ABSTRACT
This chapter explores choosing research topic, and examines how to transform the issue, problem or area in which people are interested into researchable questions. It looks at how both quantitative and qualitative researchers go about this process. A postmodern feminist might be inclined to assess language and power relations within the facility with a particular focus on how these issues affect women. Similarly, a person immersed in phenomenology might be most interested in how the facility is experienced by the residents themselves, and spend considerable time learning about their lived experience. Funding bodies or academic institutions require a research proposal before they give their approval to a research project. One way of addressing many of these issues is to meet with members from each of these groups, in order to assess their interest and involvement and how they see the problem.
