Formulating and Clarifying the Research

Topic

By
Kiizah Pastor
0772988905/0705167731

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 Attributes for Good Research Process

a) Choosing a research topic is the most exciting part of

research.
b) The student may decide to select a topic with guidance of
a supervisor
c) Some students decide individually on their research topic.
d) It is important to select a topic which is interesting and
will continue to interest you (student) throughout the
study.
e) It is advisable that a student establishes a research idea
before deciding on the topic of study.
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 Formulating Research Topic

a) Formulating and clarifying a research topic is the

starting point for your research project.
b) Once the research topic is clearly formulated, you
then select the appropriate research strategy and
data collection and analysis techniques.
c) Formulating and clarifying the process is time
consuming and will sometimes take you a long
time.
d) Without spending time in this part, you are less
likely to achieve a successful project. 3
 Formulating Research Topic

e) Before starting to formulate and clarify research

process, you need to understand what makes a
good research topic.

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 Attributes of a Good Research Topic

 Management and business research topic do not vary

a great deal between Universities;
 The differences will be in emphasis placed on different
attributes.
 If your research project is part of a course study the
key attribute will be that it meets the examining
body’s requirement, and it is at correct level;
 Choose your topic with care
 Some Universities allow their students to collect their
own data, while others want them to use already collected
data. 5
 Attributes of a Good Research Topic

 Your topic must be something you are capable of

undertaking and one that excites your imagination.
 Genuinely evaluate your capability to undertake the
study;
 Ensure that you have developed the necessary research skills.
 Assure your self that you have a genuine interest in the topic.
 Assess your ability to find financial and time resources to
produce your best work.
 Assess the time and topic and ensure it is possible to complete
it in the time allowed by your course study (i.e. measuring
impact of an intervention over a long period).
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 Attributes of a Good Research Topic

 You should also be reasonably certain of gaining access

to any data you might need to collect.
 Many people normally start with ideas where access to data
will prove difficult.
 More sensitive topics i.e. financial performance or decision
making by senior managers are potentially fascinating, but
present considerable access problems.
• Discuss with your supervisor after reading extensively about the
topic.

 For most topics, it is important the issues within

the topic are being linked to theory
(Raimond,1993); in which case, 7
 Attributes of a Good Research Topic

 Theory may be based on the reading you have

undertaken as part of your study to date.
 However, as part of your assessment criteria, you are
almost certain to be asked to set your topic in context.
 As a consequence, you will need to have a knowledge
of the literature and to undertake further reading as part
of defining research questions and objectives
 One of the attributes of a good topic is clearly
defined research questions and objectives;

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 Attributes of a Good Research Topic

 This requires a good knowledge of the literature, enable

you to assess the extent to which your research is likely
to provide fresh insights into the topic.
• Many students believe that this is likely to be difficult.
 If you have been given a research idea (perhaps by
an organization), you will need to ensure that your
research questions and objectives relate clearly to
the idea of the organization.

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 Attributes of a Good Research Topic

 It is also important to consider your carrier goals

 If you wish to become an expert in a particular subject
area or industry, it is sensible to use the opportunity to
develop this expertise by selecting a research topic in
the area.

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 Research topic / title
• The topic should accurately reflect the scope and
content of the study.
• It should be between 15 – 20 words
• It should be descriptive yet discrete.
• The key word in the topic should be the key
variables.
• It has two main parts: main title and sub-title
• The following examples shows the main title and
sub-title
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 Research topic / title
• Public procurement management and service
delivery in public sector organizations of
Uganda. A case of Mbale District Local
Government.
• Management skills and performance of
employees in private sectors in Uganda. Case
study: UMU
• Effect of early marriages on school dropouts in
government aided schools in Manafwa district
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 Defining Research Ideas

 Business and management students are expected to

generate and refine their research ideas in their
specified areas.
 Those on professional and post-experience courses,
are provided with a research idea by organizations
or their university.
 In the initial stages of their research, they are
expected to refine the ideas to a clear and feasible
one that meets the requirements of the examining
organization (university). 13
 Generating Research Ideas

 If you have been given an initial research idea,

there is a range of techniques that can be used to
find and select a topic that you would like to
research; they may involve;
 Rational thinking, or
 Creative thinking
• Raimond (1993) proposes use of both approaches.

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 Techniques for Generating & Refining Research
Ideas
RATIONAL THINKING CREATIVE THINKING

 Examining your own strengths  Keeping a notebook of ideas

and interests in the field selected
 Looking at past project titles in  Exploring personal preferences
your selected area of interest. using past projects

 Discussing with peers and  Relevance trees

experts
 Searching the literature in the  Brainstorming
related area chosen
 Searching the media for some  Notebook diary
briefs 15
 Techniques for Generating Refining Research
Ideas
 Examining own strengths and Interests
 It is important that you choose a topic you are likely to
do well and, if possible you already have some
academic knowledge in.
 Look at assignments in which you have good grades
(Jankowicz, 2005) to determine your strength.
 Select a topic where you have interest.
 Focus on ideas about which you wish to conduct your
research.
 Focus seriously about your future and select a topic in
the area. 16
 Techniques for Generating Refining Research
Ideas
 Looking at past project title;
 Looking at past project can be a good area for
generating your research ideas.
 For undergraduate and taught masters degrees these are
often called dissertation. For research degrees they are
termed theses.
 Scan a list of past project titles.
 Discussion
 Discuss with colleagues, friends and University
supervisors possible project ideas.
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 Techniques for Generating Refining Research
Ideas
 Searching the Literature
 Sharp et al. (2002) suggest that types of literature from which
research ideas can be generated;
o Articles in academic and professional journals
o Reports (government & organizations)
o Academic books.
o Paper presentations (academic).
 Keeping a notebook of Ideas; one of the creative
techniques used involve notebook ideas;
 Noting down any interesting research ideas as you think of them.
 You can then pursue the idea using more rational thinking
techniques later. 18
 Techniques for Generating Refining Research
Ideas
 Exploring personal preferences using past projects
 Raimond (1993) suggests the following;
 Select six project that you like
 For each project selected, note down your first thoughts in
response to three questions;
 What appeals to you about the project?
 What is good about the project?
 Why is the project good?
 ?

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Techniques for Generating Refining Research
Ideas
 Select three projects that you do not like
 For each of the three projects note down your first thought in
response to three questions;
 What do you dislike about the project?
 What is bad about the project?
 Why is the project bad

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 Research Ideas and Research Questions

RESEARCH IDEA GENERAL FOCUS QUESTIONS

Advertising and share prices How does the running of a TV advertising
campaign designed to boost the image of a
company affects its share price?

Job Recruitment via the internet How effective is recruiting for new staff
via the internet in comparison with
traditional methods?

The use of aromas as a marketing In what ways does the use of specific
device aromas in supermarkets affect buyer
behaviour?

The use of internet banking What effect has the growth of internet
banking had upon the uses customers
make of branch facilities? 21