CD 314: RESEARCH METHODS AND SKILLS

CHOOSING A MANAGEABLE AND FEASIBLE RESEARCH TOPIC

A student conducting a research study should carefully choose his/her topic. That choice should
be aided by some sound guidelines, so that the topic chosen is manageable to study. The
following are some useful hints in assisting the choice of a research topic.

1. Is there current interest in the field?

2. Is there a gap in knowledge that research work on this topic could fill?

3. Is it possible to focus on a small enough segment of the topic to make a manageable research topic?

4. Can you envision a way to study the topic that will allow conclusions to be drawn with substantial
objectivity? Is the data collection method /approach (i.e: tests, meta analysis; questionnaire,
interviews) acceptable to the project?

5. Is there a body of literature available on the topic? Is it accessible through the internet, and is the
search of it manageable?

6. Are there large problems (i.e. logistics, attitudinal and others) to be surmounted in working on the
topic? Do you have the means to handle them?

7. Does the topic relate well to the research interests in your course? If not, have you any information of
its acceptability?

8. Would financial assistance be required? Is it available?

9. Is the needed data easily accessible? Will you have control of the data?

10. Do you have a clear statement of purpose, scope, objectives, procedures, and limitations of the
study? Can you draw up a tentative table of contents for the report? Are any skills called on by the
study you have yet to acquire?

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING AND LIMITING TOPICS

Topic

Research begins with a subject. In some academic contexts, you may choose the subject yourself, usually
with the instructor’s approval. But in other contexts, you may be required to choose from a small number
of topics or be assigned a topic with a predetermined focus.
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Guidelines for Assessing and Choosing General Topics

As you select potential subjects for your research (broad categories such as migrant education,
test anxiety, the effects of divorce, and so on), keep these important and practical principles in
mind:

a) Interest. When possible, select a subject that interests you. Do not spend time researching a
subject that does not make you curious.

b) Length. Select a subject that can be adequately treated given the length requirements of the
assignment. You may have to expand or reduce the scope of your subject to match these
length constraints.

c) Materials. Select a subject for which you can find materials of the kind spelled out in the
assignment. Be aware that you can use libraries other than your own for your
research and that the internet provides access to a broad range of materials, both
traditional and nontraditional.

d) Challenge. Select a subject that challenges you but that does not require technical or other
specialized knowledge you may not have time to acquire.

e) Uniqueness. Select a subject that is not overused. Overly familiar subjects create little
interest, and materials are soon depleted.

f) Perspective. Select a subject you can approach in a fresh, interesting way. Readers will
appreciate your efforts to examine subjects in new ways.

Guidelines for Narrowing down General Topics

In most instances, you need to narrow down your broad subject (climate for coffee growing in
PNG, for example) to a specific topic (climate for Arabica coffee growing in Eastern
Highlands Province) so that you can both research selectively and address an issue in a focused
way.

To discover ways in which to narrow a broad subject to a specific topic, skim general reference
materials, paying particular attention to recurrent themes, details, and ideas. Then consider
establishing a focus using selected guidelines for limiting topics.

a) Time. Restrict the subject to a specific, manageable time span. For example: School violence
in the 1950’s.

b) Place. Restrict the subject to a specific location. For example: Teen pregnancy in rural areas.
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c) Special circumstance. Restrict the subject to a specific context or circumstance. For example:
Achievement testing for college admissions.

d) Specific population. Restrict the subject to address its effects on a selected group of people.
For example: Skin cancer among elderly people.

Activity 1: EXAMPLES OF GENERAL AND LIMITING TOPICS

Instruction:

1. Discuss with students how Guidelines for Narrowing down Topics have been used to limit given topics, shown on
table below.
2. In the discussion, identify the variables (independent & dependent) involved for each topic you examine.

General Topic Limiting Topic

1. Use of Mercury in Gold Extraction
2. Water Pollution
3. Application of Concrete in road
construction in PNG.
4. Plotting of Land marks in
surveying.
5. Accountability in service delivery
in PNG’s public service.
6. Poultry Disease (Coccidiosis) at
CLTC in Mt. Hagen.
Effects of Mercury on People in Aluvial Gold Mining at Porgera.
Level of pollution at various sections of Bumbu River.
Suitability of using concrete in road construction in Lae City.
Efficient plotting of land marks in customary land surveying in Oro.
Raising accountability in service delivery in the Citizenship &
Immigration section of Dept. of Foreign Affairs in Port Moresby.
Means of Controlling Coccidiosis Poultry Disease at CLTC in Mt.
Hagen.

Activity 2: LIMITING TOPICS for research in your respective field for your R/Proposal

Instruction:

1. In your Research Groups, think about a general subject/issue concerning your course and then limit it to a
specific topic that you can do a research on in your research proposal.

2. Look through and study given samples of possible topics (given below) related to your course and department to
help you come up with your own research topics.

