Research Topics and Question Challenges

The video tutorial discusses how to choose a good research topic by transitioning from a general topic to a specific research question. It emphasizes the importance of crafting open-ended questions that encourage investigation and are relevant to the audience. The tutorial also highlights challenges in selecting research topics, such as dealing with very local, recent, or popular topics, and provides strategies to make topics manageable while fulfilling assignment requirements.

What is the traditional definition of a 'topic' in academic writing?

• A summary of existing research

• A list of questions to be answered

• The subject of a speech, essay, thesis, or discourse

• A detailed analysis of a subject

Why might the term 'topic' be insufficient for academic papers?

• It is not recognized in academic circles

• It encourages creative writing

• It is too broad and lacks focus

• It is more suitable for reports or encyclopedia entries

What does replacing 'topic' with 'research question' imply?

• A passive approach to research

• A focus on summarizing existing knowledge

• A need for more resources

• A quest for something, involving active pursuit

What is a key characteristic of a good research question?

• It has a simple yes or no answer

• It leads to a predetermined conclusion

• It is open-ended and encourages exploration

• It is based on personal opinions

Why are yes/no questions not ideal for research?

• They are too complex

• They are not engaging

• They limit the scope of investigation

• They require too much evidence

What makes an open-ended question engaging for college students?

• It has a clear answer

• It requires minimal research

• It is relevant to their experiences

• It is easy to answer

What is a potential problem with using the word 'people' in research questions?

• It is too specific

• It is too broad and vague

• It is not academically accepted

• It is too narrow

Why is it important to define the scope of a research question?

• To ensure it is universally applicable

• To avoid any form of evidence

• To ensure it is manageable within the assignment's limits

• To make it as broad as possible

What is a benefit of a well-defined research question?

• It eliminates the need for evidence

• It allows for a deeper investigation

• It guarantees a correct answer

• It simplifies the research process

What challenges might arise with very local research topics?

• They are too popular

• They are only covered in local newspapers

• They are too broad

• They are too recent