Inspiration centre
Writing topics & research ideas
Starting points for essays, proposals and theses, each with an angle to explore and a concrete next step. Filter by subject, level and type.
Topic ideas
These are starting points, not findings. Each idea needs your own reading and research. Check that sources and data exist, and agree your final topic with your tutor or supervisor.
Showing 18 of 120 ideas
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To what extent has hybrid working changed what it means to manage a team effectively?
Pick one sector and one management task, such as performance reviews or onboarding, rather than discussing hybrid work in general.
Next step: List three management theories from your module reading and note which assumptions about physical presence each one makes.
remote workmanagementproductivity
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Is comparison on image-based social media a meaningful explanation for changes in adolescent self-esteem?
Weigh social comparison theory against at least one competing explanation, and be careful to separate correlation from causation in the evidence you discuss.
Next step: Find two review articles on social comparison and note the age ranges, platforms and measures each one covers.
social mediaadolescenceself-esteem
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Should universities redesign written coursework in response to generative AI tools?
Argue from one clear position and test it against practical constraints such as class size, accessibility and fairness for students with different levels of access.
Next step: Read your own university's current AI-use policy and summarise in three bullet points what it allows and what it prohibits.
assessmentgenerative aihigher education
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Does the GDPR strike a fair balance between individual privacy and organisations' legitimate interests?
Focus on one mechanism, for example legitimate interests as a lawful basis, rather than the whole Regulation.
Next step: Read the relevant Article and Recital in full and write down two situations where the balance could reasonably go either way.
privacydata protectiongdpr
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Is carbon pricing a fair way to reduce emissions for lower-income households?
Define what you mean by 'fair' early on and compare at least two design choices, such as dividends or targeted rebates.
Next step: Identify one national or regional carbon-pricing scheme and collect its official policy documents before reading commentary on it.
climate policycarbon pricingfairness
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How far does platform-based gig work reshape ideas of flexibility and security at work?
Choose one type of platform work, such as food delivery or ride-hailing, and look at it from the worker's perspective.
Next step: Search for qualitative studies of platform workers in one country and note which themes recur across them.
gig economyworkinequality
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Critically evaluate the competing economic arguments for and against raising the national minimum wage.
Set out the competitive and monopsony models clearly, then discuss which assumptions matter most for the country you choose.
Next step: Draw both models as simple diagrams and write one sentence explaining what each predicts about employment.
minimum wagelabour marketspolicy
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Who should be responsible for limiting the spread of misinformation online: platforms, governments or users?
Avoid a balanced 'everyone is responsible' conclusion unless you can explain how responsibilities should be divided.
Next step: Choose one recent regulatory framework, such as the EU Digital Services Act or the UK Online Safety Act, and summarise its main duties in your own words.
journalismmisinformationplatforms
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Can compassionate care be sustained under high workload pressures in hospital nursing?
Draw on a recognised framework for compassionate care and link it to organisational factors rather than only individual resilience.
Next step: Look up your national nursing code of conduct and note which sections relate to compassion and to raising concerns about staffing.
nursingcompassionworkload
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Is it possible to build a 'neutral' algorithm for recruitment decisions?
Unpack what neutrality means technically and socially, and discuss at least one definition of algorithmic fairness.
Next step: Write down three different fairness definitions from your reading and note one situation where they would conflict.
algorithmsbiasethics
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Do advertising disclosure rules change how audiences trust influencer content?
Compare the rules in two countries and think about the difference between legal compliance and perceived authenticity.
Next step: Find the official influencer guidance from one advertising regulator, such as the UK ASA or the US FTC, and summarise its key requirements.
influencer marketingtrustdisclosure
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Should engineers be required to design products for repair and disassembly?
Consider technical, economic and regulatory angles, and choose one product category to keep the essay concrete.
Next step: Pick one product category and sketch its main components, noting which ones are typically difficult to replace.
sustainabilitymaterialsdesign
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Does convenience justify the collection of personal data by everyday digital services?
Choose one service type, such as fitness apps or smart speakers, and test the argument against a clear ethical framework.
