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10 Current Database Research Topic Ideas in 2024

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As we head towards the second half of 2024, the world of technology evolves at a rapid pace. With the rise of AI and blockchain, the demand for data, its management and the need for security increases rapidly. A logical consequence of these changes is the way fields like database security research topics and DBMS research have come up as the need of the hour.

With new technologies and techniques emerging day-by-day, staying up-to-date with the latest trends in database research topics is crucial. Whether you are a student, researcher, or industry professional, we recommend taking our Database Certification courses to stay current with the latest research topics in DBMS.

In this blog post, we will introduce you to 10 current database research topic ideas that are likely to be at the forefront of the field in 2024. From blockchain-based database systems to real-time data processing with in-memory databases, these topics offer a glimpse into the exciting future of database research.

So, get ready to dive into the exciting world of databases and discover the latest developments in database research topics of 2024!

Blurring the Lines between Blockchains and Database Systems 

The intersection of blockchain technology and database systems offers fertile new grounds to anyone interested in database research.

As blockchain gains popularity, many thesis topics in DBMS[1] are exploring ways to integrate both fields. This research will yield innovative solutions for data management. Here are 3 ways in which these two technologies are being combined to create powerful new solutions:

Immutable Databases: By leveraging blockchain technology, it’s possible to create databases to be immutable. Once data has been added to such a database, it cannot be modified or deleted. This is particularly useful in situations where data integrity is critical, such as in financial transactions or supply chain management.

Decentralized Databases: Blockchain technology enables the creation of decentralized databases. Here data is stored on a distributed network of computers rather than in a central location. This can help to improve data security and reduce the risk of data loss or corruption.

Smart Contracts: Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. By leveraging blockchain technology, it is possible to create smart contracts that are stored and executed on a decentralized database, making it possible to automate a wide range of business processes.

Childhood Obesity: Data Management 

Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern, with rates of obesity among children and adolescents rising around the world. To address this issue, it’s crucial to have access to comprehensive data on childhood obesity. Analyzing information on prevalence, risk factors, and interventions is a popular research topic in DBMS these days.

Effective data management is essential for ensuring that this information is collected, stored, and analyzed in a way that is useful and actionable. This is one of the hottest DBMS research paper topics. In this section, we will explore the topic of childhood obesity data management.

A key challenge to childhood obesity data management is ensuring data consistency. This is difficult as various organizations have varied methods for measuring and defining obesity. For example:

Some may use body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity.

Others may use waist circumference or skinfold thickness.   Another challenge is ensuring data security and preventing unauthorized access. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals, it is important to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. This calls for database security research and appropriate application.

Application of Computer Database Technology in Marketing

Leveraging data and analytics allows businesses to gain a competitive advantage in this digitized world today. With the rising demand for data, the use of computer databases in marketing has gained prominence.

The application of database capabilities in marketing has really come into its own as one of the most popular and latest research topics in DBMS[2]. In this section, we will explore how computer database technology is being applied in marketing, and the benefits this research can offer.

Customer Segmentation: Storage and analysis of customer data makes it possible to gain valuable insights. It allows businesses to identify trends in customer behavior, preferences and demographics. This information can be utilized to create highly targeted customer segments. This is how businesses can tailor their marketing efforts to specific groups of customers.

Personalization: Computer databases can be used to store and analyze customer data in real-time. In this way, businesses can personalize their marketing and offers based on individual customer preferences. This can help increase engagement and loyalty among customers, thereby driving greater revenue for businesses.

Predictive Analytics: Advanced analytics techniques such as machine learning and predictive modeling can throw light on patterns in customer behavior. This can even be used to predict their future actions. This information can be used to create more targeted marketing campaigns, and to identify opportunities for cross-selling and upselling.

Database Technology in Sports Competition Information Management

Database technology has revolutionized the way in which sports competition information is managed and analyzed. With the increasing popularity of sports around the world, there is a growing need for effective data management systems that can collect, store, and analyze large volumes of relevant data. Thus, researching database technologies[3] is vital to streamlining operations, improving decision-making, and enhancing the overall quality of events.

Sports organizations can use database technology to collect and manage a wide range of competition-related data such as: 

Athlete and team information,

competition schedules and results,

performance metrics, and

spectator feedback.

Collating this data in a distributed database lets sports organizations easily analyze and derive valuable insights. This is emerging as a key DBMS research paper topic.

Database Technology for the Analysis of Spatio-temporal Data

Spatio-temporal data refers to data which has a geographic as well as a temporal component. Meteorological readings, GPS data, and social media content are prime examples of this diverse field. This data can provide valuable insights into patterns and trends across space and time. However, its multidimensional nature makes analysis be super challenging. It’s no surprise that this has become a hot topic for distributed database research[4].

In this section, we will explore how database technology is being used to analyze spatio-temporal data, and the benefits this research offers.

Data Storage and Retrieval: Spatio-temporal data tends to be very high-volume. Advances in database technology are needed to make storage, retrieval and consumption of such information more efficient. A solution to this problem will make such data more available. It will then be easily retrievable and usable by a variety of data analytics tools.

Spatial Indexing: Database technology can create spatial indexes to enable faster queries on spatio-temporal data. This allows analysts to quickly retrieve data for specific geographic locations or areas of interest, and to analyze trends across these areas.

Temporal Querying: Distributed database research can also enable analysts to analyze data over specific time periods. This facilitates the identification of patterns over time. Ultimately, this enhances our understanding of how these patterns evolve over various seasons.

Artificial Intelligence and Database Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another sphere of technology that’s just waiting to be explored. It hints at a wealth of breakthroughs which can change the entire world. It’s unsurprising that the combination of AI with database technology is such a hot topic for database research papers[5] in modern times. 

By using AI to analyze data, organizations can identify patterns and relationships that might not be apparent through traditional data analysis methods. In this section, we will explore some of the ways in which AI and database technology are being used together. We’ll also discuss the benefits that this amalgamation can offer.

Predictive Analytics: By analyzing large volumes of organizational and business data, AI can generate predictive models to forecast outcomes. For example, AI can go through customer data stored in a database and predict who is most likely to make a purchase in the near future.

Natural Language Processing: All businesses have huge, untapped wells of valuable information in the form of customer feedback and social media posts. These types of data sources are unstructured, meaning they don’t follow rigid parameters. By using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, AI can extract insights from this data. This helps organizations understand customer sentiment, preferences and needs.

Anomaly Detection: AI can be used to analyze large volumes of data to identify anomalies and outliers. Then, a second round of analysis can be done to pinpoint potential problems or opportunities. For example, AI can analyze sensor data from manufacturing equipment and detect when equipment is operating outside of normal parameters.

Data Collection and Management Techniques of a Qualitative Research Plan

Any qualitative research calls for the collection and management of empirical data. A crucial part of the research process, this step benefits from good database management techniques. Let’s explore some thesis topics in database management systems[6] to ensure the success of a qualitative research plan.

Interviews: This is one of the most common methods of data collection in qualitative research. Interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone, or through video conferencing. A standardized interview guide ensures the data collected is reliable and accurate. Relational databases, with their inherent structure, aid in this process. They are a way to enforce structure onto the interviews’ answers.

Focus Groups: Focus groups involve gathering a small group of people to discuss a particular topic. These generate rich data by allowing participants to share their views in a group setting. It is important to select participants who have knowledge or experience related to the research topic.

Observations: Observations involve observing and recording events in a given setting. These can be conducted openly or covertly, depending on the research objective and setting. To ensure that the data collected is accurate, it is important to develop a detailed observation protocol that outlines what behaviors or events to observe, how to record data, and how to handle ethical issues.

Database Technology in Video Surveillance System 

Video surveillance systems are used to monitor and secure public spaces, workplaces, even homes. With the increasing demand for such systems, it’s important to have an efficient and reliable way to store, manage and analyze the data generated. This is where database topics for research paper [7] come in.

By using database technology in video surveillance systems, it is possible to store and manage large amounts of video data efficiently. Database management systems (DBMS) can be used to organize video data in a way that is easily searchable and retrievable. This is particularly important in cases where video footage is needed as evidence in criminal investigations or court cases.

In addition to storage and management, database technology can also be used to analyze video data. For example, machine learning algorithms can be applied to video data to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate suspicious activity. This can help law enforcement agencies and security personnel to identify and respond to potential threats more quickly and effectively.

Application of Java Technology in Dynamic Web Database Technology 

Java technology has proven its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use over the decades. This makes it widely used in the development of dynamic web database applications. In this section, we will explore research topics in DBMS[8] which seek to apply Java technology in databases.

Java Server Pages (JSP): JSP is a Java technology that is used to create dynamic web pages that can interact with databases. It allows developers to embed Java code within HTML scripts, thereby enabling dynamic web pages. These can interact with databases in real-time, and aid in data collection and maintenance.

Java Servlets: Java Servlets are Java classes used to extend the functionality of web servers. They provide a way to handle incoming requests from web browsers and generate dynamic content that can interact with databases.

Java Database Connectivity (JDBC): JDBC is a Java API that provides a standard interface for accessing databases. It allows Java applications to connect to databases. It can SQL queries to enhance, modify or control the backend database. This enables developers to create dynamic web applications.

Online Multi Module Educational Administration System Based on Time Difference Database Technology 

With the widespread adoption of remote learning post-COVID, online educational systems are gaining popularity at a rapid pace. A ubiquitous challenge these systems face is managing multiple modules across different time zones. This is one of the latest research topics in database management systems[9].

Time difference database technology is designed to handle time zone differences in online systems. By leveraging this, it’s possible to create a multi-module educational administration system that can handle users from different parts of the world, with different time zones.

This type of system can be especially useful for online universities or other educational institutions that have a global reach:

It makes it possible to schedule classes, assignments and other activities based on the user's time zone, ensuring that everyone can participate in real-time.

In addition to managing time zones, a time difference database system can also help manage student data, course materials, grades, and other important information.

Why is it Important to Study Databases?

