Developing a Research Topic

Summary

The video script outlines the initial steps in the research process, emphasizing the importance of choosing a focused topic to avoid challenges. It explains how to refine a broad topic using the Four Ws: who, what, where, and when. The script provides an example of narrowing the topic 'video games' to 'Are children who play video games more likely to be violent?' by addressing these aspects. It concludes with tips, encouraging students to choose an interesting topic, follow guidelines, and seek help if needed.

Takeaways

• 📝 Choosing a research topic and developing a research question are the first steps in the research process.
• 🎯 A focused topic is crucial for a manageable and effective research process.
• ⚠️ Broad topics can lead to overwhelming amounts of information, while narrow topics may result in too little information.
• 🔍 The Four Ws (who, what, where, when) help narrow down a topic to make it more focused and manageable.
• 🕹️ For example, the topic of video games is broad and needs focusing using the Four Ws.
• 📅 'When' refers to the time frame of your research, such as focusing on information from the last ten years.
• 🌍 'Where' allows you to limit your research by location, such as focusing on a specific country.
• 👶 'Who' helps identify the population or group you want to study, like children in this example.
• ❓ A research question can be formed by combining these focused aspects, like 'Are children who play video games more likely to be violent?'
• 💡 Final tips include choosing a topic that interests you, following instructor guidelines, and asking for help when needed.

Q & A

What are the first steps in the research process?

The first steps in the research process are choosing a topic and developing a research question.

What is the importance of having a focused topic?

A focused topic is more manageable and easier to develop into a research question. It helps avoid overwhelming amounts of information or difficulty finding relevant sources.

What are the risks of choosing a topic that is too broad?

If the topic is too broad, you may become overwhelmed by the amount of information available and find it difficult to focus your research.

What happens if your topic is too narrow or obscure?

If your topic is too narrow or obscure, you may struggle to find enough relevant information to write your paper.

How can you make a broad topic more manageable?

To make a broad topic more manageable, you can focus on the Four Ws: who, what, where, and when.

How can you apply the 'when' aspect to your topic?

The 'when' aspect helps you limit your research by time period. For example, you might choose to focus on information from the last ten years.

What does the 'where' aspect help you with?

The 'where' aspect helps you limit your research by geography or location, such as focusing on a specific country or region.

How can you use the 'who' aspect in developing your research question?

The 'who' aspect allows you to identify the person or population you want to study, such as children or adults.

What would be an example of a focused research question based on the Four Ws?

An example of a focused research question would be, 'Are children who play video games more likely to be violent?'

What are some final tips for choosing and developing a research topic?

Some tips include choosing a topic that interests you, ensuring the topic meets your instructor's guidelines, and asking your instructor for clarification or help if needed.