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Research Topic Template
Using this template, you will write your first draft of the research topic you would like to develop into a dissertation topic. The template will guide you step by step in doing so.
Step 1: Starting OutGetting It on Paper
In each of the spaces below, write the elements of your research topic as directed. A successful research topic:
Names the key concepts to be investigated.
Describes the relationship (if any) between them.
Identifies the target population of interest.
Is sufficiently narrow and focused to permit research.
Is a phrase, not a complete sentence.
1.1 What are the key concepts you wish to investigate? Use terminology appropriate to your specialization and discipline.
Transformational leadership
Employee motivation
Organizational performance
1.2 What are the relationships (if any) that you want to explore between or among your key concepts?
The influence of transformational leadership on employee motivation and its subsequent impact on organizational performance.
1.3 What is your target population? Be as specific and descriptive as you can.
Mid-level managers in locally-based corporations, both large and small
1.4 Good work. Now, combine all three elements into a single phrase. Write it as carefully as you can and do not hesitate to rewrite it as often as needed. Your phrase should be clear, well-worded, and articulate the topic statement.
Transformational leadership's impact on employee motivation and organizational performance among mid-level managers in locally-based corporations, both large and small companies.
Step 2: Narrowing and Focusing the Topic
Here you will use an exercise to narrow your topics key concepts and population at least four times. A helpful resource for this exercise is keyword searching. You can reach out to a librarian for help with keyword searches.
As you try to focus your concepts more tightly, using keyword searching or subject searching in the library databases will help you find alternative concept words. For instance, if you search on a key concept term such as management, finding an article on management will also provide you some new keywords used by that author or journal.
Please realize that once you get deeply into the literature and begin...…Target Population rows.
Refining Key Concepts
Step 2.1
Broad Term
Step 2.2
Narrow
Step 2.3
More Narrow
Step 2.4
Most Narrow
Transformational leadership
Inspirational motivation
Inspirational leadership strategies
Employee motivation
Self-determination theory-based motivation
Autonomy-supported motivation
Organizational performance
Operational efficiency
Operational productivity metrics
ROI-driven performance metrics
Open Communication
Feedback Mechanisms
360-Degree Feedback Systems
Team Cohesion
Mediation Techniques in Teams
Resistance to Change
Strategies to Overcome Change Resistance
2.5 Target Population
Mid-level managers in technology-focused companies
Step 3: Writing the New Research Topic
In the space below, writeas a single phraseyour research topic, using the words in the fourth column. Leave out extra words, omit any verbs (unless they are key concepts), and use no modifiers. Work to craft a clean, concise, and very clear phrase. Even if it is in quite specific terminology used by your discipline, it should be immediately understandable to a member of your specialization.
Inspirational leadership strategies, autonomy-supported motivation techniques, ROI-driven performance metrics, 360-degree feedback systems, mediation techniques in teams, and strategies to overcome resistance to change among mid-level managers in technology-focused companies.
Once approved, this will be the topic that you will use to conduct your literature search, literature review, and concept…
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