research topic area meaning

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Q: What is the difference between a research topic and a research question?

My research topic is ‘Predictors of insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) utilization as a means of malaria prevention among households in X district: an unmatched community-based case-control study.’

Asked on 14 Jan, 2020

A research topic is a specific part of study in a broader area of study. For instance, for your research topic, the broader research area is malaria prevention in households.

A research question aims to further narrow down the scope of the study. It is a possibility you explore through your study aiming to solve the problem of your study and is expressed in the form of a question. Note that you may need to come up with several potential questions before deciding on a final question. For these, you will first need to do a literature search for your topic. In your topic, to come up with research questions, you will need to inspect aspects such as extent of ITN utilization among the study groups, factors among the groups (both exposed and unexposed, as this is a case-control study) enabling ITN utilization, and so on.

The final question becomes the hypothesis of the study. It is a tentative answer to the problem of the study that you will seek to address in your study. The hypothesis is expressed in the form of a statement rather than a question.

Related reading :

• How can I choose a suitable research question?
• Where can I find reading material on the topic of my research?
• How to choose a research question

Answered by Editage Insights on 20 Jan, 2020

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Research Process Guide

• Step 1 - Identifying and Developing a Topic
• Step 2 - Narrowing Your Topic
• Step 3 - Developing Research Questions
• Step 4 - Conducting a Literature Review
• Step 5 - Choosing a Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
• Step 6 - Determining Research Methodology
• Step 6a - Determining Research Methodology - Quantitative Research Methods
• Step 6b - Determining Research Methodology - Qualitative Design
• Step 7 - Considering Ethical Issues in Research with Human Subjects - Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Step 8 - Collecting Data
• Step 9 - Analyzing Data
• Step 10 - Interpreting Results
• Step 11 - Writing Up Results

Step 1: Identifying and Developing a Topic

Whatever your field or discipline, the best advice to give on identifying a research topic is to choose something that you find really interesting. You will be spending an enormous amount of time with your topic, you need to be invested. Over the course of your research design, proposal and actually conducting your study, you may feel like you are really tired of your topic, however,  your interest and investment in the topic will help you persist through dissertation defense. Identifying a research topic can be challenging. Most of the research that has been completed on the process of conducting research fails to examine the preliminary stages of the interactive and self-reflective process of identifying a research topic (Wintersberger & Saunders, 2020).  You may choose a topic at the beginning of the process, and through exploring the research that has already been done, one’s own interests that are narrowed or expanded in scope, the topic will change over time (Dwarkadas & Lin, 2019). Where do I begin? According to the research, there are generally two paths to exploring your research topic, creative path and the rational path (Saunders et al., 2019).  The rational path takes a linear path and deals with questions we need to ask ourselves like: what are some timely topics in my field in the media right now?; what strengths do I bring to the research?; what are the gaps in the research about the area of research interest? (Saunders et al., 2019; Wintersberger & Saunders, 2020).The creative path is less linear in that it may include keeping a notebook of ideas based on discussion in coursework or with your peers in the field. Whichever path you take, you will inevitably have to narrow your more generalized ideas down. A great way to do that is to continue reading the literature about and around your topic looking for gaps that could be explored. Also, try engaging in meaningful discussions with experts in your field to get their take on your research ideas (Saunders et al., 2019; Wintersberger & Saunders, 2020). It is important to remember that a research topic should be (Dwarkadas & Lin, 2019; Saunders et al., 2019; Wintersberger & Saunders, 2020):

• Interesting to you.
• Realistic in that it can be completed in an appropriate amount of time.
• Relevant to your program or field of study.
• Not widely researched.

Dwarkadas, S., & Lin, M. C. (2019, August 04). Finding a research topic. Computing Research Association for Women, Portland State University. https://cra.org/cra-wp/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/04/FindingResearchTopic/2019.pdf

Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson.

Wintersberger, D., & Saunders, M. (2020). Formulating and clarifying the research topic: Insights and a guide for the production management research community. Production, 30 . https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6513.20200059

• Last Updated: Jun 29, 2023 1:35 PM
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Defining the research topic

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Conceptualizing your research topic

Conceptualizing a research topic entails formulating a “defensible and researchable” research question . Conducting a literature search as one of the first steps in a graduate degree is often quite helpful as published peer-reviewed research articles are key to identify knowledge gaps in current literature. Thus, students can design and phrase their research projects to aim to address these research gaps.

Elements of a good research topic

• Interesting: topic represents an area of deep interest for the researcher
• Original : for PhD students, the topic can produce an original contribution to knowledge
• Manageable: research question could be answered within the degree’s recommended time frame (see time limitation ).

At McGill, PhD students are usually expected to have a sufficiently defined research topic by the time of the comprehensive exam .

Seminar presentations can help with topic definition and project planning

Many experienced supervisors and successful PhD students suggest that preparing a research proposal for presentation at a seminar within six months of commencement helps with focusing on the topic. Here are some suggested questions:

• What is it that you want to find answers for?
• Why is it important that this be researched?
• What impact will this research have?
• How will you go about researching this?

Read critically to identify gaps in the field and understand different research methods

Critical reading involves developing an understanding of the knowledge and gaps in the field and being able to critique different research methods, methodologies and epistemologies.

Try concept mapping to visualize and organize links between ideas

Concept mapping: a practical strategy for students and researchers starting a project. It helps to identify areas of importance as well as possibilities for the exploration and analysis of such areas.

Concept maps are helpful as a means of focusing discussion on the topic or research question because they offer a visual approach to creating relationships among concepts . More information about concept mapping can be found at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition's page on Constructing your first concept map .

• A concept map showing the main components of a concept map , from Novak & Canas (2008) .

If the student makes a concept map, this can form the basis of different discussions between the student and supervisor.

How important is motivation for topic selection?

Most graduate students have a general idea about what they would like to research. Depending on supervisors and disciplines, a student may be "given" a specific research topic or a list of topics to choose from or be asked to generate a topic based on her or his prior knowledge and experience. In either situation, it is a good idea to talk with others – supervisors, students, colleagues, peers, even friends and family – about possible choices, since a research topic is something most students will commit to for the rest of their degree.

Point to reflect on

• What questions, topics or methodologies are you passionate about? Why are you passionate about them (e.g., personal interest or curiosity, potential applications to help others or the environment)?
• Is it possible to answer your desired question within the time frame of a graduate degree? If not, is it possible to choose a portion of this topic to investigate during your graduate studies?
• Do you get more motivated from knowing exactly what you’re going to do, or from the excitement of unexpected discoveries or research trajectories? How can you select a topic and plan your project to better suit your sources of motivation See  Staying motivated  for additional resources

Steps to refine the research focus

• Identify the boundaries of the research areas and the gaps in the field .
• Make a list of possible research ideas within a topic.
• Discuss these ideas with others (e.g., peers, colleagues, professors, mentors). This can provide opportunities for receiving advice based on past experiences, additional ideas, or opportunities for collaboration.
• Reduce the list to two ideas : a first choice and a backup. Having a backup is useful in the event that the first choice is found to be inappropriate for the time restriction, require unattainable resources, or be otherwise not feasible.
• Brainstorm as many ideas, questions, possible problems, and any other thoughts relevant to the first choice.
• Narrow down these ideas into a more precise focus by considering feasibility (e.g., time, requires resources), interest, and significance. The resulting idea should complete the sentence “The purpose of this project is…”
• Refer back to the brainstorming and remove anything not relevant to the purpose statement. Add any new relevant ideas. Use these ideas as well as the purpose statement to create a list of researchable questions . Be sure to define key terms and consider required resources, including the characteristics of the participants if applicable.
• Create a project outline. Consider what information or data will be needed and how it can be obtained.

