Session 2: Problem structuring

Question 1

What are the main steps of qualitative research?

Answer 1

1. General research questions
2. Selecting relevant site(s) and subjects
3. Collection of relavant data
4. Interpretation of data
5. Conceptual and theoretical framework
   5a. Tighter specification of research question(s)
   5b. Collection of further data
6. Writing up findings/conclusions

Question 2

What are the main preoccupations of qualitative research?

Answer 2

Understanding perspectives, contextual description, process emphasis, flexibility, theory grounded in data.

Question 3

What sources can lead to identifying a research problem?

Answer 3

Personal experience, literature debate, gaps in research, organizational developments, societal events.

Question 4

What is gap-spotting in research question formulation?

Answer 4

Finding unexplored areas or overlooked aspects in existing literature.

Question 5

What is problematization in research?

Answer 5

Challenging assumptions and questioning current frameworks to create deeper research questions.

Question 6

What’s the difference between theory-driven research (TDR) and phenomenon-driven research (PDR)?

Answer 6

TDR starts from existing theories and tests or extends them, while PDR begins with real-world events or phenomena and develops new insights or theories based on them.

Question 7

Describe the steps in narrowing down and selecting research questions.

Answer 7

1. Select research area
2. Select aspect of research area
3. Generate possible research questions
4. Select research questions

Question 8

What makes a research question effective?

Answer 8

Clear, researchable, theoretically grounded, interlinked, appropriately scoped, and contributes to knowledge.