Frame Research Questions Research Articles

Six personas to adopt when framing theoretical research questions in biology.

Theory is a critical component of the biological research process, and complements observational and experimental approaches. However, most biologists receive little training on how to frame a theoretical question and, thus, how to evaluate when theory has successfully answered the research question. Here, we develop a guide with six verbal framings for theoretical models in biology. These correspond to different personas one might adopt as a theorist: 'Advocate', 'Explainer', 'Instigator', 'Mediator', 'Semantician' and 'Tinkerer'. These personas are drawn from combinations of two starting points (pattern or mechanism) and three foci (novelty, robustness or conflict). We illustrate each of these framings with examples of specific theoretical questions, by drawing on recent theoretical papers in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology. We show how the same research topic can be approached from slightly different perspectives, using different framings. We show how clarifying a model's framing can debunk common misconceptions of theory: that simplifying assumptions are bad, more detail is always better, models show anything you want and modelling requires substantial maths knowledge. Finally, we provide a roadmap that researchers new to theoretical research can use to identify a framing to serve as a blueprint for their own theoretical research projects.

Unlocking the Potential of the Regression Discontinuity Design for Social Work Research

Purpose: This article introduces the regression discontinuity design (RDD) as a valuable quasi-experimental approach for evaluating social work interventions. Methods: The RDD is outlined, providing guidance on identifying and framing research questions within its structure. Detailed explanations of analytical procedures for estimating intervention effects under both sharp (treatment assignment strictly determined by a cutoff) and fuzzy (treatment assignment is influenced but not strictly determined by a cutoff) RDD conditions are included, along with common supplemental analyses to address potential validity threats. Results: Concrete examples of social work scenarios where RDD can be effectively employed are presented, showcasing innovative approaches that can enhance the design's utility. This paper also includes code for implementing these techniques. Conclusions: By examining the applications and methodologies of RDD, this article equips social work practitioners and researchers with a versatile tool to rigorously assess the impact of interventions and advance evidence-based practice within the field.

Systematic Review of Models Usedto Handle Class Imbalance in Anomaly Detection for Energy Consumption

The widespread integration of Smart technologies into energy consumption systems has brought about a transformative shift in monitoring and managing electricity usage. The imbalanced nature of anomaly data often results in suboptimal performance in detecting rare anomalies. This literature review analyzes models designed to address this challenge. The methodology involves a systematic literature review based on the five-step framework proposed by Khan, encompassing framing research questions, identifying relevant literature, assessing article quality, conducting a critical review, and interpreting results. The findings show that classical machine learning models like Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forests (RF) are commonly used. In conclusion, classical machine learning models like SVM and RF struggle to recognize rare anomalies, while deep learning models, notably Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), show promise for automatically learning elaborate representations and improving performance while dealing with class imbalance.

Leveraging co-production within ecosystem restoration to maximize benefits to coastal birds

Coastal Louisiana's ecosystems are threatened by anthropogenic factors exacerbated by climate change induced sea-level rise. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in injuries and deaths to coastal birds in Louisiana, and the ongoing loss of habitat has limited the potential for successful nesting of resident birds throughout the coast. Habitat loss is being addressed through increased large-scale ecosystem restoration as a result of settlement funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To further inform bird restoration in Louisiana, an avian restoration guidance document (Guidance for Coastal Ecosystem Restoration and Monitoring to Create or Improve Bird-NestingHabitat, 2023) was developed to maximize restoration benefits for coastal breeding birds while also achieving broader habitat restoration objectives. The developed restoration guidance was co-produced by subject-matter experts and professionals, including avian experts, engineers, and coastal restoration project managers. The result of this cross-disciplinary effort was specific and targeted guidance that presents designable habitat features that are in the control of project engineers and are also important high-value bird nesting habitats (e.g., shoreline access, elevation heterogeneity and edge habitat). For the first time in Louisiana, defined nest-site characteristics and monitoring approaches are readily available to inform ecosystem restoration project implementation. The restoration document specifically emphasizes bird species that breed and nest in coastal habitats in Louisiana, and restoration managers can use these guidelines to explicitly incorporate bird nesting habitat features into coastal restoration planning, design, and implementation. In developing this guidance, many knowledge gaps and data needs were identified specific to engineering and project design, enabling the research community to frame research questions around specific coastal restoration questions. The co-production of science model applied here for avian resources is applicable to a wide range of other living marine resources that may benefit from large-scale ecosystem restoration and is an example of the benefits of working relationships, communications, and common goal setting.

