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Refining a weak research question

Test a weak question against clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality, then rewrite it: make vague words specific and narrow it down.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 8

Understanding Refining a weak research question in VCE Data Analytics U3O2

What it does: The four-feature checklist is the tool used to find which part of a weak research question needs rewriting. The rewrite swaps a vague idea for something that can be counted, which fixes both clarity and measurability. Vague words like 'bad' need a specific, measurable meaning. The rewrite names a group, a time measure and a clear outcome (sleep hours). A too-big question fails feasibility. Narrowing the place, group, time period or topic makes it possible to answer in the time you have. 'Happier' has no data requirement that can be measured as written. Absences can be counted, so the second question is measurable.

Common mistakes: A vague word like 'bad' is a clarity problem, not a feasibility problem. The line should read: Fails clarity: 'bad' is vague. The checklist has four features: clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality. The first line should say checks = 4 features.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 3–31) and word search (Modules 3–146).

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Learning

Duo

Which set of four features is used to test a weak research question?

Clarity, measurability, feasibility, originalityColour, layout, speed, cost

Matches

Research question: "What are the effects of technology on every person in the world?"

↓

Too big, so it is not feasible: the group is the whole world and 'technology' is far too broad. It must be narrowed to a specific group and topic.

Applying

Meanings

Term

Refine a research question

Meaning

Test a weak question against clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality, then rewrite it: make vague words specific and narrow it down.

Practice

Weak: Is social media bad?

Testing

Gaps

Check: - 'a lot' is vague

Check Answer

Spots

1Weak: Is social media bad?

2Fails feasibility: 'bad' vague

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Quick Questions

1. Which set of four features is used to test a weak research question?

A. Colour, layout, speed, cost

B. Clarity, measurability, feasibility, originality ✓

A weak research question is tested against clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality. Each failed feature shows what needs rewriting.

2. Which rewrite fixes the vague question 'Is social media bad for students?'

A. Is social media really, truly bad for all students everywhere?

B. Do Year 11 students at our school who use social media for over 3 hours a day report lower sleep hours than those who use it for under 1 hour? ✓

Vague words like 'bad' need a specific, measurable meaning. The rewrite names a group, a time measure and a clear outcome (sleep hours).

3. A question fails the clarity test. What is the best way to improve it?

A. Replace vague words such as 'good' or 'popular' with specific, defined terms ✓

B. Make the question longer by adding more topics to it

Clarity means the question is easy to understand and has only one meaning. Defining vague words makes it clear.

4. 'What are all the causes of climate change around the world?' is too big. How should you narrow it?

A. Limit it to one place and one time, e.g. 'How have Victorian household electricity emissions changed since 2015?' ✓

B. Add more countries so the question covers the whole topic

A too-big question fails feasibility. Narrowing the place, group, time period or topic makes it possible to answer in the time you have.

5. Which question fails the measurability test?

A. Do students feel happier at school than they used to? ✓

B. What is the average number of absences per student in Term 1?

'Happier' has no data requirement that can be measured as written. Absences can be counted, so the second question is measurable.

Match the Pairs

Clarity check: "Is social media bad?" → Fails clarity: 'bad' and 'social media' are vague, so the question must be rewritten with specific terms

Narrowing: "Do Year 11 students at our school who use TikTok sleep less on school nights?" → Narrows a too-big question to a specific group, platform and measurable outcome so it becomes feasible

Refining a question means testing it against all four features: clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality → Checklist: Clear? Measurable? Feasible? Original?

Rewriting a vague question replaces unclear words with measurable data, such as hours of sleep per night → How many hours do Year 11 students sleep on school nights?

Research question: "What are the effects of technology on every person in the world?" → Too big, so it is not feasible: the group is the whole world and 'technology' is far too broad. It must be narrowed to a specific group and topic.

Research question: "Do students like our canteen?" Checked: all four features pass. → Wrong check: 'like' is vague and cannot be measured, so it fails clarity and measurability. It should be rewritten, such as 'How do students rate canteen food from 1 to 5?'

Key Term

Refine a research question

Test a weak question against clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality, then rewrite it: make vague words specific and narrow it down.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Weak: Do students use phones a lot? Check: clarity - 'a lot' is vague

Hint: Type the feature that checks whether the wording is specific and unambiguous.

2. Q: How many hours do Year 12s sleep? Data can be counted, so it is measurable

Hint: Type the adjective for data that can be recorded as values.

3. Too big: Survey every school in Australia Feature failed: feasibility (time, cost)

Hint: Type the feature that asks whether the project can be done with the time, money and access you have.

4. Q: What is the population of Victoria? Already answered online: not original

Hint: Type the word for a question that has not already been answered or asked before.

5. Step 1: test against the 4 features Step 2: rewrite the weak question Step 3: test the new version again

Hint: Type the action you take on a weak question after it fails the checklist.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Weak: Is social media bad?

B Fails feasibility: 'bad' vague

C Fix: define bad as hours slept

Line B — A vague word like 'bad' is a clarity problem, not a feasibility problem. The line should read: Fails clarity: 'bad' is vague.

Question 2

A checks = 3 features

B 1 clarity

C 2 measurability

D 3 feasibility

E 4 originality

Line A — The checklist has four features: clarity, measurability, feasibility and originality. The first line should say checks = 4 features.

Question 3

A Weak: What affects health?

B Problem: too big to research

C Narrow to: Year 11 students

D Limit: all schools, all years

Line D — Narrowing a too-big question means adding limits. 'All schools, all years' makes it bigger. It should be: Limit: one school, one term.

Question 4

A Weak: Do apps help learning?

B Vague: 'help' is not defined

C Measure: how students feel

D Rewrite: Do apps raise scores?

Line C — How students feel is an opinion and is hard to measure. To make 'help' measurable, use data such as the change in test scores.

Question 5

A Q: Is the Earth round?

B Fails feasibility: answered

C Fix: ask about a new angle

Line B — A question that has already been answered fails originality, not feasibility. The line should be: Fails originality: answered.

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