State your opinion on a topic or idea. You may explain the topic or idea more fully. Your opinion must be supported by evidence from reliable sources.
This requires a balanced answer that sets items side by side and shows their similarities and differences.
This requires an answer that points out only the differences between two or more topics.
Often used in conjunction with other directive words, such as critically discuss, critically examine or critically analyse. It does not mean criticise. It requires a balanced answer that points out mistakes or weaknesses and indicates any favourable aspects of the subject of the question. The decision or overall judgment you make must be supported with evidence from reliable sources.
This requires an answer that explains the precise meaning of a concept. A definition answer will include a discussion of a concept and may also state the limits of a concept.
This requires you to describe the attributes or characteristics of a subject.
Explain the item or concept, and then give details about it with supporting information, examples, points for and against, plus explanations for the facts put forward from various points of view. This can be one of the most difficult types of essay question.
This requires you to list or specify and describe items or ideas one by one.
This requires you to investigate a topic thoroughly.
Offer a detailed and exact explanation of an idea or principle, or a set of reasons for a situation or attitude. The explanation should increase the reader’s understanding of a topic or idea.
This often requires you to come up with new ideas or interpretations on a subject.
A hypothesis is a theory regarding particular occurrences. You suggest the reasons for an occurrence and the processes by which it has occurred. You confirm hypotheses through testing.
This requires an answer that consists mainly of examples to demonstrate or prove the topic of the question. It is often accompanied with further instructions.
Very similar to Explain. Describe what your subject means. Examine the key components of a topic or idea and give an evaluation of it.
Research, study and carefully survey all areas of the subject.
Give only the reasons for a position or argument. The proposition to be argued may be a negative one. It should convince the reader of your point of view.
Summarise information about a subject. Only the main points and not the details should be included. Questions of this type often require short answers.
Both of these require answers that demonstrate the logical arguments and evidence connected with a proposition. Prove requires the points ‘for’, and disprove requires the points ‘against’.
Make links or connections between two or more ideas, and show how these ideas are related, as well as the nature of the relationship.
Analyse, criticise and comment on the main ideas of a topic. Your essay needs to be structured in logical order.
This requires an answer that expresses the relevant points briefly and clearly without lengthy discussion or minor details.
Trace is frequently used in historical questions (but not only in History courses). It requires the statement and brief description—in logical order—of the stages in the development of a theory, a person’s life, a process, etc.
Too much information? Make your results list more manageable. Less, but more relevant, information is key. Here are some options to consider when narrowing the scope of your paper:
Not finding enough information? Think of related ideas, or read some background information first. You may not be finding enough information for several reasons, including:
Once you have a solid topic, formulate your research question or hypothesis and begin finding information.
If you need guidance with topic formulation, Ask Us ! Library staff are happy to help you focus your ideas.
It is common to modify your topic during the research process. You can never be sure of what you may find. You may find too much and need to narrow your focus, or too little and need to broaden your focus. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic, but you may decide that some other aspect of the topic is more interesting or manageable.
Once you have chosen a general topic idea the next step is to refine your topic and ulitmately to formulate a research question.
Consider the points below to keep your research focused and on track. If you continue to have difficulties defining a topic talk to your instructor or a librarian.
Once you have the topic you would like to research, the next step is forming your research question. Your research question should be focused and specifc. The result should also be a question for which there are two or more possible answers. See some examples below:
Women's health | Women & cancer | Women smokers & breast cancer | Is there a connection between cigarette smoking and breast cancer risk? |
Computer games | Computer game violence | Computer game violence & children | How does violence in computer games affect children? |
Eating disorders | Teens & eating disorders | Teen peer pressure & bulimia | What role, if any, does peer pressure play in the development of bulimia in teens? |
Before selecting your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like. Each instructor will probably have different assignment requirements so be sure to read your assignment thoroughly and check for specific guidelines concerning:
You instructor will probably provide specific requirements for your assignment, if not the table below may provide a rough guide:
Assigned Length of Research Paper or Project | Suggested Guidelines for Number & Types of Sources |
---|---|
6-15 items including books, scholarly articles, Web sites and other items | |
12-20 items, including books, scholarly articles, web sites and other items |
A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow. One way to narrow a broad topic is to assign limits to what you will cover. Some common ways to limit a topic are listed below using the broad topic, "the environment" as an example.
