Strategies for Identifying Original Research Ideas in Your Discipline

Developing an original research idea can be a daunting task, especially when starting a research project. The process involves several steps, including identifying a general topic, conducting background research, narrowing down the topic to a specific subtopic, and finally, formulating a research question. This article will guide you through these steps, using the example of Anthropology, but the process is applicable to any academic discipline.

Step 1: Identify Your Research Topic

The first step in formulating a research topic is to identify what interests you. In Anthropology, for example, you might be interested in a wide range of topics such as food and nutrition, education and literacy, or religious practices. To help you find a topic, consider visiting a university library and browsing the Anthropology section. Alternatively, you can consult an introductory textbook or use the Outline of Cultural Materials from the HRAF Human Relations Area Files (available at https://hraf.yale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Subjects-in-eHRAF.pdf).

Step 2: Conduct Background Research

Once you have a general topic in mind, the next step is to conduct background research to understand the broader context. This involves reading encyclopedias, reviewing articles, and exploring textbooks. For example, if you are interested in health and illness, you can explore encyclopedic entries or introductory chapters on health and medicine in an Anthropology textbook. Another useful resource is the Anthropology section of the Oxford Bibliographies website ().

Step 3: Narrow Down Your Topic to a Sub-topic

After gaining a general understanding of your topic, it is important to narrow it down to a specific sub-topic. For instance, if you are interested in infectious diseases, you might focus on a particular disease like influenza. However, even influenza is too broad a topic to study. You need to narrow it down further by considering specific populations, geographical areas, or aspects of the disease. For example, you might choose to study the perceptions of influenza among Ethiopian immigrants in Seattle, Washington.

Step 4: Develop Your Research Question

The next step is to develop a research question. This involves creating a list of keywords related to your topic and conducting further research using these keywords. For instance, if your topic is perceptions of influenza among Ethiopian immigrants, your keywords might include 'flu', 'influenza', 'perception', 'immigrants', 'Seattle', and 'Washington'. You can use academic databases such as JSTOR and ProQuest to find relevant articles. These articles will help you understand what other researchers have studied and where there are gaps in the research. From this, you can formulate a research question, such as: 'How do perceptions of influenza among Ethiopian immigrants in Seattle, Washington, influence their behavior in regards to health care?'

Step 5: Refine Your Research Question

Once you have a research question, it is important to refine it further by considering the theoretical approaches that are relevant to your topic. In the case of medical anthropology, for example, you might use the interpretivist approach to understand how people's perceptions of influenza affect their behavior. Additionally, you should consider practical aspects such as the demographics of your chosen population and the feasibility of your research. Based on your background research and practical considerations, you can refine your research question to something specific, such as: 'What are the perceptions of influenza among Ethiopian immigrants in Seattle, Washington, and how do these perceptions influence their risk of contracting the disease?'

By following these steps, you can successfully identify an original research idea and develop a focused research question that is both interesting and feasible to study. This process can be adapted to any academic discipline to help you embark on a successful research project.