The Effect of Menopause on Vaginal Tissue Mechanics: A Brief Review.

Often called "the change of life," menopause affects every part of a woman's body. As the sex hormones decrease, the reproductive organs experience the most remarkable changes, with the vagina becoming thinner, drier, and less elastic. Despite the important implications of these changes in genitourinary conditions, there are only a few experimental studies that focus on quantifying the effect of menopause on the mechanical properties of the vagina. These studies are mostly conducted using uniaxial tests on strips of vaginal tissues isolated from rats, rabbits, and sheep and, in only a few cases, from humans. The purpose of this article is to present a systematic review of experimental protocols, methods, and results that are currently published on how menopause alters the mechanical behavior of the vagina. This review will enable new investigators in the biomechanics field to identify important gaps and frame research questions that inform the design of new treatment options for menopausal symptoms.

Rethinking Barriers and Enablers in Qualitative Health Research: Limitations, Alternatives, and Enhancements.

Explorations of barriers and enablers (or barriers and facilitators) to a desired health practice, implementation process, or intervention outcome have become so prevalent that they seem to be a default in much health services and public health research. In this article, we argue that decisions to frame research questions or analyses using barriers and enablers (B&Es) should not be default. Contrary to the strengths of qualitative research, the B&Es approach often bypasses critical reflexivity and can lead to shallow research findings with poor understanding of the phenomena of interest. The B&Es approach is untheorised, relying on assumptions of linear, unidirectional processes, universally desirable outcomes, and binary thinking which are at odds with the rich understanding of context and complexity needed to respond to the challenges faced by health services and public health. We encourage researchers to develop research questions using informed deliberation that considers a range of approaches and their implications for producing meaningful knowledge. Alternatives and enhancements to the B&Es approach are explored, including using 'whole package' methodologies; theories, conceptual frameworks, and sensitising ideas; and participatory methods. We also consider ways of advancing existing research on B&Es rather than doing 'more of the same': researchers can usefully investigate how a barrier or enabler works in depth; develop and test implementation strategies for addressing B&Es; or synthesise the B&Es literature to develop a new model or theory. Illustrative examples from the literature are provided. We invite further discussion on this topic.

Improving staff retention in the research and development department sections of NHS hospitals in the United Kingdom: A systematic review

Background: This study undertook a comprehensive examination of the imperative task of improving staff retention within the National Health Service (NHS) Research and Development (R&D) sector in the UK. The motivation stemmed from the observed decline in staff retention over the years, posing a significant threat to the continuity of healthcare research and innovation. Aim: The primary objective of this systematic review was to elucidate impactful measures aimed at enhancing staff retention within NHS R&D. The study recognized the critical role of sustained staff commitment in preventing disruptions to research projects, ensuring efficient resource utilization, and maintaining the retention of crucial knowledge, research quality, and impact. The overarching aim was to mitigate the potential hindrances to the progress of medical advancements. Method: Conducted as a systematic review, the study employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting checklist. The research followed the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) format to frame research questions systematically. A meticulous search and screening process was employed to identify relevant studies, and data synthesis methods were utilized to draw meaningful conclusions from the selected literature. Conclusion: The study concluded by emphasizing the critical need to address staff retention issues within NHS R&D sections. The systematic review supported a comprehensive and tailored approach, urging the NHS to invest in its researchers, create a supportive work environment, and prioritize the physical and mental well-being of staff. By implementing these evidenced-based strategies, the NHS can effectively enhance the retention of its research talent, thereby fostering ongoing healthcare innovation and improvement. The findings presented in this study contribute to a detailed understanding of staff retention issues within R&D sections, providing a valuable foundation for future initiatives in this crucial domain.

