First of all your own curiosity and desire to learn is an excellent place to start.
1. Ask your supervisor, friends, teachers for advice
Takling about your ideas with people can be very revealing and helpful.
2. Look at previous research work
There are almost certainly many examples of similar klinds of research projects which you could look at.
These may be presented in the form of published articles or research reports or theses.
You might consider replicating one of these: using the same methods to analyse the same problem,
but in a different area or institution. This can be very useful and illuminating, whether you confirm, add to or cast doubt
upon the earlier findings.
3. Develop some of your previous research
You may have already done a piece of small scale research, or perhaps researched a particular field o study for
an essay or shorter paper. Think about whether it would be possible and interesting to develop this line of thought
further.
4. Relate it to your other interests
5. Think of a title
You may find that thinking of possible titles for research suggests topics of interst to you.
6. Start from a quote that engages you
Another approach is to extract from the literature you have read one or more quotations which really engage your attention.
We are talking here about the kind of statements which draw a strong positive or negative reaction. These quotations amy be
comments, interpretations of research date, questions or assertions.
7. Follow your hunches
You may have a strong instrinctive feeling that a particular area or issue needs researching or will raise intersting questions.
This may be because of a critical incident you have experienced. Or it may be that something about it surprises or puzzles you.
Don!t be afraid to follow your hunches and see wheer they lead.
8. Draw yourself a picture or diagram
Producing a spider-diagram of issues, interests, questions and their possible ,nterconnections is a standard brainstorming technique. It
can be undertaken individually or in a group.
9. Just start anywhere
Finally, if none of the above engages or appeals to you, you could just start anywhere. Go away and read something, or talk to somebody
about some of the issues relevant to your general subject area.
TIPS ON CHOOSING A TOPIC:
First of all your own curiosity and desire to learn is an excellent place to start.1. Ask your supervisor, friends, teachers for advice
Takling about your ideas with people can be very revealing and helpful.2. Look at previous research work
There are almost certainly many examples of similar klinds of research projects which you could look at.These may be presented in the form of published articles or research reports or theses.
You might consider replicating one of these: using the same methods to analyse the same problem,
but in a different area or institution. This can be very useful and illuminating, whether you confirm, add to or cast doubt
upon the earlier findings.
3. Develop some of your previous research
You may have already done a piece of small scale research, or perhaps researched a particular field o study foran essay or shorter paper. Think about whether it would be possible and interesting to develop this line of thought
further.
4. Relate it to your other interests
5. Think of a title
You may find that thinking of possible titles for research suggests topics of interst to you.6. Start from a quote that engages you
Another approach is to extract from the literature you have read one or more quotations which really engage your attention.We are talking here about the kind of statements which draw a strong positive or negative reaction. These quotations amy be
comments, interpretations of research date, questions or assertions.
7. Follow your hunches
You may have a strong instrinctive feeling that a particular area or issue needs researching or will raise intersting questions.This may be because of a critical incident you have experienced. Or it may be that something about it surprises or puzzles you.
Don!t be afraid to follow your hunches and see wheer they lead.
8. Draw yourself a picture or diagram
Producing a spider-diagram of issues, interests, questions and their possible ,nterconnections is a standard brainstorming technique. Itcan be undertaken individually or in a group.
9. Just start anywhere
Finally, if none of the above engages or appeals to you, you could just start anywhere. Go away and read something, or talk to somebodyabout some of the issues relevant to your general subject area.