4.3 Developing Research Questions and Hypothesis

Research questions and hypotheses are crucial for guiding documentary investigations. They help filmmakers focus their inquiries and structure their approach to gathering evidence. By crafting smart, targeted questions, documentarians can uncover deeper insights and tell more compelling stories.

Developing strong research questions and hypotheses requires careful thought and planning. Open-ended questions allow for exploration, while closed-ended ones yield specific data. Following the SMART criteria ensures questions are focused and achievable within the project's scope and resources.

Formulating Research Questions

Open-Ended vs Closed-Ended Questions

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• Research questions can be open-ended allowing for a wide range of responses and exploration of a topic
  • Open-ended questions often start with "how", "why", or "what" (What factors contribute to the decline of coral reefs?)
• Closed-ended questions are more specific and limited in scope, usually requiring a yes/no or specific answer
  • Closed-ended questions are often used in surveys or polls (Do you support the proposed legislation?)
• The choice between open-ended and closed-ended questions depends on the research goals and the type of data desired

SMART Criteria for Research Questions

• Research questions should follow the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
• Specific: Questions should be clear, focused, and well-defined (What is the impact of social media on adolescent mental health?)
• Measurable: Questions should be answerable through data collection and analysis
  • Measurable questions often involve quantifiable variables (What percentage of students experience test anxiety?)
• Achievable: Questions should be realistically answerable given the available resources, time, and expertise
• Relevant: Questions should be significant and contribute to the field of study or address a real-world problem
• Time-bound: Questions should specify a time frame for the research or the phenomena being studied (How has remote work affected employee productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic?)

Developing Hypotheses

Types of Research and Hypothesis Development

• Exploratory research aims to gain insights into a topic, identify key issues, and generate ideas for future research
  • Exploratory research often involves open-ended questions and may not require a formal hypothesis (What are the primary concerns of first-time parents?)
• Explanatory research seeks to explain the causes or relationships between variables
  • Explanatory research typically involves testing hypotheses (Hypothesis: Parental involvement is positively correlated with student academic performance)
• Descriptive research aims to accurately describe characteristics, behaviors, or phenomena
  • Descriptive research may not always require a hypothesis and often uses surveys or observations (What are the demographic characteristics of the study population?)

Formulating Hypotheses

• A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables
  • Hypotheses are often expressed as "if-then" statements (If students receive targeted feedback, then their writing skills will improve)
• Hypotheses should be based on existing theories, prior research, or observations
• Hypotheses should be testable and falsifiable through empirical research
  • Falsifiability means that the hypothesis can be disproven by evidence (Hypothesis: Drinking coffee before bedtime disrupts sleep patterns)
• Null hypothesis: States that there is no significant relationship between the variables being studied
  • Alternative hypothesis: States that there is a significant relationship between the variables (Null hypothesis: There is no significant difference in test scores between the control and experimental groups; Alternative hypothesis: The experimental group will have significantly higher test scores than the control group)