7/29/2019 Choosing an Area and Topic for Research

1/2

Choosing an area and topic for research.

1. Identify a research area based on your interest and need. Your need and interestshould match. E.g. Do you need the research to help you improve your work? Are

you interested in conducting such a research? E.g. you are interested in finding out

why your students cannot write a composition in English correctly. You want toanalyse the errors they make in their compositions. You need this research so that you

can help your students realize the errors they make and why they make such errors.

You can help them improve their compositions.

2. You need to have some knowledge of the area of study or experience in that area.

Have you any experience in this area? Have you read enough about it? Do not choose

an area which you know nothing about. You may have problems in providing supportfor your study. E.g. The perceptions of Form One students towards the learning of

literature in English. If you are not teaching literature, then you may not have enough

knowledge to ask the proper questions and to provide explanation.

3. Narrow the area sufficiently so that it is not too broad nor to narrow. If it is too

broad you may not have enough time to conduct it or the results can become veryunwieldy. If it is too narrow, it may not yield any benefit to anyone. It may not solve

the problems that you want to solve. E.g. Factors that affect the teaching and learning

of English in Malaysia. The area is too broad. There are several factors which affectteaching and there are also several factors that affect learning. Furthermore, there are

various cultural and ethnic groups in Malaysia. The factors affecting each group are

different.

4. Identify an area in which you can get help easily i.e. from your supervisor or

reference materials. Getting your supervisor who has an interest in the area you wantto study will be a great help. Apart from that, you must make sure that there areenough reading materials for you to access. Sufficient reading should be done before

you embark on your research to ensure that you have enough content for your

research.

5. Identify an area that is practical that research can be conducted efficiently and

effectively. Can the research be carried out without any obstacles? Do you need

equipment that is not available in your place or is the required equipment veryexpensive that it is not possible to get it? Is the physical setting suitable for the

research to be carried out?

6. Ensure that there are enough subjects or respondents for the area selected. Are

there enough people who are willing to be your subjects or who are suitable

candidates for your research?

7. Ensure that the area is not a sensitive one to any individual or group. It should not

touch on personal matters, religion, culture or beliefs in a biased way.

1

7/29/2019 Choosing an Area and Topic for Research

2/2

Examples of research topics

1. Moral values in Form Four ESL Textbooks2. The practice of reading strategies among 7th semester TESL students in UPSI

3. A study of problems in reading comprehension in English among Form One

students in a rural school4. Factors that cause students to have problems in understanding literary texts.

5. The use of English newspapers to improve students reading comprehension.

6. UPSI undergraduates reluctance to give feedback in ESL classroom.7. The perceptions of Science and Mathematics teachers in using English to teach

Science and Mathematics.

8. The interference of the first language on the syntax structure of ESL learners

essay writing.9. The perceptions of tertiary level ESL students toward active participation in

classroom interaction and the factors affecting students participation.

10. Perception about using English language to communicate among 4th semester

UPSI undergraduates.11. Anxiety among UPSI 3rd semester students (Economics course) in learning

English as a second language through speaking skills.12. Vocabulary comprehension among Form Four students of SMK Bandar T6.

13. The importance of having different communication skills in English on peer and

non-peer relationships among non-TESL students in UPSI.14. A comparative study of the different language learning strategies of learners with

different proficiency levels

15. Factors that motivate UPSI students to read English materials.

16. Enhancing the students understanding in learning English Language: A casestudy on the usage of ICT among the Communicative English II students of UPSI.

17. SMAP, Labu ESL teachers perceptions on the usage of CD Courseware provided

by the Ministry of Education for teaching literature component.18. English reading habits among 3rd semester TESL students in UPSI.

19. Why students have problems in reading English texts.

20. The non-TESL UPSI undergraduates perception on English as a medium ofinstruction in their lectures.

21. Factors causing writers block among ESL learners in UPSI .

22. Perceptions of students towards language tests.

23. Teachers teaching strategies and students learning strategies: Do they match?24. Analysis of grammatical errors made by ESL students.

25. Relationship between students beliefs about learning English and their

performance.

2