Before starting writing parts of the research or thesis proposal, it is important to find the ‘right’ topic for the research. We can start from a topic we are passionate about. The choice of topic will drive the remaining parts of the research proposal such as the literature review and the design of the methodology.
Before going further to determine the research topic, let’s pay attention to Figure X about a simplified model of research without hypotheses. Figure 3.1 shows that empirical research is divided into two main parts, namely pre-empirical stage and empirical stage. The pre-empirical stage takes place when we read some literature to choose a specific topic and build the research question(s) which will determine the design and lead us to the answer we need. Meanwhile, the empirical stage covers the implementation of research design, data collection and analysis, and conclusion making.
Figure 3.1. Simple process of empirical research
Looking for a research topic might be from different sources, for example, the university websites where the professors’ research projects’ titles and interests are published, the libraries where research reports or theses are published, the courseworks that have been taken throughout semesters, the research groups within the department, or even the literature including academic journals, books or conference proceedings. The important things are to ensure that the topic is quite recent, significant, and provides novel contributions to the development of knowledge in the related field.
There are several steps that might be done when thinking about the research topics. First, everything may start from our interest. We can jot down 5 possible topics that spark our interest relevant to the field we study. For example, if we are interested in studying semiotics, especially about multimodality, we can write down the possible problems in our surroundings to make the topic more manageable such as multimodality in hard news, multimodality in advertisements, or others.
Then, we can start looking for some related literature to see similar previous studies published within the last 5 to 10 years. However, make sure that we find the most recent study because if we only find old studies, it may indicate that the topic we choose is outdated. After finding relevant literature, start reading 5 of them for each topic of interest. It is also practical to refer to the conclusion and recommendation part for the novelty of our upcoming research since previous researchers usually give recommendations for future research in the field. Questioning the topic might also help to ensure that it is worth asking and the research will be worth conducting. For instance, ask questions such as how the topic fits into a larger context, how has the topic changed through time and why, how the topic compares to and contrasts with other topics, how many categories are there within the scope of our topic, and other questions. Then, we can outline the possibilities of the tenets or variables to be studied, the methods, and the feasibility of data collection. It is advisable to choose the one with the most feasible, significant, and easy to understand. Finally, you can try to discuss with the experts in your department including professors, colleagues, and other practitioners in order to evaluate your topic and problem.
After determining the focus or topic of our research, it is now the time to define the problem clearly by creating a problem statement. Articulating the problem clearly will help us formulate the purpose statement which will guide the whole study. We can start by determining the type or approach of our research whether it is basic or applied. Basic research is usually conducted for the sake of knowing something, or sometimes called pure research. On the other hand, applied research is usually conducted to discover or improve something by finding solutions to problems. Some examples of applied research might concern issues with performance or efficiency, processes that could be improved, areas of concern among practitioners, or difficulties faced by specific groups of people. Then, based on the literature we have read on the topic, formulate a clear problem statement that consists of a) the topic, b) the question, and c) the significance, such as:
A local non-profit organization focused on alleviating food insecurity has always fundraised from its existing support base. It lacks understanding of how best to target potential new donors. To be able to continue its work, the organization requires research into more effective fundraising strategies.
A fashion retail chain is attempting to increase the number of visitors to its stores, but the management is unaware of the measures to achieve this. To improve its sales and compete with other chains, the chain requires research into ways of increasing traffic in its stores.
The problem statement will then become our guide to plan our research.