Why is narrowing your topic important

The Discussion Limitations of the Study 9. The Conclusion Appendices Importance of Narrowing the Research Topic Whether you are assigned a general issue to investigate, must choose a problem to study from a list given to you by your professor, or you have to identify your own topic to investigate, it is important that the scope of the research problem is not too broad, otherwise, it will be very difficult to adequately address the topic in the space and time allowed.

You could experience a number of problems if your topic is too broad, including: You find too many information sources and, as a consequence, it is difficult to decide what to include or exclude or what are the most important sources.

You find information that is too general and, as a consequence, it is difficult to develop a clear framework for examining the research problem. A lack of sufficient parameters that clearly define the research problem makes it difficult to identify and apply the proper methods needed to analyze it.

You find information that covers a wide variety of concepts or ideas that can't be integrated into one paper and, as a consequence, you trail off into unnecessary tangents. Strategies for Narrowing the Research Topic A common challenge when beginning to write a research paper is determining how to narrow down your topic. Here are some strategies to help narrow your topic : Aspect -- choose one lens through which to view the research problem, or look at just one facet of it [e.

Components -- determine if your initial variable or unit of analysis can be broken into smaller parts, which can then be analyzed more precisely [e. Methodology -- the way in which you gather information can reduce the domain of interpretive analysis needed to address the research problem [e.

Place -- generally, the smaller the geographic unit of analysis, the more narrow the focus [e. Relationship -- ask yourself how do two or more different perspectives or variables relate to one another. Designing a study around the relationships between specific variables can help constrict the scope of analysis [e. Time -- the shorter the time period of the study, the more narrow the focus [e. The more focused and specific your topic, the more information you can provide.

Consider how a computer organizes information using files, folders, and documents. In writing, you organize information in much the same way using sentences, paragraphs, and essays. Ultimately, a focused topic allows you to effectively manage information. Choosing a Topic. An effective writer should avoid choosing a broad topic.

Narrowing a topic can seem challenging. The goal of narrowing a topic is to provide a focus to your essay. Often you will find it necessary to begin with a broad topic, but from there, you must narrow your focus. Take a look at the following example of narrowing a topic for the assignment The History of Social Networking. First Narrowing of Topic The evolution of Facebook as a communication tool. Think Small: Using cell phones effectively in a high school classroom.

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