Answering it is the
purpose of the
dissertation
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
QUESTION
and
HYPOTHESIS
The early
identification of a
Research Question
will help in the
formulation of a
hypothesis
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Definition
A hypothesis
“ is a proposition
What is a
which can be put to
HYPOTHESIS the test to determine
it's
” 56-57
Goodevalidity
and Hatt, 1952:
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Definition
In
PLAIN
ENGLISH
A hypothesis is a
tentative answer to a
research question
• It is a hunch
• A possible
explanation for a
cause
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Definition
Yet again in
PLAIN
ENGLISH
A hypothesis is a
POTENTIAL
ARGUMENT
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Nature
A hypothesis
“ … may seem
Nature of a
contrary to or in
HYPOTHESIS accordance with
common
”
Goode and Hatt,sense
1952: 56-57
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Nature
Nature of a
HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis
“ It may prove to be
correct or incorrect ”
Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Testing
“ In any event,
Testing a
however, it leads to
HYPOTHESIS an empirical test ”
Goode and Hatt, 1952: 56-57
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Testing
A hypothesis
Testing a
is not held to be true
HYPOTHESIS until proven
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Testing
When proven
a
HYPOTHESIS
becomes a
THESIS
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Purpose
It's defined purpose
The purpose is to indicate the
direction
of
the
of a
investigation or the
HYPOTHESIS research and to
suggest what facts
are to be collected
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Origins
Some origins
of
HYPOTHESES
• Personal
Experience
• As exceptions to
accepted theory
• Analogy
• Review of the
literature
• Research question
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
HYPOTHESIS - Formulation
A well
formulated
HYPOTHESIS
should
• Contain conceptual
clarity
• Avoid subjective
referents
• Be specific and precise
• Relate to a body of
knowledge
• Relate to the Research
question
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS - Difficulties
3
Main
difficulties in
formulating
HYPOTHESIS
• Phrasing the
hypothesis properly
• Absence of a
conceptual or
theoretical framework
• Not using that
theoretical framework
logically
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION - Origins
Origins of the • PRACTICE
• THEORY
RESEARCH
• THEORY & PRACTICE
QUESTION
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
Types of
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• WHAT questions
• HOW questions
• WHY questions
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
WHAT
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• Tend to be descriptive
• Do not offer
explanations
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
WHY
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• Tend to produce
reasons
• Tend to words such as
because
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
RESEARCH QUESTION - Types
HOW
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
• Tend to suggest
outcomes of causes
• Offers insights for
practice & policy
change
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
LITERATURE REVIEW - 6
Task
for
Week
7
Write down your research question
and examine it to see if it is a
WHAT, HOW or WHY QUESTION
Change its wording to convert it into a
WHAT, HOW and WHY QUESTION
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE
Topic
SA 452.3A
Before
Research
Paradigms
Conceptualising the Research Process
© Dr Sunil Kumar, Department of Social Policy
INT RODUCT ION
LITERATURE
REVIEW
LITERATURE
SEARCH
CONCEPT UAL
F RAMEWORK
Valueadding
RESEARCH
QUESTION
RESEARCH
LOCAT ION
7
Method
Valueadding
Validation
Valueadding
TOPIC
for Week
ARGUMENT
CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORKS
CONCLUSIONS
After
SA 452.3A Conceptualising the Research Process, © Dr Sunil Kumar, Social Policy, LSE