3. Then, hand in your selected focused topic to your tutor.

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SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO CDS

1. Interrelations between education and success: Case study

This study will examine the existing relationships between educated people and success. The success will
be measured in terms of possessions, living standards and the quality of life. This study will help to prove
whether or not education helps people to be successful in life.

2. Impact of social movements and NGOs on upholding of human rights

Human rights are not always assured in some places all over the world. Such might hinder development
and suppression of minorities. This study will examine the impact of social movements and NGOs in
upholding human rights and prove whether these movements and organizations are instrumental in
promoting the respect to human rights.

3. Improving livelihood by addressing conflicts in a certain region

Conflicts might lead to an eruption of wars which in turn cause poor living conditions and loss of lives.
Conflict resolution mechanisms determine how the involved parties will reach an agreement. This study
will assess how conflicts should be addressed in a certain region so as to improve the livelihood of
people.

4. Waste management programs in a region towards improved living standards

Waste management programs should be used in every region to ensure a clean environment and create
employment opportunities. This study will address how waste management programs should be
introduced to improve living standards. The study will also recommend the best waste management
programs that can lead to improved living standards.

5.Impact of agriculture on women empowerment

Women empowerment programs are important because they assure them independence. However, in
some communities, formal education is not offered to them due to minimal resources. This study will
assess the impact of agriculture on empowering women in society. The study will also research on how
women can be offered with agricultural education to improve their farming skills.
6.Strategies that Government could use to eliminate house planning problems and food insecurity

Housing designs are important in ensuring good sanitation and effective supply of water in a community
setting. This study will examine various strategies that government should use to eliminate housing
problems and help in improving food security in the country.
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SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO BUSINESS STUDIES

1. The Effect of Advertisement on Consumer Behavior

2. Impact of Wages on Employee Productivity
3. Strategic Management and Productivity
4. Staff Motivation and Impact on Productivity
5. Management and Measuring of Employee Retention

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO MINING ENGINEERING

1. Effect of machine vibrations on operators.

2. Modified fan cut pattern to achieve greater pull per blast in ug metal mines.

3. Fundamental Improvement in the Tribocharging Separation Process for Upgrading Coal.

4. Calculation of the Edge Effect Offset for High Extraction Coal Panels.

5. Rock Dust Surface Chemistry Modifications for Eliminating Cake Formation and Improving
Dispersion in Coal Dust Exploration Mitigation Applications.

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO CIVIL ENGINEERING

1. Improving the Structural Efficiency of Steel Trusses.

2. Exploiting Plant-soil Interaction for Future Flood Resilience.
3. Integrated Modelling of Mobile Obstacles in Shallow Water Flow.
4. Advanced Composites as Reinforcement for Concrete.
5. Earthquake Resistant Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures.

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO APPLIED CHEMISTRY

1. Beryllium and its Ability to Ameliorate the Strengths of other Metals to which it is Added.
2. Methods of Stabilizing Lithium to Prevent its Corrosion with Oxygen.
3. A Look at Surface Tension and its Implication for the Future of Transportation.
4. Pesticides and their Chemical Influence.
5. The Ramifications of Silicon as a Semi-conductor being used heavily in the Practice of
Cosmetic Surgery.
SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO FOOD TECHNOLOGY

1. Assay for the presence of heavy metals in arrow roots grown in different environments

This study aims at determining whether arrowroots are grown in different environments such as
along sewage lines, along with the rivers and such have heavy metals. The conduction of this
research will help in identifying the heavy metals that might be present among the different
groups of arrowroots. The study will also help in determining some of the health effects that the
heavy metals might have on the human body.
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2.A case study on the presence of aflatoxins in the different milk products using the
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
This study will aim at assaying for the presence of aflatoxins in different milk products using the
ELISA technique. This study will also highlight some of the lethal health effects of consuming
milk products containing the aflatoxin compounds.

3. An analysis of some of the most commonly used substances in milk adulteration

This study will be aimed at determining some of the most commonly used substances in milk
adulteration. Following the conduction of this study, a highlight on how to assay for the different
milk adulteration substances will be done. Awareness on some of the companies that adulterate
their milk will be done once the right authorities are contacted and a go-ahead is offered. The
effects of milk adulteration will also be pointed out.

4. An extraction of bioactive compounds from beetroot and an evaluation of their

functionality

This research will aim at determining some of the bioactive compounds present in beetroots and
their functions in the human body. Conducting this study will help in offering recommendations
on the amounts of beetroots that need to be consumed a day in order to maintain good health.

5. A research on the impact of natural antioxidants and proteins in retarding oxidative

deterioration of fish oil

This research will help in identifying some of the natural antioxidants and proteins that help in
reducing oxidative deterioration of the fish oil. The conduction of this study will also help in
determining some of the nutritional components in the natural antioxidants and proteins that help
in the prevention of the formation of radioactive oxygen species in the fish oil.

