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TOPIC 2
Research
Topic
Selection
The ability to develop a good
research topic is an important
skill.
Your supervisor may assign you
a specific topic, but quite often,
your supervisor may require you
to select your own topic of
interest.
Research Topic
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Selection Process
Gauge what are Think carefully about these
the things that you interests. Are there any
are passionate aspects of them that fall within
about? your project parameters?
If you are not sure
what you want to
research about …
Study what are the SELECTING FORM
A TOPIC
requirements of FORM
YOUR
your research YOUR
TENTATIVE
project? TENTATIVE
TOPIC
TOPIC
If you have an idea
for your topic …
Why/what about this topic
What is your interests you? If you can’t
potential topic? answer this question, go back
to brainstorming topics!
Source: Kevin Klipfel, Information Literacy Coordinator, CSU, Chico
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Select a Topic
Choosing an interesting research topic is your first challenge.
Here are some tips:
Choose a topic that you are interested in! The research process is
more relevant if you care/interest about your topic.
Narrow your topic to something manageable.
o If your topic is too broad, you will find too much information
and not be able to focus.
o Background reading can help you choose and limit the scope
of your topic.
Review the guidelines on topic selection. If necessary, ask your
Project advisor/supervisor for suggestions.
Refer to relevant materials, such as literatures or required texts,
to refresh your knowledge of your research.
Talk about research ideas with a friend. S/he may be able to
help in focusing your research topic by discussing issues that
didn't occur to you at first.
Source: MIT Libraries
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Select a Topic (con’t)
Think of the why, who, what, where and when
questions:
WHY did you choose the topic? What interests
you about it? Do you have an opinion about the
issues involved?
WHO are the information providers on this
topic? Who might publish information about
it? Who is affected by the topic? Do you know of
organizations or institutions affiliated with the
topic?
WHAT are the major questions for this topic? Is
there a debate about the topic? Are there a
range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
WHERE is your topic important: at the local,
national or international level? Are there specific
places affected by the topic?
WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current
event or an historical issue? Do you want to
compare your topic by time periods?
Source: MIT Libraries
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Select a Topic (con’t)
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 supervisor/advisor will likely require a different format or style of
research project.
Source: University of Michigan, Flint
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A research topic can be
Theoretical work
What
Experimental work
are the Numerical work
and the combinations …
Possible
Research
Topic?
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What Forms a
Research Topic?
Personal interest
Social problem
Testing a theory
Prior research
Program evaluation
What Constitutes
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a Research Topic?
Unanswered question
Unsolved question
Concern
Query
Statement of inquiry
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Limitations
encountered when
doing a research
project
Time constraints
Financial consideration
Anticipating and avoiding
problems
Equipment limitations
Human resource limitations
What is literature
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review?
A systematic review of available
resources
Theoretical and conceptual concepts
Identification of independent and
dependent variables
Selection of appropriate research
technique
Findings and conclusions of similar
studies studied
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Where do I find
sources of
information for my
literature review?
Journals
Internet
Data bases/Online systems
Reports
How to Present your
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Research Findings in
a Research Paper?
• Tables (Matrix of rows and
columns representing variables)
• Figures (Visual organization of
data/observations)
Pictures
Pie charts
Line charts
Bar charts
Flow charts
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Preparing
a
Research Q: How to get your
Paper research paper accepted?
What do you need to do?
How to do it?
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Research Paper
Structure
General format of a research
paper
Title
• Authorships
• Affiliation's
Abstract
Main Body
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Why Writing
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Research Papers?
In academic studies, writing papers
are mainly to impress others, for
gaining recognition, and getting
promotion.
Paper
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Communicates
Ideas
Your goal:
To infect the mind of your readers
with your idea, like a virus!
The greatest ideas are (literally)
worthless if you keep them to
yourself.
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Writing Papers:
Model 1
Do research Idea
Write paper
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Writing Papers:
Model 2
Write paper Idea
Do research
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The Research Process
FF
Literature
Review FF
Review
Concepts Analyse
Design
and Collect Data
Formulate Research Interpret
Define theories Data (Test
Hypothesis (Including and
Research (Execution) Hypothesis
(Problem) Sample report
Problem if any)
Review Design)
F F
Previous
I Research
findings III IV V VI VII
II
F
F Feed Back FF Feed Forward
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Don’t be
Intimidated
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Don’t be
Intimidated
Writing the paper is how you develop the idea in the
first place
It usually turns out to be more interesting and
challenging that it seemed at first
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The purpose of
your paper is …
Your idea
… from your head to your reader’s head
And everything only serves this single goal
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Conveying the
Idea…
Here is a problem
It is an interesting problem
It is an unsolved problem
Here is my idea
My idea works (details, data, etc.)
Here is my idea compares to other
people’s approaches
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… from current lecture
Now you know the purpose and
structure of a research paper, the next
step will be …
… in the coming lecture
How to write a research paper?