Next step: Read the privacy notice of one service you use and list exactly what data it says it collects and why.
ethicstechnologysociety
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How should schools support multilingual learners without separating them from mainstream classes?
Contrast withdrawal and in-class support models and consider the perspectives of teachers, learners and families.
Next step: Find your country's or region's official guidance on supporting learners with English (or German) as an additional language and note its main recommendations.
inclusionmultilingual learnersschools
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How reliable is eyewitness testimony, and what should courts do about its limitations?
Link cognitive research on memory to one concrete procedural safeguard, such as line-up procedures or jury directions.
Next step: Make a two-column table of memory processes and the courtroom practices that could be affected by each.
memoryeyewitnesslegal system
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How do owner-managers of small manufacturing firms decide which digital tools to adopt?
A qualitative design using interviews suits a 'how' question; define 'small' and the region clearly.
Next step: Draft an interview guide of six to eight open questions and check each one maps back to the research question.
leadershipsmall businessdigital transformation
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What is the relationship between sleep patterns and self-reported academic stress among first-year university students?
Decide whether you will measure sleep through self-report or a validated scale, and treat the design as correlational unless you manipulate a variable.
Next step: Search for validated sleep and stress questionnaires and check whether they are free to use for student research.
wellbeingstudentssleep
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How do undergraduate students in one department use written feedback when preparing their next assignment?
Narrowing to one department and one feedback format keeps this feasible; consider combining a short survey with follow-up interviews.
Next step: Ask your supervisor which ethics approval route applies to research with students at your own institution.
feedbackassessmentengagement
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How do older adults living with a chronic condition experience remote nursing consultations?
Focus on experience rather than effectiveness, which points towards a qualitative, phenomenological or thematic approach.
Next step: Search CINAHL or a similar database for qualitative studies on remote consultations and note which conditions and age groups appear.
telehealthpatient experiencechronic illness
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Which explanation formats do clinicians find most useful when reviewing predictions from a machine-learning model?
Consider a small user study comparing two or three explanation formats on a synthetic or public dataset.
Next step: Identify a public, ethically shareable dataset you could use and read its licence and documentation.
machine learningexplainabilityhealthcare
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How does access to public green space vary across neighbourhoods of different income levels in one city?
Open GIS data and census boundaries can make this feasible; define 'access' as distance, size or quality before you begin.
Next step: Check whether your chosen city publishes open green-space and census data and note the file formats.
urban heatgreen spacecities
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How have households in one country adjusted their spending on essentials during a period of high inflation?
Use official household expenditure data and compare categories over a clearly defined time window.
Next step: Find the national statistics office for your chosen country and locate its household spending tables.
inflationhouseholdsconsumption
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How do young adults who live with their parents for longer than expected describe their sense of independence?
A qualitative study can explore meanings; consider comparing two national contexts if access allows.
Next step: Write a one-paragraph justification for why lived experience, rather than housing statistics, is the focus of your question.
housingyoung adultsindependence
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What factors do university students say influence their decision to buy second-hand clothing?
Combine a short survey with open-ended questions, and be clear that self-reported intentions may differ from behaviour.
Next step: List the constructs you want to measure, such as price sensitivity or environmental concern, and find existing scales for each.
sustainabilityconsumer behaviourfashion
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How do audiences aged 18 to 25 judge the credibility of news delivered through podcasts?
Decide whether you are interested in judgement criteria (qualitative) or levels of trust (quantitative).
Next step: Choose two or three news podcasts and note how each signals its sources and editorial standards.
podcastsnewsyoung audiences
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How effectively do consumer remedies for faulty digital content work in practice in one jurisdiction?
Combine doctrinal analysis of the legislation with a review of published guidance or case law.
Next step: Locate the primary legislation on digital content in your chosen jurisdiction and summarise the available remedies.
consumer lawdigital contentremedies
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What design trade-offs affect the reliability of battery storage for small off-grid solar systems?
Narrow to one climate, one load profile or one battery chemistry so that modelling stays manageable.
Next step: Identify a modelling tool available through your department and check what input data it requires.
renewable energystoragereliability
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How do early-career teachers negotiate professional identity in response to national accountability frameworks?