Databases are the backbone of many modern technologies and applications, making it essential for professionals in various fields to understand how they work. Whether you're a software developer, data analyst or a business owner, understanding databases is critical to success in today's world. Here are a few reasons why it is important to study databases and more database topics for research paper should be published:

Efficient Data Management

Databases enable the efficient storage, organization, and retrieval of data. By studying databases, you can learn how to design and implement effective data management systems that can help organizations store, analyze, and use data efficiently.

Improved Decision-Making

Data is essential for making informed decisions, and databases provide a reliable source of data for analysis. By understanding databases, you can learn how to retrieve and analyze data to inform business decisions, identify trends, and gain insights.

Career Opportunities

In today's digital age, many career paths require knowledge of databases. By studying databases, you can open up new career opportunities in software development, data analysis, database administration and related fields.

Needless to say, studying databases is essential for anyone who deals with data. Whether you're looking to start a new career or enhance your existing skills, studying databases is a critical step towards success in today's data-driven world.

Final Takeaways

In conclusion, as you are interested in database technology, we hope this blog has given you some insights into the latest research topics in the field. From blockchain to AI, from sports to marketing, there are a plethora of exciting database topics for research papers that will shape the future of database technology.

As technology continues to evolve, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the field of databases. Our curated KnowledgeHut Database Certification Courses will help you stay ahead of the curve and develop new skills.

We hope this blog has inspired you to explore the exciting world of database research in 2024. Stay curious and keep learning!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There are several examples of databases, with the five most common ones being:

MySQL : An open-source RDBMS used commonly in web applications.

Microsoft SQL Server : A popular RDBMS used in enterprise environments.

Oracle : A trusted commercial RDBMS famous for its high-scalability and security.

MongoDB : A NoSQL document-oriented database optimized for storing large amounts of unstructured data.

PostgreSQL : An open-source RDBMS offering advanced features like high concurrency and support for multiple data types.

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a high-level language designed to communicate with relational databases. It’s not a database in and of itself. Rather, it’s a language used to create, modify, and retrieve data from relational databases such as MySQL and Oracle.

A primary key is a column (or a set of columns) that uniquely identifies each row in a table. In technical terms, the primary key is a unique identifier of records. It’s used as a reference to establish relationships between various tables.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Data Science

50 Topic Ideas To Kickstart Your Research Project

Research topics and ideas about data science and big data analytics

If you’re just starting out exploring data science-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research by providing a hearty list of data science and analytics-related research ideas , including examples from recent studies.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . These topic ideas provided here are intentionally broad and generic , so keep in mind that you will need to develop them further. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

To develop a suitable research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan to fill that gap. If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Research topic idea mega list

Data Science-Related Research Topics

  • Developing machine learning models for real-time fraud detection in online transactions.
  • The use of big data analytics in predicting and managing urban traffic flow.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of data mining techniques in identifying early signs of mental health issues from social media usage.
  • The application of predictive analytics in personalizing cancer treatment plans.
  • Analyzing consumer behavior through big data to enhance retail marketing strategies.
  • The role of data science in optimizing renewable energy generation from wind farms.
  • Developing natural language processing algorithms for real-time news aggregation and summarization.
  • The application of big data in monitoring and predicting epidemic outbreaks.
  • Investigating the use of machine learning in automating credit scoring for microfinance.
  • The role of data analytics in improving patient care in telemedicine.
  • Developing AI-driven models for predictive maintenance in the manufacturing industry.
  • The use of big data analytics in enhancing cybersecurity threat intelligence.
  • Investigating the impact of sentiment analysis on brand reputation management.
  • The application of data science in optimizing logistics and supply chain operations.
  • Developing deep learning techniques for image recognition in medical diagnostics.
  • The role of big data in analyzing climate change impacts on agricultural productivity.
  • Investigating the use of data analytics in optimizing energy consumption in smart buildings.
  • The application of machine learning in detecting plagiarism in academic works.
  • Analyzing social media data for trends in political opinion and electoral predictions.
  • The role of big data in enhancing sports performance analytics.
  • Developing data-driven strategies for effective water resource management.
  • The use of big data in improving customer experience in the banking sector.
  • Investigating the application of data science in fraud detection in insurance claims.
  • The role of predictive analytics in financial market risk assessment.
  • Developing AI models for early detection of network vulnerabilities.

Research topic evaluator

Data Science Research Ideas (Continued)

  • The application of big data in public transportation systems for route optimization.
  • Investigating the impact of big data analytics on e-commerce recommendation systems.
  • The use of data mining techniques in understanding consumer preferences in the entertainment industry.
  • Developing predictive models for real estate pricing and market trends.
  • The role of big data in tracking and managing environmental pollution.
  • Investigating the use of data analytics in improving airline operational efficiency.
  • The application of machine learning in optimizing pharmaceutical drug discovery.
  • Analyzing online customer reviews to inform product development in the tech industry.
  • The role of data science in crime prediction and prevention strategies.
  • Developing models for analyzing financial time series data for investment strategies.
  • The use of big data in assessing the impact of educational policies on student performance.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of data visualization techniques in business reporting.
  • The application of data analytics in human resource management and talent acquisition.
  • Developing algorithms for anomaly detection in network traffic data.
  • The role of machine learning in enhancing personalized online learning experiences.
  • Investigating the use of big data in urban planning and smart city development.
  • The application of predictive analytics in weather forecasting and disaster management.
  • Analyzing consumer data to drive innovations in the automotive industry.
  • The role of data science in optimizing content delivery networks for streaming services.
  • Developing machine learning models for automated text classification in legal documents.
  • The use of big data in tracking global supply chain disruptions.
  • Investigating the application of data analytics in personalized nutrition and fitness.
  • The role of big data in enhancing the accuracy of geological surveying for natural resource exploration.
  • Developing predictive models for customer churn in the telecommunications industry.
  • The application of data science in optimizing advertisement placement and reach.

Recent Data Science-Related Studies

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual studies in the data science and analytics space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of recent studies to help refine your thinking. These are actual studies,  so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

  • Data Science in Healthcare: COVID-19 and Beyond (Hulsen, 2022)
  • Auto-ML Web-application for Automated Machine Learning Algorithm Training and evaluation (Mukherjee & Rao, 2022)
  • Survey on Statistics and ML in Data Science and Effect in Businesses (Reddy et al., 2022)
  • Visualization in Data Science VDS @ KDD 2022 (Plant et al., 2022)
  • An Essay on How Data Science Can Strengthen Business (Santos, 2023)
  • A Deep study of Data science related problems, application and machine learning algorithms utilized in Data science (Ranjani et al., 2022)
  • You Teach WHAT in Your Data Science Course?!? (Posner & Kerby-Helm, 2022)
  • Statistical Analysis for the Traffic Police Activity: Nashville, Tennessee, USA (Tufail & Gul, 2022)
  • Data Management and Visual Information Processing in Financial Organization using Machine Learning (Balamurugan et al., 2022)
  • A Proposal of an Interactive Web Application Tool QuickViz: To Automate Exploratory Data Analysis (Pitroda, 2022)
  • Applications of Data Science in Respective Engineering Domains (Rasool & Chaudhary, 2022)
  • Jupyter Notebooks for Introducing Data Science to Novice Users (Fruchart et al., 2022)
  • Towards a Systematic Review of Data Science Programs: Themes, Courses, and Ethics (Nellore & Zimmer, 2022)
  • Application of data science and bioinformatics in healthcare technologies (Veeranki & Varshney, 2022)
  • TAPS Responsibility Matrix: A tool for responsible data science by design (Urovi et al., 2023)
  • Data Detectives: A Data Science Program for Middle Grade Learners (Thompson & Irgens, 2022)
  • MACHINE LEARNING FOR NON-MAJORS: A WHITE BOX APPROACH (Mike & Hazzan, 2022)
  • COMPONENTS OF DATA SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATIONS (Paul et al., 2022)
  • Analysis on the Application of Data Science in Business Analytics (Wang, 2022)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest.  In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

Get 1-On-1 Help

If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

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Advances in database systems education: Methods, tools, curricula, and way forward

Muhammad ishaq.

1 Department of Computer Science, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

2 Department of Computer Science, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan

3 Department of Computer Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

Muhammad Shoaib Farooq

Muhammad faraz manzoor.

4 Department of Computer Science, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan

Uzma Farooq

Kamran abid.

5 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Mamoun Abu Helou

6 Faculty of Information Technology, Al Istiqlal University, Jericho, Palestine

Associated Data

Not Applicable.

Fundamentals of Database Systems is a core course in computing disciplines as almost all small, medium, large, or enterprise systems essentially require data storage component. Database System Education (DSE) provides the foundation as well as advanced concepts in the area of data modeling and its implementation. The first course in DSE holds a pivotal role in developing students’ interest in this area. Over the years, the researchers have devised several different tools and methods to teach this course effectively, and have also been revisiting the curricula for database systems education. In this study a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is presented that distills the existing literature pertaining to the DSE to discuss these three perspectives for the first course in database systems. Whereby, this SLR also discusses how the developed teaching and learning assistant tools, teaching and assessment methods and database curricula have evolved over the years due to rapid change in database technology. To this end, more than 65 articles related to DSE published between 1995 and 2022 have been shortlisted through a structured mechanism and have been reviewed to find the answers of the aforementioned objectives. The article also provides useful guidelines to the instructors, and discusses ideas to extend this research from several perspectives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research work that presents a broader review about the research conducted in the area of DSE.

Introduction

Database systems play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the information systems to ensure the smooth running of many different organizations and companies (Etemad & Küpçü, 2018 ; Morien, 2006 ). Therefore, at least one course about the fundamentals of database systems is taught in every computing and information systems degree (Nagataki et al., 2013 ). Database System Education (DSE) is concerned with different aspects of data management while developing software (Park et al., 2017 ). The IEEE/ACM computing curricula guidelines endorse 30–50 dedicated hours for teaching fundamentals of design and implementation of database systems so as to build a very strong theoretical and practical understanding of the DSE topics (Cvetanovic et al., 2010 ).

