Writing a Research Question & Hypothesis

Prof Feedback:

A research question guides and centers your research. It should be clear and focused, as well as synthesize multiple sources to present your unique argument. Even if your instructor has given you a specific assignment, the research question should ideally be something that you are interested in or care about.  Your research questions are good and you are close on your hypothesis.   The hypothesis needs to be improved.  A suggestion might be:  An algorithm can yield a ?? percentage using the real pedestrian mobility patterns is significantly more reliable than a benchmark solution without UAVs.   Very close but needs to be more academic.

Great discussion to this point.  Some food for thought…..The starting point of the research is the research question. You identified your problem/issue early in the paper, now you must put it into a question or questions that: determines the population, the setting, data to be collected, and time period for the research.  The most important requirement for good research is a clear and concise research question.  A research question is an answerable inquiry into a specific concern or issue. It is the initial step in a research project. The 'initial step' means after you have an idea of what you want to study, the research question is the first active step in the research project.  A research question forms the base of where you are going, so we have to write a good research question. If your foundation is built on something shifty, like a house built on sand, then everything following that will be about correcting that initial issue instead of on making an awesome home/research project.  Some research question examples include:

· R1: How will the advent of UAS impact the proven safety and established procedural doctrines the FAA established for human piloted aviation?

· R2: Will the new technologies brought forth by NextGen allow UAS to safely integrate into the NAS?

· R1: How does the operational tempo of Air Force flight operations in the C-17 affect the level of fatigue and willingness for a pilot to discontinue service if given the chance?

· R1: Should FAA mandatory rests regulations be applied aircraft maintenance workers?

Remember, you must turn your research questions into a testable hypothesis.  Examples include:

· X will positively relate to Y

· A will positively relate to Y

· X will positively relate to M

· X will not relate to Y when controlling for A

· OR

· A will mediate relationship between X and Y

· H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between the number of flight hours obtained and the effects of fatigue felt by the pilot.

· H2: There is a statistically significant relationship between the number of flight hours obtained and the effects of fatigue felt by the pilot.

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