Adapted from Wisker (2005, p. 83) and Bell & Waters (2014)

Bell, J., & Waters, S. (2014). Doing your research project: A guide for first-time researchers . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Novak, J. D., & Cañas, A. J. (2008). The theory underlying concept maps and how to construct and use them. Institute for Human and Machine Cognition . Retrieved from http://cmap.ihmc.us/docs/theory-of-concept-maps

Wisker, G. (2005). The good supervisor: Supervising postgraduate and undergraduate research for doctoral theses and dissertations . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License . Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, McGill University .

Department and University Information

Graduate and postdoctoral studies.

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. 
• Review the guidelines on topic selection outlined in your assignment.  Ask your professor or TA for suggestions.
• Refer to lecture notes and required texts to refresh your knowledge of the course and assignment.
• Talk about research ideas with a friend.  S/he may be able to help focus your topic by discussing issues that didn't occur to you at first.
• WHY did you choose the topic?  What interests you about it?  Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
• WHO are the information providers on this topic?  Who might publish information about it?  Who is affected by the topic?  Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic?  Is there a debate about the topic?  Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level?  Are there specific places affected by the topic?
• WHEN is/was your topic important?  Is it a current event or an historical issue?  Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

Table of contents

• Broaden your topic
• Information Navigator home
• Sources for facts - general
• Sources for facts - specific subjects

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Research Process

• Brainstorming
• Explore Google This link opens in a new window
• Explore Web Resources
• Explore Background Information
• Explore Books
• Explore Scholarly Articles
• Narrowing a Topic
• Primary and Secondary Resources
• Academic, Popular & Trade Publications
• Scholarly and Peer-Reviewed Journals
• Grey Literature
• Clinical Trials
• Evidence Based Treatment
• Scholarly Research
• Database Research Log
• Search Limits
• Keyword Searching
• Boolean Operators
• Phrase Searching
• Truncation & Wildcard Symbols
• Proximity Searching
• Field Codes
• Subject Terms and Database Thesauri
• Reading a Scientific Article
• Website Evaluation
• Article Keywords and Subject Terms
• Cited References
• Citing Articles
• Related Results
• Search Within Publication
• Database Alerts & RSS Feeds
• Personal Database Accounts
• Persistent URLs
• Literature Gap and Future Research
• Web of Knowledge
• Annual Reviews
• Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
• Finding Seminal Works
• Exhausting the Literature
• Finding Dissertations
• Researching Theoretical Frameworks
• Research Methodology & Design
• Tests and Measurements
• Organizing Research & Citations This link opens in a new window
• Scholarly Publication
• Learn the Library This link opens in a new window

Finding a Research Topic

Which step of the research process takes the most time?

A. Finding a topic B. Researching a topic C. Both

How did you answer the above question? Do you spend most of your efforts actually researching a topic, or do you spend a lot of time and energy finding a topic? Ideally, you’ll want to spend fairly equal amounts of effort on both. Finding an appropriate and manageable topic can sometimes be just as hard as researching a topic.

A good research topic will have a body of related research which is accessible and manageable. Identifying a topic with these characteristics at the beginning  of the research process will ultimately save you time.

Finding a research topic that is interesting, relevant, feasible, and worthy of your time may take substantial effort so you should be prepared to invest your time accordingly. Considering your options, doing some background work on each option, and ultimately settling on a topic that is manageable will spare you many of the frustrations that come from attempting research on a topic that, for whatever reason, may not be appropriate.

Remember that as you are searching for a research topic you will need to be able to find enough information about your topic(s) in a book or scholarly journal. If you can only find information about your topic(s) in current event sources (newspapers, magazines, etc.) then the topic might be too new to have a large body of published scholarly information. If this is the case, you may want to reconsider the topic(s).

So how do you find a research topic? Unfortunately there’s no directory of topics that you pick and choose from, but there are a few relatively easy techniques that you can use to find a relevant and manageable topic. A good starting point may be to view the Library's Resources for Finding a Research Topic Workshop below.

The sub-pages in this section (on the left-hand menu) offer various tips for where and how to locate resources to develop your research topic. And for additional information on selecting a research topic, see the resources below.

• Defining a Topic - SAGE Research Methods
• Develop My Research Idea - Academic Writer Note: You MUST create an Academic Writer account AND start a paper in order to access this tool. Once you have done so, open a paper and click Research Lab Book in the left navigation menu.
• The Process for Developing Questions - ASC Guide

Resources for Finding a Research Topic Workshop

This workshop will introduce you to library resources which can be used to locate potential topics for a research paper or dissertation. This workshop explores websites, reference books, and scholarly articles, as well as review criteria to consider when selecting a topic.

• Resources for Finding a Research Topic Workshop Outline

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• The Research Process
• 1. Define Your Topic
• 2. Gather Background Information
• 3. Find Books & More
• 4. Find Articles & More
• 5. Find Web Sources
• 6. Evaluate Your Sources
• 7. Cite Your Sources

The Research Process is a nonlinear process, meaning you may have to revisit steps once or twice during your research to get the best results.

If you are having trouble defining your topic, you might benefit from looking into several topics before choosing or narrowing down your scope for one.

Gathering background information from reference sources on a broader idea, subject, etc. may spark your curiosity or interest to further explore it.

Choose a Topic

• Are there any specific guidelines to follow?
• What are some of the current trends or issues in this area? 

To find a topic of interest to you, you may want to consult:

• Course materials (Textbook, handouts, etc.)
• Instructor and/or peers
• Personal interests

BE CURIOUS! Whatever topic you decide to focus on should be something your excited to learn more about.

Narrow Your Topic

Be sure that your topic is of an appropriate size for your assignment. 

You could write a whole book on the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so narrowing your topic will help you help keep your research and writing manageable. 

Any easy way to narrow your topic is to ask yourself some questions:

What?  Think about the topic from different viewpoints (historically, socially, medically, legally, ethically, etc.)  Do you want to focus on the history of CBT or on the effectiveness  of CBT?

Who?  Think about individuals but also groups of people or population.   Do you want to focus on CBT's use with children? With adolescents? 

Where?  Think about location, environment, and setting.  Do you want to look at how it's been used in group therapy? In schools? In the United States? 

When? Think about time period and/or after a specific event or milestone. Do you want to explore using CBT after a patient has a experienced trauma? Or do you want to explore the use of CBT in the last ten years?

Construct a Research Question

Once you've narrowed your topic by answering some of the questions above, it's good to formulate a research question to help guide your research and possibly generate a thesis statement.

• Start by using "how," "what," or "why."
• Incorporate the limiters (population, location, time, etc.) you outlined when narrowing your topic.

Some examples:

   How effective is the use of cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression in group therapy with adults?

   What ethical implications might arise when using cognitive behavior therapy as a guidance counselor for elementary school children?

   Why has cognitive behavioral therapy become the preferred method for treating Iraq veterans with PTSD over psychotherapy?

• Research Question Generator Tool from the University of Michigan Libraries that guides users through the formulation of a research question.
• Research Question Generator Worksheet A worksheet from the ACRL, UConn, and the University of Michigan libraries.
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Research Skills

Understanding your research topic, glossary of task words.

• Searching for resources
• Organising your resources
• Writing your assignment
• Referencing
• Ask a librarian
• Library video tutorials

Break down topic

Task/Instruction words are the words or phrases used in your assignment topic/question to tell you what to do. These words are also included in the marking criteria of your assignment.

Keywords are the content words that provide the topic of the question, and are the words you use to conduct your search.

Limiting words  help you focus or narrow your search and to make your answer more precise and relevant to the topic.

A - Z 

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Research Process

• 1. Identify & Develop Topic
• 2. Determine Sources Needed
• 3. Develop Research Strategy
• 4. Find Books, Articles, & More
• 5. Find Internet Sources
• 6. Evaluate Sources
• 7. Cite Sources
• Your MCC Libraries

Identify & Develop a Topic

• Subject Versus Topic
• Developing Your Topic
• Exploring Your Topic
• Narrowing or Broadening the Focus of Your Topic

First, you will want to understand the difference between a subject and a topic. A  subject is broad and general, such as Education or Sports or Film -- too big to be the focus of your research paper. You need to look within the broad subject area to find your topic.  A topic is more focused, more precise; it is a narrower subset of a subject. For example:

• For the broad subject Education, your topic might be to investigate whether female students in all-girl schools perform better academically than their counterparts at co-ed schools.
• For the broad subject Sports, you might explore the controversy surrounding the use of Native American images and symbols as sports mascots.

Here are some tips to help you develop a manageable and interesting topic:

• Choose a subject area that interests you and that will interest the readers. Try to avoid topics that are overly used such as abortion or gun control. It is important to choose a topic that is academic in nature - something that people will be doing research on. 
• Do some background research on any subjects that you are interested in using encyclopedias and websites. This will provide you with an overview so that you gain a better understanding of the subject area and you can see what issues are related. 
• It is a good idea to state your topic in the form of a question to stay focused on what it is that you are trying to explain or prove. For example, if you want to do research on advertising and body image among teenage girls, you might ask: What impact does advertising have on the body image of teenage girls?  
• When you come up with a topic, choose the main concepts in your research question (for the question above it would be "advertising", "body image", and "teenage girls") and do an initial search with them in the Library catalog or databases. If you are getting way too many hits, you might need to narrow your topic more. If you are not getting enough hits, you might need to broaden your topic. Some common pitfalls include choosing a topic that is too: broad                          narrow                          recent                        local  
• Once you are sure you have a manageable topic that is interesting and that has enough research out there you can use in your paper, create a thesis statement. This will be an answer to your research question or a statement that explains the purpose of your research.

This video (4:18 minutes) is really helpful in explaining similar steps to create a good research question:

As previously stated, background research on a subject will help you gain a better understanding of the topic. Background research can also help see how your idea relates to broader, narrower, and related issues and  help you decide what way to focus on a subject area. For example, you might be interested in the subject of social media. If you look social media up in an encyclopedia it might talk about issues related to it such as privacy or bullying. You then might decide to focus on the topic of social media and privacy.

Some places to find background information:

• Encyclopedias and reference books
• Credible websites
• Library databases

Try any of the library databases below to explore your topic. Once you have enough background information you can begin refining your topic. If you're having trouble finding information on your topic, ask a librarian or your instructor for help.

• Credo Academic Core Start your research here instead of Wikipedia. This reference eBook collection contains over 650 titles including subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks.
• Gale eBooks Contains many reference works on a large variety of topics. Use this database for background information instead of Wikipedia.
• Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context) Provides contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues. Features continuously updated viewpoints, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.
• Issues & Controversies Explores hundreds of hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture. Offers in-depth articles presenting both sides of an issue clearly, coherently, and without bias based on key facts, arguments, history, and current context.

CQ Researcher offers in-depth, unbiased coverage of today’s important issues and controversial subjects. Each report contains a “background,” “chronology,” “current situation,” and “pro-con” features. Graphics including photographs, tables, maps, and charts to help make sense of complex topics.

Be prepared to be flexible! It is common to modify your topic during the research process. You may find too much information and need to narrow your focus, or too little information and need to broaden your focus. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic completely, but instead decide that some other aspect of the topic is more interesting or manageable.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you narrow your topic:

• Is there a specific person, population, or group I want to focus on? (e.g. Women, African American/Black Community, Teenagers, LDS...)
• Is there a particular place/geographic region I want to focus on? (e.g. southwest, Pacific Islands, Latin America)
• Is there a certain time period or era I would like to focus on? (e.g. 20th century; the Harlem Renaissance; Middle Ages)
• Is there a viewpoint I would like to focus on? (e.g. Latinx, LGBTQ Community, Elderly)

If you get too few hits, you may need to broaden your focus. You can broaden your topic by choosing a less specific time period, population, geographic area, or discipline - or by eliminating that limit altogether. You can also broaden a topic by choosing a more general term - e.g., Social Media rather than Facebook or Indigenous Peoples rather than Navajo.

View this video (3:15 minutes) for an overview of focusing your topic:

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1000+ FREE Research Topics & Title Ideas

If you’re at the start of your research journey and are trying to figure out which research topic you want to focus on, you’ve come to the right place. Select your area of interest below to view a comprehensive collection of potential research ideas.

Research Topic FAQs

What (exactly) is a research topic.

A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.

A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.

To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.

What constitutes a good research topic?

A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.

• Originality – a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.
• Value – a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.
• Feasibility – a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable, given the resource constraints you face.

To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .

What's the difference between a research topic and research problem?

A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.

To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.

Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:

• What factors contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy in certain communities?
• How do different types of parenting styles affect teen pregnancy rates?
• What interventions have been successful in reducing teenage pregnancies?

Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.

How can I find potential research topics for my project?

There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).

How can I find quality sources for my research topic?

Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.

Identifying Relevant Sources

When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.

Evaluating Sources

Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).

By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.

How can I find a good research gap?

Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.

How should I evaluate potential research topics/ideas?

When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:

• Originality
• Feasibility

So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.

Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.

How can I assess the feasibility of a research topic?

When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.

First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.

Time commitment

When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.

Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.

Resources needed

It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.

Potential risks

It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).

If you’re looking for more information about how to find, evaluate and select research topics for your dissertation or thesis, check out our free webinar here . Alternatively, if you’d like 1:1 help with the topic ideation process, consider our private coaching services .

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

Identifying an Area of Research

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• Hilary Coombes  

Part of the book series: Palgrave Study Guides ((MASTSK))

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You may not have a choice in what you research, it may be that you are given a particular topic area to research, or a concept to investigate. If this is the case, then if at all possible try to find some area that interests you within the given investigation. For example, let us say you are asked to research:

Why unemployment is 35% higher among unqualified people in comparison with qualified people.

Try not to fall into the trap of immediately presuming that everyone knows the answer already. If you do this, you will not only fall into a biased research outlook, but you may feel that the answer is so obvious that you are wasting your time in researching the topic. This in turn will lead you to devalue the importance of your research and you will find it extremely difficult to motivate yourself, especially if problems occur.

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© 2001 Hilary Coombes

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Coombes, H. (2001). Identifying an Area of Research. In: Research Using IT. Palgrave Study Guides. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-05029-8_2

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How to Research: 1. Define Your Topic

• 1. Define Your Topic
• 2. Understand Your Topic
• 3. Make a Search Strategy
• 4. Find Sources
• Journals/Articles
• 6. Evaluating Your Sources
• 7. Cite Sources & Format Paper

Define Your Topic

• Narrow or Broaden Your Topic

Need to Find a Topic?

What topic interests you within this subject area? It is okay to start with a general topic and, as you build your background knowledge, narrow that topic.