A longitudinal qualitative design could capture change over time; consider narrative or case-study methodology.
Next step: Map the accountability frameworks in your chosen country and note which ones apply in the first years of teaching.
teacher identityprofessional developmentpolicy
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Is there an association between perfectionism and procrastination among undergraduate students?
A survey-based correlational design is realistic; choose validated scales and plan your analysis before collecting data.
Next step: Search PsycINFO for validated perfectionism and procrastination scales and note the number of items in each.
procrastinationmotivationstudents
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Which aspects of workplace culture do newly qualified nurses identify as influencing their decision to stay in their first post?
Consider a mixed-methods design and be precise about the time point you study, for example the first two years.
Next step: Read your national workforce strategy documents and note how retention is defined and measured.
nurse retentionworkplace culturepolicy
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The role of board composition in the quality of sustainability reporting among listed firms in one European market
Define 'quality' using an existing disclosure framework and limit the sample by index, sector or time period.
Next step: Check which databases your library provides for annual reports and ESG disclosures, and whether they cover your chosen market.
esgreportinggovernance
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Designing and evaluating a usable phishing-awareness intervention for university staff
Pair a design artefact with a small evaluation; ethics approval is essential if you simulate phishing.
Next step: Speak to your supervisor early about the ethical constraints on simulated phishing studies.
cybersecurityphishingusability
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Digital participation and experiences of loneliness among adults aged 70 and over living alone
Consider how you will distinguish loneliness from social isolation, and whether a longitudinal element is feasible.
Next step: Search for existing secondary datasets on ageing that include loneliness measures and check their access conditions.
lonelinessolder adultstechnology
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Farmer perspectives on agri-environment schemes and their effect on land-management decisions in one region
Interviews with farmers could be combined with policy document analysis; agree access arrangements early.
Next step: Locate the official scheme documentation for your chosen region and list its main payment options.
biodiversityagriculturepolicy
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Allocating civil liability for harm caused by autonomous systems under EU and UK approaches
A comparative doctrinal thesis works well; pick one type of system, such as autonomous vehicles.
Next step: Build a comparison table of the relevant legislation and proposals in each jurisdiction before reading academic commentary.
artificial intelligenceliabilityregulation
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How university teaching practices support or hinder neurodivergent students in seminar-based learning
Involve neurodivergent students' own perspectives and consider participatory approaches to design.
Next step: Look up your university's disability or inclusion service guidance to understand current support structures.
inclusionneurodiversityhigher education
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The role of community mental health nurses in supporting people after discharge from inpatient care
Focus on one part of the pathway, such as the first weeks after discharge, and one professional perspective.
Next step: Ask your placement mentor or supervisor which local policies govern discharge follow-up.
mental healthcommunity carenursing
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Remittance flows and household investment in education in lower-middle-income economies
Panel data methods may be suitable; think about endogeneity and how you will address it.
Next step: Check which household survey datasets include both remittance and education expenditure variables.
remittancesdevelopmenthouseholds
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Transnational belonging and everyday digital communication among international students
Consider digital ethnography or diary methods, and reflect on your own positionality if you are an international student.
Next step: Write a short positionality statement and discuss it with your supervisor before finalising your design.
migrationbelongingdigital media
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Assessing the resilience of urban drainage infrastructure to more intense rainfall events in one catchment
Narrow to one catchment and one modelling approach; check what data the local authority can share.
Next step: Contact the relevant local authority or utility to ask what drainage and rainfall data are publicly available.
civil engineeringflood riskinfrastructure
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Consumer responses to brand activism on social issues in the sportswear sector
Decide whether an experimental design with fictional brand messages or a qualitative study of real campaigns fits your question better.
Next step: Collect three to five public brand-activism campaigns and note how each was communicated across channels.
brand activismconsumersauthenticity
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How public service broadcasters communicate their value to younger audiences across digital platforms
Compare two broadcasters, for example in the UK and Germany, using content analysis of their platform output.
