Conceptualising a Research Topic to Define a Succinct Title

Boon Yih Mah
Feb 3, 2023
8 min read

Updated: Jul 17

Most supervisors allow their students to find their topics. However, the hardest thing for most postgraduate students is finding a research topic that seems both feasible and interesting to write about (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Most postgraduate students will maintain their interest and seek to connect their interests with the subjects' inherent issues throughout the research process.

A research study is a planned, methodical, critical, objective scientific inquiry or examination of a specific subject to discover answers or solutions. It provides insights that help a decision-maker make informed judgments about how to address a particular situation (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2019). Choosing a focused study topic may be even more challenging if you have never conducted research.

A. Tips for Conceptualising a Research Area Solutions

Each student must have a respective area of research. Research areas are very general, such as the pure sciences, information technology, social sciences, and the humanities. It is also considered an assigned field, yet it is far broader than a general subject or research topic; for example, it can include areas such as social science, which can be meaningfully broken down further into general subjects, such as psychology and education (Bryman, 2016).

At some point, you may need to sit back, relax, and use your imagination to speculate about your research area to discover the subjects before focusing on the topics. Read other people's work before you start on your own to know what has been and is presently being done (Bell, 2022). You can conceptualise your research areas in the following ways:

Free writing
Listing keywords
Arranging keywords into a rough outline
Clustering
Narrowing by comparison
Asking questions

B. Tips for Narrowing a General Subject Solutions

A general subject or specialised discipline could be considered more specific, corresponding to the research area's subcategory. If you think of education as a research area, it can be broken down into general subjects like educational technology and educational psychology. Some general subjects might even cross into other research areas, such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Before narrowing the general subject into a scholarly topic, you may consider social issues, such as your cultural and ethnic backgrounds, that may prompt you to conduct detailed research. Besides, the potential problem to be investigated, the research objectives to be identified, the hypotheses to be tested, and the research questions to be answered must be considered (Thomas, 2021). However, you may depend on the following ten criteria before embarking on a research topic.

Interest
1. Avoid being influenced by your parents or friends.
2. Avoid being imposed by the supervisors.
Past education and experience
1. It can be an extension of your Master's dissertation.
2. This can be related to your working experience.
Aspiration
1. Consider a topic related to the subject you are currently teaching.
2. Look for a topic that offers you new opportunities.
Market demand
1. Offer a promotion opportunity.
2. Possess high employability value.
Aim
1. Achieve your vision and mission.
2. Help to achieve your goal.
Capability
1. Suit your niche area.
2. Possess sufficient knowledge and skills.
Resources
1. Possess full accessibility.
2. Have the know-how in usage.
Finance
1. Avoid excessive research costs to reduce the financial burden.
2. Consider your own financial status.
Feasibility
1. Know where and how to get the research support.
2. Prioritise graduation on time.
Trend
1. Achieve breakthrough discoveries.
2. Avoid well-researched topics.

C. Tips for Refining a Scholarly Topic Solutions

A scholarly topic should examine a narrowed issue instead of a general subject. It should address knowledgeable readers with a serious purpose, which demands analysis of the problems, arguments from a position, and explaining complex details. A scholarly topic also meets the supervisor's expectations and conforms to the programme's requirements.

Your inquiry into the issues or initiatives to solve a problem empowers you to conduct research. Your scholarly topic addresses the issues that make you examine them with intellectual curiosity based on the evidence found. You intend to share your investigation of the problems with your readers by bringing them special perspectives and insightful details. You will also present a meaningful discussion of the implications of your study rather than just a summary of ideas.

A postgraduate student must understand that engaging with a scholarly topic demands deep inquiry and critical problem-solving. It revolves around a significant issue or challenge ripe for research exploration. The topic should strike a balance—broad enough to allow for comprehensive investigation yet specific enough to avoid ambiguity (Thomas, 2021). Now, let’s delve into the topics listed below. Which of these do you believe holds the potential to be truly scholarly?

The Meaning of Life
The Importance of Cleanliness
Health Is More Important than Wealth. Why?
The Best Way to Conserve Energy
The Memorisation Technique I Love to Use the Most

D. Tips for Defining a Succinct Title Solutions

a. 4Cs Attributes

The value and impression of a thesis are often judged by its title.
A title's role in a thesis is more than just presentational; a well-crafted title broadens the work's reach, particularly to audiences that may gain the most from it.
After deciding on your scholarly topic, it is time to define your title by researching the precise keywords that will help you determine your research with a succinct title.
A brief title should possess the 4Cs attributes:
1. Correct
2. Clear
3. Concise
4. Compact

b. Scientific, Linguistic, and Stylistic Perspectives

The insights drawn from scientific, linguistic, and stylistic perspectives are crucial in crafting captivating and memorable titles. These diverse viewpoints enrich the creative process, allowing for the creation of titles that grab attention and resonate deeply with the intended audience.

