Transcript Dr Jamal Roudaki Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce Lincoln University New Zealand Topic Selection Process  Which comes first:  Topic  Research Method Dr Jamal Roudaki How.

Dr Jamal Roudaki
Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce
Lincoln University
New Zealand
Topic Selection Process
 Which comes first:
 Topic
 Research Method
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
2
Topic Selection Process
 Where to look:
 Reports of research in peer-reviewed journals

suggestions for further study
 Theses, dissertations, conference proceedings
 Published literature reviews
 Books and book reviews
 Themes of conferences in your area
 Reports in the media
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
 Identify the area of the study
 List ideas relevant to your area of interest
 Interest generated by
 Previous study (graduate or undergraduate lecture,
short papers)
 Work experience
 Will this suggest a potential supervisor?
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
Before going any further:
 Life commitment
 How should you feel about your topic?
 Passionate
 Enthusiastic
 Motivated
 Inspired
 Builds upon your existing knowledge
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
 You are to answer (in 2 or 3 pages):
 What to research
 Why doing research
 What has been done so far in this area
 What is your contribution
To Do So ...
 Relevance trees (brain storm)
 Start from a broad topic
 Draw branches
 Narrow your topic down
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
 Questions to answer= Is it:
 Feasible
 Valuable
 Symmetrical = Regular, Balanced
 Sufficient scope
 Roles of researcher
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
 You should:
1. Explore to discover a gap in the knowledge

Formulate research problem
Find a solution to research problem
2.


Inventor
Detective
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
Supervisor:
 Look for research centre in your area of the study
Important points:
 Long period relationship
 Desire to work in your topic (spend a lot of time)
 Expertise
 Passionate
 Enthusiastic
 To work with a particular person even comes before subject
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
 Initial work:
 Research topic interests you and your supervisor/s
 Research producing something of interest to the
research community
 Research topic addressing a real problem
 Research topic picked something truly original
 Research will be completed within the necessary time
frame
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
 Originality is important
 Estelle M. Phillips and Derek S. Pugh (2005). How to get a PhD: A
handbook for students and supervisors, 4th Ed, Open University
Press
 Literature Review is important
 Rich or no literature
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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Topic Selection Process
.
Identify board
area of your
study
Yes
Discuss your idea with
potential supervisor/s
or informed
Yes
Initial selection of
topic
Yes
No
Look for another
topic /area
Yes
No
No
Your
topic is
there
Dr Jamal Roudaki
Yes
Clear
scope
How to get a topic
Feasible?
Possible to refine
the topic
Yes
Symmetry
&
Balance
Yes
No
Yes
Value
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What is your topic?
Make a Plan to find a topic within a time
frame
Dr Jamal Roudaki
How to get a topic
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