{"id":3665,"date":"2025-08-05T10:49:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/?p=3665"},"modified":"2025-08-07T10:26:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:26:26","slug":"dissertation-training-series-post-3-hold-the-target-not-the-dart-crafting-and-evolving-your-research-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-3-hold-the-target-not-the-dart-crafting-and-evolving-your-research-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Dissertation Training Series, Post 3 &#8211; Hold the Target, Not the Dart: Crafting and Evolving Your Research Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Part 3 of the 10-part EDST Dissertation Training Series<\/em><br>By Ella Wright | Blog Editor, EDST | Insights from Dr. Autumn Knowlton<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Research Question is Everything<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there is one sentence that echoed throughout Dr. Autumn Knowlton\u2019s workshop, it was this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cThe research question is everything.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your research question, or set of questions, is the anchor of your dissertation. It defines your purpose, shapes your structure, and guides every decision about what to include (and what to leave out).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But here is something many students find surprising:<br><strong>Your research question can change.<\/strong><br>And that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are You Really Trying to Answer?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many students start with a broad topic or a deep interest. That is a great place to begin, but a dissertation needs something more specific. It needs a <strong>clear, defensible question<\/strong> that you can realistically answer\u2014and that you can stand behind during your defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Knowlton described this with a helpful metaphor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re holding a dartboard, not a dart. Focus on the target\u2014your purpose\u2014not on perfect aim.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Proposal vs. Dissertation: Not the Same Thing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common challenge is that <strong>students get attached to their proposal<\/strong>. But the truth is, your proposal is not a contract. It is a plan. And plans evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As you collect data, read more literature, and reflect on your findings, you may realize that your original question needs refining. That does not mean you are off-track. It means you are <strong>thinking critically<\/strong>, as a scholar should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Your final dissertation must meet the expectations you set out at the beginning of the writing process\u2014not necessarily the ones you had when you started your PhD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Know if Your Question Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A strong research question should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be <strong>clear and focused<\/strong>\u2014not too broad, not too narrow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be <strong>answerable<\/strong> within the time and resources you have<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Align with your <strong>methodology<\/strong> and preferred way of creating knowledge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allow you to <strong>make a contribution<\/strong> to your field<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ask yourself:<\/strong> \u201cCan I actually answer this question with my data and analysis?\u201d If not, it\u2019s time to revise.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Main Questions and Sub-Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Knowlton also emphasized the <strong>funnel structure<\/strong> of research questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your <strong>main question<\/strong> is broad but focused.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your <strong>sub-questions<\/strong> break it down into manageable parts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each sub-question should be precise enough that you can answer it directly\u2014and together, they lead you toward answering the main question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Editing Your Question (Without Losing Your Way)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you revise your research question, consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What you <strong>actually did<\/strong> in your research process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What data you <strong>actually collected<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What you are <strong>able to say<\/strong> based on your findings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can include a <strong>brief reflection<\/strong> in your methodology chapter if your research question evolved. This shows thoughtful engagement\u2014not failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe project you start off with is not the project you complete.\u201d<br>This insight can help you let go of the need for perfection and focus on clarity and coherence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your research question is your anchor\u2014everything must serve it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>normal for questions to evolve<\/strong> as your research develops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The question you defend is the one that matters\u2014not the one you started with.