Short Videos on Choosing and Narrowing a Topic
There are links here to a wide variety of videos, with very different personalities and styles, that all have something important to say about finding and narrowing a research topic. Times are given for each video. They are all quite short!
The image below outlining the research process is a good one to discuss the Exploration step in particular. It kind of explains why students often want to skip it.
Image source: Kuhlthau, C. (2004). Seeking meaning : a process approach to library and information services. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Research Questions (3:13)
Research Questions (3:13) is a very lively video from Joshua Vossler at Winona State University discussing the difference between open-ended and closed questions for a research paper.
Use this URL: https://vimeo.com/155189965
Picking Your Topic IS Research (3:10)
Picking Your Topic IS Research, a 3-minute video from North Carolina State University, does an excellent job of describing the complexities of "choosing a topic."
Use this URL: https://youtu.be/Q0B3Gjlu-1o
Developing a Research Question (6:25)
Developing a Research Question (6:25) comes courtesy of the University of Waterloo. It does an exceptional job of showing the logical "steps" and goes really well with the Model of the Research Process chart above. It also includes several specific examples and a very nice use of Concept Mapping.
Use this URL:
Proquest Research Companion
The following is a series of short videos that are part of a bigger program called the Proquest Research Companion:
https://login.libproxy.scu.edu/login?url=https://pqrc.proquest.com/
Each is on a different aspect of topic narrowing. While students would benefit from seeing the whole series, "No easy topics" and "Narrowing your topic" could stand alone. "Finding a Gap in the Research" tackles a very tough issue for many students and is very well done.
Short Videos from Proquest Research Companion
Finding a topic you're curious about (2:35) makes some excellent points about the critical difference between a topic you LIKE and what you are CURIOUS about.
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The trouble with strong opinions (1:24) succinctly cautions students on the dangers of picking a topic they have "decided on" ahead of time!
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Asking questions (2:40) explains how reading topic overviews can help you get from something you are curious about to an actual topic and gives examples of how topic ideas can evolve and lead to different researchable questions. The optional "Tell me more" at the end gives a clever example of a potential topic question -- Are people nicer today than 100 years ago?
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Finding a gap in the research (1:48) will help you distinguish the characteristics of good research questions & bad research questions and makes a case for looking where experts disagree or where there is no definitive answer for a good research question!
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Narrowing your topic (2:47) gives some good examples of topics that are "too broad" and then some related examples of narrower ones. The Review question is very nice!
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Marijuana legalization example (2: 21) can actually stand alone but is a kind of review and summary of the previous videos and ideas.
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No easy topics (58s) is a really excellent and short piece of advice!
Use this URL to link to it: