MODULE 03

SELECTING
RESEARCH TOPIC

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: (STARTING POINT)

COMPLETE RESEARCH PROJECT

SAED A MOHAMED
 You will learn in this module:
● To use guiding questions on
selecting research topic
● To generate ideas that will help in

MODULE the choice of a suitable research

topic
OBJECTIVES ● To identify the attributes of a
good research topic
● Steps for selecting research topic
● To turn research ideas into a
research project that has clear
research questions and objectives
● To understand major
characteristics research title
 Do not expect choosing a topic for
research project to be a quick or easy
task!

● One of the hardest parts is

Selecting research choosing your thesis topic.
topic ● Some spending months even years
on this research project because
they didn’t know how to choose a
great topic.

● Choosing a right and meaningful

dissertation or thesis topic is a
difficult decision to make.
 ● Selecting a research topic is
an important step in any
research project.

Selecting ● It lays the foundation for your

study and determines the
Research Topic
direction and focus of your
research.

● Here are some steps and

considerations to help you
select a research topic:
 Review
Check the Identify your
existing
requirements interests
literature

Evaluate
Brainstorm
significance Narrow down
Steps research
and your options
questions
selecting research topic relevance

Consider the Seek Finalize your

nature of research
research feedback topic

Design and Get your

Sum up your
phrase your topic
research
research title approved
 ● What is the minimum and
maximum word count?
Selecting
When is the deadline?
Research Topic ●

Check the requirements ● Should the research have an

academic or a professional
orientation?

● Are there any methodological

conditions (e.g. do you have to
conduct fieldwork or use specific
types of source)?

● Are there any other restrictions?

 ● Start by considering your
personal interests and passions.
Selecting
Think about topics that
Research Topic ●
genuinely intrigue you or areas
Identify your interests where you would like to
contribute new knowledge.

● Research is a long and

demanding process, so choosing
a topic that you are genuinely
interested in will keep you
motivated throughout the
project.
 • Conduct a preliminary review of the
existing literature in your field of
interest.
Selecting
Research Topic • This will help you understand
➢ the current state of knowledge,
Review existing literature ➢ identify research gaps, and
➢ explore potential research
questions.

• Look for
➢ recent publications,
➢ key theories,
➢ controversies, and
➢ emerging trends.
 • Based on your interests and the gaps
you identified, brainstorm a list of
Selecting potential research questions.
Research Topic
• These questions should be
Brainstorm research questions ➢ specific,
➢ focused, and
➢ capable of being addressed through
research methods.

• Consider the feasibility of conducting

research on each question, including
the
➢ availability of data and resources.
 • It’s important that your topic is
interesting to you and relevant to the
Selecting social:
Research Topic ➢ Academic relevance: the research
Evaluate significance and relevance can fill a gap in knowledge or
contribute to a scholarly debate in
your field.
➢ Social relevance: the research can
advance society understanding
and inform social change.
➢ Practical relevance: the research
can be applied to solve problems or
improve real-life processes.
 • Narrow down your list of potential
research topics based on your
Selecting ➢ evaluation of significance,
➢ feasibility, and
Research Topic ➢ personal interest.

Narrow down your options

• Consider the resources available to you,
such as
➢ access to data,
➢ required experience, and
➢ funding needed.

• It's important to choose a realistic topic

that is given your constraints and
resources.
Questions to
Ask When
Browsing
What? When?

Who? Where? Why?

Questions to Who?
• Which groups have an interest in this topic? (ex.
patients. particular organizations. students, the
Ask When government, etc.) Who specifically will you focus on?

Browsing What?
• What are the most important issues at stake? What
are the different factors involved?

• Where is the topic relevant? Will you focus on the

Where? Somalia? Lasanod? Some sort of comparison?

• When did the situation or event start? Is it ongoing?

When? Flow recent should your sources be to be useful?

