Research Questions

Research Questions, those bedeviling things…

While writing my initial research proposal, I agonized over and over about what my research questions should be. My friends, who are seasoned academics, laughed and said, “Just write whatever—your research questions will change a hundred times between now and when you finish your dissertation!”

Easy for them to say!

Of course, I know what I am researching: the effects of Japan’s severe depopulation on rural cultural heritage. Formulating clear and concise research questions, however, is an important early step in one’s research. Clear and concise research questions act as anchors—they help control what data the researcher collects and help maintain focus when it comes time to doing the actual writing by preventing long tangents or diatribes.

I am still in the phase of changing, tweaking, or downright DELETING research questions. Here are some of the most current iterations:

What are the characteristics of rural revitalization efforts in Japan’s regions hardest hit by the population crisis?

How are efforts to preserve folk religious culture incorporated into rural revitalization efforts?

What part does folk culture preservation play in current rural revitalization efforts?

And some others…

What are the-powers-that-be revitalizing? (And, what does NOT get revitalized?)
In what levels of society is the conflict to preserve folk culture taking place: in the village? in the greater community??
What pros and cons come with the struggle to maintain authenticity?
How is innovation balanced with authenticity?