GERMINATION EXPANSION: Building Question Formulation Capacity through the Research Question Network (rQnet)

该项目由NSF工程萌芽计划理事会资助，该计划旨在促进教学方法的发展，以提高学术研究人员制定具有潜在变革成果的研究问题和想法的能力。在这个扩展项目中，东北大学和正确的问题研究所（RQI）将合作创建rQnet，研究问题网络，一个由不同的研究人员和高等教育领导者组成的网络社区，他们经过培训，以改善研究问题的制定，追求社会相关的，高影响力的研究。将通过rQnet在全国范围内传播问题拟订技术。该项目还将通过创建和验证评估研究问题的规则来解决学习科学方面的关键差距。rQnet的成功开发有可能在培训科学家提出范式转变研究问题方面发挥至关重要的作用。更广泛的影响取决于这样一个事实，即改进的研究问题应该提高学术研究人员应对社会挑战的能力。有计划地纳入社区，重点是支持和授权不同的群体-如INCLUDES，LSAMP和ADVANCE社区-应该扩大提问生态系统。该项目将创建研究问题网络（rQnet），作为一个由不同研究人员和高等教育领导人组成的网络社区，这些研究人员和领导人接受培训，以改善研究问题的制定，追求社会相关的高影响力研究。QFT以前曾被用于培训研究生，以提高他们的提问技能。该项目的重点是通过建立rQnet作为一种能力建设机制，通过国家虚拟研讨会和在自己的机构中担任研究领导者的早期研究人员（EAR）来扩大QFT的吸收。重要的是，该项目建议制定和完善一个规则，以确定和评估高影响力的研究问题。在资助期间，该研究计划将：1）创建一个用于评估研究问题的量规; 2）用指标验证这个量规，以表征高影响力的研究问题; 3）展示在教学，研究和导师中实施QFT的有效策略; 4）评估QFT制度化的指标; 5）阐明在研究社区实施QFT的最佳实践。rQnet的成功实例化可以建立一个可持续的生活网络。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is funded through the NSF Directorate for Engineering Germination program, which seeks to foster the development of pedagogical approaches to increase the ability of academic researchers to formulate research questions and ideas with potentially transformative outcomes. In this Expansion project, Northeastern University and the Right Question Institute (RQI) will partner to create rQnet, the Research Question Network, a networked community of diverse researchers and higher education leaders trained to improve formulation of research questions in pursuit of societally relevant, high-impact research. The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) will be disseminated nationally through rQnet. This project will also address a critical gap in learning science through creation and validation of a rubric for evaluating research questions. Successful development of rQnet has the potential to play a pivotally important role in training scientists to ask paradigm-shifting research questions. Broader impacts hinge on the fact that improved research questions should increase academic researchers’ abilities to address societal challenges. Planned inclusion of communities focused on supporting and empowering diverse groups – such as INCLUDES, LSAMP, and ADVANCE communities – should broaden the question-asking ecosystem. The project will create the Research Question Network – rQnet - to serve as a networked community of diverse researchers and higher education leaders trained to improve formulation of research questions in pursuit of societally relevant, high-impact research. The QFT has previously been piloted for use in training graduate students to improve their question-asking skills. This project focuses on expanding QFT uptake by establishing rQnet as a mechanism for capacity building through national virtual workshops and Early Adopter Researchers (EARs) who serve as research leaders in their own institutions. Importantly, this project proposes to develop and refine a rubric to identify and assess high-impact research questions. During the funding period, this research program will 1) create a rubric for evaluating research questions; 2) validate this rubric with metrics to characterize high impact research questions; 3) demonstrate effective strategies to implement the QFT in teaching, research and mentorship; 4) assess indicators of institutionalization of the QFT; and 5) articulate best-practices to implement the QFT in research communities. Successful instantiation of rQnet could establish a sustainable living network.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.