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Choosing a Scientific Research Topic

Choosing a Scientific Research Topic. A Step-By Step Guide. Step One. Make a list of ten general topics that are of personal interest to you. These do not need to be typical science topics. Examples Skateboarding Playing the Violin Types of invertebrates in McLane Creek

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Choosing a Scientific Research Topic

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  1. Choosing a Scientific Research Topic A Step-By Step Guide

  2. Step One • Make a list of ten general topics that are of personal interest to you. These do not need to be typical science topics. • Examples • Skateboarding • Playing the Violin • Types of invertebrates in McLane Creek • Playing video games • Gardening

  3. Step Two • Write a question for each topic. • Examples • What is the minimum ramp slope needed to do an axle stall skateboarding trick? • How do sound vibrations differ with different notes on a violin? • What type of creek habitat in McLane Creek will yield the greatest number of invertebrates ? • How does the rating of a video affect its price and/or its sales? • How does soil acidity affect the growth of a specific rhododendron species?

  4. Step Three • Determine which questions from your list can be investigated using the scientific method. • Remove those topics that cannot be developed into an experiment. • Revised List (1) • What is the minimum ramp slope needed to do an axle stall? • What type of creek habitat in McLane Creek will yield the greatest number of invertebrates ? • How does soil acidity affect the growth of a specific rhododendron species?

  5. Step 4 • List the questions that have not been removed from most interesting to least interesting. • Revised List (2) • What type of creek habitat in McLane Creek will yield the greatest number of invertebrates ? • How does soil acidity affect the growth of a specific rhododendron species? • What is the minimum ramp slope needed to do an axle stall?

  6. Step Five • The question at the top of the list will be developed into a well-written research question. • Narrow the research question to one that can be investigated. • Re-write the question to reflect the narrowed topic. • Example What type of creek bottom at McLane Creek-sandy or rocky-will yield the greatest diversity in macro-invertebrate species?

  7. Step Six • Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “no” to any of the questions, repeat steps five and six with the next most interesting question from Revised List (2). • Can it be enthusiastically pursued? • Can interest be sustained by it? • Is the problem solvable? • Is it worth doing? • Will it lead to other research problems? • Is it manageable in size? • If the problem is solved, will the results be reviewed well by scholars in your field? (your peers) • Are you, or will you become, competent to solve it? • By solving it, will you have demonstrated independent skills in your discipline? • Questions adapted from “Choosing a Research Topic” by Richard M. Reis http://chronicle.com/jobs/99/11/99111902c.htm

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