6. An analysis of the health implications of the additives and preservatives used in food
processing

This study is aimed at determining some of the health implications of using additives and
preservatives during food processing. By conducting this study, the chemical constituents of the
additives will be determined and their effects highlighted.
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SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO ARCHITECTURE/BUILDING

1. Effective town planning and increased productivity.

2. The effects of uncontrolled housing developments.
3. Assessing Energy-Saving Potential of Different Roof Systems.
4. Residential Satisfaction in High-Rise Buildings.
5. Expanding architectural practice to advance social justice: Social architecture creates equitable
shelter.

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO GIS

1. Google Earth as a geospatial tool for development organisations: mapping climate change
vulnerability

Climate change is an increasingly important issue within the development sector, and yet actors
within the sector are still unsure about how it will impact on their activities. Mapping offers a
useful tool for presenting...
2. Forest stand volume: Can existing laser scanning methods based on the conventional one
provide better results, a comparison of two approaches

This paper looks at different datasets obtained from a recent Light Detection and Ranging
(LiDAR) system acquisition and compares the reliability of two contemporary analysis
approaches. Estimates of different tree variables...
3. Mapping Fuel Poverty Risk at Household Scale using Infrared Thermography and a Fuzzy Set
Approach

This project investigates to what extent infrared thermography can be applied to improve the
identification of households at risk of fuel poverty. As a method for qualitatively assessing the
thermal efficiency of buildings...
4. Utilizing a data integration approach to analyse the nature of homicide crimes in the cities of
Edinburgh and Glasgow throughout the past century

This dissertation uses a data integration approach to study the nature of homicide crimes in the
cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow over the past century (between 1910 and 2010). Archive
records and media sources were used ...

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO SURVEYING

1. The Quantity Surveyor’s Roles in Cost Assessment and Rehabilitation of Abandoned Project.
2. A Study of Quantity Surveyors’ Perception on Facility Management in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria
3. The Effect of Technology in the Field of Quantity Surveying and how it Affects Cost, Labour and
Time
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4. The Importance of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Property Development in Uyo Local Government
Area

5. An Investigation into Risk Management Practices Among Quantity Surveyors in the Construction
Industry of Nigeria

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO PROPERTY STUDIES

1. The role of the private rented sector in preventing homelessness: identifying good practice and
the impact of policy change

The Oak Foundation commissioned research into private rented sector access schemes that
focuses on good practice as demonstrated through Oak funded projects. The research also looked
more broadly at other successful practices and models. The intention was to share good practice
from Oak funded schemes and others; to provide practical advice to existing schemes in order to
respond to recent welfare policy changes; and demonstrate the potential for private renting
schemes to meet specific housing needs.

2. The Impact of a pan-London choice based lettings scheme on homelessness and temporary
accommodation

The Association of London Government commissioned a short research project in order to

understand the possible implications of a Pan-London CBL scheme for the management of
homelessness and temporary accommodation. The key objective of the project was to understand
how the offer of different proportions of available lettings for inter-borough moves might impact
on the ability of individual boroughs to meet their statutory responsibilities for homeless
households, and how this might impact on homeless households themselves.

3. Housing wealth and wellbeing: understanding who uses housing equity release products and
the impact they have on older people’s lives - scoping study

The UK has an ageing population, placing pressure on housing, health and social care services.
Most older people own their homes outright and prefer to remain in the same home as they age,
which often requires financial investment, e.g. to pay for home adaptations and care. One way to
meet these costs is to release equity from the home. This can be done by moving house, but it
can also be done without moving by using equity release products. However, this is a practice
about which we know very little.

4. Cost benefit analysis of lighting adaptations

This project involved conducting a cost benefit analysis of lighting adaptations for the Thomas
Pocklington Trust, a charity providing housing, care and support for people with sight loss in the
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UK. The output compares the costs of lighting adaptations to estimates of the costs of falls by
elderly people resulting from poor lighting.

5. The role of housing and housing providers in tackling poverty experienced by young people in
the UK - Moving in and out of poverty

This ESRC-funded study was part of the ‘What Works in Tackling Poverty’ theme, and focused
on the role of housing providers in addressing poverty faced by 16-25 year olds. The paper
provides some contextual background to the central case study element of the overall project. It
presents the findings from an analysis of the change that has occurred in the lives of two cohorts
of young people, drawn from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study.

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE

1. The Impact of Grafted Potatoes on Soil.

2. Effect of Water Stress, Abscisic Acid and Proline on Cotton Plants.
3. Effects of Plant Hormones on Regrowth of Grasses.
4. The Effects of Tillage on Soil Organic Matter.
5. The Influence of Soil Compaction on Grass Growth.

SAMPLES OF RESEARCH TOPICS RELATED TO MATHS & COMPUTER STUDIES

1. Virtual Reality and its Connection to Human Perception.

2. Digital Security and Private Security.
3. The ATM and Bank Security.
4. Portable Gadgets and the Peculiarities of Software Development for them.
5. Human-Computer Interactions: the Importance of Usability.

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