ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

Jose Rizal High School

Gov. W. Pascual Ave., Malabon City
Fax/Tel. No. 921-2744
PACUCOA ACCREDITED: LEVEL II
Senior High School Department

Name: ____________________________ Grade and Section: _______________________

Subject Teacher: Ms. Myka L. Lascano Date: _________________________________

Concept Notes #8
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INQUIRY OR RESEARCH
You begin your research work with a problem; that is, having a problem or
topic to work on. Mulling over a topic for your research work drives you to perform HOTS or
higher-order thinking strategies of inferential, critical, integrative, and creative thinking in
finalizing your mind on one topic among several choices. A topic is researchable if the
knowledge and information about it are supported by evidence that is observable, factual,
and logical. Here are some pointers you have to keep in mind in selecting a research topic
(Babbie 2013):

Guidelines in Choosing a Research Topic

1. Interest in the subject matter
Your interest in a topic may be caused by your rich background knowledge about it and by
its novelty; meaning, its unfamiliarity to you.
2. Availability of information
Collecting a lot of information as evidence to support your claims about your subject matter
from varied forms of literature like books, journals, and newspapers, among others, is a part
and parcel of any research work.
3. Timeliness and relevance of the topic
The topic is relevant if it yields results that are instrumental in societal improvement. It is
timely if it is related to the present.
4. Limitations on the subject
This makes you link your choosing with course requirements.
5. Personal resources
Before sticking fully to your final choice, assess your research abilities in terms of your
financial standing, health condition, mental capacity, needed facilities, and time allotment to
enable you to complete your research. (Barbour 2014)

Research Topics to be Avoided

1. Controversial topics. These are topics that depend greatly on the writer’s opinion,
which may tend to be biased or prejudicial.
2. Highly technical subjects. For a beginner, researching on topics that require an
advanced study, technical knowledge, and vast experience is a very difficult task.
3. Hard-to-investigate subjects. A subject is hard to investigate if there are no
available reading materials about it and if such materials are not up-to-date.
4. Too broad subjects. Topics that are too broad will prevent you from giving a
concentrated or an in-depth analysis of the subject matter of the paper.
5. Too narrow subjects. These subjects are so limited or specific that an extensive or
thorough searching or reading for information about these is necessary.
6. Vague subjects. Choosing topics like these will prevent you from having a clear
focus on your paper.
Sources of Research Topics
This time, you already have ideas on some factors that affect your process of choosing a
researchable topic. It is also necessary for you to know where a good research topic may
come from. Knowing some sources of probable research topics could hasten your choosing;
thereby, freeing you from a prolonged time of pondering over a problem of knowing which
problem is good for you to research on. The following can help you generate ideas about a
good research topic. (Silverman 2013)
1. Mass media communication – press (newspapers, ads, TV, radio, films, etc.)
2. Books, Internet, peer-reviewed journals, government publications, Professional
periodicals like College English Language Teaching Forum, English Forum, The
Economist, Academia, Business Circle, Law Review, etc.
3. General periodicals such as Readers’ Digest, Women’s Magazine, Panorama
Magazine, Time Magazine, World Mission Magazine, etc.
4. Previous reading assignments in your other subjects
5. Work experience – clues to a researchable topic from full-time or part-time jobs, OJT
(on-the-job training) experience, fieldwork, etc.

How to identify potential research topics?

 ● Brainstorm.
Write down potential research topics that align with your interests. Jot down any ideas that
come to mind, even if they are still vague.
● Consider your interests.
Think about your personal interests and hobbies, as well as the topics you've studied that
sparked your curiosity.
● Check course materials.
Review your course materials, including your syllabus, textbook, and class notes.
● Consult academic databases.
You can go to JSTOR, Google Scholar, or your library's online resources to search for articles,
papers, or studies related to your course.
● Talk to your instructor or supervisor.
Ask for input from your instructor or supervisor. They may have specific areas of interest or
expertise that can guide your research.
● Consider current events.
Look for current events or news related to your course or field of study. Often, they can
provide inspiration for research topics and help you identify emerging trends or issues in
your field.
● Review previous research.
Look into previous research studies or articles related to your topic of interest.
● Focus on a specific aspect.
Choose a broad topic, then focus on a specific aspect of it. This will help you narrow down
your research and create a more specific research question.

How to narrow down a topic?

● Consider your research question.

Your research question should guide your topic selection and help you narrow down the
focus of your study.
● Identify key concepts.
Focus on one to two key concepts or ideas that are related to your topic.
● Consult secondary sources.
Read books, articles, and other research studies related to your topic. This will help you
identify specific angles or aspects of your topic that haven't been explored yet or need
further research.
● Refine your scope.
Assess the scope of your study. A topic that is too broad can be challenging to address
thoroughly, while a topic that is too narrow may limit the scope of your research.
● Consider your audience.
Think about who your readers are and what their interests or needs are. This will help you
narrow down your topic to something that is relevant and interesting for them.
● Brainstorm potential subtopics.
Once you have a broad topic in mind, start brainstorming potential subtopics or aspects of
the topic that you can focus on.
● Consult with your instructor or supervisor.
Ask for feedback or guidance from your instructor or supervisor if you're finding it
challenging.