This week we focused on how to choose and develop a research topic, which I realised is much more complex than I expected. At first I thought choosing a topic was just about picking something I’m interested in, but actually it also needs to be researchable, meaningful for future study, and supported by enough reliable sources.
One of the key ideas this week is that the topic will eventually become a research question, and this question is extremely important because it basically shapes the whole thesis. A good research question needs to be balanced — not too broad and not too simple. For example, a very general topic like the history of visual effects is too big to analyse properly, while a question with an obvious answer does not leave much space for discussion. So the goal is to make the question more focused and specific, so it can lead to deeper research and critical thinking.
We also learned that developing a research topic is actually a process of breaking down ideas. A big question needs to be divided into smaller sub-questions, and these will later help structure the essay or thesis. At the same time, the topic is not fixed — it can keep changing during the research process depending on how much information we find or whether new issues appear.
Another important part of this week is understanding how research works in practice. Research is not just randomly reading materials, but a structured process including planning, reading, note-taking and eventually finishing. When taking notes, it is important to record sources clearly and distinguish between our own ideas and direct quotations, otherwise it is very easy to accidentally plagiarise.
We also discussed different types of sources, such as primary sources and secondary sources, and how to evaluate them critically. Not all information is reliable, especially online content, so it is necessary to consider the author’s perspective, possible bias, and whether the information is credible and relevant.
Overall, this week helped me understand that choosing a topic is not just the starting point, but actually the foundation of the whole research. A well-focused and meaningful question can make the entire research process clearer and more manageable, while a weak topic can lead to confusion later on.