What are some ways to help students choose a research topic that is both interesting and feasible?

The key is to help students align their interests with their strengths and the available resources. Students will almost always know the first of these, have a confident grasp of the second, but a partial understanding of the third, which is where things can come unstuck. All three points need to be secured from the outset if the research is to prove enjoyable and purposeful to the student.

When helping students choose topics, we should teach them how to fish rather than giving them a fish. by encouraging them to brainstorm, research, evaluate, and refine ideas, we empower them to make their own decisions, fostering independence and problem-solving skills that extend beyond the classroom.

Put the challenges in the current systems and have a brainstorming session for the solutions. Challenges in current systems will make students to find the alternative solutions. This process will trigger the ideas in the minds and the group discussions with these ideas can accelerate the research and the growth. This way of brainstorming will raise the design thinking process and create new ideas and solutions.

If you are working in a specific research area, share a handful of well-written narrative reviews in that area, to get them thinking about what is known and where the knowledge gaps are. Keep summaries of past student projects as examples of things that are feasible. Keep a list of example topics as inspiration if they are having trouble narrowing it down. It is hard for students to come up with feasible ideas in areas they don't know a lot about, so a little guided reading and a few examples of what success looks like can help.

Talking with others helps to elicit important tacit thoughts that are often not articulated if you brainstorm independently. Group brainstorming helps to explicate ideas and gain other’s perspectives, which can lead to further thoughts and new divergent perspectives.

After brainstorming a diverse range of potential research topics, students should consider criteria for choosing the most suitable one. This involves assessing two key aspects: interest and feasibility. On the interest side, encourage students to choose a topic that genuinely sparks their curiosity and connects to their personal experiences or values. Regarding feasibility, guide them to consider the availability of resources like libraries or data, ensure the topic is specific enough to be manageable within the research timeframe, and acknowledge any time constraints for their project. By carefully considering these criteria, students can refine their initial ideas and select a research topic that is both engaging and achievable.

With open access to information... and at the same time... misinformation, if not disinformation... Students often have to be taken to task for merely reproducing in some form what they 'read on-line'. Time is of essence to complete their work, so planning can be easily developed, with rigour, using a checklist, just like in Aviation. As from there, depending on the given topic, some form, critical thinking and scientific methods help with elaborating a document that has depth and sense. It's a learning process... with its 'hits and misses' ....

Research should be the passion for students.After brainstorming various topics and domain areas, students must choose such a topic which an individual is passionate about and also there is feasibility to carry on research on that particular topic. Secondly, getting a good PhD mentor who can guide and emotionally support you on that topic rather whose research interest aligns with students research interest must be chosen. working on a research topic for prolonged period us a matter of hardwork, dedication and perseverance.

Seek out an unanswered problem. Make sure the hypothesis should be basic and original. Chalk out the experiments to validate the hypotheses. Assess the feasibility and act accordingly. If you find it difficult to address, go back to the earlier step and rectify it and re assess it. Cheers to failure

Buscar un tópico que permita mejorar aspectos sociales, de ecología, de salud, entre otros, próximo a su entorno, planteando una hipótesis que aporte soluciones concretas, próximas y reales.

Uma coisa fundamental na hora de escolher um tema de pesquisa é escolher uma discuss?o que desperte interesse, curiosidade e que fa?a sentido para quem vai pesquisar! Muitas vezes acabamos, por falta de experiência sobre esse difícil processo de escolha de tema, seguindo uma linha de pesquisa trabalhada por nossos orientadores. Nem sempre isso será bom a longo prazo, embora possa facilitar as coisas no início. Sugiro come?ar pensando as principais áreas que despertam interesse e curiosidade, vontade de pesquisar e descobrir mais sobre o tema. Enquanto pesquisadora da área de Geografia, gosto de articular quest?es que podem ser pensadas numa escala global, mas que tem suas manifesta??es na escala local/regional.

very few people in the world of academics would like to take a look at a 'copy' of research findings in various 'hot' or 'well researched' topics or areas, many people from around the world could be working at any point in time - either singly or collectively but it may be difficult to locate them so what is the way out we need to figure out what has been researched and what remains - in the chosen area, through review of literature so, here is the opportunity and the method - go to a good quality database (in a browser) and find out about recent advances in the chosen field and published by way of research papers such a research would help in ascertaining the current state of knowledge in the domain and help in finding areas to be studied

Reviewing literature is a cornerstone of academic research. Students must learn the skill of discerning relevant literature, which informs their research direction and ensures they are building upon a solid foundation of existing knowledge. This process can also reveal gaps in the literature that their work could aim to fill, thereby contributing new insights to the field.

