"What question(s) are you trying to answer?"

This semester, I'm taking two courses, and my main deliverables are a lit review and a draft of a research proposal. As I continue to grow as a researcher and analyst, I'm learning that a successful project starts with a solid question. I developed an intake form for those at my job who request help with various projects and initiatives, and I made sure to include a section that reads, "what question(s) are you trying to answer?" Adding that section was a game-changer for me and for those around me. It forces us to stop and try to understand what we really want to know and why it is important.

I'm learning that life is the same way. As you likely know by now, I work in an Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), but I tried to stay away from DEI roles for many reasons. The main reason: when I say I work in a DEI office, many people believe that they know everything about me and how/what I think without taking the time to ask questions. Many people assume that we agree on everything or that we completely disagree. It is very strange to have such a polarizing role this early in my career, especially without any decision-making power (sure, I inform decisions, but I cannot make any major decisions), and if my job as a research analyst were in an Institutional Research Office, a lab, center, or even in a program office, I likely would not have this issue.

​This week for class, I'm reading about conceptual frameworks in "Reason and Rigor" by Sharon M. Ravitch and Matthew Riggan. They write about having a "raft of questions to grapple with" (p. 1) and how important it is to be cautious about how you go about searching for answers. They write about how "learning beyond that first stage, or foundation" gives shape to our research (p. 3). The part that sticks out to me most is on page 10: "Your goal is not to find published work that supports your point of view; rather, it is to find rigorous work that helps shape it."

When sharing my findings, collaborating on projects, or simply having conversations in the hallway, I can usually tell how productive the conversation will be based on the types of questions asked or if there are any questions at all. I know how it makes me feel, so I want to do a better job of asking questions, academically and personally, to get better, more substantive results. If you're reading this, I encourage you to

1. Stay curious and presume good will. There is so much to learn.
2. Ask good, genuine questions...lots of them. 
3. ...and try not to let the answers scare you!
4. If you find that you are asking the same question and getting the same answer, it might be time for a new question.
5. When you search for answers, try not to always go to the sources that support your view. Growth comes in the midst of discomfort. Allow the data to surprise you!