Chapter 3

Formulating and
clarifying our research
topic
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 Research topics

 The most successful research topics are narrowly focused and carefully
defined, but are important part of broad-ranging, complex-problem.
 Finding the ideal research problem does not mean simply selecting a
topic from possibilities presented by your adviser or having such a topic
assigned to you, attractive as this may first appear.
 You must go through the process of discovering and then developing a
topic with all the initial anxiety and uncertainty such a choice entails.
This is how you develop your capacity for independent thought.
 Some of them have to do with your particular interests, capabilities, and
motivations.
 Other centers on area that will be of greatest interest to both the academic
and private sectors.

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 Doing the right research
• It is really important to do the right research as well as to do the
research right. You need to do ‘wow’ research, research that is
compelling, not just interesting.
• Identifying the right research area, and the right research topic.
• The right topic will be interesting to you, complex, and compelling.
• The research you do as a graduate student will set the stage for your
research as a post doc
• Choosing the right topic as a graduate student will help you insure that
your research will be viable in the future.
 How to select a research topic?
The some critical considerations for selecting an effective research topic:
 Identify Your Interests: Start by exploring areas that fascinate you. Think about
subjects you've enjoyed in your courses or issues you are passionate about.
 Consider Relevance and Significance: Assess the relevance of your topic to your field
of study. Is it addressing a current issue or gap in research?
 Review Existing Literature: Conduct a preliminary literature review to understand
your area's current state of research. This will help you identify gaps, ongoing debates,
and under-explored topics. It can also spark new ideas and refine your research
question.
 Narrow Down Your Focus: Once you have a broad topic in mind, narrow it down to a
specific research question. A focused topic will make your research more manageable
and provide a clear direction.
 Seek Feedback: Discuss your topic ideas with peers, mentors, or instructors. Their
feedback can provide valuable insights and help you refine your question.
 Assess Feasibility: Consider the resources available to you, such as time, funding, and
access to data. Ensure that your chosen topic can be realistically researched within
these constraints.
 Align with Assignment Guidelines: If your research is tied to a specific assignment or
project, make sure your topic aligns with the provided guidelines. This alignment will
help you stay focused and meet the requirements of your academic institution. 4
 Attributes of a good research topic
Capability: is it feasible?
– Are you fascinated by the topic?
– Do you have the necessary research skills?
– Can you complete the project in the time available?
– Will the research still be current when you finish?
– Do you have sufficient financial and other resources?
– Will you be able to gain access to data?
Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?
– Will the examining institute's standards be met?
– Does the topic contain issues with clear links to theory?
– Are the research questions and objectives clearly stated?
– Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into the topic?
– Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?
– Does the research topic match your career goals?
And - (if relevant)
– Does the topic relate clearly to an idea you were given possibly by
your institution ?
Cont…

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 Formulating and clarifying your research topic

The important steps

– Identifying the attributes of a good research topic
– Generating ideas that help you select a suitable topic
– Turning ideas into clear research questions and objectives
– Writing your research proposal

Generating research ideas

Useful Techniques
– Rational thinking
– Creative thinking
– Searching the literature
– Scanning the media
– Brainstorming
– Relevance Trees
– Exploring past projects
– Discussion
– Keeping an ideas notebook
 Rational thinking Creative thinking
• Examining your own • Keeping a notebook of ideas
strengths and interests • Exploring personal preferences
• Looking at past project titles using past projects
• Discussion • Relevance trees
• Searching the literature • Brainstorming
• Scanning the media
Rational thinking and creative thinking
• These techniques will generate possible project one of two outcomes:
• One or more possible project ideas that you might undertake;
• Absolute panic because nothing in which you are interested or which seems suitable has
come to mind.
• Creative thinking is the ability to come up with unique, original solutions. Also known
as creative problem-solving
• Rational thinking is a cognitive process that involves using logic and reasoning to
analyze a specific problem or situation.
 Examining own strengths and interests

• Having some academic knowledge

• Look at those assignments for which you have received good grade.
• You may, as part of your reading, be able to focus more precisely on the
sort of ideas about which you wish to conduct your research
• There is a need to think about your future

Looking at past project title

• Dissertations;
• Thesis.
– Scan your university’s list of past project titles for anything that
captures your imagination
• Scanning actual research projects.
– You need to beware. The fact that a project is in your library is no
guarantee of the quality of the arguments and observations it contains.
 Discussion
• Colleagues, friends, university tutors, practitioner and professional groups
Scanning the media
 Keeping up to date with items in the news can be a very rich source of
ideas

Searching the literature

As part of your discussions, relevant literature may also be suggested.
Sharp et al, (2002) discuss types of literature that are of particular use for
generating research ideas. These include:
 Article in academic and professional journals;
 Reports;
 Books.
Keeping a notebook of ideas
• One of the more creative techniques that we all use is to keep a notebook
of ideas. All this involves is simply noting down any interesting research
ideas as you think of them and, of equal importance, what sparked off
your thought. You can then pursue the idea using more rational thinking
technique later.

