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Developing A Research Topic

The document outlines four main steps to develop a good research topic: 1. Identifying an issue of concern or interest to the researcher. 2. Stating the issue as a single question. 3. Turning the question into a statement or topic by eliminating words or using keywords. 4. Evaluating the topic by identifying variables of interest and ensuring it is relevant and meets SMART criteria.

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55 views

Developing A Research Topic

The document outlines four main steps to develop a good research topic: 1. Identifying an issue of concern or interest to the researcher. 2. Stating the issue as a single question. 3. Turning the question into a statement or topic by eliminating words or using keywords. 4. Evaluating the topic by identifying variables of interest and ensuring it is relevant and meets SMART criteria.

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spiritikeike22
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Lecture Two

Developing a Research Topic


Institute of Professional Studies School of Research and Graduate Studies

Steps to follow
Four main steps can generally be followed to successfully develop a good research topic. These steps include but not limited to: 1. Identifying an issue of concern or interest to the researcher 2. Stating the issue in a form of a single question 3. Turning the question into a statement or a topic 4. Evaluating the topic

How to identify an Issue


The issue may be generated from a myriad of sources: 1. Thinking up the issue by:
1. 2.

3.

Observing a practical problem Looking at how to improve a system Examining a theory

Reviewing literature to identify gaps 3. Request for research proposal


2.

For dissertation, the issue identified should be related to programme of study


3

Transforming the issue into a Question

Simply turn the issue into a single question that will adequately describe it. This may involve writing a number of questions and deciding on which properly addresses the issue of concern

How to turn a Question into a Topic


You can do so by: Stating the question as a statement Eliminating redundant word(s) or identifying he keywords and using them to frame the topic The shorter the topic the better

Evaluating the Topic


Ask if: 1. You can identify the variables of interest dependent and independent variables if any.
NB: not all topics have dependent and independent variables

The topic is relevant 3. The topic meets the SMART criteria Specific: Clear and Concise? Measurable: are the variables quantifiable? Achievable: ability to do Realistic: doable? Time-bound:
2.

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