Scientific requirements are more readily manipulated.
1. Avoid the following:
  1. Using a broad title
    1. Imply that the report reviews prior work rather than expressing discoveries.
    2. Fail to explain what is unique or novel about the study.
  2. If the study only examined one application, assert traits or implications with phrases like 'with broad application,' 'with clinical potential,' and 'for point-of-care usage. '
  3. Express big assertions unless the evidence fully supports the work or proclaims the primary findings.
  4. Being excessively precise or wordy
    1. Employ unusual gene names or scientific processes.
    2. It may repel readers who might have benefited from digging into the work.
Linguistic constraints save the reader time and effort.
1. Avoid the following:
  1. Short titles as they are difficult to read, communicate insufficient information or exclude an important term
  2. Phrases that indicate novelty or excitement, such as 'for the first time,' 'dramatic,' 'intriguing,' and 'successful,' to avoid biasing the reader
  3. Broad or vague phrases such as 'system,' 'platform,' 'engineering,' and 'approach'
  4. Stacking adjectives
    1. Use hyphenation to minimise ambiguity
  5. Jargons
    1. Replace them with simple phrases whenever feasible to make the title flow.
Stylistic constraints include the following:
1. The maximum amount of characters
2. Punctuation and non-standard abbreviations
3. Declarative, imperative, and interrogative phrases and dependent clauses
4. New acronyms, colons, ing-ending verbs, British or American spelling

c. Title Construction

The words' choice and placement (sequencing and positioning) determine the focus of the research title.
1. Phrases like 'A Study on...', 'An Investigation into...', and 'Research on...' are unnecessary, as it is understood that the study has been conducted.
2. Avoid using bombastic or verbose language to impress the readers; just be short and simple.
Consider a title with 12 to 15 words that are sufficient to define the objective of the study.
1. Omit redundant words.
Using a single long phrase is generally better than using a colon to split it into segments, as it offers greater precision and focus.
1. A two-part title is allowable if deemed appropriate.
2. For example:
  1. The Systematic Development of a Local Initiative to Create a Learning Centre for Engineering Education (X)
  2. A Local Learning Centre for Engineering Education (/)
You should incorporate the five aspects of your study into your title: Variable(s), Subject(s), Setting, Scope (optional), and Methodology (optional)
1. For example:
  1. The Relationship between Students' Engagement and Speaking Performance in the Secondary English Classroom
    1. Variables: Students' engagement and speaking performance
    2. Setting: Secondary English classroom
    3. Subjects: Secondary students

d. Title Refinement

The title should be constantly reviewed as a working title.
1. Deliberate practice is what works.
Write titles with intention and seek constructive criticism.
1. It is fine to go with the modified scientific title.
2. Enable the reader to get an overview of your study.
Consider the following ways:
1. Talk with others.
  1. Personal interviews and discussions
    1. Consult with your supervisor.
    2. Discuss your topic with three or four peers.
    3. Listen to the concerns of others.
  2. Online discussion groups
    1. Join an online discussion group.
    2. Take careful notes.
    3. Adjust your research accordingly.
2. Use online searches to refine your topic.
  1. Use an online subject directory.
    1. Refer to SELEH under 6. DOING RESEARCH
  2. Use an internet keyword search.
    1. Boolean expressions
      1. Stipulate which words and phrases can, must, or must not appear in the search results.
      2. Place AND, OR, NOT, +, or - signs between keywords to instruct the search engine to display only those websites where your research terms appear in certain combinations and ignore others.
  3. Use the library's electronic databases.
  4. Use the library's electronic book catalogue.
3. List and prioritise the most significant keywords.
  1. Distinguish the work.
4. Attempt to put the top-ranked phrases at the start and end of the title.

E. Tips for Creating Excellent Title Solutions

When crafting a research title, it is vital to consider various linguistic elements that can significantly enhance its impact. Key considerations include clarity, conciseness, specificity, relevance, and adherence to academic standards. Below are some critical considerations, accompanied by illustrative examples:

Clear
1. The title should be easy to understand, avoiding vague or ambiguous terms.
  - Poor: A Study on Student Performance
  - Excellent: The Impact of Online Learning on High School Student Performance in Mathematics
Concise
1. The title should be brief but informative, avoiding unnecessary words.
  - Poor: An Investigation into the Various Factors That Affect the Learning Abilities of College Students in a University Setting
  - Excellent: Factors Affecting College Students' Learning Abilities
Specific
1. The title should precisely reflect the study’s focus, including key variables.
  - Poor: Effects of Social Media on Students
  - Excellent: The Influence of Social Media Usage on Academic Performance among Senior High School Students
Relevant
1. The title should align with the research problem and scope.
  - Poor: The Role of Diet in Life (Too broad)
  - Excellent: The Effects of a Plant-Based Diet on Weight Loss among Adults Aged 25–40
Non-technical
1. Unless the study is highly specialised, the title should be understandable to a broad audience.
  - Poor: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Endogenous Variables in Pedagogical Paradigms
  - Excellent: Analysing Teaching Strategies That Improve Student Engagement in Science Classes
Grammatical
1. The title should be grammatically correct and well structured.
  - Poor: How Students are Affected by the Use of Gadgets in Studying
  - Excellent: The Effect of Gadget Use on Students’ Study Habits
Formal
1. The title should maintain an academic tone, avoiding overly casual or dramatic phrasing.
  - Poor: Why Too Much Screen Time is Ruining Students' Brains
  - Excellent: The Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Cognitive Development in Adolescents

References

Bell, J. (2022). Doing your research project: A guide for first-time researchers. McGraw-Hill Education.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson.
Thomas, G. (2021). How to do your research project: A guide for students. Sage.

Let's Recall...

Why is refining a research topic crucial for postgraduate students?
What challenges do students face in narrowing a research topic, and how can criteria help?
How does a well-constructed title enhance research credibility?

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