Formulating and Clarifying the Research Topic

Faisal Abbas, PhD

Lecture 2nd

Formulating & Clarifying Research Topic

The important steps

• Identifying the “Attributes” of a good research topic

• Generating “Ideas” that help you select a suitable topic

• Turning ideas into clear “Research Questions” and “Objectives”

• Writing the “Research Proposal”

Attributes of a Good Research Topic

Attributes of a good research topic actually clarify two important things which includes;

1). Capability i.e., Is it feasible ?

2). Appropriateness i.e., Is it worthwhile?

1). Capability

- Researchers Interestfascination about the topic! Are you fascinated

about the topic of your research?

- Research Skills What kind of research skills researcher possess!

Do you have the necessary research skills?

1).Capability- Time Availability ! Can you complete the research in available time?

- RelevanceWill the research be current when you finish?

- ResourcesFinancial and other resources !

- Access Access to data ! Whether you be able to access the data?

2). Appropriateness• Standards Meeting Institutional Standards! Will the examining

institute's standards be met?

• Theoretical/Conceptual Framework

Theoretical Linkages! Does the topic contain issues with clear links to theory?

• Clarity

Clarity of Research Question(s) and Objective(s)! Are the research questions and objectives clearly stated?

2). Appropriateness

• Innovativeness and/or Contribution! Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into the topic?

• Findings must be coherent with the analysis! Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?

• Career goals of Research and topic choice! Does the research topic match your career goals?

Contd……

• Does the topic relate to your field of study or the idea you are interested in ?

• Or it may be that the topic of research is given by;

Organization you are working for i.e., University

Your department or supervisor (in case of dissertation)

Your examining body

2). Appropriateness

Generating Research Ideas

Useful Techniques

Rational thinking Creative thinking

Searching the literature Scanning the media

BrainstormingRelevance Trees

Exploring past projects Discussion

Keeping an “Ideas Notebook”

A). Rational thinking

• Examining your own strengths and interests

• Looking at past project titles

• Discussion with your friends, peers in the field and/or supervisor

• Searching the literature (Review of Literature)

• Scanning the media

Own Interests & Strengths

• Having some academic knowledge.

• Look at those assignments for which you have received good grade.

• You may, as part of your reading, be able to focus more precisely on the sort of ideas about which you wish to conduct your research.

• There is a need to think about your future.

B). Creative Thinking

• Keeping a notebook of ideas

• Exploring personal preferences using past projects

• Relevance trees

• Brainstorming

Rational & Creative Thinking

• These techniques will generate possible project outcomes, one of two of the following:

1). One or more possible project ideas that you might undertake;

2). Absolute panic because nothing in which you are interested or which seems suitable has come to mind.

C). Past Project Titles

• Dissertations/ Theses Scan your university’s list of past project titles for anything

that captures your imagination

• Scanning actual research projects.

You need to beware. The fact that a project is in your library is no guarantee of the

quality of the arguments and observations it contains.

D). Discussion !!

• With Colleagues, Friends and also with;

University supervisors and/or tutors

Practitioners and/or professionals

Peers in the relevant fields Senior researchers doing similar kind of work or research project

E). Searching the Literature

• As part of your discussions, relevant literature may also be suggested.

• Types of literature that are of particular use for generating research ideas as discussed by Sharp et al, (2002). These include:

Article (academic and professional journals);Reports;

Books.

F). Note Book of Ideas • One of the more creative techniques that we all use

is to keep a notebook of ideas.

• All this involves is simply noting down any interesting research ideas as you think of them

And;

• of equal importance, what sparked off your thought.

• You can then pursue the idea more in depth using rational thinking technique later.

Exploring Personal Preferences

1. Select few projects that you like

2. For each of these projects, note down your first thoughts in response to three questions;

What appeals you about the project?

What is good about the project?

Why is the project good?

Relevance Tree• You start with a broad concept from which further (usually

more specific) topics be generated.

• Each of these topics forms a separate branch from which you can generate further, more detailed sub branches.

• As you proceed down the sub branches more ideas are generated and recorded.

• These can then be examined and selected and combined to provide a research idea.

Brainstorming Define your problem (the ideas you are interested in) as precisely as possible.

Ask for suggestions, relating to the problem.

Record all suggestions, observing the following rules:

No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in any way before all ideas have been considered.

Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by each.

Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which appeals to you most as research ideas and why?

Refining Research Idea: Delphi Technique

• This involves using a group of people who are either involved or interested in the research idea to generate and choose a more specific research idea. To use this technique you need:

1. To brief the members of the group about the research idea;

2. At the end of the briefing to encourage group members to seek clarification and more information as appropriate;

3. To ask each member of the group including the originator of the research ideas based on the idea that has been described (justification)

Contd……

1. To collect the research ideas in unedited and non-attributable form and to distribute them to all members of the group;

2. A second cycle of the process in which comment on the research ideas and revise their own contributions in the light of what others have said;

3. Subsequence cycles of the process until a consensus is reached . These either follow a similar pattern or use discussion.

Research questions • Write research questions that are:

• Consistent with expected standards

• Able to produce clear conclusions

• Not too difficult: at the right level

• Not too descriptive

• Use the ‘Goldilocks Test’

What is Goldilocks Test? • Clough and Nutbrown use what they call the

Goldilocks test to decide if research questions are either too big, two small, too hot or just right. Why it is needed to think ? Because;

Too big need significant funding Too small are likely to be insufficient substance Too hot maybe so due to sensitivities that may be

involved. This may be because of the timing of the research or that may upset key people who have a role to play.

• Just right are those for investigation at this time by this research in this setting.

Turning Idea into ResearchIdea: Exchange Rate Markets and Its determinantsFocus: What are the macroeconomic variables that influence exchange rate of Pakistan for a

period of 1975 to 2012?

Idea: Capital Structure and Stock ReturnFocus: What is the relationship of capital structure and stock return and how to analyze the

determinants of capital structure and stock return of nonfinancial firms listed in KSE for the period of 2000-2012.

Idea: Carbon Emission and Financial Development Focus: How financial market development in developing countries affect the carbon

emission over a period of 50 years.

SMART Objectives

What is SMART?Specific: What precisely do you hope to achieve from

undertaking the research?

Measurable: What measures will you use to determine whether you have achieved your objectives?

Achievable: Are the targets you have set for yourself achievable given all the possible constraints?

Realistic: Given all other demands upon your time, will you have the time and energy to complete the research on time?

Timely: Will you have time to accomplish all your objectives?

Theory and its importance

• “ A formulation regarding the cause and effect relationship between two or more variables, which may or may not have been tested”

Typology of Theories

• Grand theories: Usually thought to be province of natural scientists . (that will

lead to a whole new way of thinking about management)

• Middle range theories: which lack the capacity to change the way in which we think

about the world but are nonetheless of significance . (some of the theories of human motivation well known to manager would be in this category.

• Substantive theories : that are restricted to a particular time, research setting, group

or population or problem