Relevance tree

You start with a broad concept from which you generate further (usually
more specific) topics. Each of these topics forms a separate branch from
which you can generate further, more detailed sub branches. As you proceed
down the sub branches more ideas are generated and recorded. These can
then be examined and a number selected and combined to provide a research
idea
Cont…

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Brainstorming
• Define your problem – that is, the sorts of ideas you are interested in – as
precisely as possible.
• Ask for suggestions, relating to the problem
• Record all suggestions, observing the following rules:
– No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in any way before all
ideas have been considered;
– All suggestions, however wild, should be recorded and considered
– As many suggestions as possible should be recorded.
• Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by each.
• Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which appeal you most as research
ideas why.
Refining research ideas
• Using the Delphi Technique
• Conducting a preliminary study
• Continually testing out your ideas
• Integrating ideas
• Refining topics given to you by your organisation
Cont…

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 Points to consider in finding a research topic (1)

1. Can interest be sustained by it?

2. Is the problem solvable?
3. Is it worth doing?
4. Will it lead to other research problems?
5. Is it manageable in size?
6. What is the potential for making an original contribution to the
literature in the field?
8. If the problem is solved, will the results be reviewed well by scholars
in your field?
9. Can it be enthusiastically pursued?
10. Are you, or will you become, competent to solve it?
11. By solving it, will you have demonstrated independent skills in your
discipline?
12. Will the necessary research prepare you in an area of demand or
promise for the future?
 Points to consider in finding a research topic (2)
• Clearly, it is important to pick the problem you are enthusiastic about (1),
and one that will interest you over the long haul (2).
• Much research is just that, re-search. At times it will be mundane, and it
will surely be frustrating.
• Experiments won’t go right; equipment will fail; data from other sources
won’t arrive on time (or at all); researchers who pledged their assistance
won’t come through as expected, while others will do work that competes
with your research.
• During these times you’ll need courage and fortitude.
• Picking a problem that you can solve in a reasonable period of time (3), that
will lead to further research (5), and that is manageable in size (6) is a
particular challenge for most graduate students.
• Doctoral students tent to take on more than is necessary to achieve what
ought to be their goal: completing a dissertation or obtaining another
publication or two.
• That’s why it is essential to have the right supervisor, as it’s his job to help
you determine how to make your dissertation original and publishable, yet
also manageable.
 Points to consider in finding a research topic (3)

• Whether or not a problem is worth solving (4), will make an original

contribution to the literature in your field (7), and if solved, will have results
that will garner the attention of scholars in your discipline (8), is at the heart
of what is meant by choosing compelling topics leading to a meaningful
“stream of ideas”.
• One way to tell if a subject is compelling is to note how many people attend
seminars or symposia on different research topics.
• In some cases, attendance may be up for big-name speakers, but often it is
because the work presented is of broad interest. These seminars can give you
clues to possible research directions and topics.
• Of course, going into an area where there are too many other researchers has
its drawbacks, but beware of going to the opposite extreme. You don't want
to be the only researcher in an area that has little chance of drawing interest
or support.
 Points to consider in finding a research topic (4)
• Your capacity to tackle the problem (9) will depend somewhat on your
innate abilities.
• However, to solve the problem you'll also need to develop basic knowledge
and technical understanding, computer skills, and experimental expertise.
• To acquire such skills you'll need direct access or Web access to courses
and seminars, library materials, independent-study opportunities, and most
importantly, other students, post docs, faculty members, and even
industrial scientists and engineers.
• To develop independent skills in your discipline (10), start by defining and
developing a problem that is sufficiently robust.
• You'll then need to acquire a fundamental understanding of certain
phenomena or behaviors and experimental techniques in order to solve the
problem.
 Points to consider in finding a research topic (5)
• It is important that your focus be on problems and not on techniques or
specialized tools. The latter come and go and as a researcher you want to
be able to shift your approaches as needed to solve the more fundamental
problems.
• Choosing a research area that will be in future demand (11) can be tricky.
• Some fields, such as semiconductor physics and fiber optics, may have
been compelling for some time, but are now approaching maturity and
shifting focus and are likely to be less promising in the future.
• Other areas, such as telecommunications and biotechnology, are quite
popular. However, their very popularity may have over-saturated the fields.
• In such cases, large numbers of investigators often compete for limited
financial and experimental resources.
 Turning ideas into research projects

Useful techniques
– Start with a general focus question
– Discuss areas of interest with your tutor
Writing clear research objectives
– Check your examining body’s preferences for stated objectives
– Use a general focus question to achieve precise objectives
Include SMART Personal objectives
Specific: What precisely do you hope to achieve from undertaking the research?
Measurable: What measures will you use to determine whether you have
achieved your objectives?(Secured a career-level first job in software design)
Achievable: Are the targets you have set for yourself achievable given all the
possible constraints?
Realistic: Given all other demands upon your time, will you have the time and
energy to complete the research on time?
Timely: Will you have time to accomplish all your objectives?
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Thank You !!!

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