a research idea

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How to come up with research ideas?

As a very new researcher who is exploring the best way to generate ideas, some guidance on this question would be very helpful. I have found that this is NOT easy. Ideas seem to pop out of my Professor every day and I wonder how he does it. This question is broad;

How do you tend to come up with initial/seed ideas? What is your search method (if you have one)?

What proportion of your ideas for past papers come from; (i) colleagues, (ii) intentionally browsing the literature for ideas, (iii) on the spot inspiration, (iv) conferences, (v) other?

How do you prioritize research ideas?

Is there any special, generalizable method that you've discovered to sift out those ideas that are likely to be unrealistic early on in the process of idea generation?

Based on small amounts of anecdotal evidence I have reason to believe that there is vast heterogeneity among professors regarding the above questions. For example, economist Steven Levitt says he works on 22 papers at once. A professor I know will have maybe 25% of this at any one time.

Related but not duplicate: Is there any software or tools for managing developing research ideas?

• research-topic

• 11 Anecdotally - for me it just happens (and I have much more ideas than time to develop them), while either reading or (much more) solving other problems. Just sparks of "what if?" or "can I generalized it?". For me it rarely happens on purpose - it it not hard, but impossible to force myself to be creative (on research or anything else). Related - Paul Graham, "How to get startup ideas" . –  Piotr Migdal Commented Dec 18, 2012 at 18:53

9 Answers 9

Okay, as you say, this is very broad, and possibly argumentative. So, I'll try to section off my answer for your various sub-questions, and talk not so much about how I do come up (and organize) research ideas, but how I see it done by everyone (including me).

Coming up with ideas

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” but rather, “hmm... that's funny...” — Isaac Asimov

It's probably very akin to asking a large number of artists “how do you come up with inspiration?” , i.e. you can probably get one thousand different answers, and yet not useful answer at the same time. However, there are some elements that I think are common to all. You can't “trigger” new ideas to come into your mind, but you can put your mind into the right disposition to host these new ideas: recognize them and welcome them. Below is a list, certainly partial and limited, trying to detail my perspective in this matter:

Be challenged! Nothing sparks ideas more than being confronted with contradiction, healthy criticism, a spirited debate, maybe a bit of competition. Some people manage to do that by themselves, arguing against their ideas and improving them. I myself (and most of the colleagues and students I have seen) need an echo chamber, someone to discuss things with. If they're not exactly from your field, all the better, as they may have unusual/naïve/silly questions or expectations.

To give an example, some of the most “successful” ideas I have had came while answering questions, for example from a PhD student or colleague, and replying by “no, it doesn't work like that… in fact, it's probably always guaranteed to be false, because… see, it's linked to X… or maybe it's not? hum…”

Be curious! Ideas come from problems. Identifying worthy problems in your field of research, and dissecting larger issues into of specific problems of manageable scope, is at least as hard as coming up with new ideas. In the end my feeling is that, especially for a researcher, all ideas are the result of one’s curiosity.

Manage to get some free time for thinking (and not: teaching, supervising, tutoring, reviewing, writing, sleeping, …). Body and mind. Sure, an idea can pop into your head any time, but it's probably less likely to happen when you teach basic calculus all day that when you get some time to really think .

Know your field, know where a new development need to occur, what is currently missing. Read review papers, search for such ideas through people's articles or blog posts , discuss with senior colleagues who have a comprehensive view of the field, …

One of the ways you can come with ideas is by analyzing how different groups work in your fields, seeing what has been addressed and avoided, what big questions are still open, and how you can link between different works to build a coherent global picture… This is not always successful, but it usually generates some good ideas along the way!

Explore more or less closely related fields, and see if there is something from your background that you could apply to their problems, or ways you could build something together. Such ideas tend to be very strong, because you can oftentimes apply an entire branch of knowledge (ideas, methods, algorithms, etc.) to a very different problem. In that case, the added value comes from your different perspective, as you might try things that others would not think of.

Ways have been devised to come up with new ideas on a given topic, either alone or in group sessions. Brainstorming is probably the best know such method (and might be the most popular, in one form or another), but a really large number of creativity techniques have been developed. They can be applied both to enhance creativity or to boost problem solving efficiency.

Organizing ideas

A quote often attributed to Kant: “someone’s intelligence can be measured by the quantity of uncertainties that he can bear” . If that true, that has serious consequences for research. Accepting that your mind can only efficiently support a finite number of ongoing research ideas, you have to come up with ways to write them down, organize them, prioritize them, come back to them later, etc. Just as you cannot juggle with as many balls as you'd like, such “external” tools will help your brain focus on the ones that you assign high priority (or the ones to which it gives high priority; the brain works in funny ways).

Most people use very low-tech tools for that:

Notebooks , either sorted chronologically or thematically; in the later case, open a series of blanks pages for each new project/idea, and flip through the book whenever you want to check on them. I use a Moleskine ( WP ) for that purpose; having a nice, leather-bound notebook somehow helps me “value” it more and treat it with care (always have it with me, actually use it).

Post-it’s scattered through one’s (real or virtual) desktop. Downsides are obvious.

More people than I thought actually don't use any tools, and just keep all in their mind. Apparently it can be done, but I don't advise it.

But more complicated methodologies have been devised, that are supposed to help you with it:

• Mind mapping , either on paper or software-based.
• Using todo-list flat or two-dimensional todo-list software, or more complex task-tracking software (see, e.g. Trello ).
• The software side of this question is already covered (though possibly not extensively) here on this very Q&A site .

Finally, don't underestimate the possibilities opened by delegating: people in charge of a specific project or sub-project (PhD students or post-docs) can be tasked with maintaining a list of ideas by all contributors of the project, to come to later on.

Answers to your miscellaneous smaller questions:

Most ideas are hardly “traceable” to one source or another. A given idea might have formed in my head during a conference, seeing how people were failing to address a certain issue, then crystallized during a discussion with colleagues, but would never have occurred to me if not for a literature review I had performed a few months before.

I'll come back a bit later and continue working on this answer :)

• 5 +1 for the Asimov quotation. I had this as an epigram in my PhD thesis. –  Nicholas Commented Dec 19, 2012 at 9:37
• Agreed! +1 for Asimov! –  Ben Norris Commented Dec 19, 2012 at 11:44
• What do you think of using something like OneNote as a surrogate to the physical notebooks you were recommending? Latex equation typesetting websites can effortlessly generate .gif pictures of your equations that you can copy into OneNote. Wouldn't this do the same thing with the same level of efficiency (or even more because you won't have any clutter) as a physical notebook? –  Jase Commented Dec 23, 2012 at 3:26
• I've only been using it for a few days, but TiddlyWiki seems promising as a non-linear notebook for ideas. –  Detached Laconian Commented Jul 21, 2018 at 7:07

I'll address two points in your question (the overall question is quite broad):

Ideas seem to pop out of my Professor every day : If you've worked on enough problems, you amass a collection of tools and mental shorthands that you can apply to a new problem. It's a matter of experience. You also might see someone else's paper and realize that they are doing something in a clumsy way and you have learnt a better way to do it, and so on.

I wouldn't worry too much about this: it's a matter of time and experience, and will happen on its own. You're not evaluated on the number of ideas you have in any case. You might want to check how many of these ideas are actually good ones :).

