How To Narrow Down a Research Topic: Easy Steps To Follow

Are you one of those who have been burning the midnight oil to understand the concept of narrowing a research topic? Do you want to know how to narrow down a research topic painstakingly? Well, my friend, this post is specifically customized to help you accomplish just that.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about narrowing research topics from gurus.

What Is A Broad Topic?

It is a topic that focuses on one important concept. When you search online for a broad topic, you will find thousands of results for you to look through.

A general case is mostly summed up in one or two words, as seen in the broad topic examples below:

In such instances, the research problem’s scope underpinning the study is too broad. Students will therefore face rough handling issues due to the avalanche of information available. The consequences will be a shallow research paper that does not cover every section of a particular concept.

The pointers to a broad research topic are as follows:

• Finding too much information: If you land on hundred upon thousands of articles on the subject of research
• Data is broken into specific aspects: You will find several bits of the same topic in your search results
• An issue that can sum up in one or two words: These will be broad terms that suggest a more comprehensive view of the concept
• It does not address a specific problem: Such a topic generally looks at a research question instead of delving into the nitty-gritty.

If this is what you have been doing and you want to learn how to narrow a research topic, help is on the way!

Understanding A Narrow Topic

A narrow topic usually has many concepts and focuses on a specific group or geographic area. When you search out this kind of matter on your browser, you will find few, if any, results. The main feature of a narrow topic is that it addresses a specific problem or question.

Why Narrowing Down a Research Topic is Important

Several problems arise from a broad research topic. However, when you customize your case to a specific niche, you will enjoy the following benefits:

• Finding manageable sources of information: This makes it easy for you to know what to omit or include or what’s essential over the other.
• It helps you find specific solutions to a problem: With this, you will have a clear framework for addressing your research problem.
• You will adequately find parameters to effectively define the research problem: This enables you to identify and use the correct methods required for its analysis in your research.
• You will avoid unnecessary details: Narrowing down a topic helps students avoid coming across a wide array of concepts that can’t be included in a single paper.
• It gives you enough time and space to complete your form: Instead of wasting time on irrelevant ideas, you will handle your paper’s essential components on time.

Determining how to narrow down a topic is a crucial challenge for most college and university students. It may come as a surprise to you that even some post-graduate students have it rough when narrowing down a general topic.

We can break down every concept to some degree despite its complexity. Remember that your professor will be marking over 100 papers, and if your topic is not specified, you might end up writing the same thing as your classmate.

But what’s the secret to narrowing down educational research topics?

How To Narrow a Topic Like An Expert

Before you think of finding research paper help, our experts have collated a list of guidelines to help you narrow your research topic effortlessly:

• Consider one aspect of a topic out of the many: Every issue comes with several elements or angles with which one can approach it. However, a compelling research topic will consider one lens and zoom it in for a top paper. Focusing on one angle is essential in keeping your reader on track.

For instance, instead of studying the different vaccines used for coronavirus, learn how the Pfizer vaccine effectively provides immunity against COVID-19.

• Look at your topic’s underlying components: It is critical to point out the initial unit or variable of analysis that can be partitioned into smaller parts. With this, you will be able to handle the subject with more precision.

For instance, a study on online writing help among college students can be narrowed down to essay writing services instead of all writing assistance forms. Having such a topic will help you cover this aspect adequately.

• Pause and look at your research methodology: How and by what means you gather your information extensively affects the scope of interpretive analysis required to address your research question. It is advisable to develop a single case study to generate your data rather than using multiple cases, which may require extensive explanations. Good ideas for research will make your research process easy and manageable.
• The geographical unit matters: A narrow topical focus of a particular geographical location is essential in narrowing your research topic. When you have a more prominent place to cover, it won’t be easy to research terms of cost and time. Furthermore, a broader area means different cultural, social, or political considerations.

For instance, instead of studying general US elections, focus on senatorial polls in a particular state.

• Determine the relationship between two or more variables: By looking at how different perspectives relate to each other, you will narrow down a research topic to a manageable unit. It will also help you cut down on the scope of your analysis.

Example: different variables to consider are male and female, cause and effect, opinion and reason, compare and contrast, problem and solution, and group versus the individual.

• What is the study period? You can assign timeframes to the different study periods at hand. Having a shorter study period gives you a more narrow focus on a particular research problem. Consequently, you will be able to map out specific and relevant events that would not otherwise have been found when using a more extended study period.

Example: instead of studying the Black Lives Matter Movement’s rise, focus on the Black Lives Matter protests from January 2020 to February 2021.

• The type of study you are conducting: Different studies differ according to the places, phenomena, or classes of people. Also, they vary depending on the field of assignments such as engineering, humanities, or social sciences. Therefore, to effectively narrow down your topic, consider identifying the specific type of study first.

For instance, a survey of enhancing racial and gender equality may focus on workplaces, schools, religious organizations, or government institutions alone.

• The population you are covering is essential: A society comprises various sects in terms of age, nationality, gender, race, or social class. Identifying a specific niche and zooming your lenses to such a group’s particular needs is vital in narrowing topics.

Some of the quality narrow topic examples include: why more males are contracting coronavirus or why the youth are excessive internet users.

• Look at previous research done: By considering what other authors have done, you will know the covered aspects in-depth and which ones were left out. It will enable us to focus on a specific concept of a particular problem. It will also prevent repetition and duplication of already existing knowledge.
• Apply the answers to the 5W’ss: When you consider who, what, when, why, and where, you will be able to narrow it down to a specific topic.

For instance, when you are talking about exam cheating, look at (who, why) students cheat in exams or the effects of students cheating in exams.

By following the expert guidelines above, you will not try to do too much in one research paper at the expense of your sleep, money, and academic grades. The tips are practical and applicable to students of all levels.

With a narrow topic, you will be able to write a great thesis statement and proceed to write an all-inclusive paper on it.

How To Fine Tune A Topic That Is Too Narrow

Did you know that you can have a topic that is too narrow? The effects of this are devastating and may frustrate your entire research process. Indicators of an issue that is too narrow are as follows:

• Few or no results after searching on your browser
• You are unable to create multiple keywords from the case you have chosen
• It is not researchable after trying out several search engines and Boolean operators

Such a topic may give you a paragraph at most, and you know what this means for your grades! However, you can avoid this by:

• Exploring related issues: By brainstorming similar topics or words, you will find one with more information resources.
• Making comparisons: Compare the idea you have with others and see what information is available out there on your topic of designation.
• Finding a related topic that is not popular: It is impossible to say that you can come up with something that has never existed before. However, finding a foundational topic and exploring other aspects of it is vital in fine-tuning your research idea.
• Practice research: The art of study is one learned with time. The more you Google out research topics, the more you understand the difference between what is broad and what is narrow. It will also help you know how much you are finding, what information is easy to find, and what sources are readily available.

Keep in mind that the topic you settle on will determine the course of your research process. An issue that is too narrow will confine you to a particular corner, whereas a broad one will have you jumping here and there.

If you wish to explore more narrowing topic examples, you can visit our feature-rich website. Moreover, our professional writers are more than willing to help you narrow down your topic to something manageable.

Try our top-notch thesis writing help today and see your grades soar higher than the eagles!