How specific must your topic be?

It will depend on how many relevant and trustworthy sources you find in your research. You will need enough time to read through those sources and write a satisfactory paper given the limited space (yes, even 10 pages is a limited space).

• If you find many sources, consider narrowing your topic.
• If you find few sources, consider broadening your topic.

New topics tend to have limited resources, so your research topic might have to be more general. For very new topics, make sure there are enough relevant and trustworthy sources available before committing to it. Older topics have usually been considered from many different angles, so your research topic will have to be much more specific.

State your topic as a question

This keeps your research and paper focused on the specific topic.

For example, if you are interested in finding out about how well college students speak a foreign language after going on a study abroad, you might ask, " What effect does study abroad have on the foreign language skills of college students? "

Other examples:

Broad Topic : Foreign Language Narrower Topic : Foreign language skills of college students Research Question : What effect does study abroad have on the foreign language skills of college students?

Broad Topic : William Shakespeare Narrower Topic : Film adaptations of Shakespeare plays Research Question : How has Shakespearean drama been adapted for the 20th century film medium?

Broad Topic : Endangered Species Narrower Topic : Giant Panda conservation efforts Research Question : What is currently being done to help conserve the endangered Giant Panda population?

Narrow or Broaden Your Topic

Your topic should be broad enough so you can find sufficient information but narrow enough to answer a specific question.

Narrow a broad topic by:

• A specific type, aspect, or sub-topic of the larger topic (Business > Marketing)
• Location (Marketing in the United States)
• A targeted population or age group (Marketing to teenagers in the United States)

A narrow topic may be too specific to return useful research results.

Broaden a topic by:

• A more general or related topic (a cappella works > choral works)
• Larger locations (Quebec > Canada)
• Larger populations or age groups (Guatemalan > Hispanic)

Use these databases to browse hot topics.

• CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window High-quality reports on current issues. To get ideas for research topics, check out Hot Topics articles or just browse by topic or date. To narrow your topic, look at the "Pro/Cons" section.

• << Previous: Home
• Next: 2. Understand Your Topic >>

Selecting a Research Topic

• Narrowing Your Research Topic
• Topic Selection Strategies
• EBSCO's Research Starters

Defining Scope

Tips for identifying scope.

Once you decide on a research topic, you need to determine the scope of your topic.  The scope of a research topic is determined by how detailed you want your project to be.  This process will tell you if your topic is already too narrow or too broad.  Consider the following when determining the scope of your research topic (Leggett and Jackowski, 2012):

• What is my topic about?
• Can I define it clearly?
• What relationships does my topic have with other fields?
• Are there correlations, causes, and/or effects between my topic and other topics?
• If the amount of sources available is overwhelming, then your topic may be too broad.
• If there are limited sources on your topic, then it may be too narrow.
• Is there anything specific about the group, population, or objects that I am studying that make them stand out from the others?
• What have scholars already said about my topic and what have they concluded?
• Does the geographical location impact my topic in any way?
• The scope of a research topic depends on the page length requirements.  You might feel tempted to select a broader topic for a larger paper, but your paper will lack conciseness.

The following tips may help you identify the scope of your research topic (Center for Writing and Speaking, n.d.):

• Be flexible.  You may have to abandon ideas that do not necessarily fit with the topic you have.  Furthermore, you may need to focus your research on one of the main ideas you had for your topic, rather than all of them.
• You might be thinking "too big."  This is one of the main reasons why research topics are too broad.  This is especially true if you have to write a large paper (more than 5 pages).  The length may seem overwhelming, but choosing a big topic just to get the page length will make writing about the topic more difficult.
• Define the key terms in your topic.   What do you mean by each term?  This could help you identify a more specific subtopic that you may want to cover.  Use your definitions of the key words to formulate a narrower topic.
• Avoid vague or abstract key words in your topic, such as love, death, society, etc.   Are you referring to something specific within that term or category?  If not, then the topic is likely too broad.

The following web page from Agnes Scott College, titled "Narrowing Scope" may assist you in determining the scope of your research topic.

• << Previous: EBSCO's Research Starters
• Next: References >>
• Last Updated: May 22, 2023 10:46 AM
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Home » Scope of the Research – Writing Guide and Examples

Scope of the Research – Writing Guide and Examples

Table of Contents

Scope of the Research

Scope of research refers to the range of topics, areas, and subjects that a research project intends to cover. It is the extent and limitations of the study, defining what is included and excluded in the research.

The scope of a research project depends on various factors, such as the research questions , objectives , methodology, and available resources. It is essential to define the scope of the research project clearly to avoid confusion and ensure that the study addresses the intended research questions.

How to Write Scope of the Research

Writing the scope of the research involves identifying the specific boundaries and limitations of the study. Here are some steps you can follow to write a clear and concise scope of the research:

• Identify the research question: Start by identifying the specific question that you want to answer through your research . This will help you focus your research and define the scope more clearly.
• Define the objectives: Once you have identified the research question, define the objectives of your study. What specific goals do you want to achieve through your research?
• Determine the population and sample: Identify the population or group of people that you will be studying, as well as the sample size and selection criteria. This will help you narrow down the scope of your research and ensure that your findings are applicable to the intended audience.
• Identify the variables: Determine the variables that will be measured or analyzed in your research. This could include demographic variables, independent variables , dependent variables , or any other relevant factors.
• Define the timeframe: Determine the timeframe for your study, including the start and end date, as well as any specific time intervals that will be measured.
• Determine the geographical scope: If your research is location-specific, define the geographical scope of your study. This could include specific regions, cities, or neighborhoods that you will be focusing on.
• Outline the limitations: Finally, outline any limitations or constraints of your research, such as time, resources, or access to data. This will help readers understand the scope and applicability of your research findings.

Examples of the Scope of the Research

Some Examples of the Scope of the Research are as follows:

Title : “Investigating the impact of artificial intelligence on job automation in the IT industry”

Scope of Research:

This study aims to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on job automation in the IT industry. The research will involve a qualitative analysis of job postings, identifying tasks that can be automated using AI. The study will also assess the potential implications of job automation on the workforce, including job displacement, job creation, and changes in job requirements.

Title : “Developing a machine learning model for predicting cyberattacks on corporate networks”

This study will develop a machine learning model for predicting cyberattacks on corporate networks. The research will involve collecting and analyzing network traffic data, identifying patterns and trends that are indicative of cyberattacks. The study aims to build an accurate and reliable predictive model that can help organizations identify and prevent cyberattacks before they occur.

Title: “Assessing the usability of a mobile app for managing personal finances”

This study will assess the usability of a mobile app for managing personal finances. The research will involve conducting a usability test with a group of participants, evaluating the app’s ease of use, efficiency, and user satisfaction. The study aims to identify areas of the app that need improvement, and to provide recommendations for enhancing its usability and user experience.

Title : “Exploring the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction among college students”

This study aims to investigate the impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing stress levels among college students. The research will involve a randomized controlled trial with two groups: a treatment group that receives mindfulness meditation training and a control group that receives no intervention. The study will examine changes in stress levels, as measured by self-report questionnaires, before and after the intervention.

Title: “Investigating the impact of social media on body image dissatisfaction among young adults”

This study will explore the relationship between social media use and body image dissatisfaction among young adults. The research will involve a cross-sectional survey of participants aged 18-25, assessing their social media use, body image perceptions, and self-esteem. The study aims to identify any correlations between social media use and body image dissatisfaction, and to determine if certain social media platforms or types of content are particularly harmful.