How do you tend to come up with initial/seed ideas? : When you're first staring at a problem, it can be intimidating and difficult. While there's no single strategy for getting a "leg up", some useful techniques (and these might be very math/CS specific) are:

• simplify the problem : can you solve a simpler version ? if not, can you simplify even further ? Often, finding the largest solvable element starts to get your mind rolling
• pattern match : does this problem look like something related that has been solved ? can you borrow a method from there ? if not, why not ? again, the goal is to get your mind off the "ZOMG THIS PROBLEM IS TEH HARD" and onto "Here's a tiny piece that I can chew on".

I'm sure others will have useful ideas as well. Ultimately, you'll find that getting ideas isn't the problem: it's getting GOOD ideas that is hard.

• 1 +1 for pattern match; found it very effective specially among different graph-like representations. –  seteropere Commented Dec 20, 2012 at 7:15
• +100 because I expect that your simplify the problem and pattern match advice will be very helpful. –  Jase Commented Dec 24, 2012 at 5:04
• Check out e.g. Pólya's "How to solve it" for related suggestions –  vonbrand Commented Jan 11, 2016 at 0:10

Here is some things I found useful:

Attending public seminars at the department could spark nice ideas (even if it seems not related to your research).

Chatting with other graduate students.

• Reading deeply with why? in mind. This means reading a lot and also means stopping more than usual in the assumptions hypothesis and results for different papers.
• Read future work and conclusions of the papers. Some papers have a real list of future research ideas.
• Capture the Big Picture. This usually will result in many whys for what you encountered.
• Ask Questions .. Even what seems as silly and fundamental questions for some can be the key for good ideas.

Do you, when presented with anything related to your research, routinely ask, "Why is that? How can I tell if that is the case?"

If not, try doing so.

If so, you probably won't be short on ideas. Your problem will be sorting the good ones from the bad ones.

Then start asking "Is this important? How can I explain why it is important?"

Be open/curious to what related disciplines are doing. In some you'll see that the way they solve their problems could also applied to your field but hasn't been tried yet.

I am also a green researcher, and similarly to you, I find coming up with ideas a daunting task. I have tried to approach this task in a bit more systematic way, than to just be waiting for Godot. Feel free to draw inspiration!

• Finding a problem to work on

I keep a list of interesting problems. This could be something a hear about at a seminar, read about in an article, or just something I think about. I write it down - usually half a page, only few references - and forget about it. I can then pull out my list, and find something. Some of the problems quickly turn out to be too small to be interesting, others not.

• Starting out

When one of my problems are deemed interesting enough, I turn to lit. study. This goes on until I find someone with an interesting treatise. Then I read it, and try to reproduce the result as they do it. (I should here mention that my field is theoretical)

• Reproducing - talk about it

I can use quite some time reproducing previous authors' work. But it is very fruitful, and you tend to learn something. I try to give a local seminar about the work at this point, the junior people in my department does bi-weekly blackboard seminars, where presentations like this are encouraged for exactly this reason.

At this point it is hopefully possible where I can go in and improve state of matter. So I start. This can sometimes require correspondence with the author of aforementioned work.

• Talk about it - again!

For me, discussing my work with peers is essential. At this point I would try to sneak in two slides about 'ongoing work' in a conference presentation in order to get feedback from peers and seniors from the field.

From this point on it is not so much getting the idea anymore, as following through on it. I will leave that to another day.

The most practical way is to go to the Library and look through journals for articles that interest you.

When you have found a selection, then sort them by a) Is this a current concern in your field? b) Is the prevailing methodology/technique practical - have you the resources? c) Will your supervisor(s) find this project interesting?

When you can answer all three questions as Yes, then do a deeper literature research and assess again whether the project is doable in the time available and publishable (sound and interesting to people in your field).

• 2 I think it would be much more efficient to do it over the internet where every single journal article can be accessed instantly (which is not the case in the library where some references are inaccessible or take 5 minutes of wasted time to find). –  Jase Commented Dec 30, 2012 at 1:21

Maybe you could try approaching the problem from another direction,

"What is it that you would like to achieve? what is the purpose of your research?"

There are millions of problems in life at the moment, and finding things to research is not the problem at all, even though it may seem that way. Inspiration is not purely found in a textbook, but are a function of the mind and soul and body.

Experience is what probably allows your professor to come up with constant questions. He probably practices free thinking, whereby he doesn't feel constrained in any way by other people and current belief systems. Maybe a lot of the problems that actually need to be understood, such as mental health and problems that people and our planet, experience everyday, just aren't being taken into your current world-view.

Science in itself is not an end. Science is a state of being, including understanding; and is a way that you as an intelligent, caring and investigative person (I presume) approach problems. A classic example of a problem is, that we don't understand. However, simply not understanding something is not a problem. A problem is something that has effects in the real world, such as, how can we help infertile couples reproduce and have children? Although it appears that now that we have resolved this in some detail, that it was the problem of not understanding DNA and the details of reproduction that probably is what resulted, with in vitro fertilisation, and even in vivo transplants etc. If one were to take the time to step out of this 'curiosity breeds progress' mindset, it would appear that these problems weren't purely driven by a quest for knowledge, but from real world problems, that have fortunately been solved.

I'd be interested in further discussion, as I have only this evening come up with an idea myself!

There's always a thirst for improvement, and this won't cease until people realize that happiness doesn't come from materials. Happiness is within all of us, all we have to do is tap into it. Being only 24 I have seen some truly eye-opening things and I am very humble to each of our personal strengths, but I do feel its a shame that research has become so fascinated with one-upmanship, and away from the real potential and benefit of being so intelligent.

I would recommend Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware by Andy Hunt. This book has some very good tips for coming up with ideas, research or otherwise.

• 5 I don't think this is very useful without giving some indication of what is actually in the book. –  David Z Commented Dec 21, 2012 at 2:09

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113 Great Research Paper Topics

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

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Selecting a Research Topic: Overview

• Refine your topic
• Background information & facts
• Writing help

Here are some resources to refer to when selecting a topic and preparing to write a paper:

• MIT Writing and Communication Center "Providing free professional advice about all types of writing and speaking to all members of the MIT community."
• Search Our Collections Find books about writing. Search by subject for: english language grammar; report writing handbooks; technical writing handbooks
• Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Online version of the book that provides examples and tips on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and other writing rules.
• Select a topic

Choosing an interesting research topic is your first challenge. Here are some tips:

• Choose a topic that you are interested in! The research process is more relevant if you care about your topic.
• If your topic is too broad, you will find too much information and not be able to focus.
• Background reading can help you choose and limit the scope of your topic. 
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Musings on Developing Research Ideas

David c. schwebel.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Barbara A. Morrongiello

University of Guelph

Research is Challenging. It takes resources and time to complete high-quality research and there are few if any shortcuts one can take. Among the multiple phases involved in creating psychological research, one lays the foundation for all the rest, namely generating the “right” research idea. What will you study? What will your aims and hypotheses be?

Without completing this first step well, the rest of the research process may be for naught. This first step, however, is one that often perplexes students and frustrates faculty. This essay presents 15 thoughts on how to develop a great research idea. These thoughts are not necessarily authoritative or comprehensive, but they are designed to help researchers—and especially students and junior researchers—succeed in completing that “first” step in the research process.