Next step: Choose a sampling period and list the platforms and account types you will analyse.
public service mediatrustfunding
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Evaluation methods for language technologies in low-resource languages
Focus on one task, such as machine translation, and engage seriously with community and ethical perspectives.
Next step: Identify existing benchmarks for your chosen language and note who created them and how.
natural language processinglow-resource languagesevaluation
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Supply-chain resilience strategies among small and medium-sized exporters after major disruptions
Multiple case studies could allow in-depth comparison; clarify which type of disruption you are studying.
Next step: Draft case-selection criteria and discuss with your supervisor how many cases are realistic in your timeframe.
supply chainsresiliencesme
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Integrating social and technical perspectives in evaluating urban net-zero transition plans
Justify your interdisciplinary framework carefully and agree with supervisors which discipline's methods lead.
Next step: Collect two or three published city net-zero plans and note the criteria each uses to measure progress.
interdisciplinarysustainabilitycities
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Analyse how a high-street retailer of your choice has responded to competition from online-only rivals.
Use a recognised strategic framework, but go beyond description by evaluating which responses fit the company's resources.
Next step: Collect the retailer's latest annual report and strategy statements and highlight every reference to online channels.
strategyretailcompetition
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Using an illustrative scenario of a shift handover, discuss how communication tools can reduce risk to patient safety.
Keep the scenario anonymous and illustrative, and link it to a structured communication tool and relevant professional standards.
Next step: Write a short anonymised scenario and identify the exact points where information could be lost.
patient safetycommunicationhandover
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Apply contract law principles to an illustrative dispute over a faulty item bought online.
Structure your answer with a clear issue, rule, application and conclusion for each legal question raised.
Next step: List each legal issue in the scenario separately before you look up any authorities.
contract lawproblem questionconsumers
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Reflect on an illustrative classroom situation in which one pupil's behaviour disrupts a group task.
Connect the situation to a behaviour-management approach and consider the pupil's possible needs, not only the disruption.
Next step: Read your school or placement setting's behaviour policy and note how it frames responses to disruption.
classroom managementbehaviourinclusion
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Examine a river basin in your region as a case of competing water-use interests.
Identify the stakeholders, their interests and the governance arrangements, then assess where conflict arises.
Next step: Draw a stakeholder map for the basin and mark which organisations have formal decision-making power.
water managementstakeholdersgovernance
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Analyse a company rebrand that received a strongly negative public reaction.
Separate the design change from the communication process, and evaluate how the company responded to criticism.
Next step: Collect the original announcement and the company's later statements, and arrange them on a timeline.
rebrandingsocial mediacrisis
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Investigate a well-documented software project failure and identify the technical and organisational causes.
Use publicly available inquiry reports or official reviews as your main sources, rather than news commentary alone.
Next step: Find an official report into the failure and list the causes it identifies in two columns: technical and organisational.
software failuretestingproject management
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Analyse a documented engineering failure and explain how design, materials and oversight each contributed.
Rely on official investigation reports and be clear about where causes remain disputed.
Next step: Read the executive summary of the official investigation report and note every recommendation it makes.
safetydesignfailure analysis
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Examine an urban regeneration project as a case of how communities experience neighbourhood change.
Combine policy documents with media coverage and, if ethically approved, residents' perspectives.
Next step: Collect the regeneration project's official planning documents and note who was consulted and how.
communityregenerationgentrification
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Using an illustrative client vignette, develop a psychological formulation for low mood.
Use one formulation model consistently and keep the vignette clearly fictional and anonymised.
Next step: Choose one formulation model from your module and sketch its components as a blank diagram before filling it in.
clinical psychologyformulationethics
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Analyse one central bank's policy decisions over a recent period of rising inflation.
Compare the bank's stated reasoning in published minutes with the data available at the time.
Next step: Download the published meeting minutes or policy statements for your chosen period and note the main arguments given.
central banksmonetary policyinflation
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Analyse how a public body communicated a public health message across different channels.
Use a crisis or risk communication framework and compare the tone and format across platforms.
Next step: Collect examples of the same message from at least three channels and compare them side by side.
crisis communicationpublic healthmessaging
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Examine a corporate governance scandal and assess how internal controls and culture failed.