When to Write Scope of the Research

Here is a guide on When to Write the Scope of the Research:

• Before starting your research project, it’s important to clearly define the scope of your study. This will help you stay focused on your research question and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant information.
• The scope of the research should be determined by the research question or problem statement. It should outline what you intend to investigate and what you will not be investigating.
• The scope should also take into consideration any limitations of the study, such as time, resources, or access to data. This will help you realistically plan and execute your research.
• Writing the scope of the research early in the research process can also help you refine your research question and identify any gaps in the existing literature that your study can address.
• It’s important to revisit the scope of the research throughout the research process to ensure that you stay on track and make any necessary adjustments.
• The scope of the research should be clearly communicated in the research proposal or study protocol to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the research objectives and limitations.
• The scope of the research should also be reflected in the research design, methods, and analysis plan. This will ensure that the research is conducted in a systematic and rigorous manner that is aligned with the research objectives.
• The scope of the research should be written in a clear and concise manner, using language that is accessible to all stakeholders, including those who may not be familiar with the research topic or methodology.
• When writing the scope of the research, it’s important to be transparent about any assumptions or biases that may influence the research findings. This will help ensure that the research is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.
• The scope of the research should be reviewed and approved by the research supervisor, committee members, or other relevant stakeholders. This will ensure that the research is feasible, relevant, and contributes to the field of study.
• Finally, the scope of the research should be clearly stated in the research report or dissertation to provide context for the research findings and conclusions. This will help readers understand the significance of the research and its contribution to the field of study.

Purpose of Scope of the Research

Purposes of Scope of the Research are as follows:

• Defines the boundaries and extent of the study.
• Determines the specific objectives and research questions to be addressed.
• Provides direction and focus for the research.
• Helps to identify the relevant theories, concepts, and variables to be studied.
• Enables the researcher to select the appropriate research methodology and techniques.
• Allows for the allocation of resources (time, money, personnel) to the research.
• Establishes the criteria for the selection of the sample and data collection methods.
• Facilitates the interpretation and generalization of the results.
• Ensures the ethical considerations and constraints are addressed.
• Provides a framework for the presentation and dissemination of the research findings.

Advantages of Scope of the Research

Here are some advantages of having a well-defined scope of research:

• Provides clarity and focus: Defining the scope of research helps to provide clarity and focus to the study. This ensures that the research stays on track and does not deviate from its intended purpose.
• Helps to manage resources: Knowing the scope of research allows researchers to allocate resources effectively. This includes managing time, budget, and personnel required to conduct the study.
• Improves the quality of research: A well-defined scope of research helps to ensure that the study is designed to achieve specific objectives. This helps to improve the quality of the research by reducing the likelihood of errors or bias.
• Facilitates communication: A clear scope of research enables researchers to communicate the goals and objectives of the study to stakeholders, such as funding agencies or participants. This facilitates understanding and enhances cooperation.
• Enables replication : A well-defined scope of research makes it easier to replicate the study in the future. This allows other researchers to validate the findings and build upon them, leading to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
• Increases the relevance of research: Defining the scope of research helps to ensure that the study is relevant to the problem or issue being investigated. This increases the likelihood that the findings will be useful and applicable to real-world situations.
• Reduces the risk of scope creep : Scope creep occurs when the research expands beyond the original scope, leading to an increase in the time, cost, and resources required to complete the study. A clear definition of the scope of research helps to reduce the risk of scope creep by establishing boundaries and limitations.
• Enhances the credibility of research: A well-defined scope of research helps to enhance the credibility of the study by ensuring that it is designed to achieve specific objectives and answer specific research questions. This makes it easier for others to assess the validity and reliability of the study.
• Provides a framework for decision-making : A clear scope of research provides a framework for decision-making throughout the research process. This includes decisions related to data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Scope of the Research Vs Scope of the Project

About the author.

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Selecting Research Area

Selecting a research area is the very first step in writing your dissertation. It is important for you to choose a research area that is interesting to you professionally, as well as, personally. Experienced researchers note that “a topic in which you are only vaguely interested at the start is likely to become a topic in which you have no interest and with which you will fail to produce your best work” [1] . Ideally, your research area should relate to your future career path and have a potential to contribute to the achievement of your career objectives.

The importance of selecting a relevant research area that is appropriate for dissertation is often underestimated by many students. This decision cannot be made in haste. Ideally, you should start considering different options at the beginning of the term. However, even when there are only few weeks left before the deadline and you have not chosen a particular topic yet, there is no need to panic.

There are few areas in business studies that can offer interesting topics due to their relevance to business and dynamic nature. The following is the list of research areas and topics that can prove to be insightful in terms of assisting you to choose your own dissertation topic.

Globalization can be a relevant topic for many business and economics dissertations. Forces of globalization are nowadays greater than ever before and dissertations can address the implications of these forces on various aspects of business.

Following are few examples of research areas in globalization:

• A study of implications of COVID-19 pandemic on economic globalization
• Impacts of globalization on marketing strategies of beverage manufacturing companies: a case study of The Coca-Cola Company
• Effects of labour migration within EU on the formation of multicultural teams in UK organizations
• A study into advantages and disadvantages of various entry strategies to Chinese market
• A critical analysis of the effects of globalization on US-based businesses

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is also one of the most popular topics at present and it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. CSR refers to additional responsibilities of business organizations towards society apart from profit maximization. There is a high level of controversy involved in CSR. This is because businesses can be socially responsible only at the expense of their primary objective of profit maximization.

Perspective researches in the area of CSR may include the following:

• The impacts of CSR programs and initiatives on brand image: a case study of McDonald’s India
• A critical analysis of argument of mandatory CSR for private sector organizations in Australia
• A study into contradictions between CSR programs and initiatives and business practices: a case study of Philip Morris Philippines
• A critical analysis into the role of CSR as an effective marketing tool
• A study into the role of workplace ethics for improving brand image

Social Media and viral marketing relate to increasing numbers of various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube etc. Increasing levels of popularity of social media among various age groups create tremendous potential for businesses in terms of attracting new customers.

The following can be listed as potential studies in the area of social media:

• A critical analysis of the use of social media as a marketing strategy: a case study of Burger King Malaysia
• An assessment of the role of Instagram as an effective platform for viral marketing campaigns
• A study into the sustainability of TikTok as a marketing tool in the future
• An investigation into the new ways of customer relationship management in mobile marketing environment: a case study of catering industry in South Africa
• A study into integration of Twitter social networking website within integrated marketing communication strategy: a case study of Microsoft Corporation

Culture and cultural differences in organizations offer many research opportunities as well. Increasing importance of culture is directly related to intensifying forces of globalization in a way that globalization forces are fuelling the formation of cross-cultural teams in organizations.

Perspective researches in the area of culture and cultural differences in organizations may include the following:

• The impact of cross-cultural differences on organizational communication: a case study of BP plc
• A study into skills and competencies needed to manage multicultural teams in Singapore
• The role of cross-cultural differences on perception of marketing communication messages in the global marketplace: a case study of Apple Inc.
• Effects of organizational culture on achieving its aims and objectives: a case study of Virgin Atlantic
• A critical analysis into the emergence of global culture and its implications in local automobile manufacturers in Germany

Leadership and leadership in organizations has been a popular topic among researchers for many decades by now. However, the importance of this topic may be greater now than ever before. This is because rapid technological developments, forces of globalization and a set of other factors have caused markets to become highly competitive. Accordingly, leadership is important in order to enhance competitive advantages of organizations in many ways.