You will spend a lot of time conducting this research, so you should find something you are passionate about knowing. It might even relate to your own life experiences, but it needs to be something you enjoy thinking about.

Thought #2: Become an expert on the research literature

A successful researcher must understand the literature conducted previously on his or her research topic. But you shouldn't just know what has been done already; you also need to know what hasn't been done. Try to grasp the gaps in the field that should be filled and will extend what has previously been done in a logical manner. Remember that previous researchers were capable. Work done, even if many years ago, can help you think about the problems you are studying and extend research in new directions that enhance our knowledge about that problem. At this stage, focus on identifying what you want to know and becoming clear about why it is important. Don't be distracted by worries about what methods to use. Once you are clear about what you want to know and why, it will become easier to determine what data you need to address the issue and, therefore, what research methods to use.

Quality research that stands the test of time is based in theory. Think about theory, and ground your work in basic scientific theory of human behavior and thought. If theories seem not to fit your problem, work to develop a conceptual model that shows relations between meaningful variables as a starting point.

Along with reading, a talented psychological researcher will observe and think. Watch and observe people engaging in the domain you plan to study. Notice details of how the people behave, and what factors affect this behavior. Importantly, take their perspectives. Think about what it is like to be the people you are observing and consider what they might be thinking that motivates their behaviors and actions. Consider also how this information about human behavior and thought can inform your research ideas.

Good researchers take advantage of opportunities, and create them too. They meet other scholars to discuss new ideas, compare research findings and share information about methods. Our research training often teaches us to work on our own, but networking with colleagues creates a support team for problem solving and offers feedback on your ideas before you invest in the research. Networking can also help you gain broad knowledge exposure, which is important because new and different ideas can stir creativity. Attend lectures and seminars and read widely; often advancements in theories and creative solutions about measures or methods can be gleaned from progress in other research areas.

The value of taking time for thinking is often underrated. But it is a necessary process to quality research. Activities like pondering, daydreaming, and wondering are productive to the research process and should be engaged in. One important aspect of finding time to think is determining how you think best. Are you someone who needs to write as a way to think and develop ideas? Or is it best for you to not write down your ideas until they are fully formed? Writing can enhance or distract from quality thinking, and you need to determine which it does for you. Research has shown that even exercising can be a productive way to promote thinking in ser vice of problem solving ( Best, 2010 ; Tomporowski, 2003 )

You need to read the literature but there is always more one can read—so be careful, There is also always more to think about—so be careful. At some point, reading and listening and thinking must progress to doing. Researchers can't just read and think, they also have to take action. Often the “doing” is harder than the reading or thinking, but one must persist. And remember that reading, thinking, and doing are not necessarily separate activities. One never stops or ends; a good researcher will continuously engage in all three.

Academics like to dream big and that should be encouraged, but practicality and pragmatics must also be considered. Having a good research idea is critical but being able to “sell it” is essential for success in publishing and funding. Your work will be peer-reviewed. Consider what research questions and/or methods might potentially “excite” reviewers and funders. What is novel and innovative about your research, or how could your research be transformed to increase novelty and innovation? What is being talked about in the lay public or social media, and is relevant to your research? What will people relate to and understand?

Practicality also applies from the perspective of social justice. Does your research have potential to help people be healthier, happier, or safer? How might it make a difference? A good researcher will not only be concerned with getting grant money and publications. Rather, he or she also will be concerned about doing research that can ultimately help people and improve society. Indeed, many would argue that we as psychologists have a moral responsibility to use our scholarship to improve the human condition. Moreover, if you can construct your research questions with this objective in mind, the chances of garnering funding and being published also increase.

Everyone has their own style to develop ideas, and a wide range of styles can be effective. No matter what work style is implemented, however, there must be some recording of the idea-generation process on paper or computer. The format may vary greatly—text, outlines, thought bubbles, drawings and figures, or some combination. But that written recording will lead to organization of ideas. Organizing the thoughts is a process that requires logical thinking, pondering, and refining. Most ideas are not concocted with a single “Eureka!” moment, but rather through a series of “mini-Eurekas!” that create a coherent plan.

Research does not always take place in a series of logical and progressive steps. Novice researchers sometimes ask what comes first, the idea or the methodology? The answer is that the idea gives rise to the method but this then can feed back and result in refinement of the idea. Similarly, novice researchers sometimes ask what comes first: the research topic or the hypotheses? The answer again is that these interact: as one refines the research ques tion this usually gives rise to hypotheses, and as one clarifies the hypotheses this often feeds back to inform the research question, And this back-and-forth process can also result in modifications to the measures and methods. Thus, ideas, hypotheses, and methodology are often developed concurrently, and honed as they are developed.

One consideration in formulating research questions, developing measures/methods, and finalizing hypotheses is that there is merit in considering how one can interpret the findings if the hypotheses are not confirmed. Thinking in this way can reveal gaps in measures that will preclude a clean interpretation of the findings. Addressing these gaps will yield a richer set of findings and ensure that no matter how the results turn out, they can be published to advance the field meaningfully.

Large volumes of research have been published. Creating something new, novel, or innovative is not easy. Work done 10, 20, and even 50 or more years ago is often of high quality and still relevant to what you are doing today. Three strategies can help with creativity and novelty: (a) consider contemporary technology and how it can be used wisely to solve research problems, (b) work across disciplinary boundaries to change the way previous single disciplinary scholarship was conceptualized or conducted, and (c) communicate, share, and brainstorm with diverse professionals who have interest in this topic area (e.g., researchers in related fields, practitioners, policy makers).

“Big” ideas are worth pursuing, but can quickly become unwieldy. Manuscripts are often easier to publish, and grants easier to fund, if you focus on a few major ideas and goals. Research that is too “big” can get confusing, both for you and for reviewers; it can also be very cosdy and not realistic for a junior scholar with limited research funds available. Research that is the right size is more manageable to understand and complete. Of course, research that is too small will fail also as it is unlikely to be addressing important research questions, Finding the balance between big and small can be challenging but will help your ideas translate to successful research.

Often the best ideas extend your previous good ideas, so create an incremental research program that builds off itself. Your goal might be to become a world's expert in a particular sub-area. Slated differently, capitalize on your previous successes to create your future successes. Your goal is to develop a “program” of research, not just a collection of publications. A research program enhances sustainability to promote a long and productive career.

Successful research is rarely done alone; interdisciplinary collaborative teams can be more likely to achieve success, although research can proceed more slowly as one adjusts to different ways of doing things across disciplinary boundaries. Remember that everyone can have good ideas. Students may have less wisdom but they offer different, varying experiences and perceptive eyes. Faculty may have more experience and wisdom but sometimes get “in a rut” and are less able to develop fresh ideas. Remember also that good ideas need to be honed. Productive teams skillfully work together to choose and refine the best ideas, and to dismiss the weaker ones. One other point: everyone on the team needs to be willing to make changes. Dogmatically defending one's own ideas without acknowledging the perspectives of others will lead to failure. Teams need to collaborate. Individuals need to listen with an open mind and be willing to sacrifice and adjust.

