Question.4062 - What Makes a Good Research Question? A good research question sets the stage for how the methods and procedures of the study unfold. Before you delve into the development of your own research question, watch the following video to discover some tips. Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2017). What makes a good research question? [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes. In this Discussion, you will identify criteria for a good qualitative research question.
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Introduction Qualitative research questions are the cornerstone of effective qualitative inquiry, designed to explore, describe, and understand phenomena in depth. A well-crafted qualitative question is broad, open-ended, and aligned with the research problem and purpose, focusing on participants' context and lived experiences (Walden University, 2017). These questions avoid leading or closed-ended phrasing, emphasizing the need to investigate how individuals or groups perceive, experience, or make sense of a phenomenon (Maxwell, 2009). By grounding these questions in scholarly literature, researchers can address gaps and conflicts in the field, providing a solid rationale for the study. Defining a Good Qualitative Research Question A good qualitative question is broad, open-ended, and aligned with the research problem and purpose (Walden University, 2017). It aims to explore, describe, and understand a phenomenon in depth, considering the context and experiences of the participants. Similarly, strong qualitative questions should be clear and focused on a specific phenomenon of interest, identify the group, organization, or individual experiencing the phenomenon, and address further research identified in scholarly literature. Essential Components of a Research Question According to Maxwell (2009), qualitative questions should avoid leading or closed-ended phrasing and instead focus on how individuals or groups perceive, experience, or make sense of a phenomenon. These questions are grounded in the existing scholarly literature to address gaps or conflicts in the field, providing a clear rationale for the study. Research Article The qualitative research article by Råbu et al. (2024), “Living the Language of Psychotherapy: How Therapists Use their Experiences from Being Patients,” provided a strong example of a qualitative research question exploring how therapists’ experiences as clients in therapy influence their professional practice and personal development. Researchers and authors investigated the following question: “How do individuals who are now therapists experience being a patient in psychotherapy?” In this scenario, the authors used a qualitative approach focused on studies and expert experiences, highlighting the value of therapists when considering this research question in the report. Conclusion A good qualitative research question not only drives the direction of a study but also ensures alignment with scholarly literature and the phenomenon of interest. The study by Råbu et al. (2024) exemplifies this, as their research question explored how therapists’ experiences as clients shaped their professional and personal lives, demonstrating the depth and insight qualitative research can provide. By focusing on context and participant experiences and addressing gaps in the literature, qualitative questions foster meaningful investigations that contribute significantly to understanding complex human phenomena References Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2017). What makes a good research question? [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Maxwell, J. A. (2009). Designing a qualitative study. The SAGE handbook of applied social research methods, 2, 214-253. https://methods.sagepub.com/book/the-Links to an external site.Links to an external site. sage-handbook-of-applied-social-research-methods-2e/n7.xmlLinks to an external site. Råbu, M., Binder, P. E., & Moltu, C. (2024). Living the Language of Psychotherapy: How Therapists Use Their Experiences from Being Patients. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 1-10.More Articles From Research
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