2.2 Identify the main research function A research project has a main function, for example to •describe or define •compare •evaluate •explain •advise It is very common for research projects to have phases with different functions (one of which can be to design such as in design-based research). Oftentimes, it is necessary to describe a situation before it can be evaluated, and to evaluate before advice for improvement can be underpinned. The main research goal is then to bring out advice – the other phases are at the service of this higher goal. In such a case, the research question is typically evaluative. Research questions should reflect the research function otherwise your text is inconsistent at this point. -To describe (e.g., what conceptions of sampling do 7th-grade students have?) -To compare (e.g., does method A lead to better test scores than method B?) -To evaluate (e.g., how well do students develop an understanding of distribution in this instructional sequence?) -To explain or to predict (e.g., why do so few students choose a bachelor in mathematics or science? What will students do when using a particular software package?) -To advise (e.g., how can secondary school students be supported to learn about correlation and regression?) For example, a ‘what’ question is typically descriptive. Evaluative questions often include something like “how well”. Explanatory questions can generally be recognized by formulations such as “why” or “how can X be explained”. Advice questions often start with “how should....” or “what is a good/the best way to...? G2: Identify the main research function addressed in your paper and ensure that the formulation of your question is consistent with this function. Sticking to such conventions helps the reader to identify the type of research carried out, and foresee the kind of research methods used. What I sometimes see is a research question that is formulated in a descriptive way, but where the context clearly suggests that the researchers really want to evaluate or give advice.