Summary and Conclusions

Conducting high-quality research that advances the field in important ways is difficult to do. Rewards are not immediate and patience is required. The ultimate rewards—conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and funded grants—may take months or years to achieve, and therefore a successful researcher requires self-motivation to accomplish those goals. Developing a sound research idea is the first step in achieving those successes, and hard work and diligence in that and subsequent research steps will yield success in the end.

Acknowledgments

Portions of this essay were prepared for presentation at Central South University, Changsha, China, in June 2016. Preparation was supported in part by the Fogarty Inter national Center and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number D43 TW010310. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Contributor Information

David C. Schwebel, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Barbara A. Morrongiello, University of Guelph.

• Best JR. Effects of physical activity on children's executive function: Contributions of experimental research on aerobic exercise. Developmental Review. 2010; 30 :331–351. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Tomporowski PD. Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition. Acta Psychologica. 2003; 112 :297–324. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]

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Learn More About Your Research Topic

• Get started with reviewing the literature
• A literature review is NOT...
• Types of literature reviews
• Finding published literature reviews

A literature review examines existing contributions around a topic, question, or issue in a field of study. These contributions can include peer reviewed articles, books, and other published research. Literature reviews can be used to give an overview of a field of research to describe theories, explore methodologies, and discuss developments in a field by drawing on research from multiple studies.

A literature review can be used to:

• Ground yourself in a topic and learn more about it
• Find new ideas to explore
• Discover existing research (so you do not repeat it)
• Determine what methodologies have already been used to research a topic
• Discover flaws, problems, and gaps that exist in the literature
• Critique or evaluate existing research on a topic
• Situate your research in a larger context or advocate for your research by demonstrating that you are extending upon existing knowledge

What makes a good literature review?

A good literature review has a clear scope - don't try to collect everything about a topic that has ever been published! Instead focus in on what you want to know more about your specific research topic. A good literature review might also:

• Cover all important relevant literature - if you are finding too many sources, try narrowing in on key authors and well cited-research
• Is up-to-date - limit your review to a certain time period
• Provide an insightful analysis of the ideas and conclusions in the literature
• Point out similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses in the literature
• Identify gaps in the literature for future research - or to set up your own research as relevant!
• Provides the context for which the literature is important - what impact does the literature have on countries, people, industries, etc.
• Systematic Review: AI's Impact on Higher Education - Learning, Teaching, and Career Opportunities Review this example to learn one way a literature review can be written.

A well conducted literature review can set up your final research product. Many researchers will write literature reviews at the beginning of their research article to situate their research within the larger context in their field or topic. This demonstrates that they have awareness of their topic and how they are building upon the topic. Keeping good notes when you are conducting your review can help set you up for success when you begin work on your final research product. When conducting your literature review AVOID:

• Summarizing articles INSTEAD draw connections between different articles
• Creating a chronological account of a topic INSTEAD focus on current literature or foundational works
• Sharing personal opinions on whether or not you liked articles INSTEAD ask questions

A strong literature review organizes existing contributions to a conversation into categories or “themes.” There are multiple ways to approach targeting a literature review to achieve your specific learning goals. Common types of reviews include:

Traditional Review

• Analyzes, synthesizes, and critiques a body of literature
• Identifies patterns and themes in the literature
• Draws conclusions from the literature
• Identifies gaps in literature

Argumentative Review

• Examines literature selectively in order to support or refuse an argument, assumption, or philosophical problem already established in the literature

Historical Review

• Examines research throughout a period of time
• Places research in a historical context

Integrative Review

• Aims to review, critique, and synthesize literature on a topic in an integrated way that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated
• Might include case studies, observational studies, and meta-analysis, as well as other types of research

Methodological Review

• Focuses on method of analysis (how researchers came to the idea) rather than on findings (their final conclusions and what they found)

Published literature reviews are called review articles, however, research articles often contain brief literature reviews at the beginning to give context to the study within that article. 

By reviewing published literature reviews you can more easily ground yourself in a topic, it's main themes, and find relevant literature for your own review.

Tip: When identifying main themes related to your topic, look at the headers in a research article. Some authors choose to list their literature review themes as headers to organize their review. Others might choose to name their themes in the first few sentences of each paragraph in their review. Sometimes a literature review, especially if it is brief, will be included in the introduction or some other beginning part of the article.

Approaching a Literature Review

• Evidenced-based approach

An  Evidence-Based Management Framework  can help direct your literature review process.

"Evidence-Based" is a term that was originally coined in the 1990s in the field of medicine, but today its principles extend across disciplines as varied as education, social work, public work, and management. Evidence-Based Management focuses on improving decision-making process.

While conducting a literature review, we need to gather evidence and summarize it to support our decisions and conclusions regarding the topic or problem. We recommend you use a 4 step approach of the Evidence-Based Management Framework while working on a literature review.

During the "Ask" step , you need to define a specific topic, thesis, problem, or research question that your literature review will be focusing on.

It may require first to gain some knowledge about the area or discipline that your topic, thesis, problem, or research question originate from. At this moment, think about a type of a literature review you plan to work on. For example are you reviewing the literature to educate yourself on a topic, to plan to write a literature review article, or to prepare to situate your research project within the broader literature?

Use this to determine the scope of your literature review and the type of publications you need to use (e.g., journals, books, governmental documents, conference proceedings, dissertations, training materials, and etc.).

A few other questions you might ask are:

• Is my topic, question, or problem narrowed enough to exclude irrelevant material?
• What is the number of sources to use to fulfill the research need and represent the scope? i.e. is the topic narrow enough that you want to find everything that exists or broad enough that you only want to see what a few experts have to say?
• What facets of a topic are the focus? Am I looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy? quantitative research? or qualitative research?

During the  “Acquire” step , you are actively gathering evidence and information that relates to your topic or problem.

This is when you search for related scholarly articles, books, dissertations, and etc. to see  “what has been done”  and  “what we already know”  about the topic or problem. While doing a literature review in business, you may also find it helpful to review various websites such as professional associations, government websites offering industry data, companies’ data, conference proceedings, or training materials. It may increase your understanding about the current state of the knowledge in your topic or problem.

During this step, you should keep a careful records of the literature and website resources you review. 

During the  “Appraise” step,  you actively evaluate the sources used to acquire the information. To make decisions regarding the relevance and trustworthiness of the sources and information, you can ask the following questions:

• Is the source reputable? (e.g., peer-reviewed journals and government websites typically offer more trustworthy information)
• How old (dated) is the source? Is it still current, or is there newer updated information that you might be able to find?
• How closely does the source match the topic / problem / issue you are researching?

During this step, you may decide to eliminate some of the material you gathered during the  “Acquire” step . Similarly, you may find that you need to engage in additional searches to find information that suits your needs. This is normal—the process of the  "Appraisal" step  often uncovers new keywords and new potential sources.

During the  “Aggregate” step , you “pull together” the information you deemed trustworthy and relevant. The information gathered and evaluated needs to be summarized in a narrative form—a summary of your findings. 

While summarizing and aggregating information, use synthesis language like this: 

• Much of the literature on  [topic X]  focuses on  [major themes] .  
• In recent years, researchers have begun investigating  [facets A, B, and C]  of  [topic X] .
• The studies in this review of  [topic X]  confirm / suggest / call into question / support  [idea / practice / finding / method / theory / guideline Y].
• In the reviewed studies  [variable X]  was generally associated with higher / lower rates of  [outcome Y].
• A limitation of some / most / all of these studies is  [Y].
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Computer Science > Computation and Language

Title: can llms generate novel research ideas a large-scale human study with 100+ nlp researchers.

