Flashcards on Formulating Research Topics
Formulating Research Topics: A Comprehensive Student Guide
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Research Topic Formulation
15 cards
Card 1
Question: What is a research topic (in the context of formulating a project)?
Answer: A defined broad area or issue of study involving ideas expressed or developed into a social phenomenon or problem worth exploring and feasible to rese
Card 2
Question: Give three examples of social phenomena that can be framed as research topics.
Answer: Refugee and national security; youths and development; electoral violence, democracy and international peace.
Card 3
Question: What makes a research topic 'researchable' or 'feasible' according to the content?
Answer: It must be a problem worth exploring, achievable within constraints (e.g., perceptions may be a challenge), and can be narrowed using case studies or
Card 4
Question: How can a broad research topic be narrowed? Provide the progression example given.
Answer: Use a case study or time period to narrow. Example: Broad: The Role of Regional Organizations in enhancing Democratic Governance → Narrow: The Role of
Card 5
Question: What should a well-formulated title/topic clearly convey?
Answer: The focus, purpose and meaning of the research; it should be fully explanatory when standing alone and reflect the contents of the research.
Card 6
Question: How should variables appear in a research topic/title?
Answer: The title should identify the variables — two factors or themes that influence each other — showing independent and dependent relationships where appl
Card 7
Question: Give the example that identifies independent and dependent variables from the content.
Answer: The effect of unemployment on security in urban centres: independent variable = unemployment; dependent variable = urban security.
Card 8
Question: What wording should be avoided in a research title?
Answer: Redundancies such as 'a study of…' or 'an investigation of…' should be avoided.
Card 9
Question: What advice is given about abbreviations in titles?
Answer: Abbreviations should not appear in the title (e.g., write 'East Africa Community' instead of 'EAC').
Card 10
Question: List methods suggested for transforming ideas into research topics.
Answer: Background reading or light literature review; speaking to experts/tutors; mind mapping/sketching and noting key words; writing a one-pager.