Practically, most of the universities offer one user-oriented course at undergraduate level that covers topics related to the data modeling and design, querying, and a limited number of hours on theory (Conklin & Heinrichs, 2005 ; Robbert & Ricardo, 2003 ), where it is often debatable whether to utilize a design-first or query-first approach. Furthermore, in order to update the course contents, some recent trends, including big data and the notion of NoSQL should also be introduced in this basic course (Dietrich et al., 2008 ; Garcia-Molina, 2008 ). Whereas, the graduate course is more theoretical and includes topics related to DB architecture, transactions, concurrency, reliability, distribution, parallelism, replication, query optimization, along with some specialized classes.

Researchers have designed a variety of tools for making different concepts of introductory database course more interesting and easier to teach and learn interactively (Brusilovsky et al., 2010 ) either using visual support (Nagataki et al., 2013 ), or with the help of gamification (Fisher & Khine, 2006 ). Similarly, the instructors have been improvising different methods to teach (Abid et al., 2015 ; Domínguez & Jaime, 2010 ) and evaluate (Kawash et al., 2020 ) this theoretical and practical course. Also, the emerging and hot topics such as cloud computing and big data has also created the need to revise the curriculum and methods to teach DSE (Manzoor et al., 2020 ).

The research in database systems education has evolved over the years with respect to modern contents influenced by technological advancements, supportive tools to engage the learners for better learning, and improvisations in teaching and assessment methods. Particularly, in recent years there is a shift from self-describing data-driven systems to a problem-driven paradigm that is the bottom-up approach where data exists before being designed. This mainly relies on scientific, quantitative, and empirical methods for building models, while pushing the boundaries of typical data management by involving mathematics, statistics, data mining, and machine learning, thus opening a multidisciplinary perspective. Hence, it is important to devote a few lectures to introducing the relevance of such advance topics.

Researchers have provided useful review articles on other areas including Introductory Programming Language (Mehmood et al., 2020 ), use of gamification (Obaid et al., 2020 ), research trends in the use of enterprise service bus (Aziz et al., 2020 ), and the role of IoT in agriculture (Farooq et al., 2019 , 2020 ) However, to the best of our knowledge, no such study was found in the area of database systems education. Therefore, this study discusses research work published in different areas of database systems education involving curricula, tools, and approaches that have been proposed to teach an introductory course on database systems in an effective manner. The rest of the article has been structured in the following manner: Sect.  2 presents related work and provides a comparison of the related surveys with this study. Section  3 presents the research methodology for this study. Section  4 analyses the major findings of the literature reviewed in this research and categorizes it into different important aspects. Section  5 represents advices for the instructors and future directions. Lastly, Sect.  6 concludes the article.

Related work

Systematic Literature Reviews have been found to be a very useful artifact for covering and understanding a domain. A number of interesting review studies have been found in different fields (Farooq et al., 2021 ; Ishaq et al., 2021 ). Review articles are generally categorized into narrative or traditional reviews (Abid et al., 2016 ; Ramzan et al., 2019 ), systematic literature review (Naeem et al., 2020 ) and meta reviews or mapping study (Aria & Cuccurullo, 2017 ; Cobo et al., 2012 ; Tehseen et al., 2020 ). This study presents a systematic literature review on database system education.

The database systems education has been discussed from many different perspectives which include teaching and learning methods, curriculum development, and the facilitation of instructors and students by developing different tools. For instance, a number of research articles have been published focusing on developing tools for teaching database systems course (Abut & Ozturk, 1997 ; Connolly et al., 2005 ; Pahl et al., 2004 ). Furthermore, few authors have evaluated the DSE tools by conducting surveys and performing empirical experiments so as to gauge the effectiveness of these tools and their degree of acceptance among important stakeholders, teachers and students (Brusilovsky et al., 2010 ; Nelson & Fatimazahra, 2010 ). On the other hand, some case studies have also been discussed to evaluate the effectiveness of the improvised approaches and developed tools. For example, Regueras et al. ( 2007 ) presented a case study using the QUEST system, in which e-learning strategies are used to teach the database course at undergraduate level, while, Myers and Skinner ( 1997 ) identified the conflicts that arise when theories in text books regarding the development of databases do not work on specific applications.

Another important facet of DSE research focuses on the curriculum design and evolution for database systems, whereby (Alrumaih, 2016 ; Bhogal et al., 2012 ; Cvetanovic et al., 2010 ; Sahami et al., 2011 ) have proposed solutions for improvements in database curriculum for the better understanding of DSE among the students, while also keeping the evolving technology into the perspective. Similarly, Mingyu et al. ( 2017 ) have shared their experience in reforming the DSE curriculum by adding topics related to Big Data. A few authors have also developed and evaluated different tools to help the instructors teaching DSE.

There are further studies which focus on different aspects including specialized tools for specific topics in DSE (Mcintyre et al, 1995 ; Nelson & Fatimazahra, 2010 ). For instance, Mcintyre et al. ( 1995 ) conducted a survey about using state of the art software tools to teach advanced relational database design courses at Cleveland State University. However, the authors did not discuss the DSE curricula and pedagogy in their study. Similarly, a review has been conducted by Nelson and Fatimazahra ( 2010 ) to highlight the fact that the understanding of basic knowledge of database is important for students of the computer science domain as well as those belonging to other domains. They highlighted the issues encountered while teaching the database course in universities and suggested the instructors investigate these difficulties so as to make this course more effective for the students. Although authors have discussed and analyzed the tools to teach database, the tools are yet to be categorized according to different methods and research types within DSE. There also exists an interesting systematic mapping study by Taipalus and Seppänen ( 2020 ) that focuses on teaching SQL which is a specific topic of DSE. Whereby, they categorized the selected primary studies into six categories based on their research types. They utilized directed content analysis, such as, student errors in query formulation, characteristics and presentation of the exercise database, specific or non-specific teaching approach suggestions, patterns and visualization, and easing teacher workload.

Another relevant study that focuses on collaborative learning techniques to teach the database course has been conducted by Martin et al. ( 2013 ) This research discusses collaborative learning techniques and adapted it for the introductory database course at the Barcelona School of Informatics. The motive of the authors was to introduce active learning methods to improve learning and encourage the acquisition of competence. However, the focus of the study was only on a few methods for teaching the course of database systems, while other important perspectives, including database curricula, and tools for teaching DSE were not discussed in this study.

The above discussion shows that a considerable amount of research work has been conducted in the field of DSE to propose various teaching methods; develop and test different supportive tools, techniques, and strategies; and to improve the curricula for DSE. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study that puts all these relevant and pertinent aspects together while also classifying and discussing the supporting methods, and techniques. This review is considerably different from previous studies. Table ​ Table1 1 highlights the differences between this study and other relevant studies in the field of DSE using ✓ and – symbol reflecting "included" and "not included" respectively. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic mapping study on DSE that focuses on compiling, classifying, and discussing the existing work related to pedagogy, supporting tools, and curricula.

Comparison with other related research articles

Study(Mcintyre et al., )(Myers & Skinner, )(Beecham et al., )(Dietrich et al., )(Regueras et al., )(Nelson & Fatimazahra, )(Martin et al., )(Abbasi et al., )(Luxton-Reilly et al., )(Taipalus & Seppänen, )This article
FocusDatabaseDatabaseSoftware EngineeringDatabaseDatabaseDatabaseDatabaseOOPProgrammingData BaseDatabase System
Research Types Classifications
Teaching Methods
Tools to aid teaching -
Curricula considered
Evolution
Year19951997200820082009201520132017201820202022

Research methodology

In order to preserve the principal aim of this study, which is to review the research conducted in the area of database systems education, a piece of advice has been collected from existing methods described in various studies (Elberzhager et al., 2012 ; Keele et al., 2007 ; Mushtaq et al., 2017 ) to search for the relevant papers. Thus, proper research objectives were formulated, and based on them appropriate research questions and search strategy were formulated as shown in Fig.  1 .

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Research objectives

The Following are the research objectives of this study:

  • i. To find high quality research work in DSE.
  • ii. To categorize different aspects of DSE covered by other researchers in the field.
  • iii. To provide a thorough discussion of the existing work in this study to provide useful information in the form of evolution, teaching guidelines, and future research directions of the instructors.

Research questions

In order to fulfill the research objectives, some relevant research questions have been formulated. These questions along with their motivations have been presented in Table ​ Table2 2 .

Study selection results

NoResearch questionsMotivations
RQ1What are the developments in DSE with respect to tools, methods, and curriculum?

- Identify focal areas of research in DSE

- Discuss the work done in each area

RQ2How the research in DSE evolved in past 25 years?- Discuss the focus of research in different time spans while mapping it onto the technological advancement

Search strategy

The Following search string used to find relevant articles to conduct this study. “Database” AND (“System” OR “Management”) AND (“Education*” OR “Train*” OR “Tech*” OR “Learn*” OR “Guide*” OR “Curricul*”).

Articles have been taken from different sources i.e. IEEE, Springer, ACM, Science Direct and other well-known journals and conferences such as Wiley Online Library, PLOS and ArXiv. The planning for search to find the primary study in the field of DSE is a vital task.

Study selection

A total of 29,370 initial studies were found. These articles went through a selection process, and two authors were designated to shortlist the articles based on the defined inclusion criteria as shown in Fig.  2 . Their conflicts were resolved by involving a third author; while the inclusion/exclusion criteria were also refined after resolving the conflicts as shown in Table ​ Table3. 3 . Cohen’s Kappa coefficient 0.89 was observed between the two authors who selected the articles, which reflects almost perfect agreement between them (Landis & Koch, 1977 ). While, the number of papers in different stages of the selection process for all involved portals has been presented in Table ​ Table4 4 .

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Selection criteria

ICInclusion criteria
IC 1The study related to the database and education
IC 2The years of research publication must be from 1995 to 2022
IC 3Only full length papers are included
IC 4Research papers written in English language are included
ECExclusion criteria
EC1Incomplete papers, i.e., presentation, posters or essay
EC2Research articles without abstract
EC3Research articles other than English language
EC4Papers that do not include education as their primary focus
PhaseProcessSelection stageIEEESpringerACMElsevierOthersTotal
1SearchSearch string500531210,8025696704529,370
2ScreeningTitle15312111513387609
3ScreeningAbstract4523292140158
4ScreeningFull text1012023770

Title based search: Papers that are irrelevant based on their title are manually excluded in the first stage. At this stage, there was a large portion of irrelevant papers. Only 609 papers remained after this stage.