Abstract: Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have sparked optimism about their potential to accelerate scientific discovery, with a growing number of works proposing research agents that autonomously generate and validate new ideas. Despite this, no evaluations have shown that LLM systems can take the very first step of producing novel, expert-level ideas, let alone perform the entire research process. We address this by establishing an experimental design that evaluates research idea generation while controlling for confounders and performs the first head-to-head comparison between expert NLP researchers and an LLM ideation agent. By recruiting over 100 NLP researchers to write novel ideas and blind reviews of both LLM and human ideas, we obtain the first statistically significant conclusion on current LLM capabilities for research ideation: we find LLM-generated ideas are judged as more novel (p < 0.05) than human expert ideas while being judged slightly weaker on feasibility. Studying our agent baselines closely, we identify open problems in building and evaluating research agents, including failures of LLM self-evaluation and their lack of diversity in generation. Finally, we acknowledge that human judgements of novelty can be difficult, even by experts, and propose an end-to-end study design which recruits researchers to execute these ideas into full projects, enabling us to study whether these novelty and feasibility judgements result in meaningful differences in research outcome.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Education

170+ Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Dissertation, Thesis Or Research Project

I f you’re just starting out exploring education-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of research topics and ideas , including examples from actual dissertations and theses..

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Education Research Topics

• How to find a research topic (video)
• List of 50+ education-related research topics/ideas
• List of 120+ level-specific research topics 
• Examples of actual dissertation topics in education
• Tips to fast-track your topic ideation (video)
• Where to get extra help

Education-Related Research Topics & Ideas

Below you’ll find a list of education-related research topics and idea kickstarters. These are fairly broad and flexible to various contexts, so keep in mind that you will need to refine them a little. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

• The impact of school funding on student achievement
• The effects of social and emotional learning on student well-being
• The effects of parental involvement on student behaviour
• The impact of teacher training on student learning
• The impact of classroom design on student learning
• The impact of poverty on education
• The use of student data to inform instruction
• The role of parental involvement in education
• The effects of mindfulness practices in the classroom
• The use of technology in the classroom
• The role of critical thinking in education
• The use of formative and summative assessments in the classroom
• The use of differentiated instruction in the classroom
• The use of gamification in education
• The effects of teacher burnout on student learning
• The impact of school leadership on student achievement
• The effects of teacher diversity on student outcomes
• The role of teacher collaboration in improving student outcomes
• The implementation of blended and online learning
• The effects of teacher accountability on student achievement
• The effects of standardized testing on student learning
• The effects of classroom management on student behaviour
• The effects of school culture on student achievement
• The use of student-centred learning in the classroom
• The impact of teacher-student relationships on student outcomes
• The achievement gap in minority and low-income students
• The use of culturally responsive teaching in the classroom
• The impact of teacher professional development on student learning
• The use of project-based learning in the classroom
• The effects of teacher expectations on student achievement
• The use of adaptive learning technology in the classroom
• The impact of teacher turnover on student learning
• The effects of teacher recruitment and retention on student learning
• The impact of early childhood education on later academic success
• The impact of parental involvement on student engagement
• The use of positive reinforcement in education
• The impact of school climate on student engagement
• The role of STEM education in preparing students for the workforce
• The effects of school choice on student achievement
• The use of technology in the form of online tutoring

Level-Specific Research Topics

Looking for research topics for a specific level of education? We’ve got you covered. Below you can find research topic ideas for primary, secondary and tertiary-level education contexts. Click the relevant level to view the respective list.

Research Topics: Pick An Education Level

Primary education.

• Investigating the effects of peer tutoring on academic achievement in primary school
• Exploring the benefits of mindfulness practices in primary school classrooms
• Examining the effects of different teaching strategies on primary school students’ problem-solving skills
• The use of storytelling as a teaching strategy in primary school literacy instruction
• The role of cultural diversity in promoting tolerance and understanding in primary schools
• The impact of character education programs on moral development in primary school students
• Investigating the use of technology in enhancing primary school mathematics education
• The impact of inclusive curriculum on promoting equity and diversity in primary schools
• The impact of outdoor education programs on environmental awareness in primary school students
• The influence of school climate on student motivation and engagement in primary schools
• Investigating the effects of early literacy interventions on reading comprehension in primary school students
• The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student achievement in primary schools
• Exploring the benefits of inclusive education for students with special needs in primary schools
• Investigating the effects of teacher-student feedback on academic motivation in primary schools
• The role of technology in developing digital literacy skills in primary school students
• Effective strategies for fostering a growth mindset in primary school students
• Investigating the role of parental support in reducing academic stress in primary school children
• The role of arts education in fostering creativity and self-expression in primary school students
• Examining the effects of early childhood education programs on primary school readiness
• Examining the effects of homework on primary school students’ academic performance
• The role of formative assessment in improving learning outcomes in primary school classrooms
• The impact of teacher-student relationships on academic outcomes in primary school
• Investigating the effects of classroom environment on student behavior and learning outcomes in primary schools
• Investigating the role of creativity and imagination in primary school curriculum
• The impact of nutrition and healthy eating programs on academic performance in primary schools
• The impact of social-emotional learning programs on primary school students’ well-being and academic performance
• The role of parental involvement in academic achievement of primary school children
• Examining the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior in primary school
• The role of school leadership in creating a positive school climate Exploring the benefits of bilingual education in primary schools
• The effectiveness of project-based learning in developing critical thinking skills in primary school students
• The role of inquiry-based learning in fostering curiosity and critical thinking in primary school students
• The effects of class size on student engagement and achievement in primary schools
• Investigating the effects of recess and physical activity breaks on attention and learning in primary school
• Exploring the benefits of outdoor play in developing gross motor skills in primary school children
• The effects of educational field trips on knowledge retention in primary school students
• Examining the effects of inclusive classroom practices on students’ attitudes towards diversity in primary schools
• The impact of parental involvement in homework on primary school students’ academic achievement
• Investigating the effectiveness of different assessment methods in primary school classrooms
• The influence of physical activity and exercise on cognitive development in primary school children
• Exploring the benefits of cooperative learning in promoting social skills in primary school students

