Research questions and research objectives

Research questions are the starting point in any good research . They provide the road map to proceed and identify and focus on the research gaps . The research objectives are actions intended to answer the research questions .

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Research Questions
and
Research Objectives

By
Dr. Aloysius H. Sequeira,
Professor,
National Institute of Technology Karnataka,
Surathkal.
email : [email protected]

2. Why do research?
Main purpose of doing research :

1. To Fill knowledge gaps
-Academic research

2. For Problem solving
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3. What is Preplanned Research
Step1 : Usually begin with a
topic/problem (sources : personal
experiences, state of knowledge in the
field , solving problem , curiosity based on
something in the media , personal values,
social premiums and everyday life).
Step2 : Topic is narrowed down into
focused Research Question/s.

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4. Formulating Research
Questions
Research answers questions - but what kinds
of questions - and where do the questions
come from?
Understanding the reality – How is world is
-what is happening –Positive questions?
Understanding how you want world to look
like – Normative questions?
Research is well suited for answering
positive questions .
Research does not help much in answering
normative questions
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5. Research Questions


 The research question defines the “area of
interest” but it is not a declarative statement like
a hypothesis

 Research question :main broad questions -
general focus
 Research question may be complemented by a
few Investigative Questions :secondary/sub
questions-specific -to narrow the focus-
important for data measurement




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6. Research Questions
A clear research statement or
problem must translate into a
research question.
Research question to be fact-oriented,
information –gathering question.
Research question must be capable of
being confirmed or refuted.


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7. Research Questions –
Qualitative study
Both qualitative and quantitative studies
suit for some topics.
Some topics are well suited for qualitative
study – topics loosely defined- research
question become clear only during the
research process.
Data is used to narrow the focus in
qualitative study- literature review helps.
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8. Research Questions –
Quantitative study
Topic is narrowed into a focused
Research question.
Focusing the question helps in developing
a testable hypothesis in quantitative study.
Research questions refer to relationship
among a small number of variables.
Listing the variables is needed to focus
the topic on research questions .
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9. Research Question -Example
Single question
Which methods and tools should be developed to
make current manufacturing control / supervision
systems reusable and swiftly modifiable?





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10. Research question - Example
Multiple questions

“Q1: What are the main components of logistics costs that
determine the logistics and transport network design?
Q2: To what extent are the existing network design and evaluation
models sufficient and how can collaboration be incorporated in
the network design methodology?
Q3: How can economies of scale and scope, present in the
network,
be taken into account in the network design?
Q4: Is it possible to set boundaries to the development path of the
network, and search for a feasible path instead of searching solely
for a feasible solution? “
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11. Research Questions –Example
Research Topic : An International
comparison of Technology Adoption Testing
the UTAUT Model
RQ1 How does acceptance of a
technology vary across cultures?
RQ2 What factors in the UTAUT model
most significantly differ across cultures
and what are the implications of these
differences?
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12. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

•Research objectives are the specific
actions/ activities to answer the research
questions .

•Objectives indicate what we are trying to
get from the study or the expected results /
outcome of the study.

13. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
•Research objectives should be clear , achievable and
verifiable - as they directly assist in answering the
research questions / problem .

•Objectives may be specified in the form of actions
(verbs) to answer the posed questions-
generally objectives begin with to :
discover …, determine …, establish …access……,
identify……, compare …., analyze , evaluate…..,
…etc.

14. Example I: How Research Questions
(RQs) and Research Objectives(ROs)
can be developed for a Research topic

Research Topic :
An Exploratory study on Ethnic population
and product choices with reference to Indian
settlers in Africa.
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15. Example :Research Topic – Exploratory study on
Ethnic population and product choices with
reference to Indian settlers in Africa.
Research Questions (RQ) & Objectives(RO)
RQ1.How far do settlers stick to their culture
and values which is then reflected on
consumption?

RO1. To measure the percentage of the Indian
settlers in select African countries who still
follow the culture and customs of their
Country Of Origin.



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16. Example :Research Topic – Exploratory study on
Ethnic population and product choices with
reference to Indian settlers in Africa.


RQ 2. To what extent is the assimilation of
cultures taking place which will have a
bearing on consumption.

RO2. To determine the extent the Indian
settlers have a tendency to assimilate with
the host country.

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17. Example :Research Topic – An Exploratory study
on Ethnic population and product choices with
reference to Indian settlers in Africa.

RQ 3. Whether subsequent generations of
settlers exhibit the same characteristics
of the first generation settlers?

RO 3. To determine the extent of
acculturation that had taken place of
these Indian settlers in the host country
and the importance the Indian settlers
place on ethnic values.



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18. Example :Research Topic – Exploratory study on
Ethnic population and product choices with
reference to Indian settlers in Africa.


RQ 4. To what extent host culture is
showing changes in adopting immigrant’s
culture and values.

RO 4 To find out whether the second and
subsequent generation of Indian settlers
exhibit similar behavior of the first
generation of Indian settlers.


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19. Example :Research Topic – Exploratory study on
Ethnic population and product choices with
reference to Indian settlers in Africa.

RO 5. To develop a model which can be
applied by the exporters to use the ethnic
advantage in their Product design.
(This objective specifically is focused on
Researcher’s contribution to the body of
knowledge – in a major project or thesis)
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20. Example II - Framing Research
questions for a problem
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Research Problem :
 MCP is oldest of 3 banks in
Mangalore.
 It is also the largest of 3 cooperative
banks in town.
 It is observed that profits are declining
for last 5 years.
Find an appropriate solution to the
given problem through research ?

21. Step 1 : First stage of research
Process
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Identify and formulate the following:
a)What research approach to adopt?
b)Frame the research questions
c)Frame the investigative questions?
d)Write the research objectives?

22. Step 2 : Framing research questions
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What research approach to adopt?
Research Approach- exploratory

Frame the research question?
Research Question 1: ( main RQ-
Focus is to find out lack of deposit
growth )
What is the public position regarding
financial services of the bank?

23. Step 3 : Framing the investigative
questions

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Frame the investigative questions?
Investigative questions 1: what specific financial
services are used?
Investigative questions 2: how attractive are
the various schemes
Investigative questions 3: What bank specific
and environmental factors influence a
person use specific service?

24. Step 4 : Framing research objectives

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Write the research objectives?

RO 1 : To study the public position of the bank
regarding financial services and use?
RO2 : To determine the banks competitive
position in the region?
RO3 : To suggest ways and means to improve
the performance of the bank?
RO4 : To develop a strategy to maintain and
enhance the image of the bank in the region ?

25. Summary-Research Questions
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Research questions ( broad/ general )

Investigative questions (specific/sub
question/ operationalization of
variables )

Research objectives ( statement of
intention/actions intended )