Research question
One of the comments that Peri made in her assessment of my most recent (and now quite old draft) was that I needed to clarify my research question.
Booth et al. (1995, 42–45) suggest creating a research question by: 1) identifying the topic; 2) suggesting a question based on the topic; and then 3) finding a motive for the question.
Thus, with the guidance of Booth and friends and based on other comments Peri made on the draft, I think my question is taking shape along these lines:
- I am studying the exercise political power by the LDS Church,
- because I want to find out why the LDS Church might act as a political rather than a proselytizing or pastoral social entity,
- in order to better understand how the LDS Church specifically, and other churches generally, might effect policy decisions in electorally contested policy questions.
The third item in the list seems a little awkward. This item is where I’m trying to establish the importance of the research question. This is hard for me, but perhaps this part will become more clear as I spend more time in the literature and as I discuss it with my committee.
