BRAINSTORMING FOR RESEARCH TOPICS

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.

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
The steps that will guide you trim down your area of interest.
1. Focus on your track, strand or area of specialization.
2. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective field or strand that has
piqued or aroused your interest the most.
3. Generate an unanswered question or an unresolved problem from your chosen area
or lesson.
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.
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.

Based on the research problem that you have written above, write your research plan
by answering the following questions.
RESEARCH PLAN
1. Research Problem: (What is your research problem?)
2. Rationale: (Why do you want to conduct this study?)
3. Significance: (Why is it important to be conducted?)
4. Objective: (What is your goal to achieve in this study?)
5. Method and Design: (Is it a quantitative or a qualitative study?)
Respondents: (Who or what will be the source of your data?)
Sample Size: (How many respondents does your study need?)
Sampling Technique: (How will you choose your respondents or source of data?)