Rely on regulator findings and court documents where available, and be careful to separate allegations from findings.
Next step: Locate the regulator's or official inquiry's published findings and summarise them in your own words.
ethicscorporate governancewhistleblowing
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Analyse the introduction of a new clinical procedure on a ward as a case of change management.
Use a change-management model and consider staff, patient and organisational perspectives.
Next step: Identify one change model from your reading and list its stages as headings for your analysis.
leadershipchange managementhealthcare
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Compare how two national courts have approached a similar human-rights question.
Choose cases with comparable facts and focus on the reasoning, not only the outcomes.
Next step: Read both judgments in full and note the key legal tests each court applied.
human rightscomparative lawcourts
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A study of what helps adult part-time students stay engaged in online postgraduate courses
Frame the problem around a specific group and a specific behaviour, such as weekly participation.
Next step: Draft a one-sentence aim and three objectives, then check each objective is achievable in your timeframe.
online learningengagementadults
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Exploring barriers to attending structured diabetes education programmes in community settings
A qualitative or mixed-methods proposal could explore barriers; clarify which population and setting you mean.
Next step: Search for the national guideline on diabetes education in your country and note who it recommends it for.
nutritiondiabetescommunity
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Evaluating the accessibility of student-facing university web services against WCAG criteria
Combine automated testing with manual checks, and choose a manageable set of pages or services.
Next step: Read the WCAG success criteria at your chosen conformance level and choose which ones you will test.
accessibilityweb designevaluation
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Measuring air quality near school entrances at different times of day
Check what monitoring equipment your department can lend and what data quality limits apply to low-cost sensors.
Next step: Ask your department's technical staff which air-quality sensors are available and how they are calibrated.
air qualityschoolsmonitoring
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Investigating how managers interpret and apply organisational wellbeing policies
Focus on the gap between written policy and everyday practice; interviews with line managers suit this.
Next step: Collect two or three publicly available wellbeing policies and compare what they ask managers to do.
employee wellbeinghrpolicy
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A pilot evaluation of a short mindfulness programme for students experiencing exam anxiety
Frame it as a feasibility or pilot study and plan for ethical safeguards around participant wellbeing.
Next step: Find out what wellbeing support your university offers so you can signpost participants in your ethics application.
mindfulnessanxietyintervention
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Migrant care workers' experiences of recognition and status in home-care settings
A comparative, qualitative proposal could examine two countries with different care regimes.
Next step: Read two or three policy documents on social care workforce in your chosen countries and note how migrant workers are described.
care workgendermigration
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Assessing the effects of rent regulation on housing supply in one city
Be explicit about your identification strategy and the data you need before committing to the question.
Next step: Identify the exact date and scope of the regulation and check whether rental listings data exist for the period.
housingrent regulationpolicy
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How students use short-form video platforms to follow current events
A survey followed by a small number of interviews could give both breadth and depth.
Next step: Write five draft survey questions and test them on two classmates for clarity.
youthshort-form videonews
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The emerging role of courts in climate litigation and its implications for separation of powers
Choose a defined set of jurisdictions and cases, and set out a clear doctrinal or socio-legal framework.
Next step: Compile a list of relevant cases in your chosen jurisdictions and note their stage and outcome to date.
climate litigationcourtsrights
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Consumer attitudes towards AI-personalised product recommendations and perceived privacy risk
An experimental or survey design can work; define personalisation precisely for participants.
Next step: Find existing scales for privacy concern and perceived personalisation and check their validity evidence.
artificial intelligencepersonalisationprivacy
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Comparing the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts using different infill patterns
Lab-based testing makes this feasible; agree access to equipment and a testing standard first.
Next step: Check which testing machines and standards your lab supports and book an induction if needed.
3d printingprototypingmaterials
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Researcher attitudes towards open data sharing across two disciplines
Comparing disciplines highlights cultural differences; decide whether to use a survey, interviews or both.
Next step: Read your university's research data management policy and note what it expects of researchers.
open sciencedata sharingresearch culture
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Play-based learning in early-years settings under different national curriculum frameworks
A comparative case-study design across two countries could reveal how policy shapes practice.
