WR I T I NG A R E SE AC H

TITLE
 RESEARCH TITLE OR RESEARCH PROJECT
IT IS A PRODUCT OF REAL WORLD OBSERVATIONS, DILEMMAS,
WIDE READING, SELECTIVE VIEWING ( TELEVISION PROGRAMS,
FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES, VIDEOS, ) MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS
WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND DEEP REFLECTION.
THE TITLE OF THE RESEARCH IS THE RESEARCH PROBLEM OR
INQUIRY IN CAPSULE FORM. IT MUST CLEARLY REFLECT THE
TOPIC OF INVESTIGATION. AND IT MUST BE ORIGINAL, CLEAR,
CONCISE OR SPECIFIC.
 TECHNIQUES OF NARROWING A TOPIC INTO
A RESEARCH QUESTION
• 1. EXAMINE THE LITERATURE- PUBLISHED ARTICLES ARE AN
EXCELLENT SOURCE OF IDEAS FOR RESEARCH QUESTION. THEY
ARE USUALLY AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY AND
SUGGEST RESEARCH QUESTIONS THAT FOCUS ON THE
FOLLOWING:
A. REPLICATE A PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROJECT EXACTLY OR WITH
SLIGHT VARIATIONS.
•B. EXPLORE UNEXPECTED FINDINGS
DISCOVERED IN PREVIOUS RESEARCH.
•C. FOLLOW SUGGESTIONS AN AUTHOR GIVES
FOR FUTURE RESEARCH AT THE END OF AN
ARTICLE.
•D. EXTEND AN EXISTING EXPLANATION OR
THEORY TO A NEW TOPIC OR SETTING.
•E. CHALLENGE FINDING OR ATTEMPT TO
REFUTE A RELATIONSHIP.
•F. SPECIFY THE INTERVENING PROCESS
AND CONSIDER LINKING RELATIONS.
 TECHNIQUES OF NARROWING A TOPIC INTO
A RESEARCH QUESTION
• 2. TALK OVER IDEAS WITH OTHERS.
A. ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE
TOPIC FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT IT THAT THEY HAVE
THOUGHT OF.
B. SEEK OUT THOSE WHO HOLD OPINIONS THAT
DIFFER FROM YOURS ON THE TOPIC AND DISCUSS
POSSIBLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS WITH THEM.
 TECHNIQUES OF NARROWING A TOPIC INTO A
RESEARCH QUESTION
• 3. APPLY TO A SPECIFIC CONTEXT.
A. FOCUS THE TOPIC ON A SPECIFIC HISTORICAL
PERIOD OR TIME PERIOD.
B. NARROW THE TOPIC TO A SPECIFIC SOCIETY OR
GEOGRAPHIC UNIT.
C. CONSIDER WHICH SUBGROUPS OR CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE/
UNITS ARE INVOLVED AND WHETHER THERE ARE DIFFERENCES
AMONG THEM.
 TECHNIQUES OF NARROWING A TOPIC INTO A
RESEARCH QUESTION

4. DEFINE THE AIM OR DESIRED OUTCOME OF THE STUDY.