PADM 6876: Capstone Seminar in Public Administration

Many times, your instructor will assign a project for which you will choose a topic. Often, this can be just as difficult as preparing for an assigned topic. There is so much information out there. How do you begin to choose?

This guide will help you answer that question by providing tips and tutorials for selecting a paper topic that both you and your instructor will find interesting and beneficial for the course.

Techniques for coming up with a paper topic include

  Reflecting on topics that interest you or passionate about

  Thinking about current events

  Do some preliminary research. Check for background information in: dictionaries, handbooks and encyclopedias. 

 Start thinking in broad terms, then narrow down your topic. 

  Think about the who, what, when, and why questions

• WHY did you choose the topic?  What interests you about it?  Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
  
  
• WHO are the information providers on this topic?  Who might publish information about it?  Who is affected by the topic?  Do you know ofrganizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
  
  
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic?  Is there a debate about the topic?  Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
  
  
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level?  Are there specific places affected by the topic?
  
  
• WHEN is/was your topic important?  Is it a current event or an historical issue?  Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

(MITLibraries)

The table above illustrates how a research question develops from a broad topic to a focused research question. A concept map should help you identify a sub-topic and possible issues or problems. Preliminary research will provide some context to help you consider a possible research question.