MIT OpenCourseWareFormulating a Research Topic
MIT OpenCourseWare
Quality research basics 1:33
Quality graduate research is independent, important, and unique. It should be done by you, answer a real gap in knowledge, and offer a first-of-its-kind contribution or new approach.
Formulating the topic 2:33
A well-defined topic takes time. The framework begins with personal reflection, then reading, external requirements, and a research statement in “To...By...While” form that names what you will do, how, and under what limits.
Formalizing the work 10:34
You then iterate and track your topic with new statements and a focus-area Venn diagram. Formalization adds structure through gap analysis, focused questions, objectives, and contribution statements built from the current state of the art.
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