1 Foundations of Research and Research Questions Free Online FlashCards

What is research?

Research is a systematic way to investigate a question using evidence.

How does a research question guide a project?

A clear research question helps identify relevant evidence and set what the project can reasonably accomplish.

Why is research an iterative process?

Research is iterative: new evidence or practical constraints may lead researchers to revise their question or plan.

What is a research topic?

A topic is a broad subject area, such as online learning or urban transportation.

What makes a research question answerable?

It must be answerable with evidence the researcher can access, not only with personal opinion or speculation.

How can a broad topic be narrowed?

Specify relevant boundaries such as people or cases, place, time period, and the particular focus.

How should a narrowed research focus be phrased?

Use an open-ended question, often beginning with “how,” “what,” or “to what extent.”

What do clarity and focus mean in a research question?

A clear question states exactly what is being asked; a focused one can be investigated within the project's required length and scope.

What purposes can research serve?

Research may describe a situation, explain a pattern, compare cases, evaluate an approach, or address a practical problem.

What are the typical stages of research?

A typical process moves from choosing an area and defining a problem to developing a question, planning, gathering and analyzing evidence, then interpreting and communicating findings.

What does a research problem identify?

A research problem identifies a specific uncertainty or need within a broad topic.

What does a research question specify?

A research question states what the project will investigate about the problem.