ART 1020: Surface & Process: Research Questions for Studio Artists

A research question is the focused and specific question you are trying to answer in your project. It can take the following formula:

• How does [variable 1] affect [variable 2] in [population]?
  How does gender affect reactions to Starship robots in BGSU students?

But it is not required to take this formula. Other formulas:

• What is the effect of [variable 1] on [activity] in [population]?
  What is the effect of using etextbooks on learning in college freshmen?
• What is the effect of [variable 1] vs. [variable 2] on [population]?
  What is the effect of cancel culture vs. callout culture on politically active teens?
• Does [variable 1] have a significant effect on [population]?
  Does overseas travel have a significant effect on young children?

Before you finalize your research question, explore a topic, interest or idea with general research. Get inspired by

• A book you read
• Artwork you saw
• Current events
• A recent experience

Google, free-write, read Wikipedia, talk to a friend, read a book. Develop keywords for the concepts you are interested in researching.

THEN

Get scholarly and primary sources. Think about your concept within an art context (what other art has been made about this concept?).

James Nares: "STREET" (2011) from Kasmin Gallery on Vimeo.

Sun Yuan and Peng Yu: "Can't Help Myself" (2016) from the 2019 Venice Biennale