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Psychology 1101 Honors - Niju: Step 1: Select and refine a topic

Select a Topic

White question mark on a red stop sign. Sign on pole below reads FAQ.Q: So many topics out there! Any tips for selecting a topic?

A: Select a topic that you are interested in learning about (as long as it fits within assignment guidelines).

Research can take time, so it helps if you care about the topic.

Select your topic and refine or broaden it

Selecting your topic

Once you have chosen a general topic idea, the next step is to refine your topic and then formulate a research question. A topic will be very hard to research if it is too broad or narrow. 

Some tips:

  • Pick a topic that is not too broad that you find too much information, and not too specific where you cannot find enough research on it.

  • You may need to refine your topic so that you aren't superficial by covering too many areas, e.g. "teaching methods" is too broad

  • You may need to broaden your topic if you are not finding enough research to support your paper, e.g. the effectiveness of project-based learning for teaching sixth grade English language learners the Pythagorean theorem is too specific

  • If you feel your topic is in a sweet spot of not too broad and not too specific, e.g. teaching methods for middle school writing then you can begin searching for it, and see how you go.

If you have difficulties in refining your topic, talk to your instructor, or a librarian. Your liaison librarian can advise you on how to refine or broaden your topic, so it is "comfortably searchable".

How do I refine my topic?

One way to narrow a broad topic is to apply context to it, by assigning contextual facets to what you will cover.

For example, you are interested in applying PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Support) in your classroom.

  1. Refine it context by thinking of the following ways:
Contextual facets Examples
Discipline / Specific area

PBIS to improve communication

PBIS for emotional and behavioral disorders
Population Group

PBIS in the elementary classroom

PBIS for high school students 
Geographical or Socioeconomic area

PBIS in rural schools

PBIS in urban schools
Culture PBIS for African-American students
  1. Combine the most important contextual facets together to form your research question. 

For example: PBIS for high school students with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Unless your initial topic is rather broad e.g. classroom management, you don't want to combine all of the facets, as your topic will become too narrow and you will find it hard to find enough research on it.

Examples of refining topics

 

Broad Topic Narrowed Topic Refined Topic Research Question
Engaging apathetic students Engaging apathetic students - in high school Engaging apathetic students - in high school - in language arts How can I get my apathetic high school students to become engaged in language arts?
Behavior management strategies Behavior management strategies - in third-grade classroom Behavior management strategies - third-grade classroom - for ADHD students What behavior management strategies can I use for ADHD students in my third-grade classroom?
Positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement - lower elementary grades Positive reinforcement - lower elementary grades - disruptive behaviors What positive reinforcement strategies can I use for disruptive behaviors in lower elementary grades?

 

When to broaden your research topic

Sometimes, even if you tried to refine your topic just right, you will get too few results on it. You may need to broaden your topic. Before you do:

  • Use different search tactics and techniques to expand your results
  • Consult your liaison librarian (or Ask a Librarian if they are unavailable) for expert search advice!

A librarian may know advanced search tactics and techniques you have not tried yet to help find results.

If you are still hardly getting any results, broaden your topic a little at a time until you find enough literature.  You can expand your research question by widening one of your contextual facets, and if that does not help, getting rid of it altogether. Start by broadening the facet that is least important.

 

Examples of broadening topics

 

Specific research topic Broadened a little Broadened further Revised Research Question
Managing an overcrowded curriculum in high school physical sciences Managing an overcrowded curriculum in high school sciences Managing an overcrowded curriculum in secondary school sciences How can I manage an overcrowded curriculum in high school sciences?
Quantitative and qualitative assessment in the adult language classroom to measure reading comprehension Assessment in the adult language classroom to measure reading comprehension Assessment in the adult classroom to measure comprehension How do I assess in the adult language classroom to measure comprehension?
Differentiated instruction by achievement levels in the fourth grade Differentiated instruction by achievement levels in upper-elementary grades Differentiated instruction by achievement in elementary school How do I differentiate instruction by achievement levels in upper-elementary grades?