{"id":51,"date":"2021-12-09T17:12:17","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T17:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/chapter\/formulating-a-research-question\/"},"modified":"2023-02-15T18:23:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T18:23:43","slug":"formulating-a-research-question","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/chapter\/formulating-a-research-question\/","title":{"raw":"Formulating a Research Question","rendered":"Formulating a Research Question"},"content":{"raw":"As noted in <span style=\"color: #ff00ff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/chapter\/chapter-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Module 1: Types of Reviews<\/a><\/span>, conducting a \u201cpre-search\u201d is a crucial first step in devising the research question. A well-formulated research question informs the research process. It can focus your information needs (i.e. identify inclusion and exclusion criteria), help to identify key search concepts, and guide you in the direction of relevant resources.\r\n<h1>Types of Research Questions<\/h1>\r\nThere are two general types of research questions: <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"151\"]quantitative[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> and <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"142\"]qualitative[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.\r\n<h2>Quantitative Research Questions<\/h2>\r\nTypes of <strong>quantitative questions<\/strong> can be categorized as explanatory (i.e., relationship-based), descriptive, or comparative.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Explanatory questions<\/strong> aim to discover cause-and-effect relationships by comparing two or more variables, individuals or groups based on differing outcomes.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Descriptive questions<\/strong> will often quantify a single variable but may include multiple variables\u00a0 within a question. They typically ask for measurements, and can begin with: \u201chow much\u201d, \u201cwhat percentage\u201d, \u201chow frequently\u201d, or \u201chow many\u201d.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Comparative<\/strong> <strong>questions<\/strong> are designed to identify the \u201cdifference between\u201d a dependent variable and two or more groups. These questions tend to begin with \u201cwhat is the difference\u201d or \u201cwhat are the differences\u201d.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Qualitative Research Questions<\/h2>\r\n<strong>Qualitative questions<\/strong> aim to discover meaning or gain an understanding of a phenomenon. They ask questions that cannot be measured with specific numbers and statistics. Qualitative research questions often contain words like <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"154\"]\"lived experience\"[\/pb_glossary], \"personal experience\", \"understanding\", \"meaning\", and \"stories\".<\/strong>\r\n<h1>A Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Questions<\/h1>\r\nSo how do quantitative and qualitative research questions differ when you are conducting a search? In Table 2.1 below, we provide some examples of research topics. Each topic can either be used for a quantitative or qualitative research question. For each question, the category of research question is clarified.\r\n<table class=\"grid landscape alignleft\"><caption align=\"aligncenter\">Table 2.1. Examples of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Questions<\/caption>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"shaded\"><strong>Topic<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<th class=\"shaded\"><strong>Quantitative Research Questions<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<th class=\"shaded\"><strong>Qualitative Research Questions<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Housing insecurity for children<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Explanatory:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nHow does experiencing housing-insecurity in childhood impact a child\u2019s relationships in adulthood?<\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Lived experience:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWhat are the lived experiences of children experiencing housing-insecurity while attending elementary School?<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Nursing and workplace violence<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Descriptive:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWhat percentage of nurses experience violence in the workplace on night shifts?<\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Personal understanding:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nHow do nurses conceptualize their role in mitigating workplace violence?<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Mental health of Canadian immigrants<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Comparative:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWhat are the differences in perceptions towards accessing mental health services between immigrants and their Canadian-born children?<\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Personal experience:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nHow do newly arrived Canadians experience seeking help for mental health concerns?<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nRegardless of the type of question being asked, a good research question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no (as demonstrated by the sample questions in Table 2.1).\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<p>As noted in <span style=\"color: #ff00ff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/chapter\/chapter-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Module 1: Types of Reviews<\/a><\/span>, conducting a \u201cpre-search\u201d is a crucial first step in devising the research question. A well-formulated research question informs the research process. It can focus your information needs (i.e. identify inclusion and exclusion criteria), help to identify key search concepts, and guide you in the direction of relevant resources.<\/p>\n<h1>Types of Research Questions<\/h1>\n<p>There are two general types of research questions: <strong><button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"51-151\">quantitative<\/button><\/strong> and <strong><button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"51-142\">qualitative<\/button><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Quantitative Research Questions<\/h2>\n<p>Types of <strong>quantitative questions<\/strong> can be categorized as explanatory (i.e., relationship-based), descriptive, or comparative.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Explanatory questions<\/strong> aim to discover cause-and-effect relationships by comparing two or more variables, individuals or groups based on differing outcomes.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Descriptive questions<\/strong> will often quantify a single variable but may include multiple variables\u00a0 within a question. They typically ask for measurements, and can begin with: \u201chow much\u201d, \u201cwhat percentage\u201d, \u201chow frequently\u201d, or \u201chow many\u201d.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Comparative<\/strong> <strong>questions<\/strong> are designed to identify the \u201cdifference between\u201d a dependent variable and two or more groups. These questions tend to begin with \u201cwhat is the difference\u201d or \u201cwhat are the differences\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Qualitative Research Questions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Qualitative questions<\/strong> aim to discover meaning or gain an understanding of a phenomenon. They ask questions that cannot be measured with specific numbers and statistics. Qualitative research questions often contain words like <strong><button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"51-154\">\"lived experience\"<\/button>, &#8220;personal experience&#8221;, &#8220;understanding&#8221;, &#8220;meaning&#8221;, and &#8220;stories&#8221;.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1>A Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Questions<\/h1>\n<p>So how do quantitative and qualitative research questions differ when you are conducting a search? In Table 2.1 below, we provide some examples of research topics. Each topic can either be used for a quantitative or qualitative research question. For each question, the category of research question is clarified.<\/p>\n<table class=\"grid landscape alignleft\">\n<caption style=\"text-align: aligncenter;\">Table 2.1. Examples of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Questions<\/caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"shaded\"><strong>Topic<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"shaded\"><strong>Quantitative Research Questions<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"shaded\"><strong>Qualitative Research Questions<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Housing insecurity for children<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Explanatory:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How does experiencing housing-insecurity in childhood impact a child\u2019s relationships in adulthood?<\/td>\n<td><strong>Lived experience:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What are the lived experiences of children experiencing housing-insecurity while attending elementary School?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Nursing and workplace violence<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Descriptive:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What percentage of nurses experience violence in the workplace on night shifts?<\/td>\n<td><strong>Personal understanding:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How do nurses conceptualize their role in mitigating workplace violence?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Mental health of Canadian immigrants<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Comparative:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What are the differences in perceptions towards accessing mental health services between immigrants and their Canadian-born children?<\/td>\n<td><strong>Personal experience:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How do newly arrived Canadians experience seeking help for mental health concerns?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Regardless of the type of question being asked, a good research question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no (as demonstrated by the sample questions in Table 2.1).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"51-151\" hidden><p>Quantitative\u00a0data can be counted, measured,\u00a0<em>and<\/em>\u00a0expressed using numbers.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"51-142\" hidden><p>Qualitative research relies on data obtained by the researcher from first-hand observation, interviews, questionnaires (on which participants write descriptively), focus groups, participant-observation, recordings made in natural settings, documents, and artifacts. The data are generally nonnumerical.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"51-154\" hidden><p>Personal knowledge about the world that has been gained through first-hand involvement in everyday events.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":18,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-51","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":46,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/51","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":267,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/51\/revisions\/267"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/46"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/51\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=51"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=51"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/graduatereivews2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}