Developing a Topic for Research - Inquiries, Investigations, and Immersion

1. Developing A
Topic For
Research

2. Preliminary Questions to ask in choosing a topic for research
1. What topic/s for research interests me?
2. What is it about the topic that I choose that
is interesting to me?
3. What do I know about the topic that
interests me?

3. Identifying Possible Research Topics
Think of a topic that interests you and write it in the middle circle of
the concept map below. Then, think of key words or concepts that
are related to the topic and write them on the other circles.
Topic:

4. Think of a field of study/discipline and a subfield that interest you and write them beside
numbers 1 and 2 below, respectively. Then, determine a broad topic within the subfield
and a specific one and write them beside numbers 3 and 4. This activity can help you
decide on a research topic.
History
Field of Study/
Discipline
Economic History
Subfield
Foreign Trade
Broad Topic within
the Subfield
Imports and Exports
Specific Topic
(1) ___________
Field of Study/
Discipline
(2) ____________
Subfield
(3) ______________
Broad Topic within
the Subfield
(4) ______________
Specific Topic

5. Delimiting The Topic
1. Persons or categories of people to be studied.
 “who are the persons that I want to study?”
2. Place of the Study
“where is the specific geographical location of the
study?”
3. Time period of the research
 “how long will my study take?
4. Spheres of human interest
 “what human activity or interest do I want to study?”
5. Social artifacts
 “what particular artifacts or interaction will I focus
on?”

6. Delimiting the Scope of the Topic:
Who are the persons or groups that I want to study?
Specific Topic:
Persons or group to be studied:
Significance of the persons and categories of people:
Where is the geographical location/specific location of my study?
Specific Topic:
Geographical location or place of study:
Significance of the location or place of study:
What is the time period of my study?
Specific Topic:
Time period of study:
Significance of the start and end of the time period:

7. Delimiting the Scope of the Topic:
What human activity or interest do I want to study?
Specific Topic:
Human activity or interest that I want to study:
Significance of the human activity or interest:
What social artifact will I study?
Specific Topic:
What particular product of social beings, human social behaviour,
social interaction, cultural tradition, ceremony, ritual, or social
problem will I study?

8. Some Guidelines for Developing a Research Topic
1. Check resources that are related to your topic in the
library.
2. Expanding the scope of the subject gives you specific
access to more available resources for your topic.
3. Avoid topics that you do not have any knowledge at all.
4. Researchers must consider the availability of sources.
5. Choose a topic that is not vague, intangible, or
debatable or is not easily answerable.
6. Choose a topic that is not yet overly written on by other
researchers in a field.
7. Ensure that you have the necessary funds or resources to
collect data.
8. Consider the resources or budget needed to analyze
data

9. Developing A
Working Title
Based on the
Research Topic

10. Tips on developing a working title for a research paper
1. The title should encapsulate the main idea
2. The title should be in the form of concise statement
that explains the essence of the topic
3. The title should identify the actual variables or
theoretical issues being studied in the research
4. The title should be self-explanatory
5. A good research title must be clearly phrased.
6. Avoid titles that do not provide any useful purpose
7. Do not develop a very long title
8. Do not begin the title with phrases
9. Do not use abbreviations in the title
10.The recommended length of a research title is 10
to 12 words.

11. Examples of Approved Research Titles
1. Effects of Transformed Letters on Reading Speed
2. Effects of Divorce on Children
3. Effects of Extracurricular Activities on Student’s
Perceived Academic Self-Efficacy
4. Impact of Family Structure & Parental Involvement
in Low Socioeconomic Areas on Reading
Development of 2nd
Grade Elementary Students
5. Impact of Parental Involvement on the Academic
Achievement of 3rd
Grade Students
6. Effects of Outside Employment on High School
Students’ Academic Achievement
7. Effects of Students’ Participation in Organized,
Competitive Sports on Academic Success