The topic selection Crisis

Most students come to me asking the same old question

"Can you suggest me a good topic for my research project?".

Well, today let me share certain views on how to " select a good topic"

To begin with, most often the choice of the topic becomes a big turning point in your life. How? As a part of project, you are supposed to read a lot of literature in the topic, and psychology is a topic that becomes interesting as you read more. Hence most often, your future projects, either in Post Graduate or even PhD projects, would be more or less on the topic you selected in lower classes. 

Also, most often, the interest in topic, becomes a lead in selecting specialization for higher courses. Person who did a OB project, most often end up doing a higher studies in OB. So yes, selection of topic is very important.

There are few points you should have in mind, when you finalise the research topics. Let me enlist it one by one-

1. The topic should ask a real question. If not, you will soon loose interest in the topic. For example, if your topic is, Intelligence and Scholastic achievement, its quite obvious what the result would be. Hence, you don't tend feel that drive to work for it, and instead you start cooking up results as the results are quite obvious.

2. The topic should have a 'wow' element if possible. Because most often psychology projects are seen with much interest among your friends and family, and they would surely ask, what are you "actually" studying about. So choose a topic, which will make them say "wow"

3. Research as part of course work always come in time frame. Most often you get 4-6 months time. Hence make sure the sample you choose is readily available. Don't pick a sample that is too few to get. College students, School students, etc are safe as they are available in bulk for data collection.

4. Always keep an eye on the tools to measure the topics you pick. Most often you come up with a awesome topic only to realise there is no scale or tool to measure it. Developing a scale is always an option, but given the lack of time, its advised not to try that.

Keeping all these in mind,  let me give a general rule to develop a research topic.

Step 1- Finalise on which area/population you want to work on. Psychology has many diverse fields like Abnormal, Organizational, Social etc. Any particular area might have attracted your interest. Its always safe to focus on that area.
     Also, a particular population might have attracted you- like school students, widows, elderly, single parents. Always focus on that population.

Step 2- Find an issue-  Since you have squared into the area/ population, try to find out any issues they are focusing. For example, if its school students, find some issue these students face like stress, depression, etc. An easy way to find such issue is to google. Or any standard text book, which talks about that area. While going through many issues in that population, you will finally find one, and that's your Dependent Variable.

Step 3- Finding Independent Variables
     Since you have finalised on the issue, search for various other factors that you think has an effect on the issue. For example, If you finalised "Academic Stress in students", look for various possible causes for " Academic Stress in Students" you will get plenty of such causes, and even you can suggest few causes using common sense like Parenting style, study habits etc. From the lot, pick one or two variables, that you think is most relevant in the sample you have finalised. And that becomes your independent variable/variables.

Step 4-
    Look if there are proper tools to measure the variables, or if it is measurable at all. Once you made this confirmation check, you can link the variables and sample together and make it a project title. Here, thr title becomes, " Effect of parenting styles on stress among school children " (assuming the study is experimental)

Step 5-
   Get a final confirmation from your guide. As they are always the better informed.

Many students complaint research project was a hectic experience. But that mostly because kids approach it with a preset mindset. Believe me, the work you did on the research project would be the most beautiful memory you will have about your college/course life.

Happy Re-searching :)