• What interests you about it? Why do you want to

Why? write about it?
 1. Start with the broad topic: Education
2. Identify a subtopic within education:
Classroom management
3. Identify a specific grade level: Elementary
school
Narrow down your 4. Identify a specific challenge: Student
options disruptive behavior
5. Refine the research question:
➢ What are the most effective strategies for
managing and reducing disruptive behavior in
elementary school classrooms?
 1. Start with the broad topic: Leadership
2. Identify a subtopic within leadership:
Ethical leadership
3. Identify a specific industry: Technology
Narrow down your 4. Identify a specific issue: Ethical
options decision-making
5. Refine the research question:
➢ How does ethical leadership influence
ethical decision-making in the
technology industry?
 1. Start with the broad topic: Mental health
2. Identify a subtopic within mental health:
Depression
3. Identify a specific population group:
Adolescents
Narrow down your
4. Identify a specific factor: Social media use
options
5. Refine the research question:
➢ How does excessive social media use affect
the prevalence of depression
among adolescents?
 It’s a good idea to start thinking about
what kind of approach you’ll take to
your topic.
Selecting
Research Topic Will you mainly focus on:
● Your overall aims you will address.
Consider the nature of research ● The research approach you will
follow.
● The type of research design you’ll
use.
● Your sampling methods or criteria
for selecting subjects.
● Your data collection methods.
● The procedures you’ll follow to
collect data.
● Your data analysis methods.
 • Discuss your shortlisted topics with
➢ mentors,
Selecting ➢ advisors, or
Research Topic ➢ colleagues who have expertise in
your field.
Seek feedback
• Their insights can help you
➢ refine your research questions.
➢ identify any potential challenges
or limitations.
➢ suggest alternative perspectives.
➢ provide suggestions for
improvement.
 • Based on your evaluations and
Selecting feedback, select the research
Research Topic topic that best aligns with
➢ your interests,
Finalize your research topic
➢ feasibility, and
➢ potential impact.

• However, having a clear

starting point will provide you
with a solid foundation.
 ● Identify specific problem with in
your area of interest;
Selecting
Research Topic ● Identify the possible causes of that
problem;
Design and phrase your research title ● Link the cause to the problem;(get
one or more causes)
● Modify your statement further add
the context & unit of analysis

○ Context: area of the study;

○ Unit of Analysis: Respondents/
units to be studied
 "The Impact of Social Media on Mental
Health: A Quantitative Study Among Young
Selecting Adults“
---------------------------
Research Topic "An Analysis of the Relationship between
Exercise and Stress Reduction among
Design and phrase your research title College Students“
---------------------------
Investigating the Relationship between
Parental Involvement and Academic
Achievement in Elementary Schools“
---------------------------
"The Impact of Gender Diversity on
Corporate Performance: A Case Study of
Fortune 500 Companies"
 • You must take time to think about your
research as this will save you problems
Selecting later by ask yourself the five ‘Ws’:
Research Topic ➢ What is my research?
➢ Why do I want to do the research?
Sum up your research
➢ Who are my research participants?
➢ Where am I going to do the research?
➢ When am I going to do the research?

• Sum up your research project in one

sentence.

• Discuss your sentence with your tutor or

boss and revise if there is any confusion.
My study is about communication practices across business firms in terms of
understanding the effect of communication practices on business performance
in Lasanod, Sool, Somalia by distributing a survey to the business owners,
management, and operatives in their workplaces between September 15 and
December 15, 2023. This study will be designed to determine the effect of
communication practices using a quantitative approach to assess variables using
statistical and numerical models, analyze these measurements, and report the
effects among the studied variables based on a descriptive, causal research
design to measure the fact that communication practices affect business
performance on the basis of a survey as a method of data collection, to collect
data from business owners, management, and operatives on "what" they practice
and "how" they practice by using a questionnaire to measure the communication
practices of managers on business performance by asking respondents to fill in a
questionnaire in order to acquire the required information about this study topic.
The regression analysis will be utilized to measure the level of causality between
variables in order to find out how the communication practices of managers
affect the performance of a company.
 ● Most programs will require you to
submit a brief description of your topic
before you are assigned a supervisor.

● It’s a good idea to discuss your ideas

with your supervisor before you write a
STEP 10: full research proposal.
Get your topic approved
● Remember, if you discover that your
topic is not as strong as you thought it
was, it’s usually acceptable to change
your mind and switch focus early in the
dissertation process.

● Just make sure you have enough time to

start on a new topic, and always check
with your supervisor or department.
THANK
YOU