This article explains how to choose a research topic. The article aids in defining the stages of theoretical research development in any field. The article discusses how to prepare to develop a research topic, how to approach a research problem, and how to theoretically develop the problem. The article concludes by highlighting the potential pitfalls that can occur when selecting a research topic, as well as the positive aspects of students and early-career researchers who begin research in a field. Visit https://bit.ly/3vh01Vh for more information.

1. Guidelines for how to choose research
paper topics
This article explains the process of choosing a research topic. The article helps delineate the
stages in the development of theoretical research in any field. The article provides methods for
preparing to develop a research topic, steps for approaching a research problem, and methods
for the theoretical development of the problem. The article ends by highlighting the potential
pitfalls that can arise when choosing a research topic, as well as positive points concerning
students and early-career researchers who begin research in a field. This article is written with
the intention of helping this group of people starts the process of developing a research topic by
helping them gain a thorough understanding of the whole process.
Starting academic research is one of the most important activities for new postgraduate and
doctoral students. Although debated by many, the publish-or-perish mantra still holds credence
in the academic arena. Good teaching can be rewarded locally, and that is a laudable pursuit in
itself, but most tenure decisions and the principles of recognition and prestige depend on
engineering conference paper publication. Publishing also has an existential purpose by

2. allowing individuals to leave their mark on the intellectual history of their respective disciplines.
Given the necessity and benefits of academic writing, it is imperative that students begin this
process as early as possible in their careers. This article offers critical insight into how students
and researchers can begin the publication process early in their academic careers.
It offers a useful synopsis of the various stages of publishing research, from initiating a project
with an idea to submitting and revising the manuscript. Another area the article touches on is
the process of identifying and selecting research topics. In addition to this, readers must take
into account the overall ideas of contribution to the field and the experiential context of the
student. Many doctoral students do not have a research orientation, and even those who do
might still lack the experience required to develop a particular topic within a much broader
research area.
The purpose of this article is to traverse the process of selecting a research topic, and it offers a
framework for students to be able to easily follow and implement. It also provides points on the
preparation and selection of research as a student or early-career researcher. The remainder of
this manuscript is formatted in sections that help provide a chronological method for the novice
scholar to pursue relevant research.
● The first section provides introductory techniques and thoughts on getting into the
right mindset to identify a research topic.
● The second section goes over how one should consider approaching a research
problem. Methods of theory development are described in the third section.
● The fourth section outlines research-related pitfalls, while the fifth outlines some
potential opportunities and benefits.
● Finally, the conclusions are discussed.
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3. ● Inculcating A Brand New Perspective Or Outlook On Things
○ When setting out to identify a research project, many students and
early-career researchers start by jumping straight to a solution to a
challenge before they have thought about the problem adequately or
sometimes even before they have a well-defined problem.
○ This is analogous to how many novice decision-makers approach
unfamiliar issues; that is, they focus almost immediately on the solution
while ignoring the fundamental steps involved in defining the problem and
considering alternatives.
○ The problem this presents is that many students and early-career
researchers are unprepared to engage in the appropriate activities
necessary to adequately select a research topic based on a defined
problem.
○ Before choosing a viable research topic, the individual must prepare
mentally to engage in the process of exploration and development, which
can be a challenge for many new students and early-career researchers.
○ A premise that any researcher must question is the acceptance of existing
scientific dogmas or paradigms.

4. ○ Many students and early-career researchers are indoctrinated in the
fundamental theories of their discipline because, in essence, right from their
kindergarten years, they are socialized to accept what they read without
meaningful critical evaluation of what is presented.
○ This training leaves them inattentive to the things they should be aware of
and imprisons them in the routine way of seeing the world around
themselves.
○ To prepare to identify a research topic, students and early-career
researchers must be prepared to challenge previous beliefs.
○ Although it might be difficult, there are some techniques students and
early-career researchers can use to foster creative thinking –
● Brainstorming
As you read and reflect on the research, write down ideas that don’t take on their full meaning.
(This shows the usefulness of having a research notebook in which ideas can be recorded.)
● Thinking Outside-The-Box (Outside Your Own Comfort Zone Or Discipline)
Try to think outside of your discipline and training in your sphere of interest or expertise. This is
often accomplished by challenging assumptions, i.e., asking what is true if we have no
preconceived ideas or assumptions. Attending an international conference in 2022 will help
you learn more about getting out of your comfort zone.
● Partnering
When you think of a research topic, pass it by someone who is completely out of your region. A
good idea is to pitch it as a good story. If you can explain the concept to a “layman” or someone
outside your field and it makes sense, it’s more likely that your idea is logically sound.
● Asking “Why”