Abstract based search: At this stage, abstracts of the selected papers in the previous stage are studied and the papers are categorized for the analysis along with research approach. After this stage only 152 papers were left.

Full text based analysis: Empirical quality of the selected articles in the previous stage is evaluated at this stage. The analysis of full text of the article has been conducted. The total of 70 papers were extracted from 152 papers for primary study. Following questions are defined for the conduction of final data extraction.

Quality assessment criteria

Following are the criteria used to assess the quality of the selected primary studies. This quality assessment was conducted by two authors as explained above.

  • The study focuses on curricula, tools, approach, or assessments in DSE, the possible answers were Yes (1), No (0)
  • The study presents a solution to the problem in DSE, the possible answers to this question were Yes (1), Partially (0.5), No (0)
  • The study focuses on empirical results, Yes (1), No (0)

Score pattern of publication channels

Channel typeQuartile numberScore
Journal Quartile RankingQ12
Q21.5
Q31
Q40.5
Other0
Conference/Workshop/ Symposium/Core RankingCore A1.5
Core B1
Core C0.5
Other0

Almost 50.00% of papers had scored more than average and 33.33% of papers had scored between the average range i.e., 2.50–3.50. Some articles with the score below 2.50 have also been included in this study as they present some useful information and were published in education-based journals. Also, these studies discuss important demography and technology based aspects that are directly related to DSE.

Threats to validity

The validity of this study could be influenced by the following factors during the literature of this publication.

Construct validity

In this study this validity identifies the primary study for research (Elberzhager et al., 2012 ). To ensure that many primary studies have been included in this literature two authors have proposed possible search keywords in multiple repetitions. Search string is comprised of different terms related to DS and education. Though, list might be incomplete, count of final papers found can be changed by the alternative terms (Ampatzoglou et al., 2013 ). IEEE digital library, Science direct, ACM digital library, Wiley Online Library, PLOS, ArXiv and Google scholar are the main libraries where search is done. We believe according to the statistics of search engines of literature the most research can be found on these digital libraries (Garousi et al., 2013 ). Researchers also searched related papers in main DS research sites (VLDB, ICDM, EDBT) in order to minimize the risk of missing important publication.

Including the papers that does not belong to top journals or conferences may reduce the quality of primary studies in this research but it indicates that the representativeness of the primary studies is improved. However, certain papers which were not from the top publication sources are included because of their relativeness wisth the literature, even though they reduce the average score for primary studies. It also reduces the possibility of alteration of results which might have caused by the improper handling of duplicate papers. Some cases of duplications were found which were inspected later whether they were the same study or not. The two authors who have conducted the search has taken the final decision to the select the papers. If there is no agreement between then there must be discussion until an agreement is reached.

Internal validity

This validity deals with extraction and data analysis (Elberzhager et al., 2012 ). Two authors carried out the data extraction and primary studies classification. While the conflicts between them were resolved by involving a third author. The Kappa coefficient was 0.89, according to Landis and Koch ( 1977 ), this value indicates almost perfect level of agreement between the authors that reduces this threat significantly.

Conclusion validity

This threat deals with the identification of improper results which may cause the improper conclusions. In this case this threat deals with the factors like missing studies and wrong data extraction (Ampatzoglou et al., 2013 ). The objective of this is to limit these factors so that other authors can perform study and produce the proper conclusions (Elberzhager et al., 2012 ).

Interpretation of results might be affected by the selection and classification of primary studies and analyzing the selected study. Previous section has clearly described each step performed in primary study selection and data extraction activity to minimize this threat. The traceability between the result and data extracted was supported through the different charts. In our point of view, slight difference based on the publication selection and misclassification would not alter the main results.

External validity

This threat deals with the simplification of this research (Mateo et al., 2012 ). The results of this study were only considered that related to the DSE filed and validation of the conclusions extracted from this study only concerns the DSE context. The selected study representativeness was not affected because there was no restriction on time to find the published research. Therefore, this external validity threat is not valid in the context of this research. DS researchers can take search string and the paper classification scheme represented in this study as an initial point and more papers can be searched and categorized according to this scheme.

Analysis of compiled research articles

This section presents the analysis of the compiled research articles carefully selected for this study. It presents the findings with respect to the research questions described in Table ​ Table2 2 .

Selection results

A total of 70 papers were identified and analyzed for the answers of RQs described above. Table ​ Table6 6 represents a list of the nominated papers with detail of the classification results and their quality assessment scores.

Classification and quality assessment of selected articles

RefChannelYearResearch TypeabcdTotal
ToolsQuality Assessment
(Mcintyre et al., )Journal1995Review11024
(Abut & Ozturk, )Conference1997Experiment11002
(Yau & Karim, )Conference2003Experiment10.5012.5
(Pahl et al., )Journal2004Experiment11002
(Connolly et al., )Conference2005Experiment10.5113.5
(Regueras et al., )Conference2007Case Study11103
(Sciore, )Symposium2007Case Study1011.53.5
(Holliday & Wang, )Conference2009Experiment10.510.53
(Brusilovsky et al., )Journal2010Experiment11125
(Cvetanovic et al., )Journal2010Experiment11024
(Nelson & Fatimazahra, )Journal2010Review11013
(Wang et al., )Conference2010Experiment1101.53.5
(Nagataki et al., )Journal2013Experiment01124
(Yue, )Journal2013Experiment1111.54.5
(Abelló Gamazo et al., )Journal2016Experiment11125
(Taipalus & Perälä, )Symposium2019Review1111.54.5
MethodsQuality Assessment
(Dietrich & Urban, )Conference1996Review1101.53.5
(Urban & Dietrich, )Journal1997Experiment11002
(Nelson et al., )Workshop2003Review11002
(Amadio, )Conference2003Experiment10.510.53
(Connolly & Begg, )Journal2006Experiment11024
(Morien, )Journal2006Experiment10.5124.5
(Prince & Felder, )Journal2006Review00.5022.5
(Martinez-González & Duffing, )Journal2007Review11024
(Gudivada et al., )Conference2007Review10.5001.5
(Svahnberg et al., )Symposium2008Review1001.52.5
(Brusilovsky et al., )Conference2008Experiment10.511.54
(Dominguez & Jaime, )Journal2010Experiment11125
(Efendiouglu & Yelken )Journal2010Experiment11103
(Hou & Chen, )Conference2010Review10.5102.5
(Yuelan et al., )Conference2011Experiment10.5001.5
(Zheng & Dong, )Conference2011Review11013
(Al-Shuaily, )Workshop2012Review11103
(Juxiang & Zhihong, )Conference2012Review10.5001.5
(Chen et al., )Journal2012Review11125
(Martin et al., )Journal2013Review11125
(Rashid & Al-Radhy, )conference2014Review10.5102.5
(Wang & Chen, )Conference2014Experiment10102
(Dicheva et al., )Journal2015Review11013
(Rashid, )Journal2015Review10.5124.5
(Etemad & Küpçü, )Journal2018Experiment00.5123.5
(Kui et al., )Conference2018Experiment11013
(Taipalus et al., )Journal2018Review11024
(Zhang et al., )conference2018Experiment11103
(Shebaro, )Journal2018Review10.5102.5
(Cai & Gao, )Conference2019Review11002
(Kawash et al., )Symposium2020Experiment1111.54.5
(Taipalus & Seppänen, )Journal2020Review11125
(Canedo et al., )Journal2021Experiment11114
(Naik & Gajjar, )Journal2021Case Study11103
(Ko et al., )Journal2021Review11125
(Sibia et al., )Workshop 2022Case Study11103
CurriculumQuality Assessment
(Dean & Milani, )Conference1995Experiment10.510.53
(Urban & Dietrich, )Symposium2001Case Study1011.53.5
(Calero et al., )Journal2003Review11024
(Robbert & Ricardo, )Conference2003Review1101.53.5
(Adams et al., )Journal2004Experiment11002
(Conklin & Heinrichs, )Journal2005Review11103
(Dietrich et al., )Journal2008Case Study01124
(Luo et al., )Conference2008Experiment11103
(Marshall, )Conference2011Review11103
(Bhogal et al., )Workshop2012Case Study11002
(Picciano, )Journal2012Review11002
(Abid et al., )Journal2015Review11114
(Taipalus & Seppänen, )Journal2015Experiment11125
(Abourezq & Idrissi, )Journal2016Experiment1100.52.5
(Silva et al., )Conference2016Experiment1101.53.5
(Zhanquan et al., )Journal2016Review11103
(Mingyu et al., )Conference2017Experiment11103
(Andersson et al., )Conference2019Review10.5001.5

RQ1.Categorization of research work in DSE field

The analysis in this study reveals that the literature can be categorized as: Tools: any additional application that helps instructors in teaching and students in learning. Methods: any improvisation aimed at improving pedagogy or cognition. Curriculum: refers to the course content domains and their relative importance in a degree program, as shown in Fig.  3 .

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Taxonomy of DSE study types

Most of the articles provide a solution by gathering the data and also prove the novelty of their research through results. These papers are categorized as experiments w.r.t. their research types. Whereas, some of them case study papers which are used to generate an in depth, multifaceted understanding of a complex issue in its real-life context, while few others are review studies analyzing the previously used approaches. On the other hand, a majority of included articles have evaluated their results with the help of experiments, while others conducted reviews to establish an opinion as shown in Fig.  4 .

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Cross Mapping of DSE study type and research Types

Educational tools, especially those related to technology, are making their place in market faster than ever before (Calderon et al., 2011 ). The transition to active learning approaches, with the learner more engaged in the process rather than passively taking in information, necessitates a variety of tools to help ensure success. As with most educational initiatives, time should be taken to consider the goals of the activity, the type of learners, and the tools needed to meet the goals. Constant reassessment of tools is important to discover innovation and reforms that improve teaching and learning (Irby & Wilkerson, 2003 ). For this purpose, various type of educational tools such as, interactive, web-based and game based have been introduced to aid the instructors in order to explain the topic in more effective way.