Secondary Education

• Investigating the effects of school discipline policies on student behavior and academic success in secondary education
• The role of social media in enhancing communication and collaboration among secondary school students
• The impact of school leadership on teacher effectiveness and student outcomes in secondary schools
• Investigating the effects of technology integration on teaching and learning in secondary education
• Exploring the benefits of interdisciplinary instruction in promoting critical thinking skills in secondary schools
• The impact of arts education on creativity and self-expression in secondary school students
• The effectiveness of flipped classrooms in promoting student learning in secondary education
• The role of career guidance programs in preparing secondary school students for future employment
• Investigating the effects of student-centered learning approaches on student autonomy and academic success in secondary schools
• The impact of socio-economic factors on educational attainment in secondary education
• Investigating the impact of project-based learning on student engagement and academic achievement in secondary schools
• Investigating the effects of multicultural education on cultural understanding and tolerance in secondary schools
• The influence of standardized testing on teaching practices and student learning in secondary education
• Investigating the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior and academic engagement in secondary education
• The influence of teacher professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in secondary schools
• The role of extracurricular activities in promoting holistic development and well-roundedness in secondary school students
• Investigating the effects of blended learning models on student engagement and achievement in secondary education
• The role of physical education in promoting physical health and well-being among secondary school students
• Investigating the effects of gender on academic achievement and career aspirations in secondary education
• Exploring the benefits of multicultural literature in promoting cultural awareness and empathy among secondary school students
• The impact of school counseling services on student mental health and well-being in secondary schools
• Exploring the benefits of vocational education and training in preparing secondary school students for the workforce
• The role of digital literacy in preparing secondary school students for the digital age
• The influence of parental involvement on academic success and well-being of secondary school students
• The impact of social-emotional learning programs on secondary school students’ well-being and academic success
• The role of character education in fostering ethical and responsible behavior in secondary school students
• Examining the effects of digital citizenship education on responsible and ethical technology use among secondary school students
• The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student outcomes in secondary schools
• The role of educational technology in promoting personalized learning experiences in secondary schools
• The impact of inclusive education on the social and academic outcomes of students with disabilities in secondary schools
• The influence of parental support on academic motivation and achievement in secondary education
• The role of school climate in promoting positive behavior and well-being among secondary school students
• Examining the effects of peer mentoring programs on academic achievement and social-emotional development in secondary schools
• Examining the effects of teacher-student relationships on student motivation and achievement in secondary schools
• Exploring the benefits of service-learning programs in promoting civic engagement among secondary school students
• The impact of educational policies on educational equity and access in secondary education
• Examining the effects of homework on academic achievement and student well-being in secondary education
• Investigating the effects of different assessment methods on student performance in secondary schools
• Examining the effects of single-sex education on academic performance and gender stereotypes in secondary schools
• The role of mentoring programs in supporting the transition from secondary to post-secondary education

Tertiary Education

• The role of student support services in promoting academic success and well-being in higher education
• The impact of internationalization initiatives on students’ intercultural competence and global perspectives in tertiary education
• Investigating the effects of active learning classrooms and learning spaces on student engagement and learning outcomes in tertiary education
• Exploring the benefits of service-learning experiences in fostering civic engagement and social responsibility in higher education
• The influence of learning communities and collaborative learning environments on student academic and social integration in higher education
• Exploring the benefits of undergraduate research experiences in fostering critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills
• Investigating the effects of academic advising and mentoring on student retention and degree completion in higher education
• The role of student engagement and involvement in co-curricular activities on holistic student development in higher education
• The impact of multicultural education on fostering cultural competence and diversity appreciation in higher education
• The role of internships and work-integrated learning experiences in enhancing students’ employability and career outcomes
• Examining the effects of assessment and feedback practices on student learning and academic achievement in tertiary education
• The influence of faculty professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in tertiary education
• The influence of faculty-student relationships on student success and well-being in tertiary education
• The impact of college transition programs on students’ academic and social adjustment to higher education
• The impact of online learning platforms on student learning outcomes in higher education
• The impact of financial aid and scholarships on access and persistence in higher education
• The influence of student leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities on personal development and campus engagement
• Exploring the benefits of competency-based education in developing job-specific skills in tertiary students
• Examining the effects of flipped classroom models on student learning and retention in higher education
• Exploring the benefits of online collaboration and virtual team projects in developing teamwork skills in tertiary students
• Investigating the effects of diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus climate and student experiences in tertiary education
• The influence of study abroad programs on intercultural competence and global perspectives of college students
• Investigating the effects of peer mentoring and tutoring programs on student retention and academic performance in tertiary education
• Investigating the effectiveness of active learning strategies in promoting student engagement and achievement in tertiary education
• Investigating the effects of blended learning models and hybrid courses on student learning and satisfaction in higher education
• The role of digital literacy and information literacy skills in supporting student success in the digital age
• Investigating the effects of experiential learning opportunities on career readiness and employability of college students
• The impact of e-portfolios on student reflection, self-assessment, and showcasing of learning in higher education
• The role of technology in enhancing collaborative learning experiences in tertiary classrooms
• The impact of research opportunities on undergraduate student engagement and pursuit of advanced degrees
• Examining the effects of competency-based assessment on measuring student learning and achievement in tertiary education
• Examining the effects of interdisciplinary programs and courses on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in college students
• The role of inclusive education and accessibility in promoting equitable learning experiences for diverse student populations
• The role of career counseling and guidance in supporting students’ career decision-making in tertiary education
• The influence of faculty diversity and representation on student success and inclusive learning environments in higher education

Education-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic in education, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses in the education space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of education-related research projects to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• From Rural to Urban: Education Conditions of Migrant Children in China (Wang, 2019)
• Energy Renovation While Learning English: A Guidebook for Elementary ESL Teachers (Yang, 2019)
• A Reanalyses of Intercorrelational Matrices of Visual and Verbal Learners’ Abilities, Cognitive Styles, and Learning Preferences (Fox, 2020)
• A study of the elementary math program utilized by a mid-Missouri school district (Barabas, 2020)
• Instructor formative assessment practices in virtual learning environments : a posthumanist sociomaterial perspective (Burcks, 2019)
• Higher education students services: a qualitative study of two mid-size universities’ direct exchange programs (Kinde, 2020)
• Exploring editorial leadership : a qualitative study of scholastic journalism advisers teaching leadership in Missouri secondary schools (Lewis, 2020)
• Selling the virtual university: a multimodal discourse analysis of marketing for online learning (Ludwig, 2020)
• Advocacy and accountability in school counselling: assessing the use of data as related to professional self-efficacy (Matthews, 2020)
• The use of an application screening assessment as a predictor of teaching retention at a midwestern, K-12, public school district (Scarbrough, 2020)
• Core values driving sustained elite performance cultures (Beiner, 2020)
• Educative features of upper elementary Eureka math curriculum (Dwiggins, 2020)
• How female principals nurture adult learning opportunities in successful high schools with challenging student demographics (Woodward, 2020)
• The disproportionality of Black Males in Special Education: A Case Study Analysis of Educator Perceptions in a Southeastern Urban High School (McCrae, 2021)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, in order for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest.  In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

Get 1-On-1 Help

If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic within education, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

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How To Choose A Research Topic: 5 Key Criteria

How To Choose A Research Topic Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + Free Topic...

Research Topics & Ideas: Automation & Robotics

A comprehensive list of automation and robotics-related research topics. Includes free access to a webinar and research topic evaluator.

Research Topics & Ideas: Sociology

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Research Topics & Ideas: Public Health & Epidemiology

A comprehensive list of public health-related research topics. Includes free access to a webinar and research topic evaluator.

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71 Comments

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Research Defense for students in senior high

Kindly help me with a research topic in educational psychology. Ph.D level. Thank you.

