Dissertation research depends upon the research problem and research questions. These two steps define and direct the entire dissertation writing process. If a researcher does not formulate straightforward questions relevant to the topic, the dissertation is liable to be inconsistent and contradictory. So, to Conduct Dissertation Research, it is crucial to understand the importance of research questions.
Research questions for a dissertation must be precise and derived from the research problem. This article will tell you how to Conduct Dissertation Research according to research questions.
What is a Research Question?
A research question is a primary question to which the research aims to respond. It is at the heart of systematic study and aids in defining a clear direction for the dissertation writing process. The first stage in any research effort is usually to formulate a research question. It is, in essence, your research’s principal inquiry area, and it is the foundation of any research process.
A research question, in most cases, concentrates on setting the tone for the entire dissertation. It establishes the technique, research design, and hypothesis. The research question directs all investigation, evaluation, and assessment stages. You’ll be able to obtain relevant information for your study if you ask the correct research questions.
What are three different types of research questions?
Following are the three different types of research questions:
- Descriptive
- Relational
- Causal
Descriptive Research Questions
Researchers utilize descriptive research questions to collect quantitative data about the traits and attributes of the study population. These questions elicit responses that indicate trends and patterns in the study subjects’ nature. It is crucial to remember that descriptive research questions do not seek to question the cause of a phenomenon. They are purely descriptive and seek to answer the questions about the description, characteristics, and traits of a study population or a phenomenon. Descriptive questions usually start with the “what” rather than “how.” For example:
- What are the factors that influence the consumer decisions of residents of Chile?
- What percentage of college students use drugs?
Descriptive questions are close-ended because they are quantitative. These questions seek to collect specific responses that are quantifiable, such as in opinion polls and survey research. A researcher who wants to Conduct Dissertation Research on marketing or customer satisfaction can use descriptive research questions. However, in case of any issue, he may get master’s dissertation help from experts to build good research questions.
Relational Research Questions
As the name implies, relational research questions probe the relationship between two research respondents from the same demography. These kinds of research questions aid in gathering data on the nature of the relationship between two main research variables. Researchers who seek to establish a correlation between two or more variables formulate relational research questions for their study. These questions help the researcher conduct correlational dissertation research that involves an investigation into understanding the connection between two variables. For example:
- Is there are correlation between drug abuse and childhood traumas among teenagers?
- What is the relationship between positive reinforcement and productivity in workplaces?
Comparative Research Questions
Comparative research questions are common in quantitative research studies. The purpose of comparative research questions is to compare and evaluate the features and characteristics of two distinct phenomena. In the case of survey research, initially, a researcher selects two or more demographic groups.
Secondly, the researcher seeks to formulate comparative research questions to collect data about the differences and similarities across the groups. These types of inquiries aid the researcher in identifying distinguishing characteristics that distinguish one research participant from another while also revealing commonalities.
If a researcher wants to Conduct Dissertation Research about market research, comparative research questions are pretty helpful. Comparative research questions can help understand the differences and similarities between products and services of multiple companies. It can help the researcher understand the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s products and provide suggestions to the company to formulate strategies to gain a competitive advantage. For example:
- What are the differences between Xiamoi and Infinix smartphones?
- What are the similarities between Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar?
Things to keep in mind while researching your research questions?
Researchers conduct research based on their research questions. The most crucial step is to devise reasonable and precise research questions. Researchers can do the following things:
- Clarity
Research questions have to be clear, and they should not be vague. Vague research questions are ambiguous, and they do not bring fruitful results in dissertation research. The research questions should focus on specific things that will be clear to the audience. Research questions that are clear enough do not need any further explanation. They pinpoint the exact nature of the problem.
- Focused
Researchers who want to Conduct Dissertation Research must formulate focused research questions. They should not be too broad because it will be difficult to collect a vast amount of data about the research. A research question should narrow down the focus of the research topic.
- Concise
Wordy research questions are confusing, and your audience will have difficulty understanding what you want to inquire about. So, it is crucial to devise concise research questions.
- Researchable questions
Research questions are not simple “yes” or “no” questions. But they are more complex than that. The purpose is to ignite discussion and explore the nature of the problem. So, it is essential to devise those questions that are intriguing and researchable.
- Argumentative
Factual questions do not lead to any debate. They state the facts as it is. On the other hand, argumentative questions give rise to debate, which is the essence of the research. So, it is crucial to formulate argumentative research questions.
What are the credible website and tools to Conduct Dissertation Research?
Following are the credible websites and tools to Conduct Dissertation Research:
- Google Scholar
- Google Books
- Microsoft Academic
- Semantic Scholar
- ProQuest
- Sci-Hub
- Worldwide Science
- Science.gov
- Refseek
- Wolfram Alpha
- ResearchGate
- PubMed Central
- JSTOR
- Lexis Web
- Infotopia
Conclusion
Precise and argumentative research questions are essential to conducting dissertation research. A clear research question that pinpoints the problem is a good research question. Research questions define and determine the entire course of the dissertation. So, it is essential to spend time formulating research questions for your dissertation.