What to consider when choosing a research topic

Before choosing a topic, make sure you understand your assignment and what your instructor is asking for.  If you have questions, make sure to ask your instructor for clarification.

1. Choose a subject area that interests you and that will interest the readers. Try to avoid topics that are overly used such as abortion or gun control. It is important to choose a topic that is academic in nature - something that people will be doing research on. If your paper is an argumentative/persuasive paper, you need to pick one that is controversial or that people feel passionate enough to argue about or to do research on (otherwise you'll have a hard time finding sources).

2. Do some background research on any subjects that you are interested in using encyclopedias and websites. This will provide you with an overview so that you gain a better understanding of the subject area and you can see what issues are related. Background research can also help you decide what way to focus on a subject area. For example, you might be interested in the subject of social media. If you look social media up in an encyclopedia it might talk about issues related to it such as privacy or bullying. You then might decide to focus on the topic of social media and privacy.

3. It is a good idea to state your topic in the form of a question to stay focused on what it is that you are trying to explain or prove. For example, if you want to do research on advertising and body image among teenage girls, you might ask:

          What impact does advertising have on the body image of teenage girls?

4. When you come up with a topic, choose the main concepts in your research question (for the question above it would be "advertising", "body image", and "teenage girls") and do an initial search with them in the Library catalog or databases. If you are getting way too many hits, you might need to narrow your topic more. If you are not getting enough hits, you might need to broaden your topic.

Some common pitfalls include choosing a topic that is too:

          broad                          narrow                          recent                        local

You want a manageable topic that is of enduring interest to you - and to others.

5. Once you are sure you have a manageable topic that is interesting and that has enough research out there you can use in your paper, create a thesis statement. This will be an answer to your research question or a statement that explains the purpose of your research.

This video is really helpful in explaining how to create a really good research question:

Answered By: Woodruff Library Reference Last Updated: Jan 04, 2022     Views: 499424

How do you decide what to write about when confronted with a research paper? You want a focused topic!

Here are some things to consider:

• Make sure your topic meets the assignment requirements. Ask your professor for feedback if you are unsure.
• Choose a topic that is interesting to you. It may seem obvious, but this will make the research process more fun and engaging for you.
• Consider the scope of your topic. If your topic is too broad it may be hard to find information that is focused and relevant; if your topic is too narrow it may be hard to find any information at all.

Here's one strategy for developing a research topic once you have a broad topic in mind:

• Background research will help you develop your topic and hone or change it in more appropriate ways. Knowing more about your topic's background can only help you develop a more effective topic, and therefore, research paper.
• Brainstorm concepts. Once you think of a broad topic that interests you, try to brainstorm all of the words or concepts you can that might be related to that topic (and write them down!). For example, if your topic is "polar bears," you might think of the following words and topics in association: ice, cubs, pollution, hunting, diet, climate change, and environmental icon. 
• Develop a research question. Once you have come up with a broad topic and done some background research, you may want to develop a research question, or a question you're going to answer in your paper by doing more, in-depth research.
• What's your general approach to the topic? Think about some general approaches that may help you further develop your topic: use a historical angle by focusing on a particular time period; a geographical angle, focusing on a particular part of the world; or a sociological angle, focusing on a particular group of people.
• Start doing some exploratory, in-depth research. As you do more in-depth research, like looking for scholarly articles, books, and other sources to include in your paper, you can and probably will modify or refine your topic based on what you find.
• Research is a dynamic process. Don't be afraid to discover new things and modify or refine your topic.

The topic development process will help you to develop your thesis, which is essentially your proposed answer to your research question. You will then be ready to use the sources you've found, and find more sources in order to support that thesis, or to answer your research question.

Here's an example of how the topic development process above can lead you to a thesis:

Resources that can help you develop your topic:

• Your instructor, course readings, class notes, Wikipedia, and Google can all be helpful in terms of getting ideas for broad topics.
• A Research Guide for a particular subject created by a subject librarian is great for helping you choose where to begin your research. These online guides will identify encyclopedias, books, databases, and other materials to help you get started with research. You can also ask a librarian at the Library Service Desk.
• Library resources like Credo Reference Unlimited, Gale Virtual Reference Library, CQ Researcher and subject-specific encyclopedias can help you come up with topic ideas because they provide great overviews and introductions to topics. You can find links to these kinds of resources in the  Research Guides mentioned above. These will probably not be scholarly sources you can use in your paper, but they may lead you to more in-depth, scholarly resources that you will want to use in your paper.

Check out this video from NCSU Libraries:

Thanks go to the Portland State University Library for sharing their Library DIY idea with us!

If you've been considering a research degree for some time, you probably already have an area of interest. You will be exploring your research topic for a considerable amount of time, so it's important to invest time and effort in choosing the right topic.

Explore your options

There are generally two main ways you might develop your research topic:

• Propose an original research topic. This option is most common in the humanities, business and law study areas.
• Choose from a list of available research topics provided by a supervisor. This option is not always available but is most common in science and engineering.

Discuss your ideas with a potential supervisor at an early stage. They will be able to let you know which of these options may be best for you and can offer advice on writing your research proposal.

Learn more about how to find a supervisor

How to develop an original research topic

If you plan to propose an original topic, here are some tips to guide you:

• Read a wide range of materials to find a subject that you are passionate about.
• Immerse yourself in journal articles and theses associated with your topic.
• Narrow your focus to a single research question. Be specific, original and realistic about what you're able to achieve.
• Take a flexible approach. As your research develops, it is likely that some of your initial ideas will be challenged. You might need to change or modify your question if necessary.
• Make sure you stay up-to-date with the most recent developments in your field. This will ensure your idea is achievable and that it has not already been addressed by another researcher.

Again, it's essential to discuss your idea with your potential supervisor. They will have the experience and expertise to guide your choice of research topic and provide ideas for your research proposal.

Before you apply for postgraduate research, you'll need to write a research proposal. The purpose of your proposal is to outline your project and develop an argument for the research topic you are proposing.

Here are some elements you might like to include in your research proposal:

Your supervisor will be able to provide you with guidance when writing your research proposal. Learn how to choose a supervisor who is right for you and your research project.