Selecting the topic you want to investigate



Topic
lTopic = the main element guiding the analysis of your research.
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lTopics ⇨ an occasion for studying, writing, transmitting a message
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lTopics = the core subject matter of academic communication

Circumstances for choosing a topic
1)supervisor/teacher/employer provides you with a general topic from which you study a particular
related aspect
2)supervisor/teacher/employer provides you with a list of possible topics
3)supervisor/teacher/employer leaves it up to you to choose a topic = your case

Case 1. You get a specific topic
lStep 1: Identify concepts and terms
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l Example:
l Is the social security system in the Czech Republic able to help all citizens in case of
instability of living, and to prevent such instability?
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lStep 2:Review related literature to help refine how you will approach focusing on the topic
(theoretical, empirical, analysis, presentation).

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lStep 3: Look for sources that can help you enlarge, modify, or strengthen your initial knowledge,
arguments.
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lSources: criticizing, new ideas, context, interdisciplinary perspectives
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lStep 4: Prepare a detailed outline that lays the foundation for a more in-depth and focused review
of relevant research literature

Case 2. You get a list of topics to choose from
lStep 1: Begin by choosing a topic that you find interesting or controversial or has some meaning
for you.
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After that, follow Steps 1 - 4 listed for Case 1.

Case 3. You choose the topic
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lStep 1: Turn an idea into a topic that can be translated into a research problem.
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lGuiding question ⇨
l What do I want to know?
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lStep 2: If no ideas or just need to gain focus, follow some of the strategies:
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1.Review readings
2.Search library/internet cataloges for an appropriate, up-to dated book/s or specialized work/s
related to the discipline
3.Browse through some current journals
4.Think about past works you have done
5.Talk to your colleagues, supervisor, employer, family, friends

Strategies for narrowing the topic
lAspect ⇨ choose one perspective
lComponents ⇨ determine if your initial variables or unit of analyses can be broken into smaller
units
lPlace ⇨ the smaller the area of analysis, the more narrow the focus
lRelationship ⇨ how two or more different perspectives or variables relate to one another
lTime ⇨ the shorter the period of observation, the more narrow the focus
lType ⇨ focus your topic in terms of a specific group of people or things

Strategies for enlarging the topic
lWho? -- entities you want to study
lWhat? -- what are the specific issues you are examining
lWhere? -- are there examples of other researches that could help to model your topic?
lWhen?
lHow?
lWhy? -- what advantages/disadvantages?
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lYour literature review can help you answer these questions or identify gaps in the literature!!!

lMany researchers simply come up with their own research topic!!!
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lBUT
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lNo one lives in isolation! ⇨ The ideas you have are influenced by your background, culture,
education, experiences, group, race.

Is the study feasible?
lAccuracy vs. practicality
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lIdeal circumstances seldom exist ⇨ tradeoffs
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lPractical considerations:
l1. How long the research will take to be completed?
l2. What are the ethical constraints you should consider?
l3. How can you achieve the required cooperation to have a successful project?
l4. How significant are the costs of conducting the research? = No really your case, but it can
play an important role