How do we narrow down our research topic?

 

Research Topic

How do we narrow down our research topic! Clearly identify progression towards topic highlighting the steps you take as a reader researcher?

When you're starting to write a research paper, one of the most difficult things to accomplish is figuring out how to limit your topic. Even if you have a specific topic to research, you will almost always have to limit it down to some extent.

When a survey of the literature finds too many diverse, and frequently contradictory or only tangentially connected ideas about how to investigate the research subject, the topic is too vast to be managed. Although you should begin the writing process by examining a range of techniques to study the research subject, you will need to narrow the scope of your investigation at some point along the process. Here are some pointers on how to choose a topic and narrow down it:

Choose a topic and expand on it.

The most difficult aspect of a research project is deciding on a topic. It is critical that this stage be completed correctly because it is the initial step in writing a paper.

1. Choose a topic that fills a gap in the already existing literature. Frequently, you have to be clear about what you can and cannot write about. If you do not follow these standards, your proposed topic may get rejected.

2. Choose a topic that interests you personally and study more about it. If you're writing a paper about something you're interested in, the research and writing will be more fun.

3. Be unique. Every year, people read hundreds of research papers, many of which are on the same topic (topics in the news at the time, controversial issues, subjects for which there is ample and easily accessed information). Choose an interesting and off-the-beaten-path topic to set yourself apart from your contemporary researchers.

4. Still can't think of what to write about? Seek advice from your teachers.

Conduct a basic information search.

Do a cursory search to see if there is enough material out there for your purposes and to create the background for your study before you start digging in. Look up your keywords in the library's reference collection (such as encyclopedias and dictionaries) as well as other places including books’ catalogs, periodical databases, and internet search engines. Lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings can all provide more background knowledge. In light of the materials available to you, you may need to modify the focus of your issue.

Resources should be identified.

You can start looking for literature on your topic now that you know where you want to go with your study. Information can be retrieved from a variety of sources, including:

A subject search in the catalog if you're seeking books. If a subject search does not provide enough results, a keyword search might be used. Print or write down the item's citation information (author, title, and so on) as well as its location (call number and collection) (s). Take note of the circulation situation. Look at the books nearby when you find the book on the shelf; related goods are always shelved in the same place.

Examine the resources.

You need to give authentic, accurate, and trustworthy information, and you have every right to expect the same from the sources you use. This is especially critical when using Internet materials, which are often seen as untrustworthy.

Compile a list.

Examine the sources you've chosen and make a list of the information you'll need for your paper. Make a list of all the sources you consult, even if you aren't sure you'll utilize them. When establishing a bibliography, the author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be required.

Write your proposal.

Begin by organizing the information you have collected. The next step is the rough draft, wherein you get your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. This step will assist you in organizing your thoughts and determining the format of your final work. Following that, you will modify the document as many times as you believe is required before submitting it to your instructor.

Cite your sources properly.

Cite your sources and give credit where credit is due. Citing or documenting the sources you used in your study serves two purposes: it offers correct credit to the writers of the materials you utilized, and it allows others who read your work to reproduce your research and identify the sources you cited as references. The MLA and APA styles are two widely used citation styles. Plagiarism occurs when you fail to properly cite your sources. Plagiarism may be avoided!

Proofread.

The last stage in the process is to proofread the document you've written. Check for mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation as you read through the text. Make sure all of the sources you used are correctly credited. Make certain that the point you intend to convey to the reader is clearly communicated.

Keywords;  Research Methodology, Research Topic