Chapter three

Chapter Three: Developing Your Research Question and Proposal

Chapter three of the Bedford Researcher deals with how to develop a research question and create a research proposal.

In regards to developing research question step one is this, as you gain more info on the topic, ideas about topic may change. Consider your biases, and if they affect the interpretation of the research.

Step two discusses combining a specific focus with a specific thinking process in order to make a tailored research question.

Step three is about framing the argument. To craft the question, use question words such as what, why, when, where, who and how in order to conduct an analysis. To discuss goals and outcomes, use words like would or could, and for a course of action a word like should.

Step four gives several considerations in refining the research question. It explains that different questions lead to different conclusions. It is also a process moving from a broad research question to a refined research question. This step also implies if you have vast numbers of sources, narrow the scope of the search and the opposite i.e. if you have very few sources, broaden the scope of the research question.

In considering the creation of a research proposal, the writer should be mindful that proposal contains a title page, an introduction, literature review, description of information collection, a project timeline and a working bibliography. Some options are available like an abstract, an overview of challenges or funding request and rationale.

When identifying the topic, issue and research question, the writer will use the title page. The title page will include several pieces of information such as, title of the project, name of the writer, writer’s contact info and the date. Furthermore, the writer will identify the topic, the research question and their position.

The literature review helps the writer become familiar with all sides of the discussion and helps develop their position.

The explanation of information collection depends on the research proposal by types of sources, types of search tools, search strategy and schedule.

Relevant types of sources are important to consider. The conversation a writer joins will help decide what sources are relevant and what kinds of evidence are being used and are timely.

When collecting information there are also three methods available, online search tools, print resources and field research.

A project timeline is an important part of creating research proposal. A project timeline is a description of the length of time for the project or list of tasks to complete the project.

Bibliography is critical to a research proposal, both for the writer and any reader who would like to do follow up research. A working bibliography provides lists of sources collected and if annotated, a brief description of the source.

Lastly to clarify and elaborate core proposal there are three optional methods. To elaborate on the core proposal, an abstract, an overview of key challenges, and funding request and rational are often used. Completing a formal research proposal helps make decisions about the best way to carry out the project.