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use <strong>main and sub-questions<\/strong> to guide your chapters and focus your analysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reflect on question changes in your methodology\u2014this shows scholarly growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Explore the Full Dissertation Training Series<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/03\/dissertation-writing-workshops-with-dr-autumn-knowlton-10-part-special-blog-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Overview Post<\/strong> \u2013 About the Workshops and Series<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-1-not-a-book-not-a-mystery-what-your-dissertation-really-is\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 1<\/strong> \u2013 Not a Book, Not a Mystery: What Your Dissertation Really Is<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-2-from-jumble-sale-to-funnel-planning-your-dissertation-for-clarity-and-flow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 2<\/strong> \u2013 From Jumble Sale to Funnel: Planning Your Dissertation for Clarity and Flow<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-3-hold-the-target-not-the-dart-crafting-and-evolving-your-research-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 3<\/strong> \u2013 Hold the Target, Not the Dart: Crafting and Evolving Your Research Questions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-4-conversations-not-catalogues-writing-a-literature-review-with-purpose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 4<\/strong> \u2013 Conversations, Not Catalogues: Writing a Literature Review with Purpose<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-5-kitchen-rules-conceptual-and-theoretical-frameworks-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 5<\/strong> \u2013 Kitchen Rules: Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks Explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-6-you-are-the-method-positionality-ethics-and-making-knowledge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 6<\/strong> \u2013 You Are the Method: Positionality, Ethics, and Making Knowledge<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-7-sock-time-presenting-your-findings-with-clarity-and-confidence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 7<\/strong> \u2013 Sock Time: Presenting Your Findings with Clarity and Confidence<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-8-weaving-the-threads-discussion-and-meaning-making\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 8<\/strong> \u2013 Weaving the Threads: Discussion and Meaning-Making<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-9-what-i-did-why-it-matters-writing-your-scholarly-conclusion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 9<\/strong> \u2013 What I Did, Why It Matters: Writing Your Scholarly Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-10-dont-go-in-circles-writing-editing-and-staying-sane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 10<\/strong> \u2013 Don\u2019t Go in Circles: Writing, Editing, and Staying Sane<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-fbbcda10-adf2-4653-9fcc-56a2810e9797\"><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-3e167953-55d1-4215-b5d5-97afc5fe68fa\"><strong>Dissertation Preparation and Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-ddf6e682-eba6-47ab-a9b1-1c1b9edb4e8e\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UBC Grad Studies \u2013 Getting Started:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation\">https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Style Guides and Computer Tools:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation\/style-guides-computer-tools\">https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation\/style-guides-computer-tools<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-b4ef1315-cf5c-4333-9939-b683a367a0b8\"><strong>Writing Support and Self-Guided Modules<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-112b2f14-1250-4573-9ae0-8d84df853a1e\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>EDST Thesis Writing Module:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/\">https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing a Dissertation (EDST Module):<br><a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/module-library\/developing-a-dissertation\/\">https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/module-library\/developing-a-dissertation\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UBC Library Dissertation Guide:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/guides.library.ubc.ca\/dissertation\">https:\/\/guides.library.ubc.ca\/dissertation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-b535e583-815b-4afb-85e3-fb9b4c1ddeb1\"><strong>Free One-on-One Writing Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-f033090f-a3be-4e8c-a137-0d60b406fe8b\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UBC Writing Consultations for Graduate Students (writing and referencing help):<br><a href=\"https:\/\/writing.library.ubc.ca\/graduates\/writing-consultations\/\">https:\/\/writing.library.ubc.ca\/graduates\/writing-consultations\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-120e3691-5822-414e-8a64-883de8a33c96\"><strong>Workshop Recording and Presenter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-5da7845a-0422-4ffd-99fa-43ff17c8dd45\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click to view Dr. Autumn Knowlton&#8217;s workshop <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/files\/2025\/08\/What-Is-Involved-in-Writing-a-Dissertation-final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">presentation slides<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dr. Autumn Knowlton \u2013 (Re)Visions Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autumnrevisions.com\/\">https:\/\/www.autumnrevisions.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" id=\"block-a2551b58-9031-403a-be4d-32da43a19a9a\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explore More<\/strong><br>UBC EDST students can access free tools and support through the <a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/\">Thesis Writing Module<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/module-library\/developing-a-dissertation\/\">Developing a Dissertation module<\/a>. For writing and referencing help, book a free <a href=\"https:\/\/writing.library.ubc.ca\/graduates\/writing-consultations\/\">graduate writing consultation<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your research question is the anchor of your dissertation, and evolving it thoughtfully is part of becoming a scholar, not a sign of failure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85465,"featured_media":3656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,139],"tags":[162,163,164,107,159,160,148,161],"class_list":["post-3665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-dissertation-support","tag-dissertation-focus","tag-doctoral-research","tag-edst-guidancee","tag-educational-studies","tag-how-to-write-a-dissertation","tag-how-to-write-a-thesis","tag-research-question","tag-scholarly-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/85465"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3665"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3711,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3665\/revisions\/3711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}