Planning a research project and formulating research questions

Before writing your research proposal, when you are beginning to gather your thoughts, there are practical steps you can take. All of the answers shown for this question are correct, because they can stop you from moving too far down a particular track only to discover later, or be told later, that it simply isn’t feasible. You can have access to a tape recorder but do you really know how to use it, or change its batteries? Your institution is a subscriber to SPSS but can you use it? This is the time to learn about these things, not when trying to conduct an interview or after your questionnaires have been returned.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 86 and read the Checklist on pages 87, 88

Marx (1997, cited on page 79) presented a list of thirteen possible sources of research questions, including personal experience, the existing literature, new methods and theories and so on. Included in the list is “intellectual puzzles and contradictions”, which prompted Hodson (2004, cited on page 80) to set up two “rival hypotheses” about views of the modern workplace as being either intrinsically attractive environments for workers, or simply sources of wages. It is well worthwhile studying the complete list, even if you feel fairly confident of your own research questions, because you may gain insight into your questions’ theoretical origins.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 79-80

If you are writing an undergraduate or postgraduate dissertation, you will normally be allocated an academic supervisor to help you. The role of the supervisor is to provide intellectual support and practical guidance on carrying out a research project, as well as critical but constructive feedback on your written work. Most institutions stipulate the amount of contact a student may expect to have with their supervisor, so it makes sense to use the resource to the full. It may be the case that the supervisor will be one of your examiners, so discussing work-in-progress regularly is very productive. However, it is important to remember that they cannot do the research for you and if you are late, well, that’s your responsibility!
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 75

It can be very helpful to keep a written log book or diary of the whole period during which you conducted your project. This is because the research process is typically long, busy and full of unexpected turns of events. Keeping a record of what happened, and when, will help you to monitor how well the research is progressing (in terms of survey response rates, etc.) and whether you are managing to answer your research questions. It will also be an extremely useful resource when it comes to writing up your “Methods” chapter later on, as you will already have a set of notes about the research process in chronological order, and this will encourage you to be reflexive about your own role in shaping the outcomes of the project.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 86

It is important to formulate some clear research questions from the outset of your project, because completely open-ended research can lead to the collection of too much data and a lack of focus for the analysis. If you decide on some fairly specific research questions before designing your project, it will help to guide your literature search, data collection and analysis, as well as form a coherent argument throughout your dissertation. So if your questions are clear, researchable, connected to the literature and linked closely together, you have good questions. Easy!
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 83

When beginning a research project, it is important to find out what is required of you. Each institution or department will have worked out its own rules about the format and presentation of dissertations, usually communicated in a ‘dissertation module description’ available on-line, if not actually handed out in hard copy. This document is essential reading, because it forms a key element of how your work will be assessed. You must not ignore these protocols. Bryman goes so far as to say, on page 74, “If anything in this book conflicts with your institution’s guidelines and requirements ignore this book!” Find out whether an abstract is required (it usually is), what the word length should be, how you should reference your work, and so on.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 74

Resources are scarce, whether of time, money, or institutional facilities. At the outset of your research planning, it is advisable to work out a timetable. This is not just an allocation of so many days or weeks to particular aspects of your study but a calculation of feasibility of finishing within the stipulated time. You may need to scale down the scope of your research accordingly. Similarly with money. Some research projects are more expensive than others because they involve more travel, for example. Can you undertake this cost? Is it really worthwhile? As far as institutional facilities are concerned, the first question concerns physical availability, of tape recorders, computer software for data analysis, for example. But the second question concerns the number of others who might also need those facilities at the same time as you, don’t be last in the queue!
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 75-78

There is a certain amount of “groundwork” that you can do before beginning your data collection and analysis. For example, you can prepare for the research by thinking about possible sampling strategies, whether sampling frames exist and how they can be accessed, ethical issues you will have to address, and ways of negotiating access to organizational data and/or people you would like to survey.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 85, 86

Almost certainly, your own institution will require you to prepare a dissertation proposal, which is actually your proposal to conduct a specific research study. The focus is, therefore, on the specific topic you have selected and the precise methods you propose to use. You will, typically, be asked to indicate some readings in the field of the research, usually so that an appropriate supervisor can be allocated. The point of these readings is to show the basis for your research questions, so it is assumed you understand them pretty well. Previous experience may be considered if the research seems unorthodox or novel but the research proposal should be capable of “standing on its own feet”.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 83, 84

This is an unpleasant aspect of doing research, which cannot be ignored. Unfortunately there are many situations nowadays where a researcher is exposed to danger. Being aware of possible risks might make us think again about the particular type of respondent we planned to interview or the situation we planned to place ourselves in. “Tips and skills” on page 86 makes disturbing reading but does contain practical advice, including the use of personal alarms. At least make sure you carry a mobile phone so you can call someone and be reached by them. The research activity can be enormous fun as well as richly satisfying, but there is a downside.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 86, 87