The inclusion of technology into the classroom may help learners to compete in the competitive market when approaching the start of their career. It is important for the instructors to acknowledge that the students are more interested in using technology to learn database course instead of merely being taught traditional theory, project, and practice-based methods of teaching (Adams et al., 2004 ). Keeping these aspects in view many authors have done significant research which includes web-based and interactive tools to help the learners gain better understanding of basic database concepts.

Great research has been conducted with the focus of students learning. In this study we have discussed the students learning supportive with two major finding’s objectives i.e., tools which prove to be more helpful than other tools. Whereas, proposed tools with same outcome as traditional classroom environment. Such as, Abut and Ozturk ( 1997 ) proposed an interactive classroom environment to conduct database classes. The online tools such as electronic “Whiteboard”, electronic textbooks, advance telecommunication networks and few other resources such as Matlab and World Wide Web were the main highlights of their proposed smart classroom. Also, Pahl et al. ( 2004 ) presented an interactive multimedia-based system for the knowledge and skill oriented Web-based education of database course students. The authors had differentiated their proposed classroom environment from traditional classroom-based approach by using tool mediated independent learning and training in an authentic setting. On the other hand, some authors have also evaluated the educational tools based on their usage and impact on students’ learning. For example, Brusilovsky et al. ( 2010 )s evaluated the technical and conceptual difficulties of using several interactive educational tools in the context of a single course. A combined Exploratorium has been presented for database courses and an experimental platform, which delivers modified access to numerous types of interactive learning activities.

Also, Taipalus and Perälä ( 2019 ) investigated the types of errors that are persistent in writing SQL by the students. The authors also contemplated the errors while mapping them onto different query concepts. Moreover, Abelló Gamazo et al. ( 2016 ) presented a software tool for the e-assessment of relational database skills named LearnSQL. The proposed software allows the automatic and efficient e-learning and e-assessment of relational database skills. Apart from these, Yue ( 2013 ) proposed the database tool named Sakila as a unified platform to support instructions and multiple assignments of a graduate database course for five semesters. According to this study, students find this tool more useful and interesting than the highly simplified databases developed by the instructor, or obtained from textbook. On the other hand, authors have proposed tools with the main objective to help the student’s grip on the topic by addressing the pedagogical problems in using the educational tools. Connolly et al. ( 2005 ) discussed some of the pedagogical problems sustaining the development of a constructive learning environment using problem-based learning, a simulation game and interactive visualizations to help teach database analysis and design. Also, Yau and Karim ( 2003 ) proposed smart classroom with prevalent computing technology which will facilitate collaborative learning among the learners. The major aim of this smart classroom is to improve the quality of interaction between the instructors and students during lecture.

Student satisfaction is also an important factor for the educational tools to more effective. While it supports in students learning process it should also be flexible to achieve the student’s confidence by making it as per student’s needs (Brusilovsky et al., 2010 ; Connolly et al., 2005 ; Pahl et al., 2004 ). Also, Cvetanovic et al. ( 2010 ) has proposed a web-based educational system named ADVICE. The proposed solution helps the students to reduce the gap between DBMS, theory and its practice. On the other hand, authors have enhanced the already existing educational tools in the traditional classroom environment to addressed the student’s concerns (Nelson & Fatimazahra, 2010 ; Regueras et al., 2007 ) Table ​ Table7 7 .

Tools: Adopted in DSE and their impacts

ObjectiveFindingsReferencesTarget Topic/ exposition platform
Support of Students’ learningMore supportive• (Abut & Ozturk, )

• Data models and data modelling principles

• IDLE (the Interactive Database Learning Environment)

• (Pahl et al., )

• Data models

• IDLE

• (Brusilovsky et al., )

• SQL

• SQL-Knot, SQL-Lab

• Conceptual database design, Logical database design, Physical database design

• Online games

• SQL

• Interactive

• (Abbasi et al., )

• Relational Database

• LearnSQL

• (Yue, )

• Relational Calculus, XML generation, XPath, and XQuery

• Sakila

• (Nelson & Fatimazahra, )

• Introductory Database topics

• TLAD

Same as others• (Connolly et al., )

• Conceptual database design, Logical database design, Physical database design

• Online games

• (Yau & Karim, )

• Introductory Database topics

• RCSM

Students’ SatisfactionSatisfied• (Brusilovsky et al., )

• SQL

• SQL-Knot, SQL-Lab

• (Cvetanovic et al., )

• SQL, formal query languages, and normalization

• ADVICE

• (Connolly et al., )
• (Pahl et al., )

• Data models

• IDLE

Similar satisfaction as compared to traditional classroom environment• (Nelson & Fatimazahra, )

• Introductory Database topics

• TLAD

• (Regueras et al., )

• Entity Relationship Model

• QUEST

Students’ motivation towards database developmentSame impact as other approaches• (Nagataki et al., )

• SQL

• sAccess

Helped students to develop better database development strategies• (Brusilovsky et al., )

• SQL

• SQL-Knot, SQL-Lab

• (Mcintyre et al., )

• Relational Database Design

• Expert IT system

Students’ course performanceBetter performance• (Cvetanovic et al., )

• SQL, formal query languages, and normalization

• ADVICE

• (Wang et al., )

• Entity Relationship Model, SQL

• MeTube

• (Holliday & Wang, )

• MySQL

• MeTube

• (Taipalus & Perälä, )

• SQL

• Interactive

Same performance as other approaches• (Pahl et al., )

• Data models

• IDLE

• (Yue, )

• Relational Calculus, XML generation, XPath, and XQuery

• Sakila

Student and instructor interaction percentageIncreased• (Abut & Ozturk, )

• Introductory Database topics

• “Whiteboard”

• (Yau & Karim, )

• Introductory Database topics

• RCSM

• (Taipalus & Perälä, )

• SQL

• Interactive

Hands on database development is the main concern in most of the institute as well as in industry. However, tools assisting the students in database development and query writing is still major concern especially in SQL (Brusilovsky et al., 2010 ; Nagataki et al., 2013 ).

Student’s grades reflect their conceptual clarity and database development skills. They are also important to secure jobs and scholarships after passing out, which is why it is important to have the educational learning tools to help the students to perform well in the exams (Cvetanovic et al., 2010 ; Taipalus et al., 2018 ). While, few authors (Wang et al., 2010 ) proposed Metube which is a variation of YouTube. Subsequently, existing educational tools needs to be upgraded or replaced by the more suitable assessment oriented interactive tools to attend challenging students needs (Pahl et al., 2004 ; Yuelan et al., 2011 ).

One other objective of developing the educational tools is to increase the interaction between the students and the instructors. In the modern era, almost every institute follows the student centered learning(SCL). In SCL the interaction between students and instructor increases with most of the interaction involves from the students. In order to support SCL the educational based interactive and web-based tools need to assign more roles to students than the instructors (Abbasi et al., 2016 ; Taipalus & Perälä, 2019 ; Yau & Karim, 2003 ).

Theory versus practice is still one of the main issues in DSE teaching methods. The traditional teaching method supports theory first and then the concepts learned in the theoretical lectures implemented in the lab. Whereas, others think that it is better to start by teaching how to write query, which should be followed by teaching the design principles for database, while a limited amount of credit hours are also allocated for the general database theory topics. This part of the article discusses different trends of teaching and learning style along with curriculum and assessments methods discussed in DSE literature.

A variety of teaching methods have been designed, experimented, and evaluated by different researchers (Yuelan et al., 2011 ; Chen et al., 2012 ; Connolly & Begg, 2006 ). Some authors have reformed teaching methods based on the requirements of modern way of delivering lectures such as Yuelan et al. ( 2011 ) reform teaching method by using various approaches e.g. a) Modern ways of education: includes multimedia sound, animation, and simulating the process and working of database systems to motivate and inspire the students. b) Project driven approach: aims to make the students familiar with system operations by implementing a project. c) Strengthening the experimental aspects: to help the students get a strong grip on the basic knowledge of database and also enable them to adopt a self-learning ability. d) Improving the traditional assessment method: the students should turn in their research and development work as the content of the exam, so that they can solve their problem on their own.

The main aim of any teaching method is to make student learn the subject effectively. Student must show interest in order to gain something from the lectures delivered by the instructors. For this, teaching methods should be interactive and interesting enough to develop the interest of the students in the subject. Students can show interest in the subject by asking more relative questions or completing the home task and assignments on time. Authors have proposed few teaching methods to make topic more interesting such as, Chen et al. ( 2012 ) proposed a scaffold concept mapping strategy, which considers a student’s prior knowledge, and provides flexible learning aids (scaffolding and fading) for reading and drawing concept maps. Also, Connolly & Begg (200s6) examined different problems in database analysis and design teaching, and proposed a teaching approach driven by principles found in the constructivist epistemology to overcome these problems. This constructivist approach is based on the cognitive apprenticeship model and project-based learning. Similarly, Domínguez & Jaime ( 2010 ) proposed an active method for database design through practical tasks development in a face-to-face course. They analyzed results of five academic years using quasi experimental. The first three years a traditional strategy was followed and a course management system was used as material repository. On the other hand, Dietrich and Urban ( 1996 ) have described the use of cooperative group learning concepts in support of an undergraduate database management course. They have designed the project deliverables in such a way that students develop skills for database implementation. Similarly, Zhang et al. ( 2018 ) have discussed several effective classroom teaching measures from the aspects of the innovation of teaching content, teaching methods, teaching evaluation and assessment methods. They have practiced the various teaching measures by implementing the database technologies and applications in Qinghai University. Moreover, Hou and Chen ( 2010 ) proposed a new teaching method based on blending learning theory, which merges traditional and constructivist methods. They adopted the method by applying the blending learning theory on Access Database programming course teaching.