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Amazing guidelines

I am a graduate with two masters. 1) Master of arts in religious studies and 2) Master in education in foundations of education. I intend to do a Ph.D. on my second master’s, however, I need to bring both masters together through my Ph.D. research. can I do something like, ” The contribution of Philosophy of education for a quality religion education in Kenya”? kindly, assist and be free to suggest a similar topic that will bring together the two masters. thanks in advance

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Ideas Labs to advance research capacity at the nation's historically Black colleges and universities

The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded $10.5 million for Ideas Lab projects to assess and address research capacity needs, increase access to research facilities and build human capital at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The projects, funded through the NSF Advancing Research Capacity at HBCUs through Exploration and Innovation (ARC-HBCU) opportunity, will foster collaboration and build sustainable networks to facilitate interdisciplinary research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at HBCUs.      "The inaugural NSF ARC-HBCU Ideas Lab is a unique opportunity to connect talent and build research networks across our HBCUs to further advance an integrated and collaborative vision for the most critical research capacity needs of HBCUs," says NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.     Since the early 19th century, HBCUs have played a crucial role in providing higher education opportunities for students who had limited access to other higher education options. Moreover, HBCUs are vital for diversifying the STEM workforce. 8.5% of Black undergraduate students attend HBCUs, yet almost 18% of the Black STEM bachelor's degrees are awarded from HBCUs . A significant number of successful HBCU graduates have made a profound impact in STEM fields. Yet HBCUs are systemically underfunded, historically underrepresented as awardees, and face many infrastructure and administrative resource barriers.      The ARC HBCU Ideas lab was funded by the NSF HBCU-Excellence in Research program in the Research Capacity and Competitiveness section. The focus of the ARC-HBCU program is to promote diversity and inclusion in research, enhance the research capacity of HBCUs and foster collaboration among faculty, students and industry partners. Through the Ideas lab concept, NSF is providing the opportunity for participants to work collaboratively to identify and define the scope of the unique challenges faced by HBCUs in meeting education and research needs. As the projects progress, they will dynamically develop and hone novel ideas about how these challenges may be addressed.      The awardees and summary of each project are listed below:    

Panoramic Institutional Assessments: A Playbook for Advancing Research Capacity  

This project, led by Delaware State, will bring together faculty, research administrators and institutional leaders to develop innovative tools and approaches to enhance research capacity at consortium institutions, with long-term goals to scale up to HBCUs more broadly. The project will provide a framework to guide institutions through a self-directed process to examine their research ecosystem, help institutional leaders identify and address service gaps to strengthen key administrative functions that support research administration, and guide faculty in personalized assessments of their development as individual researchers using an existing framework. The project also includes partnerships with advocacy organizations that will assist in disseminating the research capacity assessments and playbook, ensuring a broad reach and sustainable impact across campuses.   

Collaborating institutions: Tuskegee University, Huston-Tillotson University, Hampton University, Tennessee State University.     Partnership for Advancing Research Capacity in Semiconductors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities  

Central State University is leading this project, which will enhance research capacity in semiconductor technology amongst partnering institutions by establishing robust research networks, enhancing faculty expertise, increasing access to state-of-the-art research facilities, and expanding student opportunities for education, training and hands-on research. This project aligns with the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022" and has the potential to significantly broaden participation in semiconductor manufacturing and semiconductor research among African Americans, who are underrepresented in this industry even when compared to engineering sectors in general. It offers a rare opportunity for these institutions to engage and partner with industry players while contributing to workforce development in the semiconductor field.   

Collaborating institutions: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Fayetteville State University, Hampton University.   Sub awardee institutions: Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Coppin State University, and Meharry Medical College.     The HBCU Ujima Collective: Building Research Capacity at HBCUs through a Grow Your Own Research Corps Model

Led by Miles College, this project will assess, align and improve research infrastructure and processes at five HBCUs through the cultivation of highly trained human capital for work in the research enterprise. The project team will use open systems theory to produce a model that builds a corps of research administrators and scientists that can enhance and sustain research capacity across all HBCUs. The project will enhance research capacity at the institutions by speeding up the transition of the research enterprise, establishing the "grow your own model," and disseminating the research and assessment tools to allow model implementation at other institutions.  

Collaborating institutions: Morgan State University, Howard University, Winston-Salem State University, Tennessee State University.  

HBCU Research and Collaboration Exchange    

This project, led by Virginia State University, seeks to create an online HBCU-focused platform to amplify existing research capacity by connecting researchers across HBCUs to other investigators, projects and equipment. The partnering institutions will pilot this project to create a multilayer platform by first developing an expertise and resource directory representative of all researchers at the respective institutions. In addition to raising awareness about and increasing connectivity among existing research expertise within the nation's HBCUs, the long-term impacts of the project will include the creation of a collaboration readiness index for existing and future technologies, as well as the creation of virtual collaboration space.     Collaborating institutions: North Carolina Central University, Winston-Salem State University, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Fisk University, University of the Virgin Islands.  

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Start » business ideas, how to research your new business idea.

Research your idea thoroughly before dedicating time and resources to developing your concept.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or an aspiring business owner, coming up with a successful business idea requires more than just a flash of inspiration. It takes careful research to make sure your idea is solid before you write a business plan, look for funding, or go into product development. Here are some tips to help validate your idea and assess the market for demand to make sure your next venture has the potential to thrive.

Learn from your personal experience

Little frustrations or big personal challenges can be a good starting point for a new venture. Notice if anything consistently or frequently becomes a pain point in your daily life. For instance, Neil Blumenthal lost his prescription glasses and couldn’t afford new ones. This led him to create the inexpensive, stylish eyewear company Warby Parker . Fellow entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe Herd founded the dating app Bumble (which puts women in control of first messages) after leaving an abusive relationship.

Start with personal questions and triangulate your experiences to see if others have similar problems to solve with a potential new business.

Talk to friends and family

One of the best ways to develop a new business idea is to listen to others and learn what problems they’re facing. Start with those in your immediate network before branching out to speak to strangers.

“By asking those closest to you for ideas, you'll not only get some great suggestions, but you'll also get an idea of what kind of business would be a good fit for your skills,” wrote MailChimp . “Your friends and family will also have very different perspectives than you. They have their situations they deal with every day that you may not have thought of.”

Your friends and family can also be a good test group for asking the right questions that get you the information you need. Before sending a survey, hosting a focus group, or conducting interviews, use your friends and family to figure out what problem it is you’re trying to solve.

[Read more: Looking to Test Your Business Idea? Here Are 5 Steps to Take ]

Basic key word research can give you immediate feedback about the demand for your potential product or service.

Read market trend reports

Many resources are dedicated to predicting where consumer demand will shift next, and reading these trend reports can give you a good indicator if you’re onto something. Here are a few free trend reports to consult as you consider your business idea.

• TikTok’s What’s Next Report : This annual report is designed to help marketers predict consumers’ wants and needs in the forthcoming year.
• Pinterest Predicts : This report claims to be able to separate fads from long-lasting demand. “Pinterest trends last 20% longer than fads that show up elsewhere on the internet,” the platform claimed .
• Accenture Life Trends Report : This report looks at how the way people interact with technology changes from year to year.
• Qualtrics’ Global Consumer Trends Report : The survey tool takes advantage of its massive scale to ask more than 28,000 consumers across 26 countries what matters most to them.

There are also plenty of paid reports from sites like Mintel , Gartner , and Kantar .

