Introduction
When choosing a good research topic, one has to consider very many factors. These factors will include the following, it should interest you as the researcher, it needs to be supported by credible evidence, also be appropriate for the assignment being handled, and last but not least it should be focused such that it is covered in the assignment entirely (Grinnell College Libraries 2005). All these factors are necessary because without them one might end up choosing a topic that will finally cause frustration to the researcher. One needs to choose a topic that they are capable of researching on considering the available resources in terms of time, monetary funds, and skills.
Discussing with the instructor
After coming up with several research topics, it is necessary to discuss them with the instructor who can aid in choosing the best topic. In the library, there is a person whose job title is “reference librarian”. One can discuss the research topics with this person because they can aid in getting all the literature in the library that is concerned with the topic. All forms of literature can be found in the library including books, journals, encyclopedias, and also the results of any research related to the topic that has already been done by other researchers. The statistics that are available concerning the research topic are also available in the library (Cornell University 2006).
Furthermore, with the current rave of online libraries, it has become very easy to access information from around the world. It helps one in weighing the ability to carry out the research based on the topic that they have chosen. Also in research, one has to provide a literature review that is used to show the importance attached to the topic. The review also allows the person to learn new ideas and approaches that can be used in dealing with the chosen topic. It also helps one to refine the topic so that it becomes more focused and thus manageable.
Citations
To know if a source is credible or not one has to check if there are citations of where the information has been retrieved. These citations have to be relevant to the information that is provided. The in-text citations have to be recorded in full in the reference list so that they can be confirmed. The reputation of the person writing the source has to be impeccable and clearly understood. If the source is not fully trustworthy, it can only mean that their work is also not to be trusted. They have to be recognized by their peers. The information in the source must not be vague or just one side but has to be able to explore all vies of the same topic (The Journal 2004).
Conclusion
In the evaluation of the research topic that one has chosen, there is a need to look at its relevance in terms of its outcomes, interventions, and its impact on the participants and those who will benefit from it. It should also be able to provide evidence on why the outcomes reported are the way they are and also the methods used in gathering data to be sure that it is viable. This is also done to allow others to conduct the same research to confirm its validity and reliability. Other than these, it should be given to an independent researcher who has more experience to review it and comment on it, as they can be able to identify other areas of concern that the researcher had not identified.
References
The Journal 2004. How to Evaluate Educational Research 1105 Media Inc. 2007. Web.
Olin and Uris Libraries Cornell University 2006 How to find and develop a viable research topic. Web.
Grinnell College Libraries 2005 Choosing a Research Topic. Web.