6.2 – Developing a Research Topic
Learning Objectives
After completing this tutorial, you will be able to:
- identify some goals to keep in mind as you choose a topic,
- choose an approach to further develop, broaden or narrow your topic,
- search for resources to get you started.
The following videos give you information about what to keep in mind at the start of any research assignment.
Research Process Overview:
Watch Developing a research topic – Research process overview on YouTube (1 min)
Research Process Overview
Research Process Overview (Text version)
Choose which process best describes how to choose a research topic.
- First decide on your topic, do background research, and finally do in-depth research.
- Think of several topic ideas, do background research, then choose a topic.
- Think of several topic ideas, do some background research, choose a topic and form it into a question that can be answered.
- Think of a topic you know something about, and find some sources to support what you know.
Check your Answer:[1]
Goals of Choosing a Topic:
Watch Developing a research topic – Goals on YouTube (1 min)
Goals of Choosing a Research Topic
Goals of Choosing a Research Topic (Text version)
Which of the following should you consider before choosing your topic?
- Topic meets the assignment requirements.
- Topic is interesting to me and to my readers.
- Sources are available on this topic.
- All of the above.
Check your Answer: [2]
Brainstorming
Watch Developing a research topic – Brainstorming for ideas on YouTube (1 min)
Topic Brainstorming
Topic Brainstorming (Text version)
Brainstorming is a process best done only in your head. True or False?
Check your Answer: [3]
Watch Developing a research topic – Brainstorming approaches on YouTube (1 min)
3 Ways to Approach a Research Topic
3 Ways to Approach a Research Topic (Text version)
Which of the following is true?
- There are only 3 ways to approach a research topic.
- These 3 approaches will help me to think about my topic in a new way.
- I should use all 3 of these approaches in my research essay.
Check your Answer:[4]
Broadening and Narrowing your Topic:
Watch Developing a research topic – Brodening/narrowing on YouTube (1 min)
Narrowing Topics
Narrowing Topics (Text version)
It might be difficult to find sources if your topic is too narrow. True or false?
Check your Answer:[5]
Helpful Resources:
Watch Developing a research topic – Resources on YouTube (1 min)
Overview of Topics
Overview of Topics (Text version)
- Google and Wikipedia can be helpful when you are getting an overview of topics. True or false?
- Which of the following is true?
- A topic with a narrow scope is easier to research.
- You may adapt your thesis statement as you find sources during your research.
- Your course description is a good place to find topics for research.
- It is best to finalize your thesis statement before you begin researching.
Check your Answers: [6]
Further Resources:
For further information on this topic:
- The Learning Portal by College Libraries Ontario. The Writing Hub – Choose a Topic.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). Invention: Starting the Writing Process.
Contact your Library for help!
Attributions & References
This chapter (text, H5P activities and embedded videos) was adapted from “Developing a Research Topic” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0. / Adaptations include adjusted formatting, headings, accessibility updates and removal of introductory video. Attributions for this chapter’s videos were noted in a final video, which have been transcribed into text below for consistency and “Credits” video removed.
References & attribution from this section’s videos:
Canadian money is pretty, by Rick. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC by 2.0) available at https:/flick.kr/p/jYGnx
Ice Hockey, by Jalan’s Place. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Non-Commerical (CC BY-NC 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/pEEFbt
Lightbulb!, by Matt Wynn. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC by 2.0) available at https:/flick.kr/p/81DJrf
Laurence Ferlinghetti’s lecture notes, by Shawn. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Non-Commerical (CC BY-NC 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/pTYjza
More questions than answers, by Tom Waterhouse. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Non-Commerical (CC BY-NC 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/b6WaSP
Osos Polares by Zombmax. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution No-derivs 2.0 C BY-ND 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/8VXosw
Question by Steven Lilley. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Share alike Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/7KFqnJ
Shakespeare by Joe Campbell. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Share alike Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) license.. Available at https://flic.kr/p/5TNnP1
Student with pen, by CollegeDegrees360. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Share-Alike Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/cEJmqQ
Trump Tower by Matthew Robey. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/oj7tX9
US Army Africa photo used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/RmU6Gw
Wildfire State Farm. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license. Available at https://flic.kr/p/jMTCMW
- #3 is correct. Taking the time to think through your options and formulate a question that interests you will help you succeed at your assignment. ↵
- 4. All of the above ↵
- False. It's good to write things down when you brainstorm. ↵
- #2 is correct! These are 3 of the common ways to focus a topic. ↵
- True. ↵
- 1. True, 2. b & c ↵
