Chapter 7: The Research Question

Overview of Contents

• Develop the idea – what, why, who and how?
  Questions to ask about your research idea

• What is already known?
  Do not ‘reinvent the wheel’
  The value of grey literature
  Case story – Searching for grey literature
  Oral histories
  The importance of Indigenous knowledge
  Dataset reliability

• Are other people interested in the research question?
  Case story – Making contacts and getting support

• Getting the question and scope right

• Considering the outcomes

• Key messages for researchers

Excerpt from Chapter 7

This chapter and the next draw on the advice in previous chapters and set out practical steps for designing a robust project that upholds Indigenous research values and has the elements needed to make a difference. The focus of this chapter is on developing the research idea and building a strong foundation from which to plan a successful project.

To read the full chapter, purchase a copy of Researching Indigenous Health: A Practical Guide for Researchers.