What environmental issues are most important in the Southwestern United States | |
How does the environment fit into the Navajo world view? | |
What are the most prominent environmental issues of the last 10 years? | |
How does environmental awareness effect business practices today? | |
What are the effects of air pollution on senior citizens? |
Remember that a topic may be too difficult to research if it is too:
Example: What sources of pollution affect the Genesee County water supply?
Example: How can the environment contribute to the culture, politics and society of the Western states?
Tips for identifying scope.
Once you decide on a research topic, you need to determine the scope of your topic. The scope of a research topic is determined by how detailed you want your project to be. This process will tell you if your topic is already too narrow or too broad. Consider the following when determining the scope of your research topic (Leggett and Jackowski, 2012):
The following tips may help you identify the scope of your research topic (Center for Writing and Speaking, n.d.):
The following web page from Agnes Scott College, titled "Narrowing Scope" may assist you in determining the scope of your research topic.
A simple explainer with examples + free template.
By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020 (Updated April 2023)
Whether you’re nearing the end of your degree and your dissertation is on the horizon, or you’re planning to apply for a PhD program, chances are you’ll need to craft a convincing research proposal . If you’re on this page, you’re probably unsure exactly what the research proposal is all about. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Simply put, a research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research (your research topic), why it’s worth researching (your justification), and how you plan to investigate it (your methodology).
The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is suitable (for the requirements of the degree program) and manageable (given the time and resource constraints you will face).
The most important word here is “ convince ” – in other words, your research proposal needs to sell your research idea (to whoever is going to approve it). If it doesn’t convince them (of its suitability and manageability), you’ll need to revise and resubmit . This will cost you valuable time, which will either delay the start of your research or eat into its time allowance (which is bad news).
A good dissertation or thesis proposal needs to cover the “ what “, “ why ” and” how ” of the proposed study. Let’s look at each of these attributes in a little more detail:
Your proposal needs to clearly articulate your research topic . This needs to be specific and unambiguous . Your research topic should make it clear exactly what you plan to research and in what context. Here’s an example of a well-articulated research topic:
An investigation into the factors which impact female Generation Y consumer’s likelihood to promote a specific makeup brand to their peers: a British context
As you can see, this topic is extremely clear. From this one line we can see exactly:
So, make sure that your research proposal provides a detailed explanation of your research topic . If possible, also briefly outline your research aims and objectives , and perhaps even your research questions (although in some cases you’ll only develop these at a later stage). Needless to say, don’t start writing your proposal until you have a clear topic in mind , or you’ll end up waffling and your research proposal will suffer as a result of this.
As we touched on earlier, it’s not good enough to simply propose a research topic – you need to justify why your topic is original . In other words, what makes it unique ? What gap in the current literature does it fill? If it’s simply a rehash of the existing research, it’s probably not going to get approval – it needs to be fresh.
But, originality alone is not enough. Once you’ve ticked that box, you also need to justify why your proposed topic is important . In other words, what value will it add to the world if you achieve your research aims?
As an example, let’s look at the sample research topic we mentioned earlier (factors impacting brand advocacy). In this case, if the research could uncover relevant factors, these findings would be very useful to marketers in the cosmetics industry, and would, therefore, have commercial value . That is a clear justification for the research.
So, when you’re crafting your research proposal, remember that it’s not enough for a topic to simply be unique. It needs to be useful and value-creating – and you need to convey that value in your proposal. If you’re struggling to find a research topic that makes the cut, watch our video covering how to find a research topic .
It’s all good and well to have a great topic that’s original and valuable, but you’re not going to convince anyone to approve it without discussing the practicalities – in other words:
While it’s generally not expected that you’ll have a fully fleshed-out methodology at the proposal stage, you’ll likely still need to provide a high-level overview of your research methodology . Here are some important questions you’ll need to address in your research proposal:
So, be sure to give some thought to the practicalities of your research and have at least a basic methodological plan before you start writing up your proposal. If this all sounds rather intimidating, the video below provides a good introduction to research methodology and the key choices you’ll need to make.
