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Choosing a Research Topic

What makes a good topic and how do you pick one?

Ask Your Research Question

Research is problem solving with information.

All research starts with a question about a specific topic. Your research helps you form your answer to that question.

Your question might be implied, but it's best to actually form a question. Consider a question that requires you to think critically about the topic, or about a specific angle on that topic.

Try filling in this formula, replacing X, Y, and Z with what interests you.

I am studying X to investigate Y in order to understand Z.

 

Now that you have that statement, what question are you trying to answer? What problem are you trying to solve with the information you find?

Now you just need to find X - your topic!

Video Explainer

Infographic

topic - working knowledge - working questions - research question

Slideshow: Developing a Research Question