Coming up with an original idea for a research thesis can be overwhelming at times.
Most, if not all, undergraduates must compose a thesis document as part of the course of their major studies while in college. Some universities, such as Stanford, also use undergraduate research grant money to help spur creativity for new and authentic research done at their university (see Reference 1). Another benefit of doing an undergraduate research project is that it allows you to interact with your professors on a professional level, as the professors themselves are often at the forefront of research for their field.
Original Ideas
Research papers that receive the most recognition from departments and colleges often represent original research on a topic that has not been heavily researched before. Although coming up with an original idea may be overwhelming, narrow it down by listing your favorite topics within your field of study. To help brainstorming, ask your professors any questions you have related to any of those topics.
Current Research
Depending on your field, there may be research questions posed at the end of published scholarly articles in major educational journals. Some journal article formats may leave room at the conclusion of a published article for a few sentences on the drawbacks or shortcomings of a recent study, with further questions that are inherently raised at the end of the completed research. This is especially relevant in fields related to psychology and education. Write down possible topics of interest and search for recently published journal articles to explore related questions that may lead to an original idea.
Primary Sources
Regardless of your chosen thesis subject, find a topic with a variety of primary sources. Better topics have a wealth of primary sources to analyze, as well as some secondary source material to show present research and findings. However, if too many secondary sources are already written, you may have to look for a more original topic.
Advisors
If you are still struggling to find a topic or thesis of interest, speak with your advisor or another trusted teacher. Many professors are required by their universities to publish original research on a regular basis, so they themselves are familiar with every step of discovering a good research topic, writing and publishing a paper. Professors are also up to date on many of the ongoing professional discussions happening their field. If you have a good relationship with your advisor or another professor, he may even ask you to help him on a project he is researching for his own interest.
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