Read SCWIST President Dr. Elana Brief’s article on Research in the Community

Research in the Community: Posing an answerable and meaningful research question

By Elana Brief and Colleen Reid(1)

Volunteer Vancouver’s Vantage Point October 2009

We all conduct research constantly in our lives. We have a question that we want to answer (e.g., where is the best daycare for my child?) and, by speaking to others, and reading, and watching, we acquire data, analyze the data, possibly reject some data, and gradually narrow in on an answer to our question. The success of the process is hinged on asking a clear question.

When doing research in the community – whether it’s assessing the value of a program offered by a not-for-profit or examining the consequences of a government policy change – one starts with defining the research question. An answerable and meaningful research question will help the researcher in many different ways. An answerable research question will provide the researcher with a clear goal. Answerable research questions also enable potential funders to know what they are supporting. With clarity in the question, potential partners and collaborators will feel more engaged and will find ways to contribute to the research process.

A meaningful research question is one that leads to action (not just to publication for dissemination, or worse, the creation of a document that sits in a shelf). The research process starts with developing the question and concludes with actions that change things for the better. The process itself sparks more research questions.

Where does one start? In our free downloadable book (2): “Our Common Ground: Cultivating Women’s Health through Community Based Research” (reviewed by Brian Fraser in this issue of Vantage Point) we describe the process of developing research questions. A researcher will ask herself questions about her passions and her observations (at work or in the community). This will connect the researcher to what is valuable to her. The researcher will continue the conversation with others (co-workers, neighbours) to learn what is valuable to them and possibly start working with them as collaborators. At the end of these many conversations, a researcher will likely have a few directions for the research. Now that the researcher looks at the broader context: what is possible?

Defining an answerable and meaningful research question involves expanding and focusing one’s thinking: thinking big and thinking small. A research question that is too broad may be unanswerable. Early in the process of developing a research question, a researcher may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of what they are concerned with. Perhaps a researcher feels passionate about supporting women fleeing violence. The researcher may not know where to begin because there are so many things to think about: policy, housing, psychology, safety, law enforcement, access, children, additions and mental health… A researcher may feel paralyzed because the problem is so large. To research one small aspect of a large problem to the exclusion of others may feel like a betrayal to the complexity of the problem. Yet finding answers to one part of a complex problem contributes to what is known about a particular phenomenon. It is helpful to be aware of other research so that one can position their research project within the larger whole.

Another problem that a researcher may face is that her first question is too focused. Eventually one wants to have a focused, clear question. But to focus too early in the process may hinder a researcher from finding collaborators, generating funding, and determining a question that leads to action. A question too narrowly defined from the outset can also dull the researcher’s curiosity and openness to uncovering new or unexpected findings.

In “Our Common Ground”, we created an exercise (p. 18) that can be done individually or collectively to expand and focus one’s thinking. We pose questions like: “What things keep (not) happening?” for expanding thinking, and “Where am I beginning to see changes I want to pursue?” for focusing.

Developing a research question can be a deeply satisfying process – one that connects people to their values, rekindles their dreams, attracts their collaborators, and gives structure to their vision. An answerable and meaningful research question can be the first step to creating the change one wants to see in their communities, and inspire others to ask questions that need to be answered.

(1) Elana Brief, PhD and Colleen Reid, PhD are the research directors of the Women’s Health Research Network.

(2) Reid, C., E. Brief, R. LeDrew (2009). Our Common Ground: Cultivating Women’s Health through Community Based Research. Vancouver: Women’s Health Research Network. Free to download at http://www.whrn.ca/our-common-ground.php