What is a research topic?

A research topic is a specific area of investigation that a researcher wants to explore, analyze, and address through a specific set of guidelines. It defines the scope and impact of research and heightens the significance of the research. Careful selection of a precise, concise, and significant research topic is very important for meaningful and productive research. It not only helps to identify the relevant studies and theories but also guides the research design, including research methodology, data collection, and analysis. A well-chosen topic contributes to the enhancement of knowledge in the field by facilitating the communication of findings to relevant audiences.

Selecting a novel research topic is crucial because it impacts resource allocation, including funding, equipment, and effective collaboration among researchers. In general, a well-defined research topic typically has the following features (Figure 1):

Categories of research topic

The research topics can be categorized into various types. Some examples of research topics in the field of water treatment are as follows:

1. Theoretical: It involves developing, testing, or refining theoretical frameworks or models. For example, creating a new mathematical model to explain adsorption mechanisms "Development of a Theoretical Framework for Predicting Adsorption Behavior of Novel Adsorbent Materials."
2. Experimental: It involves investigating causes, effects, and relationships, and validating hypotheses through controlled experiments. For example, testing the effectiveness of a biogenic adsorbent material in a controlled experiment- "Synthesis and Characterization of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles for Removing Phosphates from Wastewater."
3. Applied: It involves focusing on practical applications, solving real-world problems, or addressing specific needs. For example, developing a practical solution for a real-world problem- "Design and Implementation of an Nanofiltration System for Removing Pollutants from Industrial Wastewater."
4. Basic: It includes investigating fundamental principles, mechanisms, or processes, often without direct practical applications. For example, studying the basic principles of adsorbent surfaces and their interactions with adsorbates- "Examining the Role of Surface Chemistry in Adsorption Processes."
5. Exploratory: It includes exploring a new or unfamiliar area and identifying potential research questions or hypotheses. For example, investigating a new and innovative approach to adsorbent development- "Exploring the Potential of Biomass-Derived Adsorbents for Water Remediation."
6. Predictive: It involves using data and statistical models to forecast future trends, behaviors, or outcomes. For example, creating a statistical model to predict adsorption performance- "Development of a Mathematical Model for Predicting Adsorption Capacity of Adsorbents for Water Remediation. "
7. Interpretive: It includes examining meanings, interpretations, and experiences related to a phenomenon or text. For example, exploring the effect of pore size and surface area of the adsorbent on the removal of antibiotics- "Study on the Effect of Morphological Characteristics of Biogenic Adsorbents on Antibiotics Removal."
8. Descriptive: It involves exploring a phenomenon or situation, describing its traits, features, or characteristics. For example, describing the physical and chemical properties of various adsorbents- "Physico-chemical Characterization of Adsorbent Materials for Water Remediation."
9. Analytical: It includes analyzing or examining the processes, models, and patterns. For example, examining the effect of temperature on the adsorbent properties and adsorption behaviour for pollutant removal- "Thermodynamic Analysis of Adsorption Kinetics and Isotherms for Heavy Metal Removal from Water Using Activated Carbon."
10. Explanatory: It seeks to explain why something happens or how it works, often using causal relationships. For example, seeking to understand the underlying processes governing adsorption behavior- "Investigating the Mechanisms of Adsorption of Organic Pollutants onto Nanomaterials."
11. Evaluative: It involves assessing or evaluating the values, quality, or quantity of the associated parameters, variables, and factors. For example, assessing the effectiveness of different adsorbents for removing specific pollutants-"Investigating the Effectiveness of Nano-Zerovalent Iron for Sequestration of Emerging Contaminants from Water."
12. Comparative: It includes comparing two or more parameters, ideas, or approaches, highlighting similarities and differences. For example, comparing the performance of two different adsorbent materials- "Comparative Analysis of the Adsorption Capacity of Zeolites and Activated Carbon for Heavy Metal Removal from an Aqueous Medium."
13. Qualitative: It emphasizes non-numerical data, exploring themes, patterns, and meanings. For example, examining the technical, economic, environmental, social, organizational, and regulatory factors affecting the adoption of adsorbent materials for water treatment- "A Qualitative Investigation of the Factors Influencing the Adoption of Adsorbent Materials in Water Treatment."
14. Quantitative: This involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to answer a research question or test a hypothesis. For example, collecting numerical data through experiments to analyze and model adsorption behavior- "Investigating the Effects of Adsorbent Dosage and Contact Time on Heavy Metal Removal Efficiency."
15. Mixed-methods: This Involves both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. For example, integrating numerical data from experiments with theoretical frameworks to develop a comprehensive understanding- "A Study to Understand Adsorption Mechanisms and Optimize Adsorbent Design for Sequestration of Drugs from Wastewater Using Graphene Oxide."