5. You shouldn’t cease questioning the findings of your own research and those of other
reasearchers as well. Partnering with a professional outside of your own niche may result in he
or she may counter some criticalities in your subject that you’ve taken for granted so far.
● Talking About It
If you talk about an idea, you will find that you conceptualize the how, why, where, who, etc. We
often tend to think we understand a problem, but talking about it forces us to pull together
loosely related ideas into a cohesive whole.
● Drawing Is Fun & Effective
Although not all research can be visualized, concepts can often be drawn. Graphical
representations help you group complex ideas into manageable nuggets that can be understood
more easily. For most research models, if you’re able to draw it, you’ll be able to understand it.
Moreover, the very model that is drawn may raise new problems that need to be addressed.
● Thinking Of Things That Interest You
These ideas could be in your field of research or completely unrelated. Good research begins
with what interests the author, serving as a buffer against discouragement and disinterest in
research later in the process. If you have difficulties with this, you could always avail the
assistance of a top academic research consultancy such as IFERP.
● Approaching The Problem
○ Once the researcher is in an appropriate frame of mind, he or she can
begin to address the research problem.
○ One of the problems that many students and early-career researchers have
is the concept of ​
​
actually working on the research problem itself.
○ Many novice researchers tend to jump straight into engaging themselves in
the discovery of solutions to the problem instead of just investing the time
necessary to dig into the underlying issues related to the problem.
○ The risk this strategy creates is that the researcher will not fully understand
the problem and, in turn, might not recognize the fundamental questions
that frame the context of the problem.

6. ○ There are three methods of approaching a problem that allow the
researcher to better understand the problem before attempting to develop
and implement solutions –
■ Isolating & Structuring,
■ Magnifying The Research Problem, and
■ Theory Research.
● Isolating & Structuring
○ Most of the problems that students and early-career researchers will
analyze are not simple; that is, they are part of complex systems that have
components, as well as interactions with a larger environmental system.
○ Therefore, most research problems will tend to be multidimensional in
nature.
○ Of course, a daunting hurdle that most investigators face when trying to
understand complex issues is tackling the entire problem at once.
○ Although it is very beneficial to have a general high-level understanding of
the problem, sooner or later, the researcher must investigate the context of
his/her problem.
○ First, the researcher must isolate the problem from other external factors to
better understand the problem itself.
○ Next, the researcher must specify and define the concepts of the problem.
○ This allows the researcher to comprehend each component of the problem
in isolation before beginning to understand these individual components in
more detail or integrating these components.
○ Then the researcher can clarify reference levels, such as -part-whole or
micro-macro concepts, before specifying the relationships between integral
concepts and organizing them as well as categorizing these concepts into
an overall typology.
○ By isolating the individual parts of the problem, the researcher will be able
to develop a deeper understanding before moving on to other tasks, such
as integrating the problem.

