Formulating and

clarifying research topic

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 Independent part of the research (Done
by students only)
Choose something to maintain the
interest.

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Researc Researc Researc Research
h h h Aim Objective
idea Questio (s) s
n

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 Interested to the researcher.
 Capability to undertake the research.
(Access to the data)
 Feasible.
 The topic can be linked to the theory.
 Clearly defining & relating research
questions and objectives.
 Consider your career goals.

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RATIONAL CREATIVE
THINKING THINKING
 Examining your own  Keeping a notebook
strengths and of ideas
interests  Exploring personal
Looking at past preferences using
project titles
 Discussion past projects
 Searching the  Relevance trees
literature  Brainstorming
 Scanning the media.

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 Examining your own strengths
and interests:
 a topic in which you are likely to do
well
 have some academic knowledge
 Think about your future.

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 Looking at past project
titles
 Thesis and dissertations.
 How to read? Scan!
 Noted down any title which grab your
attention
 Think of new ideas!

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 Discussion:
 Colleagues, friends and university tutors
are all good sources of possible project
ideas
 “ideas can be obtained by talking to
practitioners and professional groups”
(Gill and Johnson 2002).
 Record any idea during discussion.

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 Searching the
literature:
 Sharp et al. (2002) discuss types of literature that
are of particular use for generating research
ideas:
▪articles in academic and professional journals;
▪reports;
▪books.
 Of particular use are academic review articles.
 Searching forpublications is only possible
when you have at least some idea of the
area in which you wish to undertake your
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 Scanning the
media.
 Stories which occur everyday in the newspapers
in both traditional print and online versions, may
provide ideas which relate directly to the item.

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 Keeping a notebook of
ideas
 noting down any interesting research ideas as
you think of them and, of equal importance.

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 Exploring personal preferences using past
projects
 Past project reports from your university
 Raimond (1993) suggests that you:
▪ Select six projects that you like. For each of these six projects,
note down your first thoughts in response to three questions:
▪ What appeals to you about the project?
▪ What is good about the project?
▪ Why is the project good?
▪ Select three projects that you do not like. For each of
these three
projects, note down your first thoughts in response to
three:
▪ What do you dislike about the project?
▪ What is bad about the project?
▪ Why is the project bad?
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 Relevance
trees:
 use of relevance trees is similar to that of
mind mapping (Buzan 2006).
 Example:
▪Community Medicine
▪Research Methods
 Study types;

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
Brainstorming
 a problem-solving technique on many
business and management courses, can also
be used to generate and refine research
ideas.
 It is best undertaken with a group of people.

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
Brainstorming
 To brainstorm, Moody (1988) suggests that you:
▪ Define your problem
▪ Ask for suggestions
▪ Record all suggestions, observing the following rules:
▪ No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in any way before
all ideas have been considered
▪ All suggestions, however wild, should be recorded and considered
▪ As many suggestions as possible should be recorded
▪ Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by
each.
▪ Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which applied
to you most as research ideas and why?

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 Capability: is it
feasible?
Appropriateness: is it
worthwhile?

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 Capability: is it
feasible?
 Is the topic something you are really interested
in?
 Do you have, or can you develop the
necessary research skills?
 Is it achievable within the available time?
 Is it achievable within the financial
resources?
 Can you access to the data?
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 Appropriateness: is it
worthwhile?
 Is the topic meet the standards set by
the institution? (HMU)
 Is the research topic contain issues that
have a clear link to theory?
 Able to state your research question
and objectives clearly?
 Will the proposed research be able to
provide a clear understanding of the topic?
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 “Role of exercise ECG test in coronary
artery disease”.
 “Role of exercise ECG test in determining
the extent of coronary artery disease in
comparison to coronary angiography”.

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 Writing research questions
(RQ):
 A research question:
▪state the purpose of your research project
▪guides you through the process of research.
 Reflects the aim (objectives)/ or the purpose
of the study.

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RESEARCH RESEARCH
IDEA QUESTIONS
 Health Education  How does the use of
& Internet. health/ medical websites
affect education of
people?
 Ethics &  How the informed
Surgery consent is taken from
preoperative women
 Motivation & Use of undergo Caesarian
drugs section?
 What are the factors
determine the use of
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drugs made by (X)
 Research
 Aim is to try to achieve something. (Oxford
aims;
Dictionary)
 Use your research question as a base from
which you write a set of research aim.
 Aims are more generally acceptable to
the research community as evidence of
the
researcher’s purpose and direction.

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 Research objectives:
The aim is the overall driving force of the research
and the objectives are the means by which you
intend to achieve the aims.
 Maylor and Blackmon (2005) recommend that personal
objectives may be added to the list of research
objectives. (E.g. Stat. software)
 Objectives should be SMART:
▪ S (Specific)
▪ M (Measurable)
▪ A (Achievable)
▪ R (Realistic)
▪ T (Timely)

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RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH
QUESTION AIM OBJECTIVES
 How does the  To determine the  To measure the
effectiveness of the proportion of doctors
use of health/ have internet access
use of health/ medical
medical websites at home &/ or office.
websites on doctors’
affect education health education levels
of doctors? in--from the period
between-- & --.
 To measure the
 How the informed  To describe the frequency of
consent is taken process of women who give
from preoperative preoperative informed informed consent .
consent among
 To know the
women undergo demographic profile
women undergo CS in
Caesarian of women undergo
– from– to --. CS.
section?
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 The process of formulating and
clarifying your research topic is the
most important part of your research
topic.
 Generating and refining research ideas
makes use of a variety of techniques
 Clear research questions, based on the
relevant literature, will act as a focus for
the research that follows.
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 Identify a research idea in your field of
interest, turn it into a research question,
a research aim (s) and objectives.

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Thank you