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    Research Question

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    Research Question

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    Research question

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    Research Question

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    of 3

    60 CHAPTER 4 SEARCHING FOR PREVIOUS RESEARCH

    Step 2: Clarifying the Research Question and Generating Key Terms

    Once a general topic has been identified, the next step is to develop and refine the topic to
    begin the search for existing information. There are three primary steps involved in this pro­
    cess: (1) state your topic in the form of a question (realize that this may result in more than one
    question depending on your topic); (2) identify key terms and concepts from the question(s);
    and (3) generate a list of key term synonyms that can be used to search for background
    information.

    STATING THE TOPIC IN THE FORM OF A RESEARCH QUESTION


    The first step in refining your topic involves stating your research topic in the form of a ques­
    tion. We have included a worksheet (Figure 4.1) that can assist you in working through the
    process of clarifying the research question and identifying potential sources. Note that the
    first step asks for the initial research question. We use the term "initial" because the research
    question may undergo multiple revisions as you examine existing sources of in formation. You
    may discover that the initial question is too broad or too narrow. Or, once you begin the search
    for information, you might find out that your initial question has already been answered
    through previous research.
    Suppose that you have recently experienced the end of a romantic relationship. Based on
    your own experience, you decide that the topic of your research project ,\ ii I be terminating
    relationships. Because this topic is extremely broad, we must narrow the fo u to help formu­
    late a specific research question. Some things that you might want to consider in refining your
    topic and writing the initial research questions include the following:
    • What type of relationship should be examined? Friendships, romantic relationships, or
    family relationships?
    Step 2: Clarifying the Research Question and Generating Key Terms 61
    - -
    • Is there a particular relational role that should be the focus of the study? The person who
    initiates the termination? Or the recipient?
    • How is communication related to the topic? Should the focus be on strategies used to termi-
    nate relationships?
    As you can see, there are several "mini-questions" that must be addressed before creating the
    initial resea·rch question. Suppose you decided that the focus of your study will be on the mes­
    sages used by partners to communicate the end of a romantic relationship. The initial research
    question could be phrased as, "What communication strategies are used to terminate roman­
    tic relationships?" That is simple enough! But keep in mind that this research question may
    need to be revised as we continue through the remaining steps indicated on the Research
    Planning Worksheet (Figure 4.1).
    Step 2 on the worksheet asks the researcher to identify what information is already known
    about the topic. Think about your own experiences and what you have studied in communica­
    tion, psychology, family studies, history, biology, or any other class that you have taken.
    People in a wide variety of fields help communication scholars more fully understand com­
    munication phenomenon. What do you already know about communication strategies that are
    used to end romantic relationships? Probably the most obvious thing that you already know is
    that relational partners might avoid engaging in communication behaviors. You might even
    recall studying relationship dissolution in an interpersonal communication class. Maybe your
    own experience involved the use of deception. Brainstorm and think of anything that you al­
    ready know about the topic. This information will be useful as you begin generating key
    concepts to describe your research topic.

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