Next step: Download the official early-years curriculum framework for each country and compare how they describe play.
early yearsplaycurriculum
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Student nurses' confidence in applying infection-prevention guidance during clinical placements
A short survey of one cohort is realistic; check whether approval is needed to survey fellow students.
Next step: Ask your programme lead about ethics requirements for surveying students in your cohort.
hand hygieneinfection controlstudents
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Take the broad topic 'social media and wellbeing' and narrow it by population, platform and outcome.
Write one version for each step, for example: teenagers; teenagers on one platform; teenagers on one platform and sleep quality.
Next step: Search your library database with your narrowest version and check whether you can find enough sources to work with.
topic selectionfocusplanning
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Narrow 'climate change' into a question you could answer in a 2,500-word essay.
Choose one sector, one place and one type of response, such as adaptation in coastal housing in one region.
Next step: Write three progressively narrower versions of your topic and ask a classmate which one is clearest.
climate changefocusscope
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Turn 'leadership in organisations' into a focused topic by adding a context, a type of leadership and an outcome.
For example, move from leadership to servant leadership in nursing teams and its link to staff turnover intentions.
Next step: Make a three-column table (context, leadership type, outcome) and fill each with three options before choosing one combination.
leadershipfocuscontext
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Narrow 'technology in education' using the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why.
Answer each question in one line, then combine your answers into a single focused topic sentence.
Next step: Write your topic sentence and check that it names a specific group, technology and setting.
technologyclassroomfocus
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Take 'student mental health' and identify one specific variable you could study.
Swap the broad idea for something measurable or describable, such as help-seeking, sleep or perceived belonging.
Next step: List five possible variables and cross out any you could not realistically measure or explore.
mental healthfocusvariables
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Narrow 'artificial intelligence' to one application, one stakeholder group and one concern.
For example, AI marking tools, secondary school teachers and transparency of decisions.
Next step: Write your narrowed topic as a question and check it contains no undefined buzzwords.
artificial intelligencefocusapplication
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Narrow 'obesity' into a researchable nursing topic by choosing a population, a setting and an intervention.
Avoid stigmatising language and consider using person-first phrasing throughout.
Next step: Use a framework such as PICO to break your idea into its parts and write each one down.
public healthpopulationssettings
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Turn 'inequality' into a focused topic by choosing one type of inequality and one comparison.
For example, digital inequality between rural and urban older adults in one country.
Next step: Write down which type of inequality you chose and why it matters more than the alternatives.
inequalityfocuscomparison
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Narrow 'freedom of expression' to one right, one jurisdiction and one recent legal issue.
Consider issues such as online abuse, protest or journalistic sources, and choose one.
Next step: Find one statute and one significant court decision relevant to your narrowed issue.
human rightsfocusjurisdiction
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Narrow 'sustainable consumption' by choosing one product category, one consumer segment and one decision point.
For example, refillable personal-care products, students and the moment of repeat purchase.
Next step: Write your narrowed topic and list three search terms you would use to find sources on it.
consumer behaviourfocussegmentation
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Practise narrowing by time: take any topic you are studying and limit it to a specific period.
Ask why that period matters, for example because of a policy change, a technological shift or a major event.
Next step: Write one sentence that explains why your chosen time frame is meaningful for the question.
time framescopeessay planning
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Narrow 'international trade' into a question that can be answered with available data.
Choose one product group, two countries and a defined period, and check that data exist before refining further.
Next step: Search an official trade data source for your product group and confirm the years available.
tradefocusdata
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Narrow 'media representation' to one group, one medium and one time period.
For example, representation of older women in UK television advertising over one year.
Next step: Decide how you would collect a manageable sample and estimate how many items you could analyse.
representationmediafocus
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Test whether your dissertation topic is too broad by trying to explain it in one sentence of under 25 words.
If you need 'and' more than once, you may be combining two projects; split them and choose one.
Next step: Write your one-sentence version, then share it with your supervisor and ask whether the scope is realistic.
dissertationscopefeasibility
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Narrow 'renewable energy' to a design or analysis problem you could investigate in one term.
