Hooking an audience
You may be used to thinking about the topic that you will investigate in 'content' terms: for instance, equine anatomy, cancer genes, the pest resistance of genetically modified canola. Describing the topic of your research in these terms will not necessarily communicate its importance or relevance to an audience, however.
To hook an audience, it is better to describe the problem that your project will address, not only the topic that you will investigate. You will bore your audience if you go into details about how and what you plan to research before telling them why that research is signficant. You need to tell them right at the start why they should be interested in the project.
You can do this by establishing that your research addresses a specific and significant problem or need. The worth and application of your research project will then be obvious. No-one will need to ask: 'why would you do that?'
Compare, for example:
| Topic descriptions |
Problem/solution format |
| This project will investigate teenage pregnancy rates and outcomes among Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. |
This project will investigate strategies for reducing teenage pregnancy rates and improving teenage pregnancy outcomes among Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. |
| This study examines Australian patients' understanding and beliefs about high blood pressure. |
This study examines the relationship between Australian patients' understanding and beliefs about high blood pressure and the high rates of non-adherence to treatment. |
| This study will investigate the water permeability of concrete. |
This study will identify ways to improve the water permeability of concrete. |
| This study aims to observe the social and reproductive behaviours of cane toads. |
This study aims to observe the unique and undocumented social and reproductive behaviours of cane toads. |
In the reworked topic statements on the right hand side of the table, a problem or need is implicit:
- A social problem - high teenage pregnancy rates and poor outcomes in a particular demographic group
- A problem for medical practice - patient non-adherence to treatment
- A functional limitation - the water permeability of concrete needs to be improved
- A research/knowledge gap - a particular phenomenon has not been documented
Importantly, the reworked topic statements indicate how the proposed research will contribute to solving the identified problem or need. Any audience will enjoy supporting such a project!
