Finding a Topic

Consider the following when selecting a topic of research:

• Make sure that your topic is something that intrigues you. If it is a topic that interests you, you will naturally do a better job and catching someone else's attention should be easier.
• If you are just starting your research portfolio, choose a study that is located in your area of expertise. Once you have accomplished a paper in this specific area, move to another field to diversify your portfolio.
• When you work with others you will naturally engage in topics that bring new dimensions (and new publishing opportunities). Many exciting research projects (which result in important and interesting papers) come about from the collaboration of researchers from different but complementary fields and orientations.
• Use the most important chapters of your thesis /dissertation for topics to write on. Because you spend so much time on your thesis, generating a couple of papers from it will be easier and quicker than writing a completely new paper.
• If you have a topic that is best to be split into two papers, take the opportunity. Most journal papers are not that long (under 15 published pages) and if your paper is very long, it will be a strong disadvantage in the reviewing process.
• If presented well, major contemporary topics will be of interest. However, these topics will also be more critically analyzed.
• Be aware that many people may be researching the same topic and a current literature search including papers not yet in print (online technical reports, for example) is critical to making sure your work will be novel.
• Sometimes, it is a good idea to pre-select the journal before you even begin on a topic. That way, you can shape the research and the resulting paper as you go along for the journal.