Formulating Your Research Topic

Here you will learn on how to formulate your research topic.

The hardest part of research is getting started! Choosing a topic can be challenging, especially in introductory classes, when you don't really know much about the subject. The most important thing to remember is this: you are doing research, so don't make a statement about what you want to prove and then go looking for evidence to support your claim. Instead, start out with an interest, read some articles on the topic and then take a stance on the subject based on what you have learned.

1. Think about the topics in your class that have interested you so far. Or, if it is the beginning of the semester, think about what you expect the course will cover and what you expect to enjoy about the class. When you added this class, what made you think it might be interesting?
2. Flip through your textbooks and look for chapter titles or subheadings that interest you.
3. Look at a magazine or journal in your subject area and look for interesting articles that might inspire you.
4. Think about controversies or current events in your subject area. Could they lead to a potential research question? If you don't know any controversies or current events for your subject, Google "Controversies in XYZ," "Disagreements in XYZ," or "Current hot topics in XYX" and see if something you find interests you.
5. Think about what you’re studying in other classes. Are there interesting ways in which they might intersect with or relate to this class?
6. Brainstorm with your classmates. Talking to each other is a good way to figure out what interests you.

View the video here and the PPT slides (under Reference materials) to get better knowledge.