From Topics to Questions

From Topics to Questions

• Start with Your Interests: Begin your research journey by considering your own interests within your field. What are you curious about? What topics or questions spark your desire to learn more?  

• Find and Focus Your Topic: Once you have a general area of interest, narrow it down to a specific, manageable topic. This focus will help you dive deeper and conduct more effective research.  

• Transform into Research Questions: Develop research questions that explore your chosen topic from various angles. These questions should guide your research and help you uncover new insights.  

• Consider the Significance: Evaluate the significance of your research questions by asking yourself, "So what?" This will help you articulate why your research matters and how it contributes to the field.  

• Engage with Existing Research: Explore existing research on your topic. What questions have other scholars asked? What are the current debates or controversies? How can your research contribute to these conversations?  

Example:

Starting with a broad interest in the portrayal of artificial intelligence in contemporary literature, I narrow my focus to Kazuo Ishiguro's novel Klara and the Sun.  I am particularly interested in exploring how Ishiguro crafts Klara's unique narrative voice and perspective as an "Artificial Friend" (AF).  To guide my research, I formulate questions such as: How does Klara's limited understanding of the world shape her observations and interactions? How does Ishiguro use language and narrative structure to convey Klara's artificiality while also imbuing her with a sense of empathy and emotional depth? What are the implications of Klara's perspective for understanding human relationships and the nature of consciousness?  These questions will help me explore the complexities of Ishiguro's novel and contribute to a deeper understanding of its themes and literary techniques.   

Preparation Activity: From Topics to Questions

Reading: Chapter 1: From Topics to Questions

Objective: To help students refine their initial interests into focused, researchable questions for their graduation thesis.

Instructions:

1. Reflect and Brainstorm: Spend some time reflecting on your academic interests. What topics or issues excite your curiosity? What problems or gaps in knowledge have you observed? Brainstorm a list of potential research areas that you might want to explore further in your thesis. Aim for at least 5-7 diverse ideas.

2. Narrow and Focus: Review your brainstormed list and select 2-3 topics that resonate most strongly with you. For each topic, try to narrow it down to a more specific area of inquiry. Ask yourself:

• What specific aspect of this topic am I most curious about?

• Can I frame this topic in a way that addresses a specific problem or gap in the existing research?

• Is this topic manageable in scope for a graduation thesis?

3. Question Generation: For each of your narrowed-down topics, generate 3-5 research questions that you might want to explore. Use the standard prompts" (who, what, when, where) as a starting point, but focus particularly on "how" and "why" questions to encourage deeper critical thinking. Consider the following types of questions as well:

• Questions about the history of your topic

• Questions about its structure and composition

• Questions about its categorisation

• "What if?" and other speculative questions

4. Question Evaluation: Review your research questions and evaluate them based on their potential for a successful thesis project. Consider:

• Is the question answerable through research?

• Is the question significant enough to warrant a thesis-length investigation?

• Does the question lead to a potential argument or claim?

• Am I genuinely interested in exploring this question?

5. Submission: Select your top 2 research questions (one for each narrowed topic) and submit them along with a brief explanation (1-2 paragraphs for each) of why you chose these questions and how they might lead to a compelling thesis project.

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Class Outline: From Topics to Questions

Objective: To help students understand the concept of research problems and how to transform their research questions into well-defined problems that will guide their thesis research.

Outline:

1. Interest Sharing and Brainstorming 

• Students share their initial areas of interest for their thesis research.

• Group brainstorming to expand and diversify potential research topics.

• Encourage students to think beyond traditional boundaries and explore interdisciplinary connections.

2. Topic Focusing

• Guided activity where students work on narrowing and focusing their selected topics using action words.

• Professor provides examples and feedback to ensure clarity and specificity.

• Emphasise the importance of a focused topic in guiding research and creating a manageable project.

3. Research Question Generation 

• Interactive session where students generate research questions for their focused topics using the strategies from Chapter 1.

• Professor facilitates discussion and encourages students to challenge each other's questions.

• Highlight the importance of asking "how" and "why" questions to dive deeper into the topic.

4. Question Evaluation and Selection 

• Students work in pairs or small groups to evaluate their research questions based on feasibility, significance, and potential for generating new knowledge.

• Class discussion on the characteristics of strong research questions.

• Encourage students to articulate the potential impact of their research and its contribution to the field.

5. Wrap-up and Preview 

• Summarise the key takeaways from the session.

• Preview the topics for the next class: "From Questions to a Problem."

Reading for Next Week: Chapter 2: From Questions to a Problem