Getting Specific: SoTL Research Questions
Having a specific research question focuses classroom research and provides direction.
This summer series began with an introduction and thinking about how SoTL research can fit into your identity as a faculty member and researcher. After some time to reflect on what we wonder about our teaching and our students’ learning, let’s turn to the specifics of a SoTL project.
Writing a SoTL Research Question
Think deep, not broad
Having a narrow topic and specific focus in a research project is crucial for several reasons:
Clarity and Precision: A narrow topic and specific focus provide clarity and precision to your research, helping to define the boundaries of your study and ensuring that you have a clear understanding of what you aim to investigate.
Manageability: A narrow focus makes your research project more manageable. By narrowing down the scope, you can effectively plan and execute your study within the available time, resources, and expertise. It allows you to delve deeper into the chosen area, conducting a thorough investigation and collecting relevant data without spreading yourself too thin.
Efficient Resource Allocation: Having a narrow topic and specific focus enables efficient allocation of resources. By focusing resources on a specific area, you can conduct a more thorough investigation and generate meaningful outcomes within the available resources.
Finding your Goldilocks topic: Not too big, not too small
When narrowing the study focus for a classroom-based research project, it's important to consider the following aspects:
Population: Determine the specific population you want to study. Consider characteristics such as academic level (e.g., first-year students, upper-level math) or specific demographics. Defining the population will help you target your research efforts and draw meaningful conclusions relevant to that particular group.
Sample: Decide on the sample size and composition for your study. Consider whether you will focus on a single section or multiple sections of a course. You may also explore the possibility of cross-disciplinary studies to gain a broader perspective. Additionally, you can choose whether to observe a specific class period or follow the entire semester. Selecting an appropriate sample will enable you to gather data that represents your target population accurately.
Context: Take into account the context in which your research will take place. Consider the type of institution where the study will be conducted (e.g., university, community college) and the specific type of course being examined. Understanding the context will allow you to interpret the research findings within a meaningful framework.
Intervention (if applicable): If you plan to implement an intervention as part of your research project, clearly define what you aim to do. Are you describing an existing teaching method, comparing different approaches, or introducing something new? Clarify the specific intervention or teaching strategy you will use and outline its expected impact on student learning outcomes. This will help structure your research design and guide data collection and analysis.
HOMEWORK: From wonderings to research questions
By carefully considering these factors, you can effectively narrow the focus of your classroom-based research project, ensuring that it aligns with your goals and yields valuable insights into teaching and learning.
Think back to your project description/general plan and “elevator pitch” What do you want to investigate? How could you reframe your description as a research question?
To help in refining the research question(s)…
Clearly articulate the research questions or objectives you want to address in your study. This will help narrow your focus and guide your research design.
Consider the feasibility and resources available for your study. Ensure that your research scope aligns with the practical constraints and time limitations you may encounter.
Review existing literature and related studies to identify any gaps or areas where further investigation is needed. This will help you refine your research focus and contribute to the existing knowledge base.
Though we find ourselves at the tail end of summer, there remain a few weeks to engage in introspection and planning before the busy fall semester begins. I encourage you to take advantage of these closing days of summer to reflect deeply and consider how your insights can inform your teaching and research practices in the year ahead.
Questions? Suggestions? Leave a comment below!
