Lesson 1 Brainstorming for Research Topics

One of the most important considerations for every research is selecting a research topic. A
research topic serves as the basis of each research undertaking. It directs how the research
will be carried out. A good researcher must carefully choose a topic that is doable and
significant to a certain discipline or field. Many researchers find selecting a research topic a
difficult task. Some do it through brainstorming or by observing their surroundings. In this
module, you will be guided on how to easily choose a research topic from your area of
interest. Taking into consideration your experiences from your previous research subjects,
decide whether each sentence must be a criterion in choosing a good research problem. On
your notebook, write YES if the statement can be considered as a criterion and NO if
otherwise.
A research topic should…
1. be original.
2. be ambiguous.
3. fill in a research gap.
4. be costly and ambitious.
5. be general and not specific.
6. arouse intellectual curiosity.
7. be within the researcher’s interest.
8. make use of ineffective research instrument.
9. be completed beyond the given period of time.
10. be insignificant to the field of study or discipline.

What’s New
A common challenge when beginning to write a research paper is determining how to narrow
down your topic. To assist you in the selection process, here are some guidelines given by
Baraceros (2016:38-39):

1. INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER

Being interested in a topic is usually due to the richness of your stock
knowledge about it or because of its familiarity to you. Curiosity about an
issue/topic is one of the factors that motivate a person to unravel the unknown
in a topic. Thus, the researcher’s interest increases the possibility of the
success of the study.

2. RICHNESS OF AVAILABLE SOURCES OR SUPPORTING EVIDENCES

One of the things that you should do is to collect a lot of information on your
topic of interest. This enables you to find evidences that would support your
topic. You must ensure that your sources come from a wide variety of
literature such as books, journal, periodicals, online articles, etc. Hence, going
to the library and surfing the internet are some of the activities that you
should do as a researcher.

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 3. TIMELINESS AND RELEVANCE OF THE TOPIC
Your topic should be relevant and timely. A topic is relevant if it serves as an
instrument in improving the society or if it answers or solves current issues
which are some of the reasons why research is conducted.

4. LIMITATIONS OF THE SUBJECT

Aside from your interest, you must also consider the significance of the topic in
your track and strand. Remember that research is conducted to contribute
something valuable to a particular area or discipline.

5. PERSONAL RESOURCES
Prior to finalizing your chosen topic, you must assess your research abilities as
a student. You may do so by taking your financial capability, health condition,
personal qualifications and trainings as a researcher, needed facilities and
time allotment into account. It is important that all of these aspects are
considered in order for you to guarantee the accomplishment of your research.

Now that you have learned the considerations in formulating a research problem, here
are the steps that will guide you trim down your area of interest.

1. Focus on your track, strand or area of specialization.

•For example:
HUMSS

2. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective

field or strand that has piqued or aroused your interest the
most.
•Public Speaking

3. Generate an unanswered question or an unresolved

problem from your chosen area or lesson.
•Why do people feel anxious when speaking in public?

4. Assess the question or problem based on the five guidelines

stated above.
•I'm interested in the topic.
•There are available sources of data.
•It is timely and relevant.
•It will contribute to my strand.
•It is doable considering my personal resources.

5. Write your research problem.

•Factors Affecting the Speaking Anxiety of Students

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When formulating an effective research title, take the following guidelines into consideration:

1. Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study.

2. The title must be limited to 10 to 15 substantive words. Conjunctions (and, but, because),
prepositions (in, on, at) and articles (the, a, an) are not counted.
3. Do not include analysis of, study of, an investigation of and the like.
4. The title must be in the phrase form.
5. Avoid title that gives too much information.
What’s More
A. Match the following descriptions in column A to their respective guidelines in choosing a
research topic in column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on your notebook.

A B

1. This refers to the researcher’s abilities,

financial capacity, resources in terms of
instruments, facilities and time frame.
a. limitations of the subject
2. This refers to the social applicability
b. personal resources
and appropriateness of the topic to the
c. interest in the subject matter
current situation.
d. timeliness and relevance
3. This refers to an individual’s interest in
e. richness of available
a topic driven by his or her schema
resources or supporting
about it.
evidences of appropriateness
4. This refers to the availability of needed f. intellectual ability
resources as evidence for the topic.
5. This refers to the topic’s contribution to
a particular field or discipline

Arrange the following steps in correct sequence using numbers 1-5.

6. Write your research problem.
7. Generate an unanswered question or an unresolved problem from your chosen area or
lesson.
8. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective field that has piqued your
interest the most.
9. Assess the question or problem based on the five guidelines stated above.
10. Focus on your track, strand or area of specialization.

C. Read each statement below carefully. On your notebook, put a if the statement is
correct and if otherwise.

11. The title must include the accurate scope of the study.
12. Choose a title that is a sentence than a phrase.
13. Very long titles are preferable than short ones.
14. If possible, titles must not exceed 15 substantive words.
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 15. Analysis of, A Study of, An Investigation and the like are not encouraged.

What I Can Do

Think of at least two specific research topics from the broad topics listed below following
the guidelines explained above. Write your answers on your notebook. (5 points each)

▪ Fingerprinting ▪ DNA
▪ Ethics and Genetics ▪ Insecticides
▪ Humans and Wildlife ▪ Export and Import
▪ Malnutrition ▪ Intermittent Fasting
▪ Psychology of Plastic Surgery ▪ Food Nutrition
▪ Vaccines ▪ Privacy Issues
▪ Violence ▪ Mobile Games
▪ Racism ▪ Computer Literacy
▪ Sex Education ▪ Online Selling
▪ Social Media ▪ Accounting System
▪ Terrorism ▪ Marketing Strategies
▪ Online Learning ▪ Technology and Business
▪ Gender Roles ▪ Thermal Insulation
For example:

Broad Topic: Online Selling

Specific Topic: Influence of Internet Based Marketing Activities on
Digital Consumer’s Mind

1. Broad Topic: __________________________________________________________

Specific Topic: ________________________________________________________

2. Broad Topic: __________________________________________________________

Specific Topic: ________________________________________________________