4.1 Broad Model Overview and Defining the Research Problem

The BROAD model is a model we will follow in PRST 3995, PRST 4995, and PRST 4997. The steps in the model are shown below.

Step 1: Define the problem or state the research question

Step 2: Justify using an interdisciplinary approach

Step 3: Identify relevant disciplines

Step 4: Conduct a literature search

Step 5: Critically analyze the disciplinary insights into the problem and locate any conflict

Step 6: Reflect on how the process has enlarged your understanding of the problem (Repko, 2017, p. 258).

Step 1: Define the Problem or State the Research Question

An interdisciplinary problem or research question must be complex and must be researchable in an interdisciplinary sense (Repko, 2017). A complex problem means that is has multiple parts and the parts are studied by more than one discipline. For example, the problem of lack of organ donations is complex and interdisciplinary. If you did research on this topic, you may find aspects of the problem being researched by disciplines such as medicine,  community health, psychology, religion, etc.  This is why it is important before you select a topic to conduct a preliminary search to confirm that experts from more than one field are researching the problem. Also a topic may be in the news, but experts have not published about it yet (Repko, 2017).  A good example of this is COVID.  There was a “lag time” from when COVID was in the news to when researchers began publishing about it.

Developing a Good Reseach Question/Statement

First, a good research question/research statement identifies the problem to be studied. It can be stated as a question or a statement. In our classes, we typically look for a statement. According to Repko (2017), a good research statement:

1. identifies the focus of the study in an easy to understand sentence or two,
2. defines the scope or boundaries of the study and characterizes the study as an interdisciplinary one,
3. avoids three tendencies…(see below)
4. answers the “so what” question. (p. 260).

Identifies the focus of the study: Clearly and concisely state the focus of the study.

Defines the scope: What is included in the study? You can ask questions like who, what, when and where to help narrow the scope. Most topics are too broad and need to be narrowed. For example any topic on higher education is very broad, but you can narrow the scope by only focusing on freshman or adult students.

Things to avoid: 

In Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (Repko et al., 2013), the author provides an evaluation you can use to critique your research problem statement.

• Did you define the problem or state the research question clearly and concisely?
• Did you clearly define the scope of the study?
• Did you avoid disciplinary bias, disciplinary jargon, and personal bias?
• Did you answer the “so what?” question?

References

Repko, A. F., Szostak, R., & Buchberger, M. P. (2013). Thinking critically about integration and its results. Introduction to interdisciplinary studies (1st ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Repko, A. F., Szostak, R., & Buchberger, M. P. (2017). Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.