Developing Research Questions

Undertaking a research project is a crucial but often overwhelming aspect of any social science 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 difficult early stages of conducting a research project. It explains how to break down initial ideas and broad topics into manageable questions, and gives detailed guidance on how to refine these as the project progresses. Each chapter is packed with handy hints, tips and examples that show how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls throughout this process. Linking hypotheses and questions with research design and methods at every step, this text takes readers from the very start of their project through to the final stage of answering their questions and drawing conclusions.

With an even wider range of international examples of real-life questions from many different subject areas, and reflective end-of-chapter exercises, this second edition continues to be a no-fuss, practical guide and an indispensable resource for social scientists carrying out research projects at all levels.

Watch Patrick White's short film on his five top tips for developing research questions. Click on the link under Further Information in the side bar.

Patrick White is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Leicester, UK