September 28 – Forming Research Questions and Designing SES Research
Class Content
In this class, we will focus on how research questions develop from existing literature and how they shape the design of a research project. We will discuss the readings, consider how to identify gaps, debates, and areas of interest in the literature, and work on developing preliminary research questions for your individual projects.
We will also review the Literature Review and Research Question assignment and discuss how your research question connects to the literature, the methods you choose, and the kinds of knowledge your research can produce. We will finish with a guest lecture from Michael Classens about his research on campus farms.
Supplemental Readings and Resources
These optional readings and resources are included for anyone interested in exploring the topics from class in more depth. They are not required.
Presentations
Schedule
Introduction & Check-In
– Welcome and brief class check-in
– Overview of the day’s activities
Reading Discussion
– Discuss key ideas from the readings
– Consider how research questions emerge from existing knowledge, debates, and gaps in the literature
– Connect the readings to research on sustainable foodscapes
Writing a Literature Review & Forming Research Questions
– What is a literature review, and what is it meant to accomplish?
– Identifying themes, debates, gaps, and different perspectives in the literature
– Developing focused and researchable questions
– Connecting research questions to research design and the kinds of knowledge a study can produce
– Begin developing preliminary research questions for your individual projects
Literature Review & Research Question Assignment
– Review the assignment expectations
– Discuss how to organize the literature review and develop a research question
– Questions about sources, scope, structure, and expectations
Guest Speaker: Michael Classens
– Introduction to Michael Classens and his research
– Campus farms as spaces for research, education, sustainability, and food systems change
– Reflections on studying campus farms and their role within university and community food systems
Questions, Concerns & Comments
– Questions about the Literature Review and Research Question assignment
– Individual research projects
– Questions, concerns, and comments