Session 5

Front 1

How should a good research question be?

Back 1

• Relevant: relates to ongoing conversation
• Novel: says something new
• Interesting: the new thing is actially interesting

Front 2

What is "interesting"?

Back 2

• Simple view: thinking "thats interesting"
• Counter-intuitive (contradictory to existing findings, six intelligent people test)
• Bringing together currently conflicting views
• Interestingness always helps

Front 3

How to specify the research question?

Back 3

• Simply put, question can be at different levels
• Initial queston is often too broad for testing, or not the intention to test
• Research proect needs focus: study only one thing at a time
• Key question: what exactly are you studing?

Front 4

Good research question comes with precision

Back 4

• Either question, or a derivative (Weiterentwicklung) of it, must be precise
• Question usually formulated at the level of constucts (discover relationships -> qualitative work: corroborate (berkräftigen) relationships: quantitative work)

Front 5

Deductive work: from research question to hypothesis

Back 5

1. Start with research question
2. From this foundation, build an argument through logic
3. State the expected, novel relationship as formal hypothesis

Front 6

"Question word" determines type of work

Back 6

- Do -> Yes/No (Boring)

- What.../how... (process, qualitative work)

- Why... (often needs additionsl specification)

- To what extend... (explains how different inputs drive different outcomes, qantitative work)