The document provides guidance on selecting a topic for research. It discusses defining research and identifying the essential components of research, which include identifying a topic, defining the problem, proposing a solution and validating it, writing, and presenting. It offers guidelines for selecting a topic, such as focusing on your areas of expertise and knowledge gaps, keeping the topic flexible while being specific, and ensuring the topic is feasible within your time and resources. The document emphasizes building a strong foundation of knowledge on the topic and being prepared to revisit the selection if needed. The goal is to add original knowledge by addressing an unsolved problem or gap in a manageable way.

1. Selection of Topic for Research
Dr. Aloysius H. Sequeira
Professor
School of Management,
NITK, Surathkal
email: aloysiushs@gmail.com

2. Defining research
• Research is an art of investigation of new and
innovative aspects of any branch of
knowledge.
• It comprises of defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis, suggest
solutions or solution approaches , collecting
and analyzing data , deriving, experimenting ,
and eventually validating the hypothesis or
deducing new conclusions.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 2

3. Defining Research
• Research is also defined as search for
knowledge through objective and systematic
method of finding solution to a problem or
developing foundational theories.
• Research is intended to fill research gaps or
solve problems.
• Research can be also revalidating existing
knowledge.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 3

4. What is Research
• Culture-research is a culture to be practiced
through continued quest for innovation
• Attitude-needs hard work, dedication,
perseverance and an appropriate attitude
• Knowledge gaps- research should attempt to
fill existing knowledge gaps, create new
knowledge and validate existing knowledge.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 4

5. Motivation for Research
• Intellectual satisfaction of doing something
innovative and creative
• Meaningful and long-lasting contributions
towards advancement of mankind and society
• Enjoy the challenges of solving unsolved problems
• Attain higher level of understanding of
fundamental concepts as well as practical
significances
• Degrees , financial benefits and respect comes
along the way
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 5

6. Summing up…. Research
• “Research” cannot be only taught , it also
requires practice.
• It does not follow “On-off model”, work once
and then relax .
• Continuous nourishment is essential
• There is no “one-size-fits-all” model, different
disciplines need different methodologies.
• Research dictates its own pace and direction –
should not be imposed
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7. Essential 6 Components of
Research.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 7

8. Essential 6 Components of Research
1. Identifying Topic
2. Defining Problem
3. Solution + 4.Validations( sometimes back and
forth to show the correctness to the world)
5. Writing
6. Presenting
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 8

9. Important 6 Guidelines for Topic
Selection
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 9

10. Selecting a Topic for Research-
Important 6 Guidelines
1. Realize your expertise and limitations
Expertise what you are good at
Limitation what you are not good at
• What you are interested not interested
• Are you willing to learn new areas
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 10

11. 2. Focus on your breadth of knowledge
2. Focus on your breadth of knowledge first, not
the depth ; because depth is your goal.
• You may not have deep knowledge on your
topic
• Once you select the topic make your breadth
of knowledge strong
• Fundamentals should be clear.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 11

12. 3. Be specific about your topic but
flexible about the scope
E.g. I want to work on large scale systems..
I want to work on transmission losses..
I want to work on pollution …
• Don’t be copycats in selecting topics or areas
• Don’t put yourself in a box
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13. 4.Do not set rigid barriers regarding
the topic
• Keep flexibility in barriers
• Keep scope for expansion
• Accommodate new ideas
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 13

14. 5. The topic may not be discipline
specific
• Problems are many times not discipline specific
but interdisciplinary
E.g. Imagine building a bridge across a river or
Tsunami - these are not only specific to Civil
engineering discipline alone.
Eg. Imagine Tsunami anticipation -not just one
discipline but many disciplines may be involved.
• These involve interdisciplinary thinking and
interaction.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 14

15. 6. Be prepared to revisit the topic
selection if needed.
• Keep the scope to change topic
• New topic may emerge while you do literature
search
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 15

16. Expanding knowledge
• It is desirable to expand your breadth of
knowledge on the selected topic
• Read the fundamentals on the topic to build
up the foundation for your research
• Feel open about broadening the scope of the
topic as you build up on it.
• Be prepared to revisit the topic selection if
needed
• It will pay off in long run.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 16

17. Building foundation
• You should have or build a very strong
background and foundation on the broad area
of your topic
• You need to have some ideas about the state
of art
• You Should like and enjoy the topic
• New topics (hype)vs. old topics( validated)
• Need to envision the future prospects of your
intended topic
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 17

18. Example 1 –Electrical Power Engineering.
1.Area/discipline: Electrical power
2.Topic : Power transmission losses
3.Problem: Underground cables insulation
4.Insulation classifications- cost ,
maintenance ,losses , heating , water resistance
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 18

19. Example 2 -Networking
1. Area: Computer networks
2. Topic: Wireless networks
3. Problem: Cellular networks
4. Performance, reliability, security
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20. General guidelines in example 1 &2
• When you go down from level 1 to level 4 ,be
more flexible
• Be rigid at level 1 and flexible at level 3 and 4
• You may change topic if you find new
challenging ideas. In such a case, move up
from 4 to 3 to 2 and pick a new topic to
change.
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21. Topic Selection Approach
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22. Criteria for considering Potential
Topics
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23. Some general Criteria for considering
Potential Topics
1. It needs to hold your interest for a long time.
It takes longer than you anticipate to write an
acceptable thesis.
2. It must be manageable in size. Most students
begin with a topic that is too large. Remember
you can’t do it all. Your goal is to add a small but
significant piece to the knowledge base.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 23

24. Some general Criteria for considering
Potential Topics
3. It must have the potential to make an original
and significant contribution to knowledge. Can
you find a hole, a gap, a missing piece in the
knowledge base that you can fill and that would
be useful to theory or practice?
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 24

25. Some general Criteria for considering
Potential Topics
4. It must be doable within your time frame and
budget. Given your current situation, is it a
feasible topic to undertake?
5. It has to have obtainable data. You must be
able to collect data for the study from an
appropriate sample size in a reasonable period
of time.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 25

26. Some general Criteria for considering
Potential Topics
6. It has not already been sufficiently
researched. There is no value to conducting one
more study about a topic that has been
researched over and over again.
7. It should be acceptable to your advisor and
committee members.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 26

27. Summary: Topic selection
• Focus on your breadth of knowledge first, not the
depth ; because depth is your goal .
• Be specific about your topic but flexible about the
scope
• Don’t put yourself in a box
• Do not set rigid barriers regarding the topic
• The topic may not be discipline specific
• Be prepared to revisit the topic selection if needed
• Once you select the topic make your breadth of
knowledge strong – fundamentals be clear.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 27

28. Final Advice
• Spend more time on formulating the problem
rather than jumping into any problem.
• Select broad topic and not too specific.
• Choose the topic jointly with
supervisor/guide.
Prof. A.H.Sequeira 28

29. References
• Donald Cooper, Pamela Schindler, Business Research
Methods: 12th Edition, McGraw-Hill Higher Education,
2013
• Earl Babbie, The Basic of Social Research, 7th Edition,
Wadsworth- Thomson Learning, 2018
• John W. Creswell and J. David Creswell, Research Design:
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Approaches, 5th
Edition, Sage Publication, 2018.
• Trochim, Donnelly, Arora Kanika, “Research
Methods: The Essential Knowledge Base”, Cengage
Learning, 2015
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv7MOoHMM2k
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IJscfF_irU
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