Finding the right research question is one of the most consequential and yet often overlooked parts of undergraduate methodology courses. Spending ample time on the creative process of finding and developing solid empirical research questions instead of rushing to the more “feared” statistics part of the course, will pay off later. A good research question will direct students to the appropriate research design, be it quantitative or qualitative. It is equally important that students are passionate about their research question as this will likely provide motivation during the more tedious and often mathematics-driven parts of the research that traditionally discourages students from methodology classes. Professors can help students to find the research question right for them and for the course by exploring their interests in politics, their passions, dissecting controversial political statements, conducting literature reviews, peer discussions, and by sharing stories of their own struggles and successes with research.
