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Many students, when they first get a research assignment that lets them pick a topic, struggle with how to pick one that is manageable and fits the assignment. Here are steps to help:
1. What question do you want to answer in your paper (or other project)?
A college-level paper (unlike most high school papers which only summarize one or more sources) usually requires you to craft a sufficiently narrow, discipline-specific question that you then attempt to answer in the body of your paper, using reliable sources to back up your arguments. As you think of a topic, always keep in mind the end product should be in the form of a question.
2. Get some background information about your topic
Example starting topic: Use of military gear and tactics by police > Wikipedia article (Militarization of Police).
3. Narrow your topic and put it in the form of a question
Once you have a broad starting topic of interest, you likely need to refine or narrow it. Start by doing some brainstorming about your topic. The end goal (and you'll have a better sense of this once you do some background reading) is finding a question whose possible answer(s) are manageable and open to your ideas, arguments, or interpretations. Here are some example starting topics and more focused research questions derived from them:
Questions that are too broad [+ focused and open-ended versions]
4. Lastly, two other considerations as you begin any research project:
Research writing should be as objective as possible. However, biases (we all have them) can get in the way of this. Our world view, beliefs, and experiences can create blind spots in how we interact with information. One such blind spot is called confirmation bias. This universal bias has been extensively studied and influences how we seek, understand and remember information. This means we subconsciously gravitate to information that confirms our existing beliefs. One way to combat these kinds of inherent human biases is to take stock of your own beliefs and how they may color your view of the topic.
Be aware that most information is created inside a system with human biases built into it. These biases have traditionally raised up white, male, Western voices, while downplaying or silencing other, culturally marginalized or non-Western ones. In other words, what is published and promoted as accepted knowledge or mainstream theory is sometimes a reflection of the existing power structures within that society or specific discipline.
(if you didn't click and view them above, you should do so now):
Try out the practice exercises below in order to develop your skills:
See example answers (for best learning, only after you have done the exercises yourself):