Quantitative criticalism for social justice and equity-oriented communication research

Abstract An increasing number of communication researchers have noted the potential of quantitative criticalism (QuantCrit) or the use of quantitative approaches to pursue social justice and equity agenda. Nonetheless, how to achieve the goals and ideals of QuantCrit in communication studies still largely remains uncharted terrain. This article offers five concrete suggestions for how researchers can bring critical consciousness to quantitative communication research: (a) broadening and diversifying the scope of communication research, (b) (re)framing research questions with a social justice orientation, (c) critiquing dominant narratives and centering the counternarratives, (d) incorporating intersectionality to address marginalization, and (e) employing statistical methods that illuminate interdependence, systems, and power dynamics. This article seeks to enrich the discussion on ways to embrace QuantCrit in communication research to revitalize perspectives and means for identifying and addressing inequalities, and eventually to advance transformative scholarship.

Conducting Qualitative Research Study: A Step-by-Step Process

Recent years have seen an increase in the acceptance and recognition of engineering education research (EER) on a global scale. In particular, over the past ten years, EER has increased in India. Since EER is still in its early stages in India, it is important to comprehend the various EER research methodologies so that the most appropriate ones can be used when carrying out EER-related activities. Three methodologies are used in EER: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed. This paper's goal is to provide a thorough explanation of all the steps used in qualitative research methods for EER, along with relevant examples. Qualitative research is an investigation of a research topic under consideration by collecting non-numerical data to understand perceptions, opinions, experiences or beliefs of individuals or group of individuals. In qualitative research studies, data is collected through interviews, observations, focus group discussions, studying documents, etc. Qualitative research methods are used to fundamentally gain a unique in-depth understanding of a research topic which otherwise is difficult to explore through surveys used in quantitative research. The various steps involved in a qualitative research study typically consist of (1) concentrating on your interests and choosing a research topic, (2) framing research questions to be investigated, (3) conducting athorough literature review, (4) choosing/creating an appropriate framework to guide the study, (5) designing the research, (6) choosing the research site and research participants, (7) collecting data, (8) analyzing the collected data, (9) documenting significant findings, and (10) publishing results. Qualitative research has many benefits, including the collection of rich data, detailed evaluation of the data, an open-ended research process, the development of specific insights, etc. As a process document to direct themselves when conducting qualitative research projects, this paper will be helpful to beginning engineering education researchers. Keywords—coding, engineering education research, interviews, interview protocols, novice researchers, observations, qualitative research

Going complex or going easy? The impact of research questions on citations

The growing need for academic impact requires researchers to develop and address important ideas. In this paper, we analyze how theory has been framed and operationalized within international business scholarship, which has a long tradition of producing research that accounts jointly for multiple research contexts and levels of analysis. We focus on two key aspects of published articles: the complexity of their research questions and how the research questions are translated into testable hypotheses. We further assess how the complexity and operationalization of research questions have been received by business/management, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented research audiences. To achieve this, we examine a sample of 423 quantitative articles published in the Journal of International Business Studies between 2005 and 2015, and consider the articles’ citations during 2010–2020. Our paper provides suggestions about how authors might better frame research questions that are both important and impactful.

Aren’t Research Questions and Hypotheses Indispensable for Literature Research, too?

Many English literature researchers in India commonly operate under the assumption that they lack a specific research methodology exclusive to literature studies, apart from what is outlined in the regularly updated MLA Handbook. Consequently, their dissertations often resemble lengthy college essays divided into five chapters, with limited emphasis on the Introduction and Conclusion chapters. The concluding section is routinely labeled as ‘Summation.’ These researchers typically overlook identifying knowledge gaps, even during the literature review phase, and often neglect the framing of research questions and formulation of hypotheses. There seems to be a prevailing belief that literary research is inherently distinct, exempting them from adopting methodologies employed in other disciplines. This paper explores the reasons behind the development of an anti-methodological stance among literature researchers, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to PhD holders in literature. The findings suggest that this attitude stems from a steadfast adherence to the MLA Handbook, which prioritizes documentation procedures over methodological considerations. The paper recommends that literature scholars should embrace books and stylesheets designed for general research as the fundamental objectives of research in any discipline are the pursuit of truth and the appropriate means to achieve it.

