Transcript: AIRS 1 Research Question activity

This resource provides exemplars of responses to Question 1 in the AIRS Resource Log relating to the six properties of a good research question and shows how each property has been incorporated into the example research question.

Example Research Question: What is the impact on usage and student educational outcomes of buildings designed using a master planned building approach compared with traditionally designed school buildings?

Theoretical Construct

The Theoretical Construct is the phenomenon, event or experience you will be researching.

Your response:

There are three theoretical constructs in this question:

Student educational outcomes
Master planned buildings
School buildings.

Recognisability

Recognisability requires the theoretical construct(s) to be well-defined, precise, and conform to the technical usage in your discipline.

Your response:

Student educational outcomes is outlined by existing research and is reflected in education policy and pedagogical consideration (Victorian Department of Education; Queensland Department of Education). The construct term 'student outcomes' is a Subject Heading in the database ERIC.

Master planned buildings is an established term for new estates and communities used at the local, state and federal Government level in Australia. Examples of use include Brisbane City Council websites and Victorian and Queensland Department of Education Reports 2013-2017.

School buildings is also a Subject Heading in the database ERIC.

Transcend the data

Transcend the data means the method used to answer the question should not be included in the question itself. Different kinds of data can be used to answer the research question. The significance of the research should go beyond the methods used to determine answers.

Your response:

There are various methods that could be used to answer this research question about how space shapes social relations and practices (for example, Grounded Theory, Qualitative Case Study). However, neither of these are mentioned in the question. Likewise, the research will be looking at Australian primary schools, but the question does not restrict itself to this location.

Data collection tools could include case studies involving Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) questionnaires, interviews, and analysis of documents such as architectural drawings, and documents pertaining to educational outcomes such as NAPLAN. Data analysis will occur using qualitative coding and categorisation.

Significance

The research question should suggest how the study will increase knowledge of the theoretical construct. It should convey what interests you about the theoretical construct and what will be different about it by the time your work is finished.

Your response:

This research has the capacity to influence educational philosophy and pedagogies around flexible and outdoor learning spaces as well as to provide an evidence base around funding for traditional schools. If there is a significant impact on educational outcomes from particular design elements of new school buildings, then there is evidence for older schools to be adapted and for funding to be given to incorporate outdoor learning spaces and exposure to natural light. Additionally, this research may provide evidence for educational departments and individual schools or educators to be included in consultation in community and school master planning to explicitly incorporate particular design elements for increased learning.

Capacity to surprise

The research question should hint at surprising possibilities to increase the probability of original results. Avoid asking questions to which you already know the answer.

Your response:

We don't yet know how the built environment in Australia may influence the educational outcomes of primary school children, if it will at all. The research question is worded in such a way that allows the potential impacts of design process on educational outcomes to be revealed without presupposing an outcome and does not assume that traditional school buildings are inherently lacking in any of these potentially influential design elements.

Robustness

Multiple concepts will be examined as part of this research question with further examination as to the relationship between them through rigorous application of qualitative data collection and analysis (e.g. using GCT methods). This will be informed by the literature and guided by my supervisory team.

Your response: