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Brainstorming Research Questions

From ERIAL Toolkit:

"The development of the research question begins with clarifying what you know and what you do not know. We suggest, as a first step, brainstorming research questions with your research team.

Activity: Brainstorming Research Questions
On a section of blackboard or piece of large tablet paper, draw a vertical line down the middle. On the left side, brainstorm research questions. What do you want to know about students? About faculty? About library facilities? Try not to censor ideas of what is interesting. On the right side, come up with provisional answers to those questions. These are your working hypotheses of what is happening. It is fine at this point to recognize that you do not necessarily know the answers, but it is helpful to begin to clarify what you think you know, and to write it down."

As we study users to understand how they collaborate on research/study and what needs they have:

What Do We Want To Know?

What Might The Answers Be?

What tools and processes are they already using (generally and in the Bissett Space in particular)?

 

What do they need that they don't have or what problems do they encounter (generally and in the Bissett Space in particular)?

 

What kind of work are they doing in the space?

 

How do they like to collaborate or how would they like to collaborate in an ideal world?

 

What kind of space or environment do they prefer (furniture, tools, noise level, light, color, etc)?

 

Where do they look for help and what do they need help with? What services would help them?

 

What kinds of group projects are they doing and for which classes?

 

Are they using mobile devices for their research? If so, which ones and how and why?

 

When are they working/studying together and why? In what configurations (mostly group? individual? how many?)?

 

What kinds of spaces do they gravitate toward and why? What kinds of spaces do they feel are missing?

 

Who are the people using the library spaces (particularly the Bissett Space) and what are their demographics?



Are you working on the same project? individually?

 

Would you use a public computer in this space? Use your own laptop or other devices?

 

What technology would you like to see in here?

 

Would you prefer darker or lighter? Comfort level?

 

Do you like noise level (talking or quiet)? Do you think it's too loud or too quiet? Is noise an issue?

 

Do you want a printer in the space?

 

Asking students who are studying together individually (or together) why are you studying here?

 

What do you want to do in this space that you can't do (legally and academically)

 

Do you meet friends here? I'm going to be here in this space come meet me. How do you coordinate?

 

What would best way to define space--understand boundaries of room and what it does?

 

How did you hear about this space? How would be best to reach you?

 

Would you like to see other people's projects? (exhibit of student projects)

 

What do you think this space is for? What would you like it to be for?

 

Did you know about. . . . mobile furniture, etc.?

 

Do you want mobile technologies (use of your own or library's)?

 

Are the instructions clear for technology?

 

Where would you go for help?

 

Is the signage clear?

 

Do you like working at a desk?

 

How large is your typical group? Do you move the furniture? Would you like to move it other places?

 

What signals whether or not you can reconfigure?

 

Does supervision make a difference?

 

Eating and food policies? Sleeping and comfort?

 
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