A maze is a network of passage like a puzzle through which an individual has to strategize, find a way, and reach the end goal. In a maze, the objective is to find the right path that will lead out of the complex pathways. There may be different possible routes to the exit point, but the key is to know where to begin the journey. Once the correct starting point is found, only then can one decide which path to take. This correct path should lead you to the end of the maze—the finish line.
How should a research be started?
Where should a research begin? How is a topic chosen? These questions are probably asked by all researchers at the start of a research project.
The answer is simple. Research usually starts from the researcher’s interests. Interests may come from any of the following sources:
- Daily life experiences. Research topics may come from simple to complex questions that people ask as they go about their daily lives. For instance, fishermen or fish growers could have developed the most effective way to grow fish because they are exposed to these things.
- Academic readings. Reading academic materials can also stimulate one’s interest to explore a particular topic. Usually, the idea that catches the attention of the reader while scanning an academic paper becomes the reader’s research topic.
- Personal hobbies. Most researchers would like to seek answers from questions they have based on the things that they enjoy doing. For instance, they may want to survey the views of people about a certain issue because they enjoy doing so.
- Attention-catching situations. There are cases encountered by the researchers that catch their attention. From there, they can formulate questions as to how this thing became possible, how that thing is able to do those, etc. These can be a basis to start some investigations.
From these interests, a broad topic is formed. Subsequently, specific topics and questions emerge.