7. Magnifying The Research Problem
○ After isolating a problem and giving it a structure, the next step is for the
researcher to enlarge the problem.
○ By magnifying or elaborating on the theoretical basis behind the problem,
the researcher can gain a better understanding of the problem itself.
○ While isolation breaks the problem down into its constituent parts,
magnification focuses on one or more particular isolated sections and
amplifies each part of that section to allow for a deeper understanding of
that particular isolated part of the problem.
○ The sections of the problem must be carefully enlarged to be fully
understood by the researcher.
○ This may involve reading the problem part, performing experiments to
reproduce the problem part, or simply thinking more deeply about the
problem part (e.g., thought experiments).
○ The key is to accentuate the parts of the individual problem so that they are
more understandable and easier to grasp.
● Theory Research
○ The last step in approaching a problem is to apply one or more relevant
theories by carrying out a comprehensive review of the literature.
○ Doctoral Students and early-career researchers are usually used to
conducting literature reviews, as it is often one of the first “research” tasks
given to them as doctoral students.
○ Nonetheless, this familiarity can be a liability if thorough and proper
research is not undertaken.
○ Various guidelines should be considered when conducting a literature
review.
○ First, research must be targeted.
○ Although one often finds ancillary articles of interest when doing a general
search, the searcher should stay on target lest they be overwhelmed by the
amount of literature that is likely to be found.

8. ○ Then, it is necessary to identify the founding articles in the field of
investigation.
○ These articles often represent “groundbreaking” research or a concept
paper that defines a stream of research.
○ Such articles can often be used as a starting point for researching
theoretical concepts associated with the research topic.
○ Starting with a seminal article, both in-article and in-article references
should be considered.
○ The main goal of a thorough literature review is to find enough relevant
theories and research to formulate a well-structured argument from which
your particular research questions can derive.
● Setting About Developing Your Theory
○ There are many different ways to develop a theory that addresses research
problems, but many students and early-career researchers find this process
daunting.
○ While, on occasion, a research idea may “magically” appear out of
epiphany, most research ideas arise from a significant investment of time
and mental energy.
○ The key is to always be alert to opportunities and possibilities for new
research that will arise unexpectedly and at unforeseen times.
○ A choice to be made when developing a theoretical basis for a problem is
the type of theory development methodology to use.
○ A theoretical base can be detailed and relate to an already established field
or it can be completely new and address new or emerging fields.
○ In a metaphorical sense, one can think of a clock face as a way of looking
at the development of a theoretical context for research, interpreting that
research is a compromise between precision, simplicity, and generality.
○ Any theory will be, at most, strong in two of the three clock domains while
giving up the third.
○ Although this example offers a useful guide to developing research, a more
detailed guide is generally required for most students and early-career

9. researchers.
○ A second important element for researchers, and particularly relevant for
beginning researchers, is the concept of contribution to knowledge.
○ Contribution to knowledge involves increasing our understanding of a
phenomenon in order to contribute to the body of knowledge in the field.
○ Several methods are available by which original research contributions can
be made, including establishing causal relationships, evaluating the
effectiveness of a particular approach to a problem, longitudinal
examination of the problem, exploring an approach to solving a problem
through descriptive study, establishing a method for creating a solution to a
problem, developing constructs about the causes or characteristics of a
problem, or developing a predictive model.
○ The importance lies in demonstrating that there is a contribution to
knowledge that creates a step forward in the particular branch of the
researcher.
● There are three types of theoretical development opportunities that can be used to
guide researchers. These three strategies can be adopt for the development of an
underlying theoretical foundation for finding a solution to a problem. These include –
○ New Theory On A Phenomenon That Has Already Been Looked Into &
Interpreted;
○ Theory On An Already Recognized Phenomenon That Not Much Is Known
About In Detail;
○ Anomalies To An Existing Paradigm.

10. ● New Theory On A Phenomenon That Has Already Been Looked Into &
Interpreted
○ Any discipline that includes doctoral studies will have a literature base
relevant to the field.
○ This theory forms the foundation for many of the seminar courses required
for students in doctoral programs.
○ These fundamental theories and concepts are usually transmitted to
students from the textbooks of undergraduate programs and this
knowledge is then developed in doctoral training during seminars and other
basic courses.
○ Doctoral students usually find a field in their field and strive to create
in-depth literature reviews.
○ Given this, doctoral students become quite well versed in a specific area of
​
​
the discipline and the basic theories and research that come with that area.