Selecting a well-defined research topic

It involves several steps:

1. Identification of interests: Before starting research, you should identify areas of interest. Say, someone finds fields like environmental pollution and remediation, climate change, valorization of waste, etc. worth exploring.
2. Reflection on passions: What fascinates you? You may have an exposure or project related to water treatment that motivates you. Look for trends, breakthroughs, and challenges in the field that you find intriguing.
3. Consideration of strengths: Identify your academic and professional strengths, skills, or knowledge that align with this field. You may have worked on projects or conducted research related to water treatment.
4. Literature review: Explore existing literature, such as scientific and technical articles, reports, and trends in your areas of interest. Follow journals, news outlets, and social media to stay updated on the latest developments in water treatment.
5. Formulate research questions: Develop specific, concise questions or hypotheses to guide your research. Write down any questions or curiosities you have about the materials and techniques used for water treatment. Consider the "what," "how," and "why" questions related to the field. For example, what are the techniques used for wastewater treatment? What are the most effective types of materials used in these techniques?
6. Delimitation of options: Focus on specific aspects or questions within your broader interests. In the context of environmental pollution and remediation, the topic was narrowed down to "water treatment." This topic is quite broad, and a more specific research topic could be "development of new materials for water treatment" and further "synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials for wastewater treatment" and so on.
7. Evaluation of feasibility: Seek advice from mentors, seniors, professionals, and experts to consider resources, accessibility, and potential challenges associated with your topics.
8. Refining of topic: Based on feasibility analysis, finalize your research topic, seek approval by your guide or supervisor, and be prepared to adapt and refine your topic as needed!

As such, there are countless potential research topics in every field, making it hard to choose just one, especially for a novice researcher with unclear research goals or objectives, which can lead to confusion and difficulty in selecting a topic. Ensuring a novel, original, significant and feasible topic can be really challenging. Defining a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow, that can impress advisors, peers, or funding agencies, and that lies well within your interests, is quite perplexing. And, above all, sifting through vast amounts of literature and data to identify a suitable topic may be quite tiring, demotivating the researchers.

How to facilitate:

AI has changed the scenario and transformed the traditional research process. Now, various AI tools are available that can reduce this workload substantially and make the process more interesting. The most innovative is AnswerThis, an AI research assistant that assists researchers at every step. Let’s see how you can use the AI assistance of AnswerThis in the field of environmental pollution and remediation, specifying water treatment:

Step 1. Sign in at AnswerThis.io and name your project.

Step 2. Ask AnswerThis to provide information about “latest innovations in environmental pollution and remediation, like "water treatment”.

Adjust filter and submit to receive your answer. Select the field that you find very interesting.

Step 3. Again, ask AnswerThis write a prompt on “Generate Research Topic” by specifying your field of interest, say, “Applications of nanomaterials in wastewater treatment”. Adjust the filter like before.

AnswerThis will process your query and analyze vast amounts of data, including research papers, articles, reports, websites, and books, to identify trends, patterns, and relationships related to your area of research. You will get suggestions for your broad research topic in addition to narrowed-down topics, along with in-line citations from reliable literature with evidence.

You can now explore further, as follows:

1.???? Adjust the filters to get more answers.

2.???? Summarize these sources

3.???? Export the references

4.???? Search papers relevant to your topic

5.???? Save the papers in AnswerThis library

6.???? Chat with papers to extract information

7.???? Ask AnswerThis to suggest research question and find gaps in literature

8.???? Use AnswerThis writer to continue your writing

As such, this exploration requires months to complete. However, the same process can be facilitated with AI assistance of AnswerThis to save your precious time. Why wait? Explore more at AnswerThis.io and stay tuned for more such information.