The following studies can be conducted in the area of leadership:

• Born or bred: revisiting The Great Man theory of leadership in the 21 st century
• A study of effectiveness of servant leadership style in public sector organizations in Hong Kong
• Creativity as the main trait for modern leaders: a critical analysis
• A study into the importance of role models in contributing to long-term growth of private sector organizations: a case study of Tata Group, India
• A critical analysis of leadership skills and competencies for E-Commerce organizations

COVID-19 pandemic and its macro and micro-economic implications can also make for a good dissertation topic. Pandemic-related crisis has been like nothing the world has seen before and it is changing international business immensely and perhaps, irreversibly as well.

The following are few examples for pandemic crisis-related topics:

• A study into potential implications of COVID-19 pandemic into foreign direct investment in China
• A critical assessment of effects of COVID-19 pandemic into sharing economy: a case study of AirBnb.
• The role of COVID-19 pandemic in causing shifts in working patterns: a critical analysis

Moreover, dissertations can be written in a wide range of additional areas such as customer services, supply-chain management, consumer behaviour, human resources management, catering and hospitality, strategic management etc. depending on your professional and personal interests.

[1] Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2012) “Research Methods for Business Students” 6th edition, Pearson Education Limited.

John Dudovskiy

How to Research

Define a topic.

• Library Resources
• Web Resources
• Evaluate for Quality
• Research Tips & Search Strategies
• Academic Integrity
• Citation Styles
• Annotated Bibliography

• Understand assignment requirements .
• Select a topic for their research paper.
• Formulate a research question.
• Narrow or broaden a research question.
• Determine keywords and brainstorm search terms .

   If you are unsure about what is expected about your assignment, consult with your instructor.

Step 1: Understand Your Assignment

Understand your assignment.

Before setting out to complete an assignment, get to know what is required. Parts of the assignment description students should look for include:

• Due date. Plan out an adequate amount of time to learn about your assignment, conduct research, create citations, and write.
• Length. The length of an assignment will give you an idea of how much research you will need to do.
• Citation Style. It will give you an idea of how to format your assignment (e.g., single-spaced, double-spaced, font, etc.) and create references (e.g., APA Style). If this information is not present in your assignment description, check your course outline.
• Sources. This includes the number of sources and types of sources you will need to complete the assignment sufficiently (e.g., scholarly sources).

Assignment descriptions also provide useful context or background information that will help you with identifying a topic.

Source: Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook

Step 2: Select a Research Topic

• a) Topic Selection
• b) Background Research
• c) Research Question
• d) Assess Your Topic

Select a Topic

Carefully read over your assignment description.

• Have you been provided with options for topics or do you need to come up with your own topic?
• Is there something that is happening in the news that interests you?
• Is there something you have learned about in your studies that you would like to explore further?
• If you have any questions, ask your professor for clarification.

When selecting your topic, ask yourself these questions:

• WHY did you choose the topic? What interests you about it? Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
• WHO  are the information providers on this topic? Who might publish information about it? Who is affected by the topic? Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic? Is there a debate about the topic? Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national, or international level? Are there specific places affected by the topic?
• WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current event or an historical issue? Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

Content reproduced from  MIT.edu   under a  Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License

Background Research

Start researching your topic.

This process helps give you some background information about your topic prior to formulating your research question.

• Review your lecture notes and/or course readings for background information.
• You can use Wikipedia for your preliminary research - it often provides a concise overview of the topic with helpful links to open access (freely accessible) journal articles and resources. Do not cite Wikipedia articles in your final paper; however, sources cited on Wikipedia pages are free game (use our evaluation criteria before you cite!).
• Library subscribed  databases .
• A reputable encyclopedia: Encyclopedia Britannica or Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia .
• A major article on the topic.
• Library research guides .
• Books (and eBooks) on the subject.

Develop a Research Question

Once a topic has been selected and you have performed some background research, you can start developing a research question. 

Why Create a Research Question?

Research questions "help writers focus their research by providing a path through the research and writing process. The specificity of a well-developed research question helps writers avoid the 'all-about' paper and work toward supporting a specific, arguable thesis" (The Writing Center) .

Creating a Research Question

A good research question will require you to analyze an issue or problem. Developing a research question that asks about how or why tends to be more useful than a research question that asks what or describe questions (Monash University) .

You have already asked yourself the 5Ws in step a (Why, Who, What, Where, and When), next ask yourself:

• Is my research question clear and focused? Does your research question clearly state what you intend to research?
• Is my research question complex? Your question should not be able to be answered with a 'yes' or a 'no', but it also should not be too difficult to answer.
• Is my research question researchable? Are there enough resources available to answer your research question?

Sample Research Questions

Sample Research Questions from Indiana University Library

Assess Your Topic

Narrow your topic.

• If your topic is too broad, there will be too many resources for you to sift through.
• Limit your topic to a particular approach to the issue.
• Consider only one piece, or sub-area, of the subject.
• Limit the time span you examine.
• Limit by age, sex, race, occupation, species, or ethnic group.
• Limit by geographical location.

Content reproduced/adapted from  MIT.edu   under a  Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License

Broaden Your Topic

• Broadening the scope of your topic by generalizing what you are looking for.
• Adjusting your topic to something that has been extensively written about if your topic is very new.
• Broadening the scope of language used in search terms. A great way to accomplish this is to include commonly used words (keywords) from your background research. Also, consider using a thesaurus to find synonyms to represent your topic.

Content reproduced/adapted from    under a  Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License

Step 3: Create Keywords, Search Terms, & Thesis

• a) Determine Keywords
• b) Brainstorming Search Terms
• c) Searching
• d) Reassess Research Question

Determining Keywords

It will be easier to find information if you define your topic and identify the key concepts.

Step A) Take a look at your research question and ask yourself, what are the main concepts? These main concepts will become your keywords. 

The research question:

Keywords that describe this topic could include:

From this example, we have highlighted just the key words:

• Today's youth 
• Parents 
• "Better life" (this concept is a bit tricky. You will need to determine what you mean by "better life", such as economic status, healthcare, area of the world, etc.)

We have left out all other words and punctuation (do, have, a, than, their, ?) from our key words.

Brainstorming Search Terms 

Step B) Think of all the words, or synonyms , you can use to describe these keywords. By definition, synonyms are words that have a similar meaning and are interchangeable. To make this process easier, use a thesaurus to find synonyms.

To show this process, we have mapped out several synonyms and related terms to our three main terms we pulled from our research question. Related terms are a little different from synonyms as they do not always mean the exact same thing as the keywords, but are useful for broadening the scope of your search. We have also broken several terms into narrower and broad terms.

Synonyms & Related Terms

• Today's youth = teenagers = adolescents = young adults = Generation Z
• Parents = caregivers = mother = father
• "Better Life" = education = healthcare = finances = socioeconomic status = technology

Narrower Terms

• Education level < Education 
• Financial well-being < Finances

Broad Terms

• Finances > Debt
• Wealth > Income

Step C) Now that we have identified our main keywords, synonyms and related terms, as well as narrower and broad terms, we can start our background research by  searching on the web or in  library databases for resources related to our topic.

Often, a simple Google search will help you define your topic further.

Typing in our research question:  Do today's youth have a better life than their parents?  into the search bar of Google, we come across a very helpful resource put out by Pew Research Center .

[click on above image of a Google search to be sent to the Google results page]

Using resources such as the report from Pew Research Center, we can flesh out more of our research question with new knowledge of the factors that make life different between generations, including education level, income and wealth, housing, etc.