Now that we’ve covered the key points that need to be addressed in a proposal, you may be wondering, “ But how is a research proposal structured? “.
While the exact structure and format required for a research proposal differs from university to university, there are four “essential ingredients” that commonly make up the structure of a research proposal:
In the video below, we unpack each of these four sections, step by step.
In the video below, we provide a detailed walkthrough of two successful research proposals (Master’s and PhD-level), as well as our popular free proposal template.
How long should a research proposal be.
This varies tremendously, depending on the university, the field of study (e.g., social sciences vs natural sciences), and the level of the degree (e.g. undergraduate, Masters or PhD) – so it’s always best to check with your university what their specific requirements are before you start planning your proposal.
As a rough guide, a formal research proposal at Masters-level often ranges between 2000-3000 words, while a PhD-level proposal can be far more detailed, ranging from 5000-8000 words. In some cases, a rough outline of the topic is all that’s needed, while in other cases, universities expect a very detailed proposal that essentially forms the first three chapters of the dissertation or thesis.
The takeaway – be sure to check with your institution before you start writing.
Finding a good research topic is a process that involves multiple steps. We cover the topic ideation process in this video post.
While you typically won’t need a comprehensive literature review at the proposal stage, you still need to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the key literature and are able to synthesise it. We explain the literature review process here.
We explain how to craft a project plan/timeline and budget in Research Proposal Bootcamp .
The expectations and requirements regarding formatting and referencing vary from institution to institution. Therefore, you’ll need to check this information with your university.
We’ve create a video post about some of the most common mistakes students make when writing a proposal – you can access that here . If you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary:
As you write up your research proposal, remember the all-important core purpose: to convince . Your research proposal needs to sell your study in terms of suitability and viability. So, focus on crafting a convincing narrative to ensure a strong proposal.
At the same time, pay close attention to your university’s requirements. While we’ve covered the essentials here, every institution has its own set of expectations and it’s essential that you follow these to maximise your chances of approval.
By the way, we’ve got plenty more resources to help you fast-track your research proposal. Here are some of our most popular resources to get you started:
If you’re looking for 1-on-1 support with your research proposal, be sure to check out our private coaching service , where we hold your hand through the proposal development process (and the entire research journey), step by step.
This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .
I truly enjoyed this video, as it was eye-opening to what I have to do in the preparation of preparing a Research proposal.
I would be interested in getting some coaching.
I real appreciate on your elaboration on how to develop research proposal,the video explains each steps clearly.
Thank you for the video. It really assisted me and my niece. I am a PhD candidate and she is an undergraduate student. It is at times, very difficult to guide a family member but with this video, my job is done.
In view of the above, I welcome more coaching.
Wonderful guidelines, thanks
This is very helpful. Would love to continue even as I prepare for starting my masters next year.
Thanks for the work done, the text was helpful to me
Bundle of thanks to you for the research proposal guide it was really good and useful if it is possible please send me the sample of research proposal
You’re most welcome. We don’t have any research proposals that we can share (the students own the intellectual property), but you might find our research proposal template useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-proposal-template/
Cheruiyot Moses Kipyegon
Thanks alot. It was an eye opener that came timely enough before my imminent proposal defense. Thanks, again
thank you very much your lesson is very interested may God be with you
I am an undergraduate student (First Degree) preparing to write my project,this video and explanation had shed more light to me thanks for your efforts keep it up.
Very useful. I am grateful.
this is a very a good guidance on research proposal, for sure i have learnt something
Wonderful guidelines for writing a research proposal, I am a student of m.phil( education), this guideline is suitable for me. Thanks
You’re welcome 🙂
Thank you, this was so helpful.
A really great and insightful video. It opened my eyes as to how to write a research paper. I would like to receive more guidance for writing my research paper from your esteemed faculty.
Thank you, great insights
Thank you, great insights, thank you so much, feeling edified
Wow thank you, great insights, thanks a lot
Thank you. This is a great insight. I am a student preparing for a PhD program. I am requested to write my Research Proposal as part of what I am required to submit before my unconditional admission. I am grateful having listened to this video which will go a long way in helping me to actually choose a topic of interest and not just any topic as well as to narrow down the topic and be specific about it. I indeed need more of this especially as am trying to choose a topic suitable for a DBA am about embarking on. Thank you once more. The video is indeed helpful.
