1.1 Definition of Research Questions week1_24_25 - Copy.pptx

Research design

1. Definition of Research Questions Research Design 1

2. Projects and research questions All project and papers start with a short assignment. The first step of a research project is, based upon the assignment, to set-up a research plan, containing the research questions. Today’s course is about the approach on how to get from the assignment to the research questions From research questions to the research plan will follow in week 5. 2

3. Projects and research questions Part 1 Some background on how to define research questions and set up a research plan Part 2 Example Case: Set-up of a set of research questions based upon an existing project assignment

4. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment Preliminary literature research Set-up of draft research questions Feedback from company/professors Final research questions Set-up of research plan

5. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment Preliminary literature research Set-up of draft research questions Feedback from company/professors Final research questions Set-up of research plan

6. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment (Re)reading the assignment Discussing the assignment within project group Interview with the company Define research problem Goal : Better and deeper understanding of the assignment and its background What is the real question of the company? Why are they interested? What do they want you to deliver? What is the Research Problem?

7. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment Preliminary literature research Set-up of draft research questions Feedback from company/professors Final research questions Set-up of research plan

8. Part 1: Process steps Preliminary (literature) research Goal : Gathering basic information required to enable the student to set-up the research questions and research methodology. State-of-art Materials Market Products Processes Technology

9. Part 1: Process steps Preliminary (literature) research Goal : Gathering basic information required to enable the student to set-up the research questions and research methodology. State-of-art Materials Market Products Processes Technology Focus on scientific/peer-reviewed literature. Trade journals/internet can be useful too Important : Finding solutions is not the goal of this preliminary research You are setting the scene.

10. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment Preliminary literature research Set-up of draft research questions Feedback from company/professors Final research questions Set-up of research plan

11. Part 1: Process steps Set-up of draft research questions Answering the research question(s) should enable you to answer/solve the research problem you distilled from the assignment. Sub-questions are formulated to help answering the main question Enabling step-by-step approach Research questions are open questions, meaning that yes/no answers should not be possible Only 1 question per sub-question Defining research questions brings focus in your research project!

12. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment Preliminary literature research Set-up of draft research questions Feedback from company/professors Final research questions Set-up of research plan

13. Part 1: Process steps Feedback Feedback from company Feedback from coach/professors Goal Improvement/refining the research questions Confirmation that these research questions are answering the research problem Processing feedback is a key skill in a research project

14. Part 1: Process steps Analysis of the assignment Preliminary literature research Set-up of draft research questions Feedback from company/professors Final research questions Set-up of research plan

15. Part 1: Process steps Final research questions Based upon the draft research questions and the received feedback, you define the final research questions, divided in main and sub-questions

16. Part 2: Case Project assignment: Replacing paper napkins by textile napkins, a sustainable solution? (Re)reading the assignment Discussing the assignment within project group Interview with the company Define research problem

17. Part 2: Case 1. Analysis of the assignment Project assignment: What are two key attention points according to you?

18. Part 2: Case 1. Analysis of the assignment Project assignment: What are two key attention points according to you? What is according to you the main research problem?

19. Part 2: Case 1. Analysis of the assignment Project assignment: What are two key attention points according to you? What is according to you the main research problem? Sustainability comparison (LCA) textile and paper product, table sheet and napkin, taking into account use phase and manufacturing phase to substantiate the sustainability claim of FTN.

20. Part 2: Case 1. Analysis of the assignment Project assignment: What are two key attention points according to you? What is according to you the main research problem? Sustainability comparison (LCA) textile and paper product, table sheet and napkin, taking into account use phase and manufacturing phase to substantiate the sustainability claim of FTN What does the company expect from you?

21. Part 2: Case 1. Analysis of the assignment Project assignment: What are two key attention points according to you? What is according to you the main research problem? Sustainability comparison (LCA) textile and paper product, table sheet and napkin, taking into account use phase and manufacturing phase to substantiate the sustainability claim of FTN What does the company expect from you? Clear data (presentation) Comparison

22. Part 2: Case 1. Analysis of the assignment Summary discussion Description of the research problem

23. Part 2: Case - Interview 1. Analysis of the assignment Interview with the company Preparation of the interview Anything unclear? Anything missing? Prepare interview questions Please set up two questions

24. Part 2: Case - Interview 1. Analysis of the assignment Interview with the company Preparation of the interview Anything unclear? Anything missing? Prepare interview questions Please set up two questions Execution of the interview You can interview me, as being the company representative

25. Part 2: Case - Interview 1. Analysis of the assignment Wrap-up of the interview What did you learn? Is everything clear? What would be the aim of the project? Key points Why is the company interested? What do they want to do with the results?

26. Part 2: Case – Research Problem 1. Analysis of the assignment Define the research problem

27. Part 2: Case 2. Preliminary (literature) research Preliminary (literature) research What information is needed before research problem can be defined? Search terms for literature research?

28. Part 2: Case 3. Set-up of draft research questions Main research question? Research sub-questions?

29. Part 2: Case 4. Feedback from company/professors Feedback professor Discussion professor/project group

30. Part 2: Case 5. Set-up of final research questions Main research question to be adapted? Research sub-questions te be adapted?