Both the focus and the locus help the researcher to formulate the questions that they hope to answer by doing the research that they are looking at. Devising good questions from the beginning will help ensure that the appropriate research is conducted and good results are obtained.

SUBJECT: Generating an analytic memo

A good analytic memo should focus on a single term or idea within the research that is being done. The memo should explore the concepts characteristics while exploring the ways in which these characteristics might vary within different contexts.

In the study regarding resource officers' perceptions of their duties in suburban middle schools one concept that would be good to do an analytic memo on would be that of socioeconomic factors. What are socioeconomic factors and how do they affect people in general? How do these same factors affect children? Socioeconomic factors include things such as income, ethnicity, sense of community among other things (Socioeconomic Factors, 2004). Another factor that can be explored is that of how a person's characteristics are affected by the socioeconomic factors that they are exposed to. Personal...

And because each person is made up differently each is going to respond to socioeconomic factors differently.
Developing an analytic memo is a good way for a researcher to work through some of the questions that they would like to have answered by their research. It helps to see the bigger picture that surrounds all of the little things that are being looked at.

References

Conceptual. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2009, from The Free Dictionary Web site:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/conceptually

Empirical. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2009, from The Free Dictionary Web site:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/empirical

Personal Characteristics and Socio-Economic Factors. (2007). Retrieved May 9, 2009, from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Web site:

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/isp/cpp/adjudframe/perscharact.shtml

Socioeconomic Factors. (2004). Retrieved May 9, 2009, from Environmental Health

Houston.org Web site: http://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/socioeconomic.html