Research Support: Research Topic

TOPIC

The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. An instructor may assign you a specific topic, but most often instructors require you to select your own topic of interest. When deciding on a topic, there are a few things that you will need to do:

• brainstorm for ideas
• choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature
• ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available
• make a list of key words
• be flexible
• define your topic as a focused research question
• research and read more about your topic
• formulate a thesis statement
• Be aware that selecting a good topic may not be easy. It must be narrow and focused enough to be interesting, yet broad enough to find adequate information. Before selecting your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like. Each class or instructor will likely require a different format or style of research project.

Use the the following steps to guide you in the process of selecting a topic

Step 1: Brainstorm for Ideas 

Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy

Did you read or see a news story recently that has piqued your interest or made you angry or anxious?

Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about?

Do you have a research paper due for a class this semester?

Is there an aspect of a class that you are interested in learning more about?

Step 2: Read the general background about the topic:

Read a general encyclopedia article on the top to or three topics you are considering. Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of the topic and see how your idea relates to broader, narrower, and related issues. It also provides a great source for finding words commonly used to describe the topic. These keywords may be very useful to your later research. If you cant find an article on your topic, try using broader terms and ask for help from a librarian.

Step 3: Focus on your topic or keep it in manageable: A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow. One way to narrow a broad topic such as "the environment" is to limit your topic. Some common ways to limit a topic are:

by geographical area

Example: What environmental issues are most important in the Southwestern United States

• by culture

Example: How does the environment fit into the Navajo world view?

• by time frame:

Example: What are the most prominent environmental issues of the last 10 years?

• by discipline

Example: How does environmental awareness effect business practices today?

• by population group

Example: What are the effects of air pollution on senior citizens?

Remember that a topic may be too difficult to research if it is too:
 

• locally confined - Topics this specific may only be covered in these (local) newspapers, if at all.

Example: What sources of pollution affect the Free State water supply?

• recent - If a topic is quite recent, books or journal articles may not be available, but newspaper or magazine articles may. Also, Web sites related to the topic may or may not be available.
• broadly interdisciplinary - You could be overwhelmed with superficial information.

Example: How can the environment contribute to the culture, politics and society of the African States states?

• popular - You will only find very popular articles about some topics such as sports figures and high-profile celebrities and musicians.

If you have any difficulties or questions with focusing your topic, discuss the topic with your instructor, or with a librarian

Step 4: Make a List of Useful Keywords

Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy

Did you read or see a news story recently that has piqued your interest or made you angry or anxious?

Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about?

Do you have a research paper due for a class this semester?

Is there an aspect of a class that you are interested in learning more about?

Step 5: Be Flexible

It is common to modify your topic during the research process. You can never be sure of what you may find. You may find too much and need to narrow your focus, or too little and need to broaden your focus. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic, but you may decide that some other aspect of the topic is more interesting or manageable.