The first stage of your research process will involve developing your research topic and related questions.

You will need to keep in mind your final product, keeping your research project in line with this will help you to identify a topic that isn't too big, or is not appropriate for your final product. In your case your final product includes:

• Research proposal
• Literature review

The information below will guide you in finding and developing your ideas and interests into problems and issues, and finally into a research topic/question.

Brainstorming

Spend some time brainstorming the ideas and interests you already have or are in the world around you. Think about:

• stories that are in the news
• topics that interest you
• ideas that may have come from a project you've worked on in the past
• reading some literature on a broad topic.

The 5 W's

It is also helpful to think of the 5 W questions when considering a topic.

• WHY would you choose the topic?  What interests you about it?  Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
• WHO are the information gatekeepers on this topic?  Who might publish information about it?  Who is affected by the topic?  Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic?  Is there a debate about the topic?  Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level?  Are there specific places affected by the topic?
• WHEN is/was your topic important?  Is it a current event or an historical issue?  Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

When you've found a broad topic that interests you, do some more brainstorming. Are there any subtopics that might work for your project, if you're not sure, do some reading in the area.

Background information

This can help you prepare for research by explaining the language or jargon, and issues related to your topic, especially when you're investigating a field that's unfamiliar to you. Background information will also help you to answer the Who, What, Where and When of your topic.

Reference resources, including dictionaries and encyclopaedia; books and media are a great place to start searching for background information. 

When you have a general topic, query it until you find questions that catch your interest. Identify the questions that come from a problem related to the topic.

Before you settle on a topic, make sure 

• Your topic is big enough to complete the end product in the time you have to complete it
• Identify the evidence your readers would expect to find. Can you find/produce it?

The aim here is to tease out the topic with a series of questions, this will result in your ideas being developed into issues for your research.

Think about the following:

• What do you want to say?
• Why this? What's your purpose, what decision/change/action are you looking for?
• What context makes your views relevant?
• What evidence is there?
• Why do your findings matter?
• To whom do they matter?
• Who will your findings affect?

Formulating a research question

Think about asking a how or why question. Keep the ideas of clarity, focus and complexity in mind.

Clarity

A strong research question should never leave room for ambiguity or interpretation.

Unclear question - Why are social media sites harmful?

Clear question - How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram?

Focused

When in doubt, make a research question as narrow and focused as possible.

Unfocused question: What is the effect on the environment from global warming?

Focused question: How is glacial melting affecting penguins in Antarctica?

Simple vs. Complex

The simple version of the question below can be looked up online and answered in a few factual sentences; it leaves no room for analysis. The more complex version is written in two parts; it is thought provoking and requires both significant investigation and evaluation from the writer. As a general rule of thumb, if a quick Google search can answer a research question, it’s likely not very effective.

Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the Australia?

Appropriately complex: What are common traits of those suffering from diabetes in Australia, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease?

Ratan, S. K., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019). Formulation of research question: Stepwise approach. Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, 24(1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.4103/jiaps.JIAPS_76_18.

Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching (CIRT), Writing a Good Research Question.