Reassess Research Question & Formulate Thesis

Step D)  Research is an ever-evolving, iterative process. After searching, you may find information that informs your research question and/or resulting search terms. At this point, you may wish to revisit the first two steps: Determining Keywords and Brainstorming Search Terms.

Alternatively, you may also choose to adapt your research question  into a thesis to fit this new information.

Example: 

Our original research question was: 

Based on some of our introductory research we conducted in Step C, it may be more valuable to narrow our research question to focus on a more specific topic, such as access to education. We can rework our research question into a thesis to reflect these changes:

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Social isolation and loneliness Print this page

• Stress and trauma 14 Feb 2024
• Physical health of people with mental illness 14 Feb 2024
• Prevalence and impact of mental illness

On this page:

Who experiences social isolation and loneliness?

Preventing and reducing social isolation and loneliness, where can i go for more information.

Loneliness and social isolation were concerns before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but have been exacerbated in the subsequent years.

In 2022, males aged 15–24 tended to experience more social isolation and loneliness than females.

Social isolation and loneliness are among the many factors that can be detrimental to a person’s wellbeing.

Social isolation and loneliness can harm both mental and physical health and may affect life satisfaction. They are concerning issues in Australia due to the impact they have on peoples’ lives and wellbeing.

Loneliness has been linked to premature death, poor physical and mental health (Holt-Lunstad et al. 2015), greater psychological distress (Manera et al. 2022) and general dissatisfaction with life (Schumaker et al. 1993). Loneliness among Australians was already a concerning issue before the COVID-19 pandemic, to the extent that in 2022 it has been described as one of the most pressing public health priorities in Australia (Ending Loneliness Together 2022).

Social isolation has been linked to mental illness, emotional distress, suicide, the development of dementia, premature death and poor health behaviours (smoking, physical inactivity and poor sleep) – as well as biological effects, including high blood pressure and impaired immune function (Cacioppo et al. 2002 and Grant et al. 2009 in Holt-Lunstad et al. 2015). Social isolation is also associated with psychological distress (Manera et al. 2022) and sustained decreases in feelings of wellbeing (Shankar et al. 2015). Conversely, more frequent social contact is associated with better overall health (Botha 2022).

The difference between social isolation and loneliness

Social isolation ‘means having objectively few social relationships or roles and infrequent social contact’ (Badcock et al. 2022:7). It differs from loneliness, which is a ‘subjective unpleasant or distressing feeling of a lack of connection to other people, along with a desire for more, or more satisfying, social relationships’ (Badcock et al. 2022:7). The 2 concepts may, but do not necessarily, coexist (Badcock et al. 2022; Relationships Australia 2018) – a person may be socially isolated but not lonely, or socially connected but feel lonely.

Social isolation

In 2022, almost 1 in 7 (15%) Australians (18% of males and 12% of females) were experiencing social isolation. Compared to just before the pandemic (2019) the proportion of young people aged 15–24 experiencing social isolation increased markedly over 2020 and 2021. During the later years of the pandemic (2021 to 2022) the proportion of young females (15–24 years) experiencing social isolation decreased (23% in 2021 down to 17% in 2022), while the proportion of young males continued to increase (from 22% to 25% over this time). The 35–44 year age group was the only one for whom social isolation continued to increase from 2021 (16% in 2021 to 17% in 2022) (Figure SIL.1).

Figure SIL 1: How has social isolation changed over time?

Line graph and butterfly chart showing the per cent of males and females of various age groups experiencing social isolation, from 2001 to 2022. The proportion of males aged 15–24 experiencing social isolation from 2001 to 2019 remained relatively steady between 11% and 15%, before increasing to 19% in 2020 and continuing to increase to 22% in 2021, then dropped to 21% in 2022.    

Source: AIHW analysis of Household and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) data, waves 1–22.

In 2022, just over 1 in 6 (16%) Australians were experiencing loneliness. As of 2022, about 1 in 5 (17%) males and 1 in 6 (15%) females aged 15–24 were experiencing loneliness. An increasing number of people aged 15–24, have reported experiencing loneliness since 2012. In contrast, the frequency of people aged 65 and over reporting loneliness has been steadily declining since 2001 (Figure SIL 2).

Figure SIL 2: Per cent of people aged 15 and over experiencing loneliness, by sex and age group, 2001–2022

Line graph and butterfly chart showing the per cent of males and females of various age groups experiencing loneliness, from 2001 to 2022. In 2001, 15% of people aged 15–24 were lonely, compared to 16% in 2022. The proportion of people aged 65 and over who are lonely has decreased from 20% in 2001 to 16% in 2022. 

Australia’s available data on loneliness do not allow for reliable international comparisons. In a recent systematic review of loneliness in 113 countries led by Australian researchers, Australian data could not be compared with those of other countries due to a lack of comparable prevalence data – except for the adolescent age group (Surkalim et al. 2022). To date, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has not reported comparable data for Australia on its measures of ‘people feeling lonely’ and ‘people feeling left out of society’ (OECD 2022, 2023).

Domestic and family violence

Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major health and welfare issue in Australia, occurring across all socioeconomic and demographic groups, but predominantly affecting women and children (AIHW 2022). 

Social isolation is a well-recognised tactic of coercive control used by perpetrators to control their victims (Boxall and Morgan 2021). It ensures the victim does not hear other people’s perspectives: perpetrators control the information the victim receives, reduce their help-seeking opportunities, and control the victim’s ability to leave the abusive relationship (Stark 2007). Recent studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australians are identifying some adverse outcomes of stay-at-home orders associated with increased social isolation that put some women and children at higher risk of experiencing family violence (Morgan and Boxall 2020; Pfitzner et al. 2022). 

An online survey of 166 practitioners conducted in Victoria during the 2020 lockdowns revealed that women’s experiences of intimate partner violence worsened because of their increased social isolation, which reduced their ability to seek external help and support (Pfitzner et al. 2022). This trend was also identified in other cities and countries, with perpetrators using the social isolation provided by the stay-at-home orders to increase abusive behaviours towards victims within their homes (Piquero et al. 2021). An Australian study suggests the combination of increased social isolation and economic stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic did increase the risks of domestic and family violence for women in current cohabiting relationships (Morgan and Boxall 2020). 

For more information, refer to Family, domestic and sexual violence .       

Engaging in volunteer work and maintaining active memberships of sporting or community organisations are also associated with reduced social isolation (Flood 2005). Participating in paid work and caring for others have been proposed as safeguards against loneliness. However, it is unclear whether community engagement can consistently act as a protective factor against loneliness. For example:

• one study found that loneliness is lower in people who spend at least some time each week volunteering (Flood 2005)
• another study found no relationship between loneliness and volunteering, or between loneliness and socialising and participating in sport and community organisations (Baker 2012).

For people aged 25 to 44, being in a relationship is a greater protective factor against loneliness for men than for women (Baker 2012). Women living with others and women living alone report similar levels of loneliness, while men living alone report higher levels of loneliness than men living with others (Flood 2005).

The role of social media

Whether social media has potential benefits or negative impacts on people’s experiences of social isolation has been discussed since the advent of this medium. There is no straightforward relationship however, between social media use and experiences of social isolation and loneliness, whether positive or negative. 

Researchers have identified some positive impacts of how social media can help people feel socially connected, especially adolescents (aged 11–19) who are looking for peers online to boost their psychosocial wellbeing, discuss identity development and encourage a sense of belonging (Allen et al. 2014). Other research has showed that using social media benefited young people (aged under 21) who experienced higher levels of social anxiety by increasing their ability to socialise, reducing their feelings of social isolation (Lin et al. 2017). 

