Unit 7: Communication for Academic Purposes

Topic 2: Selecting the Subject

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. characterize a good subject for research
2. narrow down a broad research subject;
3. differentiate good and poor subject for research.

Presentation of Content

Research is often defined as the process of arriving at truth through careful analysis
and intensive investigation of phenomena. One who does research is driven by
his/her quest to answer a specific question. But prior to looking into the specific
questions to answer, it is indeed but vital to look into researchable topics which in
line with your interest.
In this lesson, you will learn the different characteristics of a good subject for
research and how to limit broad subjects.
Look at the sample subject of research written on the board (FOOD SHORTAGE).
What can you say about the given subject?
(You are asked to give your own opinion regarding the given topic. After you discuss
your observations, your teacher recapitulates your answers then move on
introducing you the different characteristics of a good subject for research and the
process of borrowing down broad topics for research.)
When looking into a good subject for research, you must consider the following
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD SUBJECT FOR RESEARCH.
1. Must be interesting
2. Must be significant
3. Must not be too broad
4. Must not be too technical
5. Sufficient reference materials must be available for it.
 Unit 7: Communication for Academic Purposes

Choosing a broad topic for research may not be in anyway helpful to the researcher.
It will only bring confusion and mistake. So, in order for the researcher to have a full
grasp of the topic, there is a need to delimit a broad subject identified. Limiting a
subject is the process in which a broad subject is narrowed down into a specific
phase of the study.
Example:
Broad Topic: Food Shortage
Delimited Subject: The Rice Shortage in the Philippines Today:
Its (limitation by type) (limitation by country) (limitation by time)
Effects on the Country’s Economic Recovery Program
(limitation by consequences) (limitation by particular aspect)