Identify an underserved market

In addition to considering your own wants and needs, think about what could be helpful to those left out of traditional marketing and sales. For instance, Yelitsa Jean-Charles didn’t see herself in any of the dolls available for sale when she was a child. She founded Healthy Roots Dolls , a brand that helps girls love their curly hair.

Similarly, the team behind EatWell food kits in Boston founded the company in response to food deserts and food insecurity in nearby neighborhoods. EatWell mimics HelloFresh and Blue Apron , which deliver fresh ingredients with recipes. But EatWell works with a completely different market of customers who were priced out of these bigger brands.

Do key word research

Basic key word research can give you immediate feedback about the demand for your potential product or service. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and Semrush give you instant feedback on key words and search terms related to your idea.

According to Entrepreneur , "If a keyword has under 500 searches per month, you are facing an uphill battle in terms of demand. Ideally, you want between 1,000 to 2,000 searches per month. With a number like that, you can test your product without burning through cash.”

[Read more: 5 Business Ideas for Fashion Lovers ]

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Global Engagement

International research projects – payments.

By Office of Global Engagement

University researchers and travelers often need to pay for goods or services to support projects occurring in a foreign country. Payments which may be common in the United States can be more complex in international locations. The purpose of this guidance is to provide researchers and departments with an overview of options for in-country payments, payments to research subjects in an international location, tax reporting issues, and payments for traveler expenses.

Payments made by the University in a foreign country are subject to compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other applicable local anti-bribery laws. For guidance on the FCPA, researchers and departments should review the University’s FCPA Guidance .

For questions regarding allowable costs on sponsored projects, researchers and departments should review the University’s guidance on Federal Award Compliance, Budgets, and Subawards [Link], or contact their grants or department administrator.

Payments for Expenses Incurred Outside the United States

There are various options available to researchers and departments for paying for University business expenses that arise from international research or projects. Options below are listed in order of strong preference, with PCard and Direct University Payment being the most preferred options.

• PCard: UR’s PCard program is a valuable tool for quickly and efficiently managing resources by concentrating low-dollar, low-risk purchases in a less paper-intensive process. University PCards should be used for any business expense that complies with the University PCard Policy . Common approved expenses that may occur in an internation location include office supplies or supplies for research, group meals (but not an individual meal) or groceries for a group, and taxi or public transportation charges. More information can be found at the University PCard

In rare cases, where payment by PCard to a payee is feasible but is prohibited by the terms of the PCard Policy, and other options below are impractical or impossible, departments may request an exception to the PCard Policy by completing the PCard Transaction Exception Form process described in the PCard Policy.

• Completion of the Supplier Qualification Process through University Procurement and issuance of a Purchase Order; or
• For certain “low-risk” Suppliers, through the Supplier Invoice Request (SIR) process through Accounts Payable.

University Procurement will determine whether a potential supplier should complete the Supplier Qualification Process or whether the supplier can be paid by SIR. For international projects, researchers and departments can contact University Procurement directly, or they can contact the Office of Global Engagement for consultation, who can work with departments and University Procurement on payment issues.

For example, researchers and departments should follow University Procurement’s processes to arrangements with independent contractors that will support a research project in a foreign country. Depending on the potential risk of the arrangement, the University will issue a Purchase Order to pay the independent contractor, or the University may be able to pay the independent contractor through the SIR process.

Where the University establishes a Purchase Order or pays by SIR, the University will pay by Direct University Payment , and not by cash, PCard, Credit Card, or any other payment type.

• Work with established local partner: Researchers are encouraged to explore partnership opportunities with local institutions that can assist with payment needs. Trusted local partners (such as collaborating research institutions) are sometimes able to help fulfill various project responsibilities that may be challenging for the University to perform. This includes assistance with local payments or local procurement needs. Local partners may be able to make payments in a foreign country on the University’s behalf, and then i nvoice the University. A local collaborator may have previously established connections with some of the suppliers/payees with which a researcher plans to engage with their project.

To potentially initiate this option, researchers and departments should first contact the Office of Global Engagement for consultation on the potential arrangement. The Office of Global Engagement can coordinate with other stakeholder University offices on establishing an agreement with the partner and setting up the partner to receive payments in Workday. In these cases, the University will issue payments to the local partner via ACH to a bank account in the United States or EFT to a bank account in the foreign country (and if needed, in foreign currency).

Can researchers pay in cash (Cash Advance or Personal Funds) or use personal credit for project payments?

Generally, faculty, staff, and students should not pay for local services (including independent contractors) in cash, or use personal funds or credit for local procurement of supplies or equipment, unless it is unavoidable and has been approved in advance by Accounts Payable. Further, managing large sums of cash when abroad may present a personal security risk and should be avoided if possible. To initiate a request for cash payments, departments and researchers should contact Accounts Payable in advance to discuss cash needs. If approved in advance, one or more of the following options will be available:

• Cash Advance Cash may be advanced for international research trips subject to the Business Expense and Travel Reimbursement Policy . For detailed guidance on how to request a cash advance, review the Cash Advance reference guide which includes the Cash Advance Request Checklist . Funds may be used for ordinary and reasonable business-related expenses. If the expense will be paid for by grant funds, researchers should know the details of which costs are allowed on those grants.
• Personal Funds/Credit Card : Faculty and staff should the Business Expense and Travel Reimbursement Policy before spending personal funds/credit for business travel or other expenses.

Where Cash Advance or Personal Funds/Credit Card are used, an Expense Report is required to be submitted for the expenses paid in cash. Individuals should take care to log/track those cash expenses in detail so that the amount can be allowed as a business expense for posting to the grant or other University FAO.

Payments to Research Participants

The Paying Research Study Participants guide provides several traditional and non-traditional payment methods for payments to research subjects. The guide lists payment options, an order of preference, reference information, contacts for questions, and other guidance for when and how to use each. For research occurring in remote locations, payment options that include Flywire, low dollar cash, and gifts may be useful where other preferred options are not available.

Note the following important restrictions:

• Under no circumstances should researchers or departments utilize Venmo, PayPal, or other cash applications to pay research participants.
• Researchers and departments should not transmit University funds (received via petty cash or advance) to Venmo, PayPal, or other cash applications to research participants.

Before engaging in human subjects research in a foreign country, researchers and departments should consult the Guideline for Conducting International Research published the Office of Human Subject Protection (OHSP), and ensure that all OHSP and Research Subject Review Board (RSRB) requirements are met.

Tax Reporting

The University is not required to report payments to the IRS if the payee is a foreign entity or nonresident alien (as defined by the IRS) and all services are performed outside of the United States. This generally includes payments made to research subjects for research that occur in a foreign country. Subject to the monetary thresholds set forth in the Research Subjects Payments Policy , all U.S. citizens and permanent residents must have their payments for services reported (even if they are paid as a human subject in research occurring outside of the U.S.). Nonresident aliens performing services in the U.S. require tax reporting, and tax withholding is most likely required. If you have questions about whether payments made in connection with an international research collaboration will require tax reporting, contact Accounts Payable.

Paying for Travel Expenses for International Research

The Accounts Payable Reimbursement website contains policy and procedure information, as well as detailed guidance, on paying for University travel expenses .  The Accounts Payable guidance includes orders of preference for paying travel expenses, how and when to use each option, and links to more information and who to contact with further questions.

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• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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