Have learnt a lot just at the right time. Thank you so much.
thank you very much ,because have learn a lot things concerning research proposal and be blessed u for your time that you providing to help us
Hi. For my MSc medical education research, please evaluate this topic for me: Training Needs Assessment of Faculty in Medical Training Institutions in Kericho and Bomet Counties
I have really learnt a lot based on research proposal and it’s formulation
Thank you. I learn much from the proposal since it is applied
Your effort is much appreciated – you have good articulation.
You have good articulation.
I do applaud your simplified method of explaining the subject matter, which indeed has broaden my understanding of the subject matter. Definitely this would enable me writing a sellable research proposal.
This really helping
Great! I liked your tutoring on how to find a research topic and how to write a research proposal. Precise and concise. Thank you very much. Will certainly share this with my students. Research made simple indeed.
Thank you very much. I an now assist my students effectively.
Thank you very much. I can now assist my students effectively.
I need any research proposal
Thank you for these videos. I will need chapter by chapter assistance in writing my MSc dissertation
Very helpfull
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Thank you very much. I learned a lot from your lecture.
I really enjoy the in-depth knowledge on research proposal you have given. me. You have indeed broaden my understanding and skills. Thank you
interesting session this has equipped me with knowledge as i head for exams in an hour’s time, am sure i get A++
This article was most informative and easy to understand. I now have a good idea of how to write my research proposal.
Thank you very much.
Wow, this literature is very resourceful and interesting to read. I enjoyed it and I intend reading it every now then.
Thank you for the clarity
Thank you. Very helpful.
Thank you very much for this essential piece. I need 1o1 coaching, unfortunately, your service is not available in my country. Anyways, a very important eye-opener. I really enjoyed it. A thumb up to Gradcoach
What is JAM? Please explain.
Thank you so much for these videos. They are extremely helpful! God bless!
very very wonderful…
thank you for the video but i need a written example
So far , So good!
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Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.
The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.
The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.
Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.
Research question | Explanation |
---|---|
The first question is not enough. The second question is more , using . | |
Starting with “why” often means that your question is not enough: there are too many possible answers. By targeting just one aspect of the problem, the second question offers a clear path for research. | |
The first question is too broad and subjective: there’s no clear criteria for what counts as “better.” The second question is much more . It uses clearly defined terms and narrows its focus to a specific population. | |
It is generally not for academic research to answer broad normative questions. The second question is more specific, aiming to gain an understanding of possible solutions in order to make informed recommendations. | |
The first question is too simple: it can be answered with a simple yes or no. The second question is , requiring in-depth investigation and the development of an original argument. | |
The first question is too broad and not very . The second question identifies an underexplored aspect of the topic that requires investigation of various to answer. | |
The first question is not enough: it tries to address two different (the quality of sexual health services and LGBT support services). Even though the two issues are related, it’s not clear how the research will bring them together. The second integrates the two problems into one focused, specific question. | |
The first question is too simple, asking for a straightforward fact that can be easily found online. The second is a more question that requires and detailed discussion to answer. | |
? dealt with the theme of racism through casting, staging, and allusion to contemporary events? | The first question is not — it would be very difficult to contribute anything new. The second question takes a specific angle to make an original argument, and has more relevance to current social concerns and debates. |
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not . The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically . For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries. |
Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.
Type of research | Example question |
---|---|
Qualitative research question | |
Quantitative research question | |
Statistical research question |
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
Statistics
Research bias
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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/
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Starting your research project can be hard but the best place is usually the introduction and the literature review. The introduction is usually the first chapter of your thesis and "sets the scene" for the reader by providing the context and rationale for your research project. Everyone will have their own approach to their literature review, as there is no right way of doing it. Usually, you will have done some pre-reading on your research topic to help you decide on your specific area of interest, and the possible direction of your project. This should help provide you with an overall idea of where the review should head and the topics to be covered.
The following steps provide a general guide on how to approach your literature review and research proposal. Each research topic is different however, so there may be some variability in how they are best structured, conceptualised, and written.
Start by doing some reading in your research area.
Research, in many ways, is like an upside down pyramid, it starts general and becomes more specific as you go along. Once you have your research topic and an initial understanding of the literature base, you need to generate a specific research question.