Statistical Approaches to Small Site Diversity

Over the past fifty years, intensive Mediterranean archaeological surveys have yielded abundant and diachronic archaeological data. Although field methods have been continually debated and refined, the interpretation of survey results has focused primarily on site numbers and site size, with particular interest in reconstructing settlement hierarchies and in tracking episodes of nucleation and dispersal across the landscape. Artifact assemblages are largely used to date sites, while less attention has been devoted to assemblage diversity and site function. This study demonstrates the potential of legacy survey data to frame and answer new research questions via an analysis of 250 small rural sites of the first millennium BC recovered by intensive surveys on Crete from the 1970s through the early 2000s. I show that diachronic patterns of rural settlement in Crete depart strongly from those observed in mainland Greece and also differ between regions. I also reveal pronounced variation in the assemblages present at small sites across the island within Cretan regions and periods. This suggests that we cannot simply interpret all small sites as homogeneous farmsteads. Finally, I discuss the challenges and potential of using diversity measures as an exploratory tool for analyzing legacy survey data. Methods outlined here could be productively applied in other Mediterranean regions.

From monolingual mindset to plurilingual ethos: challenging perspectives on language(s)

ABSTRACT Scholars have long critiqued points of view in which monolingual perspectives are seen as normative in research on multilingualism. In relation to this monolingual orientation, however, in which monolingualism is perceived to be the implicit norm, less work has been dedicated to methodological challenges. As disciplinary perspectives on language in Linguistics and related fields move further towards the de-emphasizing and deconstructing of the boundaries between named linguistic varieties, this paper addresses some issues that come up in operationalizing this in our research. It does so through self-reflexivity, from a primarily Sociolinguistic and Applied Linguistic point of view, by addressing monolingual perspectives found in data on a project on multilingual practices in India. It focuses more narrowly on the ethnographic field notes from the research context. With discourse analysis, these are looked at through the lens of the monolingual orientation, with a particular focus on language ideologies and the compartmentalization of named-language varieties. Ideologies in the data are discussed in relation to their bearing on methodology in transcribing, coding, and the framing of research questions. This paper explores the tensions between evolving theoretical perspectives and on-the-ground research practice, concluding by proposing questions for reflection.

Infrastructural Thinking in China: A Research Agenda

AbstractDespite China's leading role in the construction of infrastructure over the past decades, the most influential paradigms for the study of infrastructure in the social sciences originate from research conducted elsewhere. This introduction to the special section “Chinese Infrastructure: Techno-politics, Materialities, Legacies” seeks to address this apparent gap, and contributes to building an innovative research agenda for an infrastructural approach in the China studies field. To do so, it pushes forward an understanding of infrastructure as both an empirically rich material object of research and an analytical strategy for framing research questions. We draw from two strands of inquiry: recent efforts to rethink the materiality of infrastructures not as an inert or stable basis upon which more dynamic social processes emerge, but rather as unstable assemblages of human and non-human agencies; and scholarship that explores the often hidden (techno-)political dimensions of infrastructures, through which certain intended and unintended outcomes emerge less from the realms of policy and implementation and more from the material dispositions and effects of infrastructural formations. These strands of inquiry are brought together as part of our effort to recognize that the infrastructural basis of China's approach to development and statecraft deserves a more concerted theorizing of infrastructure than we have seen thus far.

Conducting Quantitative Research Study: A Step-by-Step Process

Abstract: In the recent past, engineering education research (EER) is gaining increasing acceptance and recognition globally. Specifically, EER is growing in India over the last decade. As EER is nascent in India, there is a need to understand the different research methods in EER such that appropriate methods are chosen while conducting EER-related activities. EER involves three methods: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods. The purpose of this paper is to document in detail all the steps followed by specific examples in quantitative research methods when conducting EER. Quantitative research is a systematic investigation of a research topic under consideration by collecting quantifiable data and performing mathematical and statistical manipulations on the collected data to produce findings that add to the existing body of literature. In quantitative research studies, data is collected by sending out online polls, questionnaires, surveys, etc. Quantitative research methods are used to fundamentally quantify different aspects in research-related activities such as attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, opinions, etc. of the samples under study to provide meaningful conclusions with noteworthy implications. The different steps used in a quantitative research study typically include (1) focusing on your interests and finalizing the research topic, (2) framing research questions to be investigated, (3) conducting a thorough literature review, (4) choosing/creating an appropriate framework to guide the study (5) designing the research, (6) selecting the research site and research participants, (7) collecting data by sending out surveys, (8) analysing the collected data, (9) documenting important findings, and (10) publishing results. Quantitative research offers various advantages including reaching a higher sample size, quick data collection, the generalizability of the findings, etc. This paper will be of help to novice engineering education researchers as they can use this paper as a process document to guide themselves when conducting quantitative research projects. Keywords: engineering education research, novice researchers, quantitative research, statistical analysis, survey design