Start with Your Interests. ... Seek Inspiration from Coursework and Previous Research. ... Consult with Your Supervisor or Mentor. ... Consider the Scope and Feasibility. ... Ensure Relevance and Originality. ... Review the Requirements and Guidelines.

I think the most common (and correct) advice is that students should have their interests, curiosities, and strengths all weighed when considering research topics; however, it is also extremely important to ensure the necessary resources be available for quality research. I have seen too many cases of students being more inspired than they have ever been to go through the labors of conducting meaningful research, just to be totally deflated and frustrated because they cannot track down enough resources to substantiate their claims or even learn enough about the topic.

I agree with the use of the brainstorming tool when it comes to non-scientific research or to broaden your view of a subject and understand its connections and sub-themes. The initial theme can also be a macro trend that will influence an area over the long term. This way you know that your research can be widely consulted/used. Passion or practical experience in an area will also help you to analyze the content you find later, either by having a common vocabulary or by sharpening your critical view of the subject. And then how you explore a topic in depth, in the case of scientific research, depends especially on whether you perceive a need for research that has not yet been filled or not filled enough.

When my students and I used to discuss on how to close a research project or topic, I would always advise them to be flexible and open to explore. As high schoolers have other limitations I would recommend open minded approach to research. One of the most interesting aspects of this approach is that while you are exploring you will simultaneously learn a lot and widen your understanding of newer concepts. Another significant advantage is of going beyond your comfort zones of learning and stepping in to a new world. The third factor is to showcase your skills in an area which is not in the syllabus or mainstream school.

Flexibility and open-mindedness are key when guiding students in choosing a research topic. Emphasize that this process is not a one-time decision but an evolving one. As they delve into their research, new information may emerge, prompting changes in their topic or approach. Encourage them to welcome new ideas, perspectives, and directions that may surface during their exploration. This adaptability allows students to navigate challenges, integrate fresh insights, and ultimately, produce a more robust and impactful research project.

Flexibility is important when the topic reaches impasses. Sometimes, the resources are not enough to prove the hypothesis, and students must be willing to change the course of the research

The best advice my primary PhD supervisor gave me was to choose a topic that you are so passionate about that it will ensure that no matter how hard or long the research journey is, your passion in the topic will continue to burn and spur you on until completion.

Sin duda lo ideal seria que los estudiantes puedan alinear sus trabajos a su interés. Para ello lo primero que deben aprender los estudiantes es conocerse a si mismos y en determinadas edades tempranas o intermedias, el conocimiento sobre si mismos, no es profundo; Por lo tanto deben ser sometidos a diversidad de estímulos e invitarlos a ser observadores críticos de su entorno, de esta manera, posiblemente encuentren donde aportar una solución a una problemática que detectan. En este punto deben intentar validar si esta problemática es "real" y si su solución "es tal", pero con seguridad, si se alinean sus intenciones de "mejorar el mundo" con su trabajo curricular, la motivación para su desarrollo y concreción están (casi) garantizadas.

One example of the importance of flexibility in choosing a research topic is a student who initially wanted to study the impact of social media on mental health but found limited access to relevant data. Instead of sticking to their original plan, they remained flexible and adjusted their topic to focus on the role of social support networks in mitigating mental health issues among college students. Another example could be a student interested in studying climate change's effect on a specific species but faced challenges in obtaining sufficient data. They remained open-minded and shifted their focus to analyzing the species' adaptation strategies in response to changing environmental conditions.

Basic requirement to help students in research topics is to first identify the profile of each student, a psychometric test could help.Other criteria are enumerated below. 1. The guiding faculty must possess contagious enthusiasm in the topics under consideration. The “ wonderment” of knowledge to be transferred to students requires deep emotional investment in each student. 2. Historical perspectives with life stories of major contributors in the field is a good basis for capturing imagination of students. 3. intimate chats with leading professors with real life applications is a must, to avoid today’s unnatural cognitive ease of the virtual world. 4.IMHO feasibility should take a back seat to avoid mediocre research. Cheers

Defining a subject for research does not have to be difficult as long as both students and teachers can share their ideas openly and clearly, without any fear of pre or post-judgement. Much can come as inspiration when good listening and readiness to be supportive is the ground for discussions.