11. ○ Much research and science start from a currently understood and generally
accepted field, and from there, the research effort involves activities that
focus on delving deeper into the subject.
● There an array of perks when adopting this brand of research.
○ First, it allows the researcher to use the knowledge he has already acquired
and to build from this base.
○ Second, this type of research allows the researcher to examine smaller or
more subtle topics in the field that have not yet been studied. Also, it allows
the researcher to develop more precise techniques to measure a
phenomenon. It has been argued that larger mid-range substantive theories
need to be developed that will focus on producing practical outcomes that
can be utilized in the field. Without refinement and development of current
research, improvements in current practice will occur less frequently.
○ Although new theories on existing research are needed, this type of basic
theoretical development for research also has drawbacks. First, if a
researcher dives into an existing search stream very deeply, the search
may no longer be available to the general public. Moreover, this type of
theoretical development risks leading to research that is only the
description of small-scale or inconsequential phenomena. Moreover, this
type of research, if not controlled, can result in counting things for the
purpose of counting or generating data primarily for the purpose of applying
rigorous statistical techniques. While new theories on the phenomena
explained are necessary, these theories run the risk of regressing into
meaningless research that merely affirms the assumptions of their
audience.
● Theory On An Already Recognized Phenomenon That Not Much Is Known
About In Detail
○ Some areas of a discipline may be known but misunderstood.
○ Many researchers want to solve the puzzles that no one else has been able
to solve in the field, but often a researcher has to settle for describing the
problem correctly and leave further analysis for others.
○ This type of research will classify phenomena without exposing details that
lie below the surface and can be used to provide a roadmap for future
research in the area.

12. ○ Doctoral students find themselves in a unique situation here as they begin
to synthesize research in a particular area for future work in their thesis.
○ Doctoral students, during these first forays into the field, build a review of
the literature, and, in the end, this review can provide a taxonomy of a field
that is original in its synthesis of ideas.
○ This summary may not provide the details, but a much-needed infusion of
new or innovative ideas in the field.
○ Some authors argue that a greater number of conceptual, theoretical bases
are necessary before tackling the major problems of a discipline.
○ These “intermediate” theories are needed to help guide empirical inquiry
and can be used to formally compare current research to produce more
general taxonomies.
○ In fact, the argument has been made that some areas are not yet ready for
more “global” theories as the necessary preparatory work remains to be
done.
○ This implies that more research should be conducted to explore a
phenomenon known at a high level, although the details may not be known.
○ Given the above arguments for higher-level theoretical foundations for
research problems, there are still counter-arguments, especially with regard
to editing.
○ Some journal editors view this type of research as trivial or unoriginal while
other editors disagree with this assessment and are inclined to evaluate the
article based on its fundamental contribution to the field.
○ Whether or not this type of research is publishable is a separate issue from
whether it can offer a good start to an investigation into an area and can
provide a framework from which to springboard into further research.
● Anomalies To An Existing Paradigm
○ Anomalies in existing research can both hold promise and simultaneously
instill reluctance to researchers.
○ For example, anomalies can open new doors while challenging previous
research.

13. ○ Many researchers are cautious about discrepancies between current and
past research, as they feel they run the risk of being criticized for
questioning orthodoxy.
○ It has been argued that the best kind of research occurs when it contradicts
existing research by providing a viable alternative to what is accepted as
the status quo.
○ Also, new theoretical development is more pronounced and, therefore,
more likely to be noticed when it falsifies established “truth”.
● One researcher based his entire article on the delineation of “interesting” research on
the assumption that such research challenges currently held truths.
● The researcher argued that an interesting proposition is always the negation of an
accepted proposition and that a new proposition will only be noticed when it goes
against an established truth.
● These types of anomalies create tensions, inconsistencies, and contradictions
between accepted research and new research that provide the opportunity to develop
better theoretical foundations for your research and draw attention to it.
● Given this, research that examines or highlights anomalies in existing research
represents a rich area of ​
​
study.
● Obviously, the process of executing and progressing research that exhibits these
qualities isn’t simple.
● A description of “disciplined imagination” can aid in the theoretical development of
problem-solving which involves defining the three components of a problem –
○ problem statements,
○ thought trials, and
○ criteria for selection.
● One can study a number of methods for finding interesting research that has been
used in the past – many of these even challenge current beliefs in the field.
● Although finding anomalies can be a daunting task, there are ways to take advantage
of these opportunities to develop exciting new research through practice.