Choose one technology, one scale and one performance measure, such as small wind turbines and noise at a campus site.
Next step: Check what equipment, software or data your department can give you access to for your narrowed topic.
renewable energyfocusfeasibility
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Who took part in this study, and how far can the findings be applied beyond that group?
Look at the sample size, how participants were recruited and which groups were left out.
Next step: For one source you are using, write two sentences on who the findings may not apply to.
evaluating sourcesevidencemethods
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What assumptions does this author make without stating them?
Unstated assumptions often sit between the evidence and the conclusion; try to spell them out in your own words.
Next step: Choose one key paragraph from a reading and list any assumptions that must be true for the argument to hold.
argumentassumptionsreasoning
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Does the evidence actually support the strength of the claim being made?
Watch for words such as 'proves' or 'always' and compare them with the type and amount of evidence offered.
Next step: Highlight the main claim in a source and the evidence for it, then rate how closely they match.
evidenceclaimssources
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Who produced this source, who funded it, and could that influence how it presents the issue?
Funding or affiliation does not make a source wrong, but it is a reason to check claims against independent evidence.
Next step: Check the funding or conflict-of-interest statement for each key source in your reading list.
biasfundingperspective
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What alternative explanations could account for these results?
Think about confounding factors, reverse causation and chance before accepting the author's interpretation.
Next step: For one study, write down at least two other explanations and note whether the author addresses them.
alternative explanationscausationanalysis
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Is this source still relevant, given when and where it was produced?
Older sources can be foundational, but policies, technologies and contexts may have changed since publication.
Next step: Note the publication date and country of each key source and flag any that may be outdated for your question.
currencycontextrelevance
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Is the research design suitable for the question the authors set out to answer?
Match the type of question (how, why, what effect) to the design used, and note any mismatch.
Next step: Write the study's research question and design side by side and assess in one sentence whether they fit.
methodologyresearch designvalidity
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How does this author define the key concepts, and would other authors define them differently?
Differences in definitions can explain why studies on the same topic reach different conclusions.
Next step: Compare how two of your sources define the same key term and note any differences.
definitionsconceptsclarity
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What would a well-informed critic say in response to this argument?
Steelman the opposing view rather than choosing its weakest version.
Next step: Write a short paragraph presenting the strongest counterargument, then a reply to it.
counterargumentsdebatebalance
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What does this theoretical framework make visible, and what does it leave out?
Every framework foregrounds certain factors; identifying its blind spots helps you justify your own choice.
Next step: List the main concepts of the framework you plan to use and note one aspect of your topic it does not address.
theoryframeworkpositioning
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Are the numbers in this source presented in a way that could mislead?
Check whether figures are absolute or relative, what the baseline is, and whether the chart axes are fair.
Next step: Find one statistic in your reading and rewrite it in both absolute and relative terms, if the source allows.
statisticsdatainterpretation
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Whose voices are included in this source, and whose are missing?
Consider who is quoted, who is studied and who is only spoken about.
Next step: For one key source, list the groups represented and those you would expect to see but do not.
voicesrepresentationperspective
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Would this finding hold in a different country, sector or time period?
Consider cultural, legal and economic differences that could change the result.
Next step: Pick one finding and identify one context where you think it might not apply, with a reason.
generalisationcontexttransfer
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Were the research methods ethical, and how might ethical choices have shaped the data?
Consent, anonymity and power relationships can all affect what participants are willing to say.
Next step: Check the ethics section of a study you rely on and note what approvals and safeguards are reported.
ethicsresearch practiceparticipants
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Can I trace this claim back to an original, verifiable source?
This matters especially for summaries from AI tools, websites or secondary textbooks, which may misstate or invent details.
Next step: For any claim you plan to cite, locate the original source and confirm the details match what you were told.
ai-generated contentverificationsources
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Plan a thematic literature review on how students engage with assessment feedback.
Organise by themes such as feedback literacy, emotional responses and feedback timing, rather than summarising one study at a time.
