The Art of Questioning:Look At Your Research Topic From Multiple Perspectives

WONG KAH WEIkahwei@nus.edu.sg

Why this workshop?

What is this workshop all about?

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What are the Learning Outcomes?

Start to use:1. 5W 1H - What, When, Where, Who, Why,

How …..and What If 2. PESTLE analysis (Political, Economic, Social,

Technology, Legal and Environment factors)

to question and view an idea or an issue from multiple perspectives

I want to find out how to help disabled students move around independently in NUS

• What is a disabled student?• Who are these disabled students?

I want to find out how to help disabled students move around independently in NUS

• Where does a disabled student go?• When do they move around?

I want to find out how to help disabled students move around independently in NUS

• How does a disabled student move around now?• How does NUS help disabled students move

around?

I want to find out how to help disabled students move around independently in NUS

• Why does a disabled student want to move around independently?

• Why do I want to help them?• How can I help them?

I want to find out how to help disabled students move around independently in NUS

Define the issues Find solutionsWhat?Who?Where?When?How?Why?

I want to find out how to help disabled students move around independently in NUS

Define the issues Find solutionsPolitical NUS admin/facultyEconomic Cost of maintaining

services and facilities

Social Awareness of community

Technology Ramps, wheelchair lifts, wheelchairs

Legal RegulationsEnvironment Steps, terrain

What keywords identify the factors?Political Government, policies, master plans, etc

Government bodies, PUB, Nparks, LTA, etcPolitical lobbies, influences, etcPAP, Worker’s Party, Republicans, Democrats, etc

Economic Economic growth, economy, inflation, etcIndustries, businesses, corporations, etcCost, expenditure, profit, loss, etc

Social Population, elderly, women, teens, etcMiddle-income, professionals, etcEducation, awareness, lifestyles, habits, etc

Technology Technology, devices, methods, processesLegal Laws, legislation, agreement, regulation,

mandatory, etcEnvironment Land, air, water, space, etc

Individual activity: Read & find PESTLE factors (10min)

• Read the Water article http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/ilp/RUWaterArticle.docx• Identify the PESTLE factors by highlighting them

in different colors.

What’s next?QUESTIONING THE TEXT SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

Social factorsnotes from the article

Question Keywords Source to search in

Searches Answer & source

1. Educationcampaigns are not effective in get people to conserve water.

When was the last water rationing in Singapore?

Water rationing Singapore

Factiva “water rationing” and SingaporeLimit to Singaporenews sources

Waterrationing started in 1964. No nation-wide water rationing exercise since.

What will happen if we impose water rationing again?

WhatWho

HowWhyWhere

WhenWhat If

Political5W 1H

What If

Economic5W 1H

What If

Social5W 1H

What IfTechnology

5W 1H

What If

Legal5W 1H

What If

Environment5W 1H

What If

WORKSHOPS SCHEDULEj.mp/RU_ABOUT

CONTACT USPATRICK PUpatrick.pu@nus.edu.sg