A great test of how well you understand your research problem is whether you can explain clearly and concisely what your study is about. Ideally, you should be able to explain it in a few seconds, without hesitation.
In ‘Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation’, Bloomberg (2023, p.25) describes the concept of Elevator Speech to illustrate how clearly you need to understand your research.
Bloomberg’s analogy goes like this:
Imagine you’re in an elevator, and someone who knows nothing about your research asks you what your study is about. The lift is moving fast so you have very little time to answer. You need to provide a perfectly clear answer, quickly, almost automatically, before the lift doors open. You can only do this if you understand your topic and your research problem perfectly. Similarly, you should be able to tell them the purpose of your study perfectly fluently, should they ask.
In reality, you may well have to use Elevator Speech. For example, when you meet your supervisor, or proposal or dissertation defense panel. They may expect you to tell them upfront what your study is about without hesitation and without resorting to your notes or PowerPoint slides.
So, practise Elevator Speech. Answer the important questions about your research fluently. You’ll be well prepared for any situation