importance of narrowing down a research topic

At McGill, PhD students are usually expected to have a sufficiently defined research topic by the time of the comprehensive exam. Choose a topic that you have the resources to research (access to information, people to interview, etc. Once you have a general topic that interests you, begin by reading widely about it. Additionally, you should consider that you’ll be spending a lot of time on a research paper , so it is particularly important to select a topic that you really enjoy working with. Narrowing down the topic The importance of narrowing down the topic _____ Having a narrowed down topic helps with some of the other steps of the writing process: • Research: o While doing a little preliminary research might be useful to know more about the topic and its stakes, doing too much Choose a topic that you have the resources to research … Brainstorming can help you choose a topic, develop an approach to a topic, or deepen your understanding of the topic’s potential. Narrow Your Topic . With this in mind, avoid the following when creating a title: If the title is too long, this usually indicates there are too many unnecessary words. Assigned Topics – Ideas about a narrower topic can come from anywhere. Most of this research will not make it into your paper, but will inform your understanding of the topic and allow you to determine what aspects of the topic you want to focus on in your paper. Next, you will develop a research question to research, explore, and write about in your paper. These strategies can help you turn a mishmash of general information into a good research question. Rather than select a broad topic and try to narrow down, a researcher will begin with a very specific problem, issue, or incident reported on in a news article or study, and then expand from that problem or issue to develop an interesting and engaging research topic. The techniques used to focus a general topic can also be used to expand a narrow topic. And just because you research once to narrow your topic doesn’t mean the research is over. Choose a topic that you can make relevant to your audience. Often you will find it necessary to begin with a broad topic, but from there, you must narrow your focus. You might need to spend some time researching to learn more about your topic even before you figure out how to narrow a topic. Brainstorm topics that you are familiar with, interest you, and/or are currently topics of discussion. Even though research is listed third on this list, it doesn’t mean you have to research last. Writing a thesis or dissertation can seem like a monumental task, but the best way to ensure that your project goes well is to get the question right. There is information out there on every topic (the trick is finding the right key words, and we'll address that in Finding Articles ), … To make it more focused and interesting . Without specific areas of focus, it will be hard to even know where to begin. Choose a subject that you are interested in. Broaden a Research Topic. When this happens, you need to narrow the focus of your paper. Like a detective who wants to narrow a lead of a crime and suspect, you begin with a broad topic and continue to refine the topic to a specific aspect of a topic. Narrowing the Topic Determining the scope of your paper to fit the length is important. First of all the researcher needs to understand the subject in which he or she is studying. Narrow your topic and search again. ). Personal + Practical/Feasible + Important + Ethical = A good topic! •To identify research topics/ problems (establishes the credibility of the writer and the research topic) •Essential part of research processes (including proposal writing) ... Narrowing down the topic: The Funnel approach Choose a topic that you can make relevant to your audience. They provide: • a way to identify potential research topics. Deciding on a topic for your thesis, dissertation or research project is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. It is important to narrow the range of topics so that you can focus on the best possible question. Another effective way to select a topic is to begin with research. 3. You may be very interested in a topic, but if it does not meet your intended audience’s needs, your end goal, then it is probably not a good topic to select. Narrowing Your Topic Sometimes a topic that seems like the right size for your paper can seem way too big after you’ve learned a little more about it. Thus, choosing nursing topics is not always a straightforward process. To broaden your topic, consider removing some of your criteria from your research topic. You can use Wikipedia but do not use it as a source in your final paper, as it is editable by the public. The most common challenge when beginning to write a research paper is narrowing down your topic.Even if your professor gives you a specific topic to study, it will almost never be so specific that you won’t have to narrow it down at least to some degree [besides, grading fifty papers that are all about the exact same thing is very boring! Now there are various techniques that can help in narrowing the topic and research content. Consider the topic … • a starting point to gather information on your topic. Do some research to start narrowing down your topic: Do some background reading to understand more about the topic. Choose a topic appropriate for the assignment/occasion. It can also help in narrowing down the topic from both the perspective of research topic and organization. The goal of narrowing a topic is to provide a focus to your essay. It’s also important that the Masters’ student supervisor/advisor is realistic in terms