Problem solving skills is a key aspect to any type of learning at any age. Student must possess this skill to tackle the hurdles in institute and also in industry. Create mind and innovative students find various and unique ways to solve the daily task which is why they are more likeable to secure good grades and jobs. Authors have been working to introduce teaching methods to develop problem solving skills in the students(Al-Shuaily, 2012 ; Cai & Gao, 2019 ; Martinez-González & Duffing, 2007 ; Gudivada et al., 2007 ). For instance, Al-Shuaily ( 2012 ) has explored four cognitive factors such as i) Novices’ ability in understanding, ii) Novices’ ability to translate, iii) Novice’s ability to write, iv) Novices’ skills that might influence SQL teaching, and learning methods and approaches. Also, Cai and Gao ( 2019 ) have reformed the teaching method in the database course of two higher education institutes in China. Skills and knowledge, innovation ability, and data abstraction were the main objective of their study. Similarly, Martinez-González and Duffing ( 2007 ) analyzed the impact of convergence of European Union (EU) in different universities across Europe. According to their study, these institutes need to restructure their degree program and teaching methodologies. Moreover, Gudivada et al. ( 2007 ) proposed a student’s learning method to work with the large datasets. they have used the Amazon Web Services API and.NET/C# application to extract a subset of the product database to enhance student learning in a relational database course.

On the other hand, authors have also evaluated the traditional teaching methods to enhance the problem-solving skills among the students(Eaglestone & Nunes, 2004 ; Wang & Chen, 2014 ; Efendiouglu & Yelken, 2010 ) Such as, Eaglestone and Nunes ( 2004 ) shared their experiences of delivering a database design course at Sheffield University and discussed some of the issues they faced, regarding teaching, learning and assessments. Likewise, Wang and Chen ( 2014 ) summarized the problems mainly in teaching of the traditional database theory and application. According to the authors the teaching method is outdated and does not focus on the important combination of theory and practice. Moreover, Efendiouglu and Yelken ( 2010 ) investigated the effects of two different methods Programmed Instruction (PI) and Meaningful Learning (ML) on primary school teacher candidates’ academic achievements and attitudes toward computer-based education, and to define their views on these methods. The results show that PI is not favoured for teaching applications because of its behavioural structure Table ​ Table8 8 .

Methods: Teaching approaches adopted in DSE

ObjectiveFindingsReferencesTarget Topic/ Approach or Method
Develop interest in SubjectStudents begin to ask more relative questions• (Chen et al., )

• Data modeling, relational databases, database query languages

• Scaffolded Concept

• (Connolly & Begg, )

• Database concepts, Database Analysis and Design, Implementation

• Constructivist-Based Approach

• (Dominguez & Jaime, )

• Database design

• Project-based learning

• (Rashid & Al-Radhy, )

• Database Analysis and Design

• Project based learning, Assessment based learning

• (Yuelan et al., )

• Principles of Database, SQL Server

• Project-driven approach

• (Taipalus & Seppänen, )

• SQL

• Group learning and projects

• (Brusilovsky et al., )

• SQL

• SQL Exploratorium

• (Hou & Chen, )

• Access

• Blending Learning

Same effect as others traditional teaching methods• (Dietrich & Urban, )

• ER Model, Relational Design, SQL

• Teaching and learning strategies

• (Kui et al., )

• E-R model, relational model, SQL

• Flipped Classroom

• (Rashid, )

• Entity Relational Database, Relational Algebra, Normalization,

• Learning and Assessment Methods

• (Zhang et al., )

• Data Models, Physical Data Design

• Project teaching mode, Discussion teaching mode, Demonstrative teaching mode

Develop problem solving skillsStudents become creative and try new methods to solve tasks• (Al-Shuaily, )

• SQL

• Cognitive task, Comprehension Task

• (Cai & Gao, )

• E-R model, relational model, SQL

• Database Course for Liberal Arts Majors

• (Martin et al., )

• SQL and relational algebra, The relational model, Transaction management

• Collaborative Learning

• (Martinez-González & Duffing, )

• Data Models, Physical Data Design, SQL

• European convergence in higher education

• (Prince & Felder, )

• SQL

• Inductive teaching and learning

• (Urban & Dietrich, )

• Relational database mapping and prototyping, Database system implementation

• cooperative group project based learning

• (Gudivada et al., )

• SQL, Logical design, Physical Design

• Working with large datasets from Amazon

Use same methods as mentioned in books• (Eaglestone & Nunes, )

• SQL, ER Model

• Pedagogical model, teaching and learning strategies

• (Wang et al., )

• SQL Server and Oracle

• Refine Teaching Method

• (Efendiouglu & Yelken )

• SQL

• Programmed instruction and meaningful learning

Motivate students to explore topics through independent studyStudents begin to read books and internet to enhance their knowledge independently or in groups• (Cai & Gao, )

• SQL, E-R model, relational model

• Database Course for Liberal Arts Majors

• (Kawash et al., )

• SQL, Entity Relationship, Relational model

• Group Exams

• (Martin et al., )

• SQL, Relational Model, UML

• Collaborative Learning

• (Martinez-González & Duffing, )

• SQL, Data Models, Physical Data Design

• European convergence in higher education

• (Amadio, )

• SQL Programming

• Team Learning

Students stick to the course content• (Morien, )

• Entity modeling, relational modelling

• Teaching Reform

• (Eaglestone & Nunes, )

• SQL, ER Model

• Pedagogical model, teaching and learning strategies

• (Zheng & Dong, )

• SQL, ER Model

• Teaching Reform and Practice

Focus on theory and practical GapStudents begin to apply theoretical knowledge on developing database applications• (Al-Shuaily, )

• SQL

• Cognitive task, Comprehension Task

• (Etemad & Küpçü, )

• SQL

• cooperative group project-based learning

• (Svahnberg et al., )

• SQL

• Industrial project-based learning

• (Taipalus et al., )

• SQL

• Group learning and projects

• (Juxiang & Zhihong, )

• SQL, ER Model

• Computational Thinking

• (Connolly & Begg, )

• Database concepts, Database Analysis and Design, Implementation

• Constructivist-Based Approach

• (Rashid & Al-Radhy, )

• Database Analysis and Design

• Project based learning, Assessment based learning

• (Naik & Gajjar, )

• database designing, transaction management, SQL

• ENABLE, Project based learning

Students only focus on theory to clear exams• (Wang et al., )

• SQL Server and Oracle

• Refine Teaching Method

• (Zheng & Dong, )

• SQL, ER Model

• Teaching Reform and Practice

• (Nelson et al., )

• Advanced relational design, UML, data warehousing

• Teaching Methods, Assessment Methods

Students become creative and innovative when the try to study on their own and also from different resources rather than curriculum books only. In the modern era, there are various resources available on both online and offline platforms. Modern teaching methods must emphasize on making the students independent from the curriculum books and educate them to learn independently(Amadio et al., 2003 ; Cai & Gao, 2019 ; Martin et al., 2013 ). Also, in the work of Kawash et al. ( 2020 ) proposed he group study-based learning approach called Graded Group Activities (GGAs). In this method students team up in order to take the exam as a group. On the other hand, few studies have emphasized on course content to prepare students for the final exams such as, Zheng and Dong ( 2011 ) have discussed the issues of computer science teaching with particular focus on database systems, where different characteristics of the course, teaching content and suggestions to teach this course effectively have been presented.

As technology is evolving at rapid speed, so students need to have practical experience from the start. Basic theoretical concepts of database are important but they are of no use without its implementation in real world projects. Most of the students study in the institutes with the aim of only clearing the exams with the help of theoretical knowledge and very few students want to have practical experience(Wang & Chen, 2014 ; Zheng & Dong, 2011 ). To reduce the gap between the theory and its implementation, authors have proposed teaching methods to develop the student’s interest in the real-world projects (Naik & Gajjar, 2021 ; Svahnberg et al., 2008 ; Taipalus et al., 2018 ). Moreover, Juxiang and Zhihong ( 2012 ) have proposed that the teaching organization starts from application scenarios, and associate database theoretical knowledge with the process from analysis, modeling to establishing database application. Also, Svahnberg et al. ( 2008 ) explained that in particular conditions, there is a possibility to use students as subjects for experimental studies in DSE and influencing them by providing responses that are in line with industrial practice.

On the other hand, Nelson et al. ( 2003 ) evaluated the different teaching methods used to teach different modules of database in the School of Computing and Technology at the University of Sunder- land. They outlined suggestions for changes to the database curriculum to further integrate research and state-of-the-art systems in databases.

  • III. Curriculum

Database curriculum has been revisited many times in the form of guidelines that not only present the contents but also suggest approximate time to cover different topics. According to the ACM curriculum guidelines (Lunt et al., 2008 ) for the undergraduate programs in computer science, the overall coverage time for this course is 46.50 h distributed in such a way that 11 h is the total coverage time for the core topics such as, Information Models (4 core hours), Database Systems (3 core hours) and Data Modeling (4 course hours). Whereas, the remaining hours are allocated for elective topics such as Indexing, Relational Databases, Query Languages, Relational Database Design, Transaction Processing, Distributed Databases, Physical Database Design, Data Mining, Information Storage and Retrieval, Hypermedia, Multimedia Systems, and Digital Libraries(Marshall, 2012 ). While, according to the ACM curriculum guidelines ( 2013 ) for undergraduate programs in computer science, this course should be completed in 15 weeks with two and half hour lecture per week and lab session of four hours per week on average (Brady et al., 2004 ). Thus, the revised version emphasizes on the practice based learning with the help of lab component. Numerous organizations have exerted efforts in this field to classify DSE (Dietrich et al., 2008 ). DSE model curricula, bodies of knowledge (BOKs), and some standardization aspects in this field are discussed below:

Model curricula

There are standard bodies who set the curriculum guidelines for teaching undergraduate degree programs in computing disciplines. Curricula which include the guidelines to teach database are: Computer Engineering Curricula (CEC) (Meier et al., 2008 ), Information Technology Curricula (ITC) (Alrumaih, 2016 ), Computing Curriculum Software Engineering (CCSE) (Meyer, 2001 ), Cyber Security Curricula (CSC) (Brady et al., 2004 ; Bishop et al., 2017 ).

