
Developing Research Questions
A Guide for Social Scientists
Patrick White(Author)
Palgrave Macmillan (Publisher)
Published on 24. November 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-1-4039-9815-6 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
Undertaking a research project is a crucial, but often overwhelming aspect of any social sciences degree, and selecting a research question can be one of the toughest parts of the process. What makes an appropriate topic for research? How do you transform an idea into a 'researchable' question? And, once you've got a question, where do you go from there?Developing Research Questions steers readers through the complex process of starting a research project. The book explains how to break down initial ideas from broad topics into appropriate research questions, and gives detailed guidance on how to refine questions as the research project develops. Each chapter is packed with handy hints, tips and examples that show how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls in the research process. Linking hypotheses and questions with research design and methods at every step, this text takes readers from the start through to the final stage of answering their questions and drawing conclusions.<This is a no-fuss, practical guide to forming your own research question. It is an indispensable resource for social scientists carrying out research projects at all levels.
Reviews / Votes
'White's book is truly in another league: its depth and usefulness make it one of the most useful books about research I have ever seen.' - Olivier Ratle, Lecturer in Organization Studies, Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, UK This book offers a concise and practical engagement of how one develops research questions, and more importantly, how those questions are related to ideas, theories, hypotheses, methods, results and conclusions. It deconstructs the research process to highlight how questions influence the steps involved in planning and carrying out social science research projects.' - Howard Ramos, Dalhousie University in the Canadian Journal of Sociology. 'Presents a very practical, 'can-do' approach to social science research' - Geoffrey Walford, University of Oxford in the British Educational Research Journal.More details
Edition
2008
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Palgrave USA
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
144 p.
Dimensions
Height: 21.6 cm
Width: 13.8 cm
ISBN-13
978-1-4039-9815-6 (9781403998156)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-137-11196-8
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Patrick White
Developing Research Questions
Book
08/2017
2nd Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€36.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
PATRICK WHITE is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Leicester, UK. He is experienced in the teaching of research methods and techniques throughout undergraduate level and has published widely on teaching and research in education.
Content
Introduction.- Where do Research Ideas Come From?.- What Makes a Research Question?.- What Makes a Question 'Researchable'?.- Questions, Methods and Indicators.- Answering Research Questions Claims Evidence and Warrant.- Afterword.