Choosing the Title of the Study

Title of the study

• Title is the gateway to the contents of a
scientific article.
• It is necessary to take efforts in choosing an
informative, appropriate and catchy title for
research or study.
• The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of
own study.
 Good Title for a study
• A good title contains the fewest possible words
that adequately describe the contents and/or
purpose of the research paper.
• The title is the part of a paper that is read the
most, and it is usually read first.
• If the title is too long, it usually contains too
many unnecessary words.
• On the other hand, a title which is too short
often uses words which are too general.
 Three broad categories of title
• Declarative titles state the main finding or
conclusion stated in the paper.
• Descriptive or informative titles describe the
article theme, but without divulging its findings
or conclusions. Many descriptive titles include
all aspects of the research question studied
• Interrogative titles usually restate the research
question.
Parameters to formulate a suitable research
title

1. The purpose of the study

2. The narrative tone of the paper

3. The methods used

 Characteristics of effective titles
• Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study.
• Avoid using abbreviations.
• Use words that create a positive impression and stimulate reader interest.
• Identify key variables, both dependent and independent.
• May reveal how the paper will be organized.
• Suggest a relationship between variables which supports the major
hypothesis.
• Is limited to 10 to 15 substantive words.
• Do not include "study of," "analysis of" or similar constructions.
• Titles are usually in the form of a phrase, but can also be in the form of a
question.
• Use correct grammar and capitalization with all first words and last words
capitalized, including the first word of a subtitle.
 Selecting a good research topic
The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill.
When deciding on a topic, the following activities should be
conducted:
• brainstorm for ideas
• choose a topic that will enable the researcher to read and
understand the literature
• ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available
• make a list of key words
• be flexible
• define the topic as a focused research question
• research and read more about the topic
• formulate a thesis statement
 Selecting a good research topic
• Be aware that selecting a good topic may not be
easy.
• It must be narrow and focused enough to be
interesting, yet broad enough to find adequate
information.
• Before selecting the topic, make sure to know
what the final project should look like.
• Will likely require a different format or style of
research project.
 Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas
• Researcher should select the topic that are interesting for
them.
• The following questions will help in generating topic ideas.
– Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political
controversy
– Did you read or see a news story recently that has piqued your interest
or made you angry or anxious?
– Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like
to know more about?
– Is there an aspect of a class that you are interested in learning more
about?
 Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas
• Researchers may have different types of interests, such as
– In current events, government, politics or the social sciences
– In health or medicine,
– In the Humanities; art, literature, music,
– Or, in other areas.
• Writing down any key words or concepts that may be of
interest to researcher is helpful.
– Could these terms help be used to form a more focused research
topic?
• Be aware of overused ideas when deciding a topic.
 Step 2: Read General Background
Information
• Reading a general encyclopedia article on the top two or
three topics of interests is appropriate.
• Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of
the topic and see how your idea relates to broader, narrower,
and related issues.
• It also provides a great source for finding words commonly
used to describe the topic.
• These keywords may be very useful to your later research
• Researchers can use periodical indexes to scan current
magazine, journal or newspaper articles on topic of interest.
• Researchers can also use Web search engines. Google is
currently considered to be the most popular search engines to
find web sites on the topic.
 Step 3: Focus on the Topic
• A topic will be very difficult to research if it is
too broad or narrow. A topic selection can be
limited;
– by geographical area
– by culture
– by time frame:
– by discipline
– by population group
 Step 3: Focus on the Topic
• However, a research will be very difficult to conduct if it is
too:
– locally confined - Topics this specific may only be covered in
these (local) newspapers, if at all.
– recent - If a topic is quite recent, books or journal articles may
not be available, but newspaper or magazine articles may. Also,
Web sites related to the topic may or may not be available.
– broadly interdisciplinary – can be overwhelmed with superficial
information.
– popular - Only very popular articles about some topics will be
found.
 Step 4: Make a List of Useful Keywords
• Keep track of the words that are used to describe
the topic.
• Look for words that best describe the topic
• Look for them in when reading encyclopedia
articles and background and general information
• Find broader and narrower terms, synonyms, key
concepts for key words to widen search capabilities
• Make note of these words and use them later
when searching databases and catalogs
 Step 5: Be Flexible
• It is common to modify the topic during the
research process. 
• This is a normal part of the research process.
• There may be some other aspects of the topics
which are more interesting or manageable.
• Researchers need to decide how much and
when they will modify your topic depending on
the assigned time and the depth of coverage.
 Step 6: Define the Topic as a Focused
Research Question
• Researchers can begin with a word, develop a more
focused interest in an aspect of something relating
to that word, then begin to have questions about
the topic
• For example:
– Ideas – Smartphones
– Research Question – Brand names of smart phones
which are popular in Myanmar
– Focused Research Question – What makes people to
buy certain smartphone brands?
Step 7: Research and Read More About own
Topic
• Researchers use the key words they have gathered to
research in the catalog, article databases, and Internet
search engines.
• Finding more information help them answer research
question.
• Doing research and reading before deciding final topic is
recommended.
• Researchers have to consider whether they can find enough
to answer research question.
• Selecting a topic is an important and complex part of the
research process.
 Step 8: Formulate a Thesis Statement
• Writing the topic as a thesis statement may be the
answer to research question and/or a way to clearly
state the purpose of your research. 
• The statement will usually be one or two sentences
that statess precisely what is to be answered,
proven, or what researchers will inform their
audience about the topic.
• The development of a thesis assumes there is
sufficient evidence to support the thesis statement.
 References
• https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=2980
3&p=185911
• Formulating the Right Title for a Research
Article by Sandeep B Bavdekar from Journal of
The Association of Physicians of India Vol. 64
• https://www.umflint.edu/library/how-select-r
esearch-topic