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MGCS 5025 - China and Africa: Topic -> Questions

From Topic to Question

A topic is NOT a research question. 

Example:  Topic: Buddhism in China

Possible Questions:

  • What circumstances in contemporary China tend to lead people to becoming more “actively” Buddhist?
  • How do people start to self-identify as Buddhist in large cities like Tianjin or Chengdu?
  • When a person decides to become a Buddhist monk or nun in contemporary Chinese societies like Hong Kong, Taiwan, or mainland China, how do their parents and friends react, and why

Suggestions

1. Do some background reading,  and/or outline what you have learned about your topic from  current or previous classes and readings

2. List questions & answers you may already have

3. Try to make a  few clear questions, that are based on some of the ideas (theories, words, methods)  that you have learned in your courses and reading.

5. Try to choose one of the questions, not too wide & not too narrow.

6. Be prepared for your question to change.

7.  Practice using this worksheet

Based on: "How do I get from a topic to a research question" -  from Cambridge LibAnswers

  • Who
  • What
  • Where 
  • When
  • How
  • Why

Some Questions to ask yourself about how you may approach the project

1.What has been done in your field of research?
2.How many articles/books will you be including?
3.How are you going to order your discussion? Chronological, thematic, methodological, or a combination? How do the various studies relate to each other?
4.Can you categorise all the literature you have shortlisted using the method? If not, will you give up some of the shortlisted literature or will you modify the organization of your review? Please bear in mind the word limit required by the assignment. You should follow the advice closely.
5.What precise contribution do they make to the field? What are their limitations?
6.How does your own research fit into what has already been done?

Questions to start asking yourself

What do I know about this sub-topic so far?

  • What courses have I taken previously that may relate to it?

Who do I mean? who  do I think I want to  study?

  • A population, certain types of people?
  • Members of an international organization, a national organization, provincial organization, NGO or civil society?
  • Farmers; business people; call center workers?
  • Nigerian business people in Guangdong; Malian students in Beijing? Chinese students in Lagos?

When did the things I’m researching happen?

  • In the Cold War?
  • 1975 to present?
  • 2010-2020?
  • Last 5 years?

Where is the phenomenon I’m researching happening?

  • Ethnic Chinese communities in Nigeria,  Kenya, and South Africa?
  • Algiers, Capetown, or Dodoma?
  • Africa? Madagascar? Antananarivo?

How & why  does what I’m researching happen?

  • Any theories that I can use to consider it?
  • Any scholarly theses or arguments that try to explain it?
  • Any methodologies used to try and study it to create empirical data?

Videos on Developing Research Questions

Topics vs Research Question (2:07 min) - from Virginia Tech

Using the 5Ws to Develop a Research Question (2:57 min) - New Literacies Alliance

Develping a Research Question (2:23 min) - University of Melbourne

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