14. ● Pitfalls That Researchers Need To Be Wary Of
○ Research offers the potential for many rewards for both the researcher and
society as a whole, but there are also potential risks in the process
described here for selecting an appropriate research topic.
○ Listed below are some of the pitfalls that can be associated with this
process. Attending a Scopus indexed conference in 2022 will also help
you get well versed with these pitfalls.
● Above, the first shift in mindset highlighted was to question past scientific knowledge.
It is a very beneficial endeavor and one that both students and early-career
researchers should learn from, but as with everything, a fine balance must be
maintained. If you examine every anomaly, you will never accomplish any work.
● One of the challenges of becoming a good researcher is separating research
questions that are important enough to be investigated from those that should not be
questioned. In other words, one should be able to identify problems that are
promising and have practical significance. The criteria for making this decision will be
unique for different researchers in different fields of research, but they should be
discovered and evaluated by each individual through both reason and experience. Of
course, experience only comes when you are willing to risk making mistakes.
● Another potential pitfall is choosing to work with or refer to “substantiated” research
rather than unsubstantiated research. Many doctoral students – and seasoned
researchers, for that matter – are attracted to “reputable” theories often because of
the amount of corroboration, the strength of citations in the literature, the popularity of
the theory, etc. Although this is a very pragmatic approach, this research should not
be the end of the research. There is good research that is new or unexamined and
has research potential because of its unpopularity or novelty. Recall that even
Einstein’s theory of relativity (1916) was rarely cited in 1916.
● Positives That Researchers Need To Be Wary Of
○ The previous section highlighted a few of the pitfalls that are inherent to
theory development.
○ There are also positives for students and early-career researchers as they
begin to develop their own theoretical research programs.
○ Although not everyone realizes these potential benefits, they do offer some
ideas for approaching your research in a way that could increase the
possibility of producing new and interesting research.

15. ● Selecting a valid and authentic research topic will also help you ace the entire
research paper submission process when you come to the point of submitting your
finished manuscript to the journal of your choice.
● Those who are new to a field feel less tied to a specific worldview or research
paradigm.
● This offers many opportunities for students and early-career researchers.
○ First, since newcomers to a field are less tied to previous research in a
field, they have the potential to make the greatest discoveries because they
are more open-minded. While those who are grounded in the theories that
predominate in a field rarely question the previous research on which they
base their own research, those who are new to research will have fewer of
these strong opinions. That’s why it’s so crucial to shift your mindset to
question past research. This will allow the researcher to think outside the
box and potentially make discoveries that are not accessible to more
experienced researchers due to their faith in the basic literature of the
research area.
● Another positive is the ability to approach a problem from a different
domain/paradigm. Good science often arises, almost by accident, when someone
outside the field challenges the status quo and examines a problem from an open
perspective. As students and early-career researchers, being less attached to a
specific field, they are more open to perceiving a problem from the point of view of
another field. Applying knowledge or theories from other disciplines can open the
door to solving problems in the original discipline in new and exciting ways.
Often, the act of selecting a research topic is overlooked in the overall process of publishing
academic research. This article addresses this problem by providing a much-needed delineation
of the steps that are involved in selecting a research topic. A final comment that needs further
explanation relates to the topic of “extraordinary” research. Many authors, including those
quoted in this book, have opinions about what extraordinary research entails. The only
interesting research is that which attempts to explain something by contradicting the
assumptions of the intended audience of the article. In some fields, intermediate theories are
more important because global theories are generally not feasible. Theories that attempt to
explain anomalies in existing research are more exemplary. Although some of these “ideal”
types of theories may be more publishable in some academic journals, this manuscript does not
claim that one type of theory is inherently superior to another. Instead, we have focused on
providing practical guidance that researchers can leverage to better develop their own theories
using the theoretical type they prefer. Download the IFERP mobile app today if you’d like to
read up on highly informative blogs and articles such as this one.