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Jackman Humanities Institute - Scholars in Residence - 2025

PCC Research Framework

Start developing your topic by identifying the major concepts in your topic or research question. Think of these as the most important aspects of your question. They are usually the nouns in your research question, such as people or groups, issues, or places. 

PCC Framework

Research Frame are used to generate and structure research questions. They are acyronyms representing the key elements that are needed in a research question to ensure it is specific and searchable. 

Using a framework, like PCC in a qualitative research question, can help you to

  • develop a focused, answerable research question
  • identify the main concepts within the research question
  • generate key terms for your search strategy.
PCC Framework Item Examples
P Population
  • What is the issue, problem, condition, or etc.?
  • What are the most important characteristics of the population?
C Concept
  • What is the phenomenon or experience you are curious about?
  • Are there any interventions or outcomes in this topic? 
  • What are disciplinary concepts that relate to this experience/event/intervention/outcome?
C Context
  • What are the relevant cultural, political, and/or socioeconomic factors?
  • What is the geographic location or setting of your topic?
  • What literature/ reading(s) does this topic relate to?

Example

Research question: What is the experience of women seeking shelter from domestic violence in Toronto?

Population: Women experiencing domestic violence, racialized, have children

Concept: shelter-seeking experiences, affordable housing, housing insecurity, access, gender-based violence, discrimination

Context: Toronto, poverty, landlords, food insecurity, family services, YMCA, shelters

Your Turn

Using your Worksheet, describe your topic and fill out the PCC Framework.

Next Steps:

Use the PCC Framework to help you find resources that will further inform your topic. Reflect on focusing your research topic and consider if:

  • Does it include the issue?
  • Does it include who you are talking about?
  • Does it include a concept from the course?
  • Does it include a place/space of the topic?
  • Does it include words that describe the context?
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