Why should you avoid too broad topics in conducting research?

Choosing a topic for a research paper can be quite daunting. It seems like every topic out there is a great choice for an informative and engaging research paper. However, you’ll find that some research topics make better choices than others. Take a look at the types of research topics to be avoided when writing your next research paper.

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Avoid research topics that are

Insignificant to the audience

When a student writes a research paper he/she has a target audience who will benefit from the findings or who will read it. The student should know that his topic will be significant to that audience. Significance is very basic thing to every research because every research is weighed on how much significant it is for people. A research paper cannot be written plainly because it is an interesting topic or it is easy to write a research paper on that topic.

Lacks your interest or will not hold your interest for long

There are certain topics that can be made into good research paper but they do not interest you at all. Selecting a topic that is uninteresting to you will make the whole process of writing a research paper more difficult. In case your teacher assigns a topic to you and it does not interest you, you can think about ways in which you can make an uninteresting topic interesting to you.

Only have few sources to get information

Sources are important in the writing of a research paper, you have to collect information from these sources. In case you have only few sources available for your topic critical evaluation of your topic will become difficult. You will rely on the few available sources and this will result in repetition of ideas.

Unmanageable and do not easily lend themselves to be narrowed

There are certain topics that are very broad and it is very difficult to narrow them down such topics become difficult to manage by the students. You might feel like you will manage it but as the process will start you will feel that it becomes lengthy and will not be able to complete in the given time. A broad topic is not only difficult to manage in a research paper but it also creates several dimensions in the research which are difficult to explore in one small research paper.

Usual and have been overly worked by others

There are certain topics that loose their uniqueness because lots of students have already worked on it. A topic that has been overly worked might interest you but it will be least interesting for the audience especially your instructor.

Controversial

Controversial topics can bring out debate in the class or outside the class and will make things difficult for you to manage. They can also become a reason to hurt someones feelings.

Emotionally linked to someone

Some topics might be linked emotionally to someone in the class or outside the class. You might feel interested in a very emotional topic but then you have to be very careful that you do not hurt the emotions of anyone. Sometimes when students select a very emotional topic for their research paper they become biased in its conclusion so as not to hurt someones feeling. It is better therefore to avoid such topics.

Unsuitable to the audience

Some topics are not suitable to the audience of your research paper. Like a topic that is very technical or overly sensitive to your class is not a suitable topic for your research paper. A topic that is not suitable for your audience for any reason will create lack of interest in the class while you are presenting it. This will not be a good choice for your research paper.

Beyond scientific understanding

Some topics like the ones related to theology are beyond the scope of scientific knowledge, you might be curious about one such topic but it will have no end result.

Too technical for you to write

Your technical understanding of the topic also matters. Your instructor and other people who know about your topic will be there to help you with that topic but your own basic knowledge about that topic is mandatory to writing research paper.

Already done by you for another instructor or class

You can write a research paper on a single topic for two different instructors but it will be difficult o do the justice. You will repeat your ideas and sources which will losse the uniqueness of each research paper.

In short, you should keep in mind that to write a research paper you will be given a limited time and you have to do it all by yourself. You can get help from others but in the end writing the research paper is your job and you have to do it all by yourself. So choose a practical topic and narrow it down so that you can manage it in the given time. Think about your interests before choosing a topic but also keep in mind that if the topic that interests you is not a practical topic then definitely it is not a good topic for your research paper. Choose your topic but while finalizing depend on your instructor because she can guide you from her experience that you do not have.

References

• Roth, J. A. The Research Paper: Process, Form, and Content, Wadsworth Publishing Co., 8th Ed., USA, 1999, Pp- 18-21
• Tensen, L. B., Research Strategies for a Digital Age, Thomson Wadsworth, 2nd Ed., Boston, 2007, Pp- 4-16

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Developing research questions

It is likely that at some point during your degree you will be required to create your own research question. The research question states the specific issue or problem that your assignment will focus on. It also outlines the task that you will need to complete.

There is no universal set of criteria for a good research question. Different disciplines have different priorities and requirements. A good research question for a history paper will differ from a good research question for a biology paper. In general, however, a good research question should be:

• Clear and focused. In other words, the question should clearly state what the writer needs to do.
• Not too broad and not too narrow. The question should have an appropriate scope. If the question is too broad it will not be possible to answer it thoroughly within the word limit. If it is too narrow you will not have enough to write about and you will struggle to develop a strong argument [see the activity below for examples].
• Not too easy to answer. For example, the question should require more than a simple yes or no answer.
• Not too difficult to answer. You must be able to answer the question thoroughly within the given timeframe and word limit.
• Researchable. You must have access to a suitable amount of quality research materials, such as academic books and refereed journal articles.
• Analytical rather than descriptive. In other words, your research question should allow you to produce an analysis of an issue or problem rather than a simple description of it [more on this below].

Activity: Is the question too broad or too narrow?

Imagine that you have been asked to write a 2000 word essay about nuclear power in Australia. Which of these three options is the best in terms of its scope? Drag and drop to match each question with the most accurate description of its scope.