Research
Research is about being curious, collecting information and being critical.
Research is needed to give well-rounded, complete advice. It gives you an explanation as to why
something is the way it is.
Exam: written exam, answer in english or dutch, not both!
→ Material discussed in class as well as the book ‘Research, this is it!’
Lecture One - Introduction to research
A research problem or problem statement: information is needed to resolve it.
→ Remember, you as a researcher are not the one to solve the problem.
A researcher delivers plans, insights, concepts, research tools, ideas, et cetera. A researcher
doesn’t necessarily have the solution for the company’s problem.
Research Objective
The company’s ‘problem’ doesn’t have to be the researcher’s ‘problem’. The researcher often has
his own ‘research objective’ or goal. This never has a question mark at the end!
How to formulate a research objective?
• To identify the key contributors to…
• To gain more insight in the issue of…
• To develop a better understanding of…
• To contribute to understanding the causes of…
Type of question Example of question Role of researcher
Policy question How can absenteeism be No
reduced?
Research question What are the causes of Yes
absenteeism?
Research Question
A research question (adviesvraag) is the key question that your research wil address.
→ This research question van be subdivided by multiple ‘smaller’ questions, which are called sub-
research questions (onderzoeksvragen).
Research is about being curious, collecting information and being critical.
Research is needed to give well-rounded, complete advice. It gives you an explanation as to why
something is the way it is.
Exam: written exam, answer in english or dutch, not both!
→ Material discussed in class as well as the book ‘Research, this is it!’
Lecture One - Introduction to research
A research problem or problem statement: information is needed to resolve it.
→ Remember, you as a researcher are not the one to solve the problem.
A researcher delivers plans, insights, concepts, research tools, ideas, et cetera. A researcher
doesn’t necessarily have the solution for the company’s problem.
Research Objective
The company’s ‘problem’ doesn’t have to be the researcher’s ‘problem’. The researcher often has
his own ‘research objective’ or goal. This never has a question mark at the end!
How to formulate a research objective?
• To identify the key contributors to…
• To gain more insight in the issue of…
• To develop a better understanding of…
• To contribute to understanding the causes of…
Type of question Example of question Role of researcher
Policy question How can absenteeism be No
reduced?
Research question What are the causes of Yes
absenteeism?
Research Question
A research question (adviesvraag) is the key question that your research wil address.
→ This research question van be subdivided by multiple ‘smaller’ questions, which are called sub-
research questions (onderzoeksvragen).
