Research Topic, Definition of

Step 1: Getting Ideas

Often the most difficult part of the research process is selecting a topic. Students may encounter [Page 1463]two problems: too many ideas or no idea at all. On one hand, some students might have lots of ideas. They are interested in online gaming, video sharing, interpersonal conflict, advertising effects, and the representation of women by mass media. They do not know which idea to pick. On the other hand, some students might be struggling with finding a topic and really scared of the project. No matter which scenario one is in, hone always starts by reviewing the assignment and making sure that he or she understands the requirements and purpose of the assignment. The purpose of the research project should be understood: Is the research for a class assignment or are for publication? A topic for a class assignment will be different from a topic for a peer-reviewed journal submission.

In addition to the purpose of the research, one also needs to consider the requirements for the research and the time one has to complete the research. The requirements for the assignment reveals a lot about what kinds of ideas will make a good topic. Considerations include how long the paper needs to be, how many references are appropriate, and how much time is allotted. For example, if a professor assigned a few months for students to work on a research paper, he or she may expect more than if two weeks are assigned.

The requirements of the assignment may also specify whether the project shall be focused on a specific area of communication and tie to the class materials or whether students can choose any topic. Communication is a broad discipline. There are different subject areas, for example, interpersonal communication, intercultural and international communication, group communication, health communication, technology and communication, instructional communication, language and symbolic codes, mass communication, organizational communication, and public communication. Each subject area favors different issues and topics. An example would be technology: communication is concerned with technology-mediated communication and how people use this type of communication tool to fulfill their entertainment or information needs. Topics like how different demographic groups use technology and its impact are interesting in this subject area.

After the directions of the assignment are clarified, one can start to explore different ideas for the project. For some people, getting the topic ideas for a project can be a daunting task whereas some people think getting research topic ideas is the easier part of a research project. There are several ways to help generating ideas for the research. One way is to talk to professors and classmates or colleagues. Professors may have suggestions and provide some examples. Classmates and colleagues may share what they are working on and provide brainstorming ideas. Other methods include reviewing course materials to see what have been covered in the class and talking to a librarian. News in traditional media or social media can be helpful too, as current events may pique one’s interests. Last but not least, everyday experience such as what has been experienced in everyday communication scenarios, can be a good starting point for developing a research idea: Why does my professor not check Facebook messages? Why do my boyfriend and I always argue on the same simple issues? Why do my friends only text me and not call me anymore? All these experiences can develop into interesting research projects.

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