A good literature review synthesizes the research and presents an overview of the current level of understanding in a particular field to form the context for your research project.
After writing a comprehensive literature review, the next step is to conceptualise your research study more specifically.
Use your background information to think of appropriate search terms. Brainstorm every possible search term for your topic.Try to think of synonyms and related words for each keyword to help broaden or narrow your search.
Look at your topic. For example: ‘Are Canadian youth politically engaged?’ The keywords in this topic would be Canadian , youth , and political engagement .
These keywords can become:
My research question was ‘Can alternative energy sources help stop global warming?’
For this question, the keywords would be alternative energy sources, and global warming. So, some search terms could be:
My assignment:.
Write a research report on a topic of your choice
My broad topic for the assignment is ‘Global Warming’.
Narrowing your subject to a more specific topic takes a bit of research and thought.
Here are some ideas to help you narrow your topic:
Use these questions:
(Content reproduced from MIT.edu under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License )
The subject we chose in the earlier step is ‘global warming.’ This subject is a very broad topic with many different aspects you could research. We will use the techniques above to narrow our subject to a research topic.
Sample research question: Can alternative energy sources help stop global warming?
A research agenda is a strategic plan that outlines the goals, priorities, and areas of investigation for future research endeavors. It serves as a roadmap, guiding researchers toward meaningful and impactful work. In the context of WHO, a research agenda identifies priority areas and gaps in health information and research, shaping new avenues for investigation and innovation for public health. A research prioritization document ranks the agenda to provide the most pressing areas to focus efforts. As the custodian of norms and standards for health information and research, WHO supports countries in the identification of research priorities and product gaps that will guide new areas of investigation and innovation. WHO actively promotes fairness and equity in research, including support for open access to research through shared data and publication platforms.
WHO research agendas, priorities and roadmaps have particular requirements and specific objectives:
A research agenda setting exercise is a thorough process identifying and ranking research required for public health impact on a particular theme. Clear research priorities allow resource allocation, and research roadmaps clearly articulate timeframes and who is responsible for implementation to reach the public health goals. National research agendas identify priorities for public health outcomes in a country’s context and may cover several thematic areas.
A research priority setting document should contain the following:
The systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise guide is based on a collection of good practice examples and methodologies drawn from across WHO and more widely. The document sets out a systematic approach to guide how to Plan, Implement, Publish and Evaluate (PIPE) a research priority-setting process. The approach provides a systematic guide to assist planning and implementing a quality research priority-setting exercise that will match the context. The resulting exercise should contain legitimate and credible priorities that have been developed in an ethical and equitable manner.
There are many different methodologies for developing research priorities, however the processes should contain the same steps, namely:
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A research area is what a research topic is placed into, but is much broader than the scope of the topic. For example a research area can be human physiology, computer science (as you mentioned) or even relate to a specific field within these broader terms such as cardiac electrophysiology or machine learning respectively.
Answer: A research topic is a specific part of study in a broader area of study. For instance, for your research topic, the broader research area is malaria prevention in households. A research question aims to further narrow down the scope of the study. It is a possibility you explore through your study aiming to solve the problem of your ...
Research Topic. Definition: Research topic is a specific subject or area of interest that a researcher wants to investigate or explore in-depth through research. It is the overarching theme or question that guides a research project and helps to focus the research activities towards a clear objective.
Identifying a research topic can be challenging. Most of the research that has been completed on the process of conducting research fails to examine the preliminary stages of the interactive and self-reflective process of identifying a research topic (Wintersberger & Saunders, 2020).
Selecting a research area is the very first step in writing your dissertation. It is important for you to choose a research area that is interesting to you professionally, as well as, personally. Experienced researchers note that "a topic in which you are only vaguely interested at the start is likely to become a topic in which you have no ...
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 about your topic. Narrow your topic to something manageable. If your topic is too broad, you will find too much information and not be able to focus.
Three Approaches for Developing a Topic. Approach #1: List Key Words of Interest. Make lists of concepts and topics you find interesting, as well as lists of related words and synonyms. These can serve as your key search terms. Concept 1: Concept 2: Look For:
Selecting a topic to research is not a one-step task. Identifying and developing your topic is an ongoing process that does not end until you have finished your research project. Start with an idea you are interested in. Find and read some background information to get a better understanding of the topic, then use what you have learned to ...