Next step: Set up a review matrix with columns for author, context, method, key argument and theme, and log your first five sources.
feedbackassessmentreview planning
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Plan a structured literature search on nurse-led interventions for patients with heart failure.
Define your question with a framework such as PICO, choose two or three databases and record your search terms and limits.
Next step: Write your search string with synonyms and Boolean operators, and save the date and results count for each database.
systematic searchnursingevidence
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Plan a literature review on how small firms approach sustainability strategy.
Consider structuring by theoretical lens, for example resource-based, stakeholder and institutional perspectives.
Next step: Identify one foundational source for each lens and note how later work has built on or challenged it.
sustainabilitystrategyreview structure
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Plan a scoping review mapping research on loneliness interventions for young adults.
Use an established scoping-review framework and consider registering or publishing a protocol.
Next step: Draft inclusion and exclusion criteria and test them on ten abstracts to see whether they work consistently.
scoping reviewmethodsprotocol
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Plan a literature review on the use of AI coding assistants in software development teams.
Because the field moves quickly, decide how you will handle preprints, conference papers and grey literature.
Next step: Choose your date range and source types, and write a sentence justifying each decision.
software engineeringai toolsreview
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Plan a review that combines academic studies and policy documents on urban flood adaptation.
Set out how you will search for and appraise grey literature, which is not indexed in the same way as journal articles.
Next step: List the government bodies and organisations whose reports you will search, and note where each publishes them.
policygrey literaturereview
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Plan a short literature review tracing how debates about youth unemployment have developed over time.
A chronological structure can work if you show how ideas changed, not just list studies by date.
Next step: Group your sources into two or three periods and write one sentence describing the main debate in each.
chronological reviewdebatesstructure
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Plan a review of empirical studies on the economic effects of minimum-wage policies.
Structure by method and context so that differences in results can be linked to differences in design.
Next step: Create a table listing each study's country, data, method and main outcome variable.
empirical literaturemethodssynthesis
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Plan a literature review on consumer trust in online reviews.
Separate the literature on review credibility, platform design and fake-review detection, then look for links between them.
Next step: Run a keyword search and sort the first twenty relevant results into your three themes.
consumer trustdigital marketingthemes
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Plan a literature review for a law dissertation on regulating online platforms.
Distinguish primary sources (legislation, cases) from secondary commentary, and structure the review around legal debates.
Next step: List the key legislation and cases first, then search for academic commentary on each.
legal researchdoctrinecommentary
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Plan how you will organise sources before you start reading for a literature review.
Choose a reference manager, a folder structure and a note-taking template so you can find ideas again later.
Next step: Install or open your chosen reference manager and import your first five sources with notes attached.
reference managementorganisationworkflow
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Plan a literature review on how algorithms shape news exposure.
Combine theoretical work on filter bubbles and gatekeeping with empirical studies, and note where they disagree.
Next step: Identify the key concepts in this area and write a one-line working definition for each.
media studiestheoryreview
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Plan a state-of-the-art review of materials used in lightweight vehicle structures.
Organise by material class and evaluate each against consistent criteria such as cost, performance and recyclability.
Next step: Decide on your evaluation criteria and set up a comparison table before collecting sources.
state of the arttechnologyreview
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Plan a narrative literature review on the link between physical activity and mood in students.
Aim to synthesise patterns and gaps across studies, rather than describing each paper in turn.
Next step: After reading five sources, write one paragraph comparing what they agree and disagree on.
narrative reviewsynthesiswriting
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Plan a systematic review on interventions to support the transition from school to university.
Decide on a quality-appraisal tool suited to the study designs you expect to include.
Next step: Find two appraisal tools relevant to your study types and compare their criteria before choosing one.
systematic revieweducationquality appraisal
No ideas match those filters
Try fewer words or clear the filters.
Make it yours
From idea to researchable question
- Pick one idea that genuinely interests you. You will live with it for weeks.
- Narrow it by population, place, time period or method until it fits your word count.
- Check the literature in your library database: is there enough to discuss, and a gap you can address?
- Turn it into a question with the research question builder.
- Agree it with your tutor or supervisor before you invest serious time.
Related: Writing a research proposal · Research proposal guidance