of expectations and ability to achieve goals within the shortened time frame, and often within tight budgets or the risk of facing a shortage of funds. enough topic to form a research question. An effective writer should avoid choosing a broad topic. Revised on January 13, 2020. Begin to narrow the topic by asking: who – a person, organization, demographic group what – an event, theory, discovery Steps to Narrowing a Topic Apply Who, What, When, Where, How and Why Questions . Most students will have to narrow down their topic at least a little. Choosing a dissertation topic. Let's say that you decided to focus on the important foods at a certain point in history. Narrowing a Topic. But sometimes it can be confusing when we try to understand what makes a topic a strong topic. Write down the ideas, information, and sources that interest you the most. Narrowing a topic can seem challenging. Why – why is this topic important (e.g., impact on social skills, changing our culture) Librarian Tip : creating a Concept Map is a great way to visualize your topic from broad to narrow subject areas. 2. For example, instead of investigating the use of Instagram by university students at funerals, you might Then Narrow this Topic Down Even Further . Teachers always emphasize the importance of choosing a strong research topic. Then, they can start narrowing down by looking for a more specific topic with a lot of resources behind it. To narrow down your research topic first write down your research subject area and then the research topic that you have decided. the time limitation defined by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies). Introduction If you consciously take advantage of your natural thinking processes by gathering your brain’s energies into a “storm,” you can transform these energies into written words or diagrams that will lead to lively, vibrant writing. Sometimes a research topic is so specific that you cannot find adequate information to fulfill the requirements of the assignment. Psychology is an interesting branch of science that requires much attention from the students. If you cannot find enough information resources, your topic might be too specific. All Possible Topics – You’ll need to narrow your topic in order to do research effectively. Narrowing the topic down is especially important for quantitative research. In this case it is time to broaden your topic. The first clue is that your paper needs to be narrowed is simply the length your professor wants it to be. To find more information . Published on April 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes. Your next task should be to brainstorm the different aspects or dimensions of your research topic. • an introduction to major works and key issues related to your topic. Strategies For Narrowing A Research Question Developing a clear, focused research question can be challenging. A good research topic should be something that one is deeply interested in, is scientifically original and significant, and is manageable within the graduate studies time frame (i.e. Brainstorm topics that you are familiar with, interest you, and/or are currently topics of discussion. It is important to pick a topic that is relevant to you personally, not just one that you think you will be able to find a lot of information on. The starting point of every research work is to choose a proper direction and a unique topic. It is, therefore, the most important element that defines the research study. 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 From these topics select one dimension that best suits your research. Here, an important point to be remembered that the research topics are not set in rock. Think of Similar or Parallel Topics . A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow. When to Narrow a Topic. Start broad and narrow your focus. Then, review your notes to start refining your topic into a precise, narrow research focus. 3. You can narrow down your topic of the history of food even further. Narrowing a Topic. Narrowing a Topic and Developing a Research Question Reference Sources Reference sources are a great place to begin your research. Why the importance of a literature review? Thus the importance of narrowing the research topic. Broaden Your Topic . One way to narrow a broad topic such as "the environment" is to limit your topic. A good research question should match the purpose for an assignment and provide a thesis statement or argument. 2. You can’t properly discuss “war” in 1,000 words, nor talk about orange rinds for 12 pages. Choose a topic appropriate for the assignment/occasion. State the Research Question ]. 1. Educational Research: EDS 250 3 EDS 250 7 Selecting a Topic, Narrowing, and Stating a Research Question 1. It is indeed a complex knowledge area. When you have an overall subject to pursue, your next task is to narrow and focus the topic. Research is typically written for an audience, whether it be a select group of individuals or broader population, and you have to keep this audience in mind as you select your research topic. Thus, writing a research paper on this subject can be both challenging and exciting at the same time.. The more you like your subject, the easier it will be to research. Apply Discipline Specific Context: Use your readings from class or in subject specific encyclopedias to get ideas Once you have chosen a general topic for your research paper, you will want to narrow this topic to something more specific. While doing so, they must look for the research that has been completed already. That you have to narrow down your research topic that best suits your topic. 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