It is true that only some skills may be used to solve problems, but it takes good insight and creativity to ask a new question. In scientific research, the level of asking questions is directly related to the depth and expected goal of related research, and also directly affects the strategies and methods of scientific research, and determines the level and value of scientific research results. Therefore, selecting and determining the research topic is not only the first step of scientific research, but also the key step with important strategic significance.
When choosing a topic, we need to follow these principles: scientificity, innovation, feasibility and application. The channels and methods of topic selection are also varied, generally speaking, there are the following:
(1) Choose a topic from the problems faced by social production and real life.
People will encounter all kinds of problems in real life and have all kinds of topics to choose from. It is a very common means to choose a topic from the practical needs. For example, in medical treatment, all kinds of diseases that seriously endanger human health, such as AIDS and cancer, are ready-made hot topics. The need to control environmental pollution and prevent sandstorms. , related to the national economy and people's livelihood, are put forward from the practice of social production, are topics that can have far-reaching social impact.
(2) Select topics from scientific research planning and bidding topics.
The key topics and annual topics regularly published by the state, provinces, cities and scientific research management departments at all levels are important sources of scientific research topics. When the general direction has been basically determined, it is relatively easy to choose a topic that is related to your own research direction and is of interest to you. The Ministry of Science and Technology issues a guide to bidding projects every year. The main categories of various projects are:
General projects: these projects cover a wide range, accounting for the vast majority of funded projects. These include free application projects, youth science fund projects, high-tech projects and new concept exploration projects. The Youth Science Fund encourages young people under the age of 35, with high academic qualifications or strong scientific research ability to apply for projects, which is very useful for young researchers.
Key projects: refer to projects that are at the forefront of the discipline, may have a breakthrough, and are of great significance, and the funding for this project is relatively strong.
Major projects: projects with great theoretical and application significance, clear objectives and solid foundation, which are expected to achieve significant results in the near future.
Major research plan: integrate different academic backgrounds and ideas, form a unified project team, improve basic research in China through relatively long-term funding, and at the same time improve the independent innovation ability of research directions with important scientific significance.
(3) Selecting topics from scientific frontiers and research hotspots.
Academic papers should first be based on innovation, and to be innovative, we must choose topics from the forefront of scientific research. Therefore, we should pay attention to the frontiers, hotspots and trends of scientific research. Master the research status, difficulties and research methods of the same or similar topics with yourself, and be aware of them. On this basis, combined with their own practice, comprehensive analysis of information, to find a new starting point, to determine their own direction of topic selection. In the early academic career, especially in the postgraduate and doctoral stages, there is relatively more free time, so it is more necessary to cultivate this ability, read more literature and participate in academic exchanges, and broaden the knowledge of related research fields.
On the basis of reading a lot of literature, you can also try to find blank spots according to your own specialties and the development trend of related research directions. This kind of discipline often has good innovation and strong vitality, even if it can only make a little achievement and fill the gap in professional fields at home and abroad, it is of great significance.
(4) Select the topic from the extension of the existing topic.
Extensible topic selection can dig out new topics from its breadth and depth according to the scope and level of completed topics. In fact, such topics account for a large proportion, because in the process of research, new problems will always be discovered and solved. Some of these problems are very universal and will be the content of the next topic.
At the same time, in experimental research and clinical observation research, each subject consists of three elements: subject factor, subject and effect index. According to the research purpose, consciously change one of the three elements of the original topic, and if it is found to have theoretical significance and application value, it can constitute a new topic.
(5) Selecting topics from the infiltration and cross-development of disciplines.
At present, the trend of scientific development is the intersection and infiltration of disciplines. Not only do natural science and natural science cross, but natural science and humanities also cross and penetrate. There are a lot of new topics to choose from in interdisciplinary and infiltration fields. Of course, for researchers, if they want to be proficient in interdisciplinary fields, they have to have knowledge in multiple fields at the same time, which is also a challenge to their learning ability.
(6) Choose topics from academic debates with different academic viewpoints.
Scientific research is a kind of creative thinking. Because people's cognitive abilities are different, there are often differences and arguments on the same point of view. Therefore, it is also one of the common methods to pay attention to academic disputes and select and refine valuable scientific research topics from them.
Of course, everyone is good at different things. Some people are good at doing theories, while others are good at doing experiments. There are thousands of topics, and the one that suits you is the best. For individuals, a good subject is in line with their own interests, challenging to some extent, and within their own capabilities.