First, you will want to understand the difference between a subject and a topic. A subject is broad and general, such as Education or Sports or Film -- too big to be the focus of your research paper. You need to look within the broad subject area to find your topic. A topic is more focused, more precise; it is a narrower subset of a subject.
Defining a Topic - SAGE Research Methods. Develop My Research Idea - Academic Writer. Note: You MUST create an Academic Writer account AND start a paper in order to access this tool. Once you have done so, open a paper and click Research Lab Book in the left navigation menu. The Process for Developing Questions - ASC Guide.
It will depend on how many relevant and trustworthy sources you find in your research. You will need enough time to read through those sources and write a satisfactory paper given the limited space (yes, even 10 pages is a limited space). If you find many sources, consider narrowing your topic. If you find few sources, consider broadening your ...
During the "Ask" step, you need to define a specific topic, thesis, problem, or research question that your literature review will be focusing on. It may require first to gain some knowledge about the area or discipline that your topic, thesis, problem, or research question originate from.
The first step in developing a research focus is to narrow your general subject to a more specific topic. Here are some examples of how common subjects can be broken up into more specific topics: Subject. Topics. Accountancy. Responsibility of high schools to instruct students on budgeting/financial knowledge.
1. Identify an area of interest. The first step in the research process is choosing an area of interest. Psychological research can be quite varied and therefore, it can be difficult to narrow down your interests to find a specific topic to focus your research on. Selecting a research topic can be daunting at first, but it is a great ...
Elements of a good research topic. Interesting: topic represents an area of deep interest for the researcher Original: for PhD students, the topic can produce an original contribution to knowledge; Manageable: research question could be answered within the degree's recommended time frame (see time limitation). At McGill, PhD students are usually expected to have a sufficiently defined ...
Very similar to Explain. Describe what your subject means. Examine the key components of a topic or idea and give an evaluation of it. Investigate. Research, study and carefully survey all areas of the subject. J Justify. Give only the reasons for a position or argument. The proposition to be argued may be a negative one.
Here are some options to consider when narrowing the scope of your paper: Theoretical approach: Limit your topic to a particular approach to the issue. For example, if your topic concerns cloning, examine the theories surrounding of the high rate of failures in animal cloning. Aspect or sub-area: Consider only one piece of the subject.
Steps to Refining Your Topic. Once you have chosen a general topic idea the next step is to refine your topic and ulitmately to formulate a research question. Consider the points below to keep your research focused and on track. If you continue to have difficulties defining a topic talk to your instructor or a librarian.
Defining Scope. Once you decide on a research topic, you need to determine the scope of your topic. The scope of a research topic is determined by how detailed you want your project to be. This process will tell you if your topic is already too narrow or too broad. Consider the following when determining the scope of your research topic ...
The research topic is too broad (or just poorly articulated). The research aims, objectives and questions don't align. The research topic is not well justified. The study has a weak theoretical foundation. The research design is not well articulated well enough. Poor writing and sloppy presentation. Poor project planning and risk management.
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries.
Begin the research and writing process using the following tips: Research your question: Now that you have a research question, you can begin exploring possible answers to it. Your research question allows you to begin researching in a clear direction. Create a thesis statement: Once you have a clear understanding of your research question and ...
2. Investigate your research topic. You don't have to be good to start, you just have to start to be good - Joe Sabah. Starting your research project can be hard but the best place is usually the introduction and the literature review. The introduction is usually the first chapter of your thesis and "sets the scene" for the reader by providing ...
STEP 1: Define Your Topic. The first step when planning and writing a research paper is picking a good topic. A good topic is relevant to the assignment and has enough information available for you to use and is neither too broad nor too narrow. This section will help you pick a subject that interests you, and refine that subject to a specific ...
Introduction: Contextualize the agenda, highlighting its purpose and relevance, and what is already known. Public health need: Clearly define the public health need to be addressed, including disease outcomes or risk factors, desired change, and the time frame to be covered. Methodology: Describe the approach to research prioritization.Be transparent on the methodology chosen and why.