Even though adolescents can use social media to create supportive communities, research shows that the relationship between its use and loneliness can work both ways. When it is used to escape physical social interactions, feelings of loneliness were found to increase. People experiencing loneliness may benefit from external support with the use of the Internet to ensure they engage in existing friendships and learn how to develop new ones online to reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation (Nowland et al. 2017). 

More research has emerged since the pandemic started that investigates the use of social media by people of all ages and their experiences of social isolation, but findings are not always positive. For example, a study of people living in Norway, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Australia looked at the impact of people’s use of social media during the pandemic. The researchers found an association between emotional distress and more frequent use of social media (Geirdal et al. 2021). 

Another international study investigating current research between online social networking and mental health outcomes for people aged 50 and over found that social media enhanced communication with family and friends, provided greater independence and self-efficacy, aided in the creation of new communities online, helped to form positive associations with wellbeing and life satisfaction, and was associated with decreased depressive symptoms (Chen et al. 2021). 

As more studies are conducted through the pandemic and beyond, an understanding of how social media affects feelings of social isolation and loneliness may become clearer. 

Although social isolation and loneliness are now well-recognised public health concerns, major gaps remain in understanding what works to resolve them (Smith and Lim 2020). Due to our diverse social needs, preferences and resources, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution (Ending Loneliness Together 2022). 

Companion animals

Pets can play an integral part in people’s lives, regardless of the person’s culture, profession or age. Companion animals are one source of external support that can bring both physical and mental health benefits (Brooks et al. 2016). All types of companion animals may contribute to reducing social isolation and feelings of loneliness (Brooks et al. 2018; Kretzler et al. 2022). 

Multiple studies have found an association between pet ownership and lower experiences of social isolation, particularly for children (Christian et al. 2020; Hartwig and Signal 2020; Kretzler et al. 2022). Further, research suggests that companion animals may positively influence experiences for older people (aged 60 and over) by increasing their sense of purpose and meaning, facilitating increased social interaction, reducing loneliness and improving emotional resilience (Gan et al. 2019), as well as being potentially a protective factor against suicide (Young et al. 2020a). Owning a pet increases the opportunity for people to get to know their neighbours and for social interactions and forming friendships (Wood et al. 2015). 

Brooks and colleagues (2018) systematically reviewed 17 studies that investigated the relationship between companion animals, specifically domestic animals, and the assistance these animals provided in helping people to manage their mental health conditions. The quantitative studies produced mixed findings, with people experiencing positive, negative and neutral impacts of their companion animal on their personal mental health. 

Qualitative studies suggest, however, that people with mental health conditions may benefit from the direct support their companion animals provide. This support includes helping their owners to manage their mental health condition, reducing people’s stress and regulating emotions – particularly beneficial during times of crisis, improving people’s quality of life, providing a consistent source of comfort, and aiding social and community interactions. Companion animals were found to help mitigate feelings of social isolation and loneliness by providing physical warmth and companionship, and opportunities for non-judgemental communication for their owners. Further, they may offer a distraction or disruption when their owners experience panic attacks and other symptoms of mental illness (Brooks et al. 2018). On the other hand, negative impacts included difficulties with the daily commitment of pet ownership and the psychological stress when losing a companion pet. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have mostly shown that the association between pet ownership, loneliness and social isolation has strengthened (Kretzler et al. 2022). One study found that cats gave people an outlet for stress through the strong bonds they had established with owners, and the affection and comfort they provided, thus acting as a buffer to the social isolation created by the lockdowns (Currin-McCulloch et al. 2021). Dogs provided people with daily reinforcement of positive behaviours such as routine, exercise and play, which all contributed to decreased feelings of social isolation (Bussolari et al. 2021). 

It is not yet clear whether this strong relationship between people and their pets at the levels seen in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic will persist in the future (Hughes et al. 2021; Young et al. 2020b). 

For more information about social isolation and loneliness, see:

• Bankwest Curtin – Stronger together: loneliness and social connectedness in Australia
• Measuring what matters
• Ending Loneliness Together

AIHW (Australia Institute of Health and Welfare) (2022) Family, domestic and sexual violence data in Australia , AIHW website, accessed 9 February 2024.

Allen KA, Ryan T, Gray DL, McInerney DM and Waters L (2014) ‘ Social media use and social connectedness in adolescents: the positives and potential pitfalls ’, The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , 31(1):18–31, doi:10.1017/edp.2014.2, accessed 9 February 2024. 

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Brooks HL, Rushton K, Lovell K, Bee P, Walker L, Grant L and Rogers A (2018) ‘ The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence ’, BMC Psychiatry , 18(31), doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2, accessed 9 February 2024.

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Christian H, Mitrou F, Cunneen R and Zubrick SR (2020) ‘ Pets are associated with fewer peer problems and emotional symptoms, and better prosocial behaviour: findings from the longitudinal study of Australian children ’, The Journal of Paediatrics , 220:200–206, doi:10.1016/j.peds.2020.01.012.

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Ending Loneliness Together (2022) Social connection to accelerate social recovery white paper , WayAhead, Sydney, accessed 9 February 2024.

Flood M (2005) Mapping loneliness in Australia , The Australia Institute, Canberra, accessed 9 February 2024.

Gan GZH, Hill A, Yeung P, Keesing S and Netto JA (2019) ‘ Pet ownership and its influence on mental health in older adults ’, Aging and Mental Health , 24(10), 1605–1612, doi:10.1080/13607863.2019.1633620, accessed 9 February 2024.

Geirdal AO, Ruffolo M, Leung J, Thygesen H, Price D, Bonsaksen T and Schoultz M (2021) ‘ Mental health, quality of life, wellbeing, loneliness and use of social media in a time of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-country comparative study ’, Journal of Mental Health , 30(2):148–155, doi:10.1080/09638237.2021.1875413, accessed 9 February 2024.

Hartwig E and Signal T (2020) ‘ Attachment to companion animals and loneliness in Australian adolescents ’, Australian Journal of Psychology ,   72(4):337–346, doi:10.1111/ajpy.12293, accessed 9 February 2024.

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Hughes AM, Braun L, Putnam A, Martinez D and Fine A (2021) ‘ Advancing human-animal interaction to counter social isolation and loneliness in the time of Covid-19: a model for an interdisciplinary public health consortium ’, Animals ,   11 ( 8):2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082325, accessed 9 February 2024.

Kretzler B, Konig H and Hajek A (2022) ‘ Pet ownership, loneliness, and social isolation: a systematic review ’, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology ,   57 : 1935–1957, doi 10.1007/s00127-022-02332-9, accessed 9 February 2024.

Manera KE, Smith BJ, Owen KB, Phongsavan P and Lim MH (2022) ‘ Psychometric assessment of scales for measuring loneliness and social isolation: an analysis of the household, income and labour dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey ’, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes , 20:40, doi:10.1186/s12955-022-01946-6, accessed 9 February 2024.

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Stark E (2007) Coercive control: how men entrap women in personal life , Oxford University Press, New York.

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Wood L, Martin K, Christian H, Nathan A, Lauritsen C, Houghton S, Kawachi I and McCune S (2015) ‘ The pet factor – companion animals as a conduit for getting to know people, friendship formation and social support ’ PLoS ONE , 10(4), doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122085, accessed 9 February 2024.

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Data on this page cover years 2001 to 2022. This page was last updated in April 2024.

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