I have a hard time to understand what is an empirical questions based on the book Design a Research Project from Verschuren and Doorewaard.One of my teacher said that an empirical question should result to analysis.Should my questions follow exaclty the suggested Framework in the empirical part or i can use more generic terms that describe all the empirical parts? For example the departements that involve in order fulfillment to refer to them in general by using the generic name Order Fulfillment.
Hi,
I think you are talking about the Research Question (RQ), aren't you? If so, then the question indentifies a problem. The problem is usually not so general, so you have to be precise. For example, one of my research question was "How do positive and negative emotions of managers influence dynamic managerial capabilities (DMC)?" Is it precise enough? Yes. But it also gives you a freedom of actions. The problem: DMC work not always, especially if managers are in different moods, the organizational processes might be estimated and formed differently.
Your RQ restricts you too, for example, in the framework: with the research question I was bound by the framework of dynamic (managerial) capabilities and, partially, by the resource-based view. So in my study I needed to relate to these frameworks. If one talks about emotions as an independent variable (emotions -> DMC), then he or she is methodologically restricted too. Emotions are usually approached through experiments. There are also other possibilities, but experiments are the most obvious methodological tool.
You ask about "other empirical parts". Yes, they are also influenced by your research questiony. Imagine that my RQ was "why do emotions influence...". It makes everything different. I should then look not on the influence of emotions only, but rather on explaining variables. Emotions would be not the independent variable anymore, but a dependent variable or a mediator (explaining factors -> emotions -> DMC). If the factors are unknown yet, then a qualitative analysis as the first part would be necessary. The framework would also be different - I should use a framework of the Affective Events Theory, for example.
So you can see, the RQ is the key. Actually, some researchers would claim that you did the research wrong if you developed a frameworks and different empirical parts whithout having a problem (RQ, research gap). But I am sure that you know the problem and the problem (intuitively) lead you to your investigation. You just have to take a break of 30 minutes and think of the problem you are approaching and the following from the problem RQ you are answering with your work. By the way, having two or three RQs is completely ok. The first RQ is the main issue. If you provide additional thoughts on the theory you develop or test, your can provide an additional RQ. (1 or 2 is better then 3, actually).
Finally, "Should my questions follow exaclty the suggested Framework in the empirical part or i can use more generic terms that describe all the empirical parts?"
nope - your framework should follow the empirical question ;) And I am sure it did, even if you haven't formulated it clearly yet!
Good luck with your research!
Eugene
Eugene's answer is spot on! I just wanted to add that you want to work hard at this stage in your work to understand the framework of good quality research, suchh as the terms, the basic nuts and bolts, as this is the language that others can follow as you design your questions and methods. Using the research language we all understand will better communicate the good work and contributions you want to make. Best wishes!
Depends. My colleague is working on the topic of "hard to access population". I assume his RQ deals directly with ways and quality of data collection. Or do you mean something else?
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