Co-production pathway of an end-to-end climate service for improved decision-making in the wine sector

Climate services are one of the tools that can support the agriculture sector to address the impacts of climate change on agricultural production systems, not only considering climatic aspects but also social needs. This work describes the knowledge co-production journey of the EU-funded project MED-GOLD to create an end-to-end climate service for wine sector users. In this work, co-production is understood as an iterative, interactive and collaborative process among an interdisciplinary group of scientists and users that were engaged, involved, and empowered. The co-production process included activities to raise awareness on the vulnerability of grape and wine production to climate change, exchange knowledge between climate service providers and users, and co-develop customised climate services, such as the MED-GOLD Dashboard. Lessons learned are that repeated interaction between scientists and users allow to better frame research questions, jointly decide how to address these questions, and test the outcomes with feedback from real-world decision-makers. Furthermore, having a user who co-developed the service and helped assess its added value was key to ensure that it could truly inform decision-making needs and to promote its broader uptake by the wine sector community. Although the MED-GOLD Dashboard constitutes the most tangible result of this collaboration, the outcomes of co-production also encompass the joint learning process, the shared sense of ownership, and the co-creation of new knowledge between scientists and stakeholders. Nevertheless, further research will be needed to understand how the knowledge coproduced with a single user can be scaled up to users with other profiles and requirements.

Designing interventions to ameliorate mental health conditions in resource-constrained contexts: some considerations

Health interventions, including those directed at ameliorating symptoms of mental disorders, can contribute significantly to realising the goal of sustainable development. The Strategic Development Goal of ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all, at all ages, pertains all health conditions, including those affecting mental health. Considering the low ratio of researchers to the population of many low- and middle-income countries, there is a specific need to build capacity for research so as to ensure good quality data so that social policies can be data-informed. This article outlines four considerations for trial investigators assessing the effectiveness of mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries, namely, task sharing, scaling up, structural barriers, and the transformation imperative. Task sharing is an arrangement in which non-specialist health workers receive training and supervision to screen for and diagnose mental disorders and intervene with persons affected by them. Scaling up a proof of concept is appropriate when trials yield positive results showing effectiveness of the intervention. Structural barriers such as transport difficulties, long waiting times in clinics, food insecurity, competing demands on people’s time, childcare concerns, and poor health literacy play an important role in driving health behaviours and should be considered in intervention design. Transformation of the cadre of researchers to include those from oppressed and marginalised groups will yield investigators who are able to frame research questions and develop methodologies that reflect the lived realities of these communities.

“What Really Happened?”: The Life and Death of Olivia Coombs

“What Really Happened?”: The Life and Death of Olivia Coombs

Going Complex or Going Easy? Research Questions in International Business

Academic research is intended to address important ideas that can yield strong theoretical contributions. In this paper, we analyze how theory has been framed and operationalized in international business research, and offer suggestions about how authors might better frame research questions that are both important and offer strong theoretical contributions. To achieve this, we considered a sample of 513 quantitative articles published in JIBS and IBR during 2005-2015, investigating two key aspects of the papers' research questions: their complexity and how the research questions were translated into testable hypotheses. We assess how these two dimensions were received by three research audiences – business/management, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented – and discuss the implications of our findings for academic research.

Methodologies of law as performance

ABSTRACT Despite the growth in scholarship in the broad field of law as performance, there is little critical attention paid to methodologies of research. With attention to the growing research in this field, this paper shall consider methodological approaches to law as performance. This paper considers how traditional qualitative methodologies, such as ethnographic observations, case studies and comparative analysis, are used in law as performance studies. The paper then goes on to consider different methodologies, such as narrative, story-telling and also performance- or practice-led research, which position the legal researcher as practitioner and are under-utilized within legal research. There are difficulties posed by these new methodologies, including framing research questions, demonstrating generalizable claims, and dealing with the subjectivity of analysis. The paper considers how performance practitioners have overcome these difficulties to create performance-led research that yields new understandings, and how these approaches could be brought to bear on the performance of law.