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Topic – Title – Research Question: Does It Make a Difference?

Faculties: BW, SW

In academic work, there is a difference between topic, title, and research question that you should be aware of. Each topic can be examined from different perspectives.

Contents

From topic to research question

The topic is the subject you deal with as part of your academic work. To narrow the topic down so that you can work on it effectively, you need a specific research question that you can answer with and in your work. Your research question therefore focuses on a concrete aspect of the topic. See also the article: Finding, phrasing and narrowing down your topic.

From research question to title

Once you have decided on a research question, you can develop a title. The title should be precise enough for readers to get an idea of what to expect, but general enough to allow you to set content-related priorities. For final papers, the title must be fixed at the time of registration. You must apply to the examination committee in good time if you would like to change your title at all.

Example

Topic: Integration of refugees through sports

Possible research questions: Does joint football training of refugees with local athletes lead to improved integration? Which behaviors of the coaches promote or hinder integration?

Title: Sports with refugees – Ethnographic observations in the FC Plauen football club

By the way: If you are looking for supervisors for your final paper, you can find a list of lecturers’ main topics on the third floor of the BL building, on the south side in front of the elevator. It is also worth browsing the project database of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still change the title of my paper?

For final papers, the title must be fixed at the time of registration. You must apply to the examination committee in good time if you would like to change your title at all.

Is my topic the same as my paper’s research question?

In academic work, there is a difference between topic, title, and research question. Each topic can be approached from different perspectives.

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Faculties: BW, SW

Contributors: Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Erika von Rautenfeld, Dzifa Vode, Deirdre Rieker

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Working With Literature

As a basis, you first review the theoretical and empirical works in the relevant research field. A methods section is usually omitted in such papers. Your supervisor may request a paragraph on where and how research was conducted; in individual cases, you should ask about this. The chapters of the results section are structured according …

Faculties: BW, SW

Contributors: Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Erika von Rautenfeld, Dzifa Vode

This article was published in August 2025 and last updated in February 2025.

Faculties: BW, SW

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