Bodies of knowledge (BOK)

A BOK includes the set of thoughts and activities related to the professional area, while in model curriculum set of guidelines are given to address the education issues (Sahami et al., 2011 ). Database body of Knowledge comprises of (a) The Data Management Body of Knowledge (DM- BOK), (b) Software Engineering Education Knowledge (SEEK) (Sobel, 2003 ) (Sobel, 2003 ), and (c) The SE body of knowledge (SWEBOK) (Swebok Evolution: IEEE Computer Society n.d. ).

Apart from the model curricula, and bodies of knowledge, there also exist some standards related to the database and its different modules: ISO/IEC 9075–1:2016 (Computing Curricula, 1991 ), ISO/IEC 10,026–1: 1998 (Suryn, 2003 ).

We also utilize advices from some studies (Elberzhager et al., 2012 ; Keele et al., 2007 ) to search for relevant papers. In order to conduct this systematic study, it is essential to formulate the primary research questions (Mushtaq et al., 2017 ). Since the data management techniques and software are evolving rapidly, the database curriculum should also be updated accordingly to meet these new requirements. Some authors have described ways of updating the content of courses to keep pace with specific developments in the field and others have developed new database curricula to keep up with the new data management techniques.

Furthermore, some authors have suggested updates for the database curriculum based on the continuously evolving technology and introduction of big data. For instance Bhogal et al. ( 2012 ) have shown that database curricula need to be updated and modernized, which can be achieved by extending the current database concepts that cover the strategies to handle the ever changing user requirements and how database technology has evolved to meet the requirements. Likewise, Picciano ( 2012 ) examines the evolving world of big data and analytics in American higher education. According to the author, the “data driven” decision making method should be used to help the institutes evaluate strategies that can improve retention and update the curriculum that has big data basic concepts and applications, since data driven decision making has already entered in the big data and learning analytic era. Furthermore, Marshall ( 2011 ) presented the challenges faced when developing a curriculum for a Computer Science degree program in the South African context that is earmarked for international recognition. According to the author, the Curricula needs to adhere both to the policy and content requirements in order to be rated as being of a particular quality.

Similarly, some studies (Abourezq & Idrissi, 2016 ; Mingyu et al., 2017 ) described big data influence from a social perspective and also proceeded with the gaps in database curriculum of computer science, especially, in the big data era and discovers the teaching improvements in practical and theoretical teaching mode, teaching content and teaching practice platform in database curriculum. Also Silva et al. ( 2016 ) propose teaching SQL as a general language that can be used in a wide range of database systems from traditional relational database management systems to big data systems.

On the other hand, different authors have developed a database curriculum based on the different academic background of students. Such as, Dean and Milani ( 1995 ) have recommended changes in computer science curricula based on the practice in United Stated Military Academy (USMA). They emphasized greatly on the practical demonstration of the topic rather than the theoretical explanation. Especially, for the non-computer science major students. Furthermore, Urban and Dietrich ( 2001 ) described the development of a second course on database systems for undergraduates, preparing students for the advanced database concepts that they will exercise in the industry. They also shared their experience with teaching the course, elaborating on the topics and assignments. Also, Andersson et al. ( 2019 ) proposed variations in core topics of database management course for the students with the engineering background. Moreover, Dietrich et al. ( 2014 ) described two animations developed with images and color that visually and dynamically introduce fundamental relational database concepts and querying to students of many majors. The goal is that the educators, in diverse academic disciplines, should be able to incorporate these animations in their existing courses to meet their pedagogical needs.

The information systems have evolved into large scale distributed systems that store and process a huge amount of data across different servers, and process them using different distributed data processing frameworks. This evolution has given birth to new paradigms in database systems domain termed as NoSQL and Big Data systems, which significantly deviate from conventional relational and distributed database management systems. It is pertinent to mention that in order to offer a sustainable and practical CS education, these new paradigms and methodologies as shown in Fig.  5 should be included into database education (Kleiner, 2015 ). Tables ​ Tables9 9 and ​ and10 10 shows the summarized findings of the curriculum based reviewed studies. This section also proposed appropriate text book based on the theory, project, and practice-based teaching methodology as shown in Table ​ Table9. 9 . The proposed books are selected purely on the bases of their usage in top universities around the world such as, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and, University of Singapore and the coverage of core topics mentioned in the database curriculum.

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Concepts in Database Systems Education (Kleiner, 2015 )

Recommended text books for DSE

MethodologyBook titleAuthor(s)EditionYear
TheoryDatabase Management SystemsRamakrishnan, Raghu, and Johannes Gehrke32002
Database Systems: The Complete BookGarcia-Molina, Ullman and Widom22008
Introduction to Database SystemsC. J. Date Addison-Wesley82003
Introduction to Database SystemsS. Bressan and B. Catania12005
Database system conceptsSilberschatz, A., Korth, H.F. and Sudarshan, S72019
A first course in database systemsUllman, J. and Widom, J32007
ProjectModern Database ManagementJeffrey A. Hoffer, Ramesh Venkataraman and HeikkiTopi122015
Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and ManagementThomas M. Connolly,Carolyn E. Begg62015
PracticeFundamentals of SQL ProgrammingR. A. Mata-Toledo and P. Cushman. Schaum’s12000
Readings in Database Systems (The Red Book)Hellerstein, Joseph, and Michael Stonebraker42005

Curriculum: Findings of Reviewed Literature

ObjectiveFindingsReferencesTopic(s)/ CurriculaStandard bodies
Recommendations and revisionsProposed variations based on the scope in the region• (Abourezq & Idrissi, )

• Big Data, SQL

• Computer Science Curricula

• CS 2008
• (Bhogal et al., )

• Big Data

• Computer Science/Engineering Curriculum

• CS 2008/CE 2004
• (Mingyu et al., )

• Big Data, NoSQL

• Computer Science Curricula

• CS 2013
• (Picciano, )

• Big Data

• Computer Science Curricula

• CS 2008
• (Silva et al., )

• Big Data, MapReduce, NoSQL

• and NewSQL

• Computer Science Curricula

• CS 2013
• (Calero et al., )

• Database Design, Database Administration, Database Application

• SWEBOK, DBBOK

• N/A
• (Conklin & Heinrichs, )

• Database theory and database practice

• Computer Science Curricula

• IS 2002

• CC2001

• CC2004

• (Zhanquan et al., )

• Database principles design

• Coursera, Udacity, edX

• N/A
• (Robbert & Ricardo, )

• Data Models, Physical Data Design, SQL

• Computer Science Curricula

• CC 2001
• (Luo et al., )

• SQL Server and Oracle

• Computer Science Curricula

• CC 2004
• (Dietrich & Urban, )

• Object oriented database (OODB) systems; object relational database (ORDB) systems

• Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Educational Materials Development (CCLI EMD)

• N/A
• (Marshall, )

• Data Models, Physical Data Design, Database Schema and Design, SQL

• CS-BoK

• N/A
Proposed variations based on the educational background of the students• (Dean & Milani, )

• SQL

• Computer Science Curricula

• ACM/IEEE Computing Curricula
• (Dietrich et al., )

• Relational Databases

• Computer Science Curricula

• CC 2008
• (Urban & Dietrich, )

• Relational algebra, Relational calculus, and SQL

• Engineering Curriculum 2000

• CC 2001
• (Andersson et al., )

• ER Model, Relational Model, SQL

• Engineering Curriculum

• CE 2000
Relating Curriculum to assessmentProposed variations based on the assessment methods• (Abid et al., )

• Data Models, Physical Data Design, Database Schema and Design, SQL

• Computer Science Curricula

• CS 2008
• (Adams et al., )

• ER, EER, and UML

• Computer Science Curricula

• CC 2001

RQ.2 Evolution of DSE research

This section discusses the evolution of database while focusing the DSE over the past 25 years as shown in Fig.  6 .

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Evolution of DSE studies

This study shows that there is significant increase in research in DSE after 2004 with 78% of the selected papers are published after 2004. The main reason of this outcome is that some of the papers are published in well-recognized channels like IEEE Transactions on Education, ACM Transactions on Computing Education, International Conference on Computer Science and Education (ICCSE), and Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Database (TLAD) workshop. It is also evident that several of these papers were published before 2004 and only a few articles were published during late 1990s. This is because of the fact that DSE started to gain interest after the introduction of Body of Knowledge and DSE standards. The data intensive scientific discovery has been discussed as the fourth paradigm (Hey et al., 2009 ): where the first involves empirical science and observations; second contains theoretical science and mathematically driven insights; third considers computational science and simulation driven insights; while the fourth involves data driven insights of modern scientific research.

Over the past few decades, students have gone from attending one-room class to having the world at their fingertips, and it is a great challenge for the instructors to develop the interest of students in learning database. This challenge has led to the development of the different types of interactive tools to help the instructors teach DSE in this technology oriented era. Keeping the importance of interactive tools in DSE in perspective, various authors have proposed different interactive tools over the years, such as during 1995–2003, when different authors proposed various interactive tools. Some studies (Abut & Ozturk, 1997 ; Mcintyre et al., 1995 ) introduced state of the art interactive tools to teach and enhance the collaborative learning among the students. Similarly, during 2004–2005 more interactive tools in the field of DSE were proposed such as Pahl et al. ( 2004 ), Connolly et al. ( 2005 ) introduced multimedia system based interactive model and game based collaborative learning environment.

The Internet has started to become more common in the first decade of the twenty-first century and its positive impact on the education sector was undeniable. Cost effective, student teacher peer interaction, keeping in touch with the latest information were the main reasons which made the instructors employ web-based tools to teach database in the education sector. Due to this spike in the demand of web-based tools, authors also started to introduce new instruments to assist with teaching database. In 2007 Regueras et al. ( 2007 ) proposed an e-learning tool named QUEST with a feedback module to help the students to learn from their mistakes. Similarly, in 2010, multiple authors have proposed and evaluated various web-based tools. Cvetanovic et al. ( 2010 ) proposed ADVICE with the functionality to monitor student’s progress, while, few authors (Wang et al., 2010 ) proposed Metube which is a variation of YouTube. Furthermore, Nelson and Fatimazahra ( 2010 ) evaluated different web-based tools to highlight the complexities of using these web-based instruments.

