This document provides guidance on selecting a research topic. It discusses important considerations like ensuring the topic is interesting, feasible within available resources, and has not already been extensively researched. An example is provided of evaluating a potential topic against criteria like being within one's area of specialization. The document also notes how the internet both expands topic possibilities but also makes selection more difficult by providing unlimited options and potential for inappropriate topics. It recommends preliminary reading and online tools to help identify relevant prior work and trends to aid in selecting an appropriate research topic.

2. Personal Information
Name - Hina Parmar
Roll No - 10
Sem - 3
Enrollment no - 4069206420220021
Email - hinaparmar612@gmail.com
Subject - Selection of a Topic
Paper no - 209
Paper code - 22416
Paper - Research Methodology
Submitted to - Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of English
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

3. points to ponder
● Introduction
● Importance of Selection of Topic
● Converting ideas into Research topics
● Research topic selection based on observations of "research trends"
in the world
● Topic Selection : An Example
● Finding an Appropriate Focus
● World Wide Web Compounds Difficulty of Topic Selection
● Online tools and Platforms
● Conclusion
● Resources

4. Introduction
● Easterby ȬSmith et al comment that: ‘It is very rare for students to have a
clear focus from the outset of their research, and yet many find the lack of a
clear focus is a major impediment to getting started’ (Horan)
● Education is on the rise all over the world. With its development in the world
of education, it has to face many problems. In the world researchers are
constantly trying to solve problems. Scientific study and successful solution
of the problem is not an easy process. To solve this problem one has to go
through a series of steps.
● For this the researcher has to first identify the problem about the research
topic. The topic is not researchable until the problem is properly identified.
Hence in the present article we will discuss the importance of how to identify
the problem, the source, features, standard and delimitation.
(Herma)

5. Importance of Selection of Topic
● The research is born out of necessity. The researcher Itself needs
to know in the present situation from which the problem can be
selected.
● Getting a research problem is often a frustrating experience for a
researcher. After looking at the research papers that come out
every year, what is left for us now is that there is such
frustration on which research can be done. But the horizons of
knowledge are expanding. Uncultivated research fields are
emerging. Hence the problems for research will never be lost.
But as a researcher, they should understand that they do not
have the ability to identify the right problem.(Herma)

6. CONVERTING IDEAS INTO RESEARCH TOPICS
Once researchers have ideas, they need to evaluate those ideas
critically to come up with potential research topics. This process
involves the following, not necessarily linear steps:
● Topics of Interest - Choose potential topics of interest so that the
researcher continues being motivated to successfully overcome
problems that are generally encountered in the course of the
study.
● Topics Appropriate to the Discipline - Researchers’ interest should be
either in the core discipline or in closely related disciplines.
● Narrow Down the Broad Topic to a Specific Topic - When the scope of a
topic is too broad or too narrow, it will be difficult to conduct research.
● Feasibility of the Study - It is necessary to assess the feasibility of
potential topics whether the project can be undertaken with
available resources in terms of manpower, time frame, financial,
equipment and other facilities.. ( Adhikari)

7. Research topic selection based on observations of "research
trends" in the world
● According to Dr. Fitri Khaerunnisa cognitive experience,
research topics can be explored from research trends that are
taking place throughout the world. Global issues that become
world’s trending topics inspired him to design research with
actual global topics or issues. For example, local issues related
to global warming, food security, etc. Nevertheless, according
to Dr. Fitri Khaerunnisa, from the existing global issues, we
must look for more specific issues that people have not
researched yet, because even though the research topic has
been raised as a world trend, we must still take into account
the more specific issues.(Fadhy)

8. TOPIC SELECTION: AN EXAMPLE
● The identified research topic was evaluated with
reference to the FRIENDS framework. one had
interest and curiosity, and it was within the area
of one’s specialisation. Identification of
supervisor was not applicable as work was not
for an academic degree. In the research project,
the Institute’s Director was an advisor. The
scope of the work was already focused and
specific; hence, there was no need to narrow
down the scope. (Adhikari)

9. ● Preliminary reading is essential as one evaluate and refine topics.
Consult, in print and electronic form, general reference works,
such as encyclopedias, as well as articles and books in the areas
you are considering. One can also refine their topic by doing
subject searches in reference databases and in online catalogs and
through Internet search tools. Such preliminary reading and
searches will also let one to know if enough work has been done
on the subject to permit adequate research and whether the
pertinent source materials are readily accessible. (MLA Handbook)
.
Finding an Appropriate Focus

10. World Wide Web Compounds Difficulty
of Topic Selection
Increasing access to the internet and the world wide web has compounded the problem of topic
selection. On the other hand potential topics or students are now virtually unlimited. By using
cyberspace, each student can choose a topic of high interest. On the other hand, the explosion of topic
possibilities brings an equally explosive chance that the students will select a topic inappropriate for a
school research assignment. The teacher can control the student's access to inappropriate Websites
during school hours, but there is no guarantee that the student using a home computer will not use a
poorly chosen topic as a jumping off point for accessing and eventually bringing to school inappropriate
material. The student's parents, in such situation, may tend to blame the school and teacher for
assigning the topic. (McKenna)

11. Online tools and Platforms
● With Connected Papers - One can build a graph of papers
relevant to a particular field and discover prior or derivatives
works in their field of interest.
● Arxiv Sanity - allows researchers to keep track of recent papers,
search for papers, sort papers by similarity to any paper, see
recent popular papers, add papers to a personal library, and get
personalized recommendations of (new or old) Arxiv papers.
● Alpha Signal - provides researchers with a weekly summary of
research papers trending and worth reading.
● Using Google Scholar - one can add personalized keywords,
fields, researchers and get notifications whenever any paper
relevant to them gets uploaded.( mangla)

12. Conclusion
The choice of a research topic is governed primarily by the interest and
passion of the researcher. The research interest is normally limited to the core
or related disciplines to be acceptable to the supervisor and the university.
Narrow and focused topics that might advance scientific knowledge or solve
practical problems or might benefit society are further examined from the
feasibility and ethical aspects. The ‘FRIENDS’ framework for topic selection,
which incorporates different aspects, might be useful for research scholars in
general. (Adhikari)

13. Adhikari, Dr. G. R. (2020). Strategies for selecting a research topic. Mining Engineer’s Journal, 22.
Fadhly, Fahrus Zaman, Emzir Emzir, and Ninuk Lustyantie. "Exploring cognitive process of research topic selection in
academic writing." English Review: Journal of English Education 7.1 (2018): 157-166.
HERMA, N. A. (2022). Basis of selecting research topic: An analytical study. Research Ambition: An International
Multidisciplinary e-Journal, 6(IV), 12–14. https://doi.org/10.53724/ambition/v6n4.05
Horan, Conor. "Research topic selection & development: Suggested guidelines for the student researcher." (2009): 19-36.
Mangla, Puneet. “Choosing the Research Topic and Reading Its Literature.” PyImageSearch, 2022, pyimg.co/oravw.
McKenna, Barbara J., and John J. McKenna. “Selecting Topics for Research Writing Projects.” The English Journal, vol. 89,
no. 6, 2000, pp. 53–58. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/821263. Accessed 3 Apr. 2024.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Modern Language Association of America, 2009. Accessed 3 April 2024.
Resources