3 - Attributes of a good research topic

Attribute 1Capability: is it feasible?

» Are you fascinated by the topic?

» Do you have the necessary research skills?

» Can you complete the project in the time available?

» Will the research still be current when you finish?

» Do you have sufficient financial and other resources?

» Will you be able to gain access to data?

Attribute 2 Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?

» Will the examining institute's standards be met?

» Does the topic contain issues with clear links to theory?

» Are the research questions and objectives clearly stated?

» Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into the

topic?

» Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?

» Does the research topic match your career goals?

Attribute 3

Relevancy

Does the topic relate clearly to an idea

you were given -

possibly by your organisation/research organization?

Clarifying research topic

Adding research questions and research objectives to

research topic

Sometimes, we are confused which one (research

questions or research objectives) be the first?

Research ideas research topic research question(s) research objectives

Write research question(s)It is often a useful starting point,

in the writing of research questions,to begin with one general focus research question

that flows from your research idea;

That focus question may lead to several more detailed research questions

Examples of research ideas

and their derived focus questions

Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research questions

Phrasing research question as research objective: an example

Research question:

Why have organizations introduced team briefing?

Research objective:

To identify organizations’ objectives for team briefing schemes

Firm profitability (FP)

Firm sale(FS)

Cash flow (CF)

Growth opportunity (GO)

Share holder’s equity (TE)

Firm’s investment (TI)

Firm’s debt (FD)

Dividend payout (DP)

Tangibility of firm’s assets (TA)

Developing research methodology

From conceptual modeling to statistical/

econometrics modeling

TDTA = f(NPTA, TSTA, FATA, GOTA, TATA, TETA, TDTE, TITA, e)

TDTA = β0 + β1NPTA + β2TSTA + β3FATA+

β4GOTA + β5TATA + β6TETA+β7TDTE + β8 TITA + e