HMGT 400- Week 2 Discussion: Process of Developing a Researchable Question

Choose one of the questions and apply what you learn in week 2 to explain:

1. The process of developing a researchable question.
2. What type of background evidence and defined problem served as a base of the researchable question?
3. Think about what will happen after the question is formulated.

Week 2 Discussion: Process of Developing a Researchable Question

A research question is formulated by an individual or a group of individuals after going through several study materials and selecting a significant and appropriate issue or topic. The research question chosen here from the examples is:

“Do the elderly diagnosed with dementia experience pain?”

The condition of an individual who is suffering from an illness or disease and learns about it after getting tested for it is what the background of the research question is concerned about and deals with.

Process of explaining researchable question:

The determination of the terms to be used in the development of appropriate and suitable terms for a specific topic or issue is done through the usage of the research question. This is why the procedure of formulation and explaining the research question is essential. The process is listed as follows:

1. Reading materials and assignments carefully to get a basic idea of several topics from which one is to be chosen.
2. Select a suitable and significant topic.
3. Looking for materials from credible sources like textbooks, newspapers, articles, government websites, libraries, etc.
4. Seeking assistance from the professor who has expertise in the field of the topic chosen.

Type of background evidence and defined problem served as a base of the researchable question:

There are several types of background evidence that serve as the foundation of the researchable question that is to be formulated. The types are as follows:

1. Condition of the patient
2. Symptoms and signs of the illness or disease
3. Diagnostic test
4. Treatment of the illness or disease post-diagnostic test

Thinking about the instances which will take place after the formulation of the question:

It is essential to think about the situations and instances which will take place after the formulation of the research question. The formulation of the research question regarding an issue aims to make progress by thinking about the situation. The situations are as follows:

1. Development of an appropriate and significant theory.
2. Keeping updated knowledge available in the system.
3. Provision of insight into the formulated research question.

Now, regarding the research topic chosen from the examples, it can be said from the previous studies that one of the most common signs and symptoms of elderly people suffering from dementia is Pain. Despite this fact, this symptom is very poorly treated and poorly recognized in a serious illness like Dementia, and the primary reason behind this being not well-recognized is that with the progress of Dementia, the ability of the elderly person to communicate with others regarding their needs and demands becomes tough (Lundin & Godskesen, 2021).

Reference:

Lundin, E., & Godskesen, T. E. (2021). End-of-life care for people with advanced dementia and pain: a qualitative study in Swedish nursing homes. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 1-11.