Technology has changed the teaching methods in the education sector but technology cannot replace teachers, and despite the amount of time most students spend online, virtual learning will never recreate the teacher-student bond. In the modern era, innovation in technology used in educational sectors is not meant to replace the instructors or teaching methods.

During the 1990s some studies (Dietrich & Urban, 1996 ; Urban & Dietrich, 1997 ) proposed learning and teaching methods respectively keeping the evolving technology in view. The highlight of their work was project deliverables and assignments where students progressively advanced to a step-by-step extension, from a tutorial exercise and then attempting more difficult extension of assignment.

During 2002–2007 various authors have discussed a number of teaching and learning methods to keep up the pace with the ever changing database technology, such as Connolly and Begg ( 2006 ) proposing a constructive approach to teach database analysis and design. Similarly, Prince and Felder ( 2006 ) reviewed the effectiveness of inquiry learning, problem based learning, project-based learning, case-based teaching, discovery learning, and just-in-time teaching. Also, McIntyre et al. (Mcintyre et al., 1995 ) brought to light the impact of convergence of European Union (EU) in different universities across Europe. They suggested a reconstruction of teaching and learning methodologies in order to effectively teach database.

During 2008–2013 more work had been done to address the different methods of teaching and learning in the field of DSE, like the work of Dominguez and Jaime ( 2010 ) who proposed an active learning approach. The focus of their study was to develop the interest of students in designing and developing databases. Also, Zheng and Dong ( 2011 ) have highlighted various characteristics of the database course and its teaching content. Similarly, Yuelan et al. ( 2011 ) have reformed database teaching methods. The main focus of their study were the Modern ways of education, project driven approach, strengthening the experimental aspects, and improving the traditional assessment method. Likewise, Al-Shuaily ( 2012 ) has explored 4 cognitive factors that can affect the learning process of database. The main focus of their study was to facilitate the students in learning SQL. Subsequently, Chen et al. ( 2012 ) also proposed scaffolding-based concept mapping strategy. This strategy helps the students to better understand database management courses. Correspondingly, Martin et al. ( 2013 ) discussed various collaborative learning techniques in the field of DSE while keeping database as an introductory course.

In the years between 2014 and 2021, research in the field of DSE increased, which was the main reason that the most of teaching, learning and assessment methods were proposed and discussed during this period. Rashid and Al-Radhy ( 2014 ) discussed the issues of traditional teaching, learning, assessing methods of database courses at different universities in Kurdistan and the main focus of their study being reformation issues, such as absence of teaching determination and contradiction between content and theory. Similarly, Wang and Chen ( 2014 ) summarized the main problems in teaching the traditional database theory and its application. Curriculum assessment mode was the main focus of their study. Eaglestone and Nunes ( 2004 ) shared their experiences of delivering a databases design course at Sheffield University. Their focus of study included was to teach the database design module to a diverse group of students from different backgrounds. Rashid ( 2015 ) discussed some important features of database courses, whereby reforming the conventional teaching, learning, and assessing strategies of database courses at universities were the main focus of this study. Kui et al. ( 2018 ) reformed the teaching mode of database courses based on flipped classroom. Initiative learning of database courses was their main focus in this study. Similarly, Zhang et al. ( 2018 ) discussed several effective classroom teaching measures. The main focus of their study was teaching content, teaching methods, teaching evaluation and assessment methods. Cai and Gao ( 2019 ) also carried out the teaching reforms in the database course of liberal arts. Diversified teaching modes, such as flipping classroom, case oriented teaching and task oriented were the focus of their study. Teaching Kawash et al. ( 2020 ) proposed a learning approach called Graded Group Activities (GGAs). Their main focus of the study was reforming learning and assessment method.

Database course covers several topics that range from data modeling to data implementation and examination. Over the years, various authors have given their suggestions to update these topics in database curriculum to meet the requirements of modern technologies. On the other hand, authors have also proposed a new curriculum for the students of different academic backgrounds and different areas. These reformations in curriculum helped the students in their preparation, practically and theoretically, and enabled them to compete in the competitive market after graduation.

During 2003 and 2006 authors have proposed various suggestions to update and develop computer science curriculum across different universities. Robbert and Ricardo ( 2003 ) evaluated three reviews from 1999 to 2002 that were given to the groups of educators. The focus of their study was to highlight the trends that occurred in database curriculum. Also, Calero et al. ( 2003 ) proposed a first draft for this Database Body of Knowledge (DBBOK). Database (DB), Database Design (DBD), Database Administration (DBAd), Database Application (DBAp) and Advance Databases (ADVDB) were the main focus of their study. Furthermore, Conklin and Heinrichs (Conklin & Heinrichs, 2005 ) compared the content included in 13 database textbooks and the main focus of their study was IS 2002, CC2001, and CC2004 model curricula.

The years from 2007 and 2011, authors managed to developed various database curricula, like Luo et al. ( 2008 ) developed curricula in Zhejiang University City College. The aim of their study to nurture students to be qualified computer scientists. Likewise, Dietrich et al. ( 2008 ) proposed the techniques to assess the development of an advanced database course. The purpose behind the addition of an advanced database course at undergraduate level was to prepare the students to respond to industrial requirements. Also, Marshall ( 2011 ) developed a new database curriculum for Computer Science degree program in the South African context.

During 2012 and 2021 various authors suggested updates for the database curriculum such as Bhogal et al. ( 2012 ) who suggested updating and modernizing the database curriculum. Data management and data analytics were the focus of their study. Similarly, Picciano ( 2012 ) examined the curriculum in the higher level of American education. The focus of their study was big data and analytics. Also, Zhanquan et al. ( 2016 ) proposed the design for the course content and teaching methods in the classroom. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) were the focus of their study. Likewise, Mingyu et al. ( 2017 ) suggested updating the database curriculum while keeping new technology concerning the database in perspective. The focus of their study was big data.

The above discussion clearly shows that the SQL is most discussed topic in the literature where more than 25% of the studies have discussed it in the previous decade as shown in Fig.  7 . It is pertinent to mention that other SQL databases such as Oracle, MS access are discussed under the SQL banner (Chen et al., 2012 ; Hou & Chen, 2010 ; Wang & Chen, 2014 ). It is mainly because of its ability to handle data in a relational database management system and direct implementation of database theoretical concepts. Also, other database topics such as transaction management, application programming etc. are also the main highlights of the topics discussed in the literature.

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Evolution of Database topics discussed in literature

Research synthesis, advice for instructors, and way forward

This section presents the synthesized information extracted after reading and analyzing the research articles considered in this study. To this end, it firstly contextualizes the tools and methods to help the instructors find suitable tools and methods for their settings. Similarly, developments in curriculum design have also been discussed. Subsequently, general advice for instructors have been discussed. Lastly, promising future research directions for developing new tools, methods, and for revising the curriculum have also been discussed in this section.

Methods, tools, and curriculum

Methods and tools.

Web-based tools proposed by Cvetanovic et al. ( 2010 ) and Wang et al. ( 2010 ) have been quite useful, as they are growing increasingly pertinent as online mode of education is prevalent all around the globe during COVID-19. On the other hand, interactive tools and smart class room methodology has also been used successfully to develop the interest of students in database class. (Brusilovsky et al., 2010 ; Connolly et al., 2005 ; Pahl et al., 2004 ; Canedo et al., 2021 ; Ko et al., 2021 ).

One of the most promising combination of methodology and tool has been proposed by Cvetanovic et al. ( 2010 ), whereby they developed a tool named ADVICE that helps students learn and implement database concepts while using project centric methodology, while a game based collaborative learning environment was proposed by Connolly et al. ( 2005 ) that involves a methodology comprising of modeling, articulation, feedback, and exploration. As a whole, project centric teaching (Connolly & Begg, 2006 ; Domínguez & Jaime, 2010 ) and teaching database design and problem solving skills Wang and Chen ( 2014 ), are two successful approaches for DSE. Whereas, other studies (Urban & Dietrich, 1997 ) proposed teaching methods that are more inclined towards practicing database concepts. While a topic specific approach has been proposed by Abbasi et al. ( 2016 ), Taipalus et al. ( 2018 ) and Silva et al. ( 2016 ) to teach and learn SQL. On the other hand, Cai and Gao ( 2019 ) developed a teaching method for students who do not have a computer science background. Lastly, some useful ways for defining assessments for DSE have been proposed by Kawash et al. ( 2020 ) and Zhang et al. ( 2018 ).

Curriculum of database adopted by various institutes around the world does not address how to teach the database course to the students who do not have a strong computer science background. Such as Marshall ( 2012 ), Luo et al. ( 2008 ) and Zhanquan et al. ( 2016 ) have proposed the updates in current database curriculum for the students who are not from computer science background. While Abid et al. ( 2015 ) proposed a combined course content and various methodologies that can be used for teaching database systems course. On the other hand, current database curriculum does not include the topics related to latest technologies in database domain. This factor was discussed by many other studies as well (Bhogal et al., 2012 ; Mehmood et al., 2020 ; Picciano, 2012 ).

Guidelines for instructors

The major conclusion of this study are the suggestions based on the impact and importance for instructors who are teaching DSE. Furthermore, an overview of productivity of every method can be provided by the empirical studies. These instructions are for instructors which are the focal audience of this study. These suggestions are subjective opinions after literature analysis in form of guidelines according to the authors and their meaning and purpose were maintained. According to the literature reviewed, various issues have been found in this section. Some other issues were also found, but those were not relevant to DSE. Following are some suggestions that provide interesting information:

Project centric and applied approach

  • To inculcate database development skills for the students, basic elements of database development need to be incorporated into teaching and learning at all levels including undergraduate studies (Bakar et al., 2011 ). To fulfill this objective, instructors should also improve the data quality in DSE by assigning the projects and assignments to the students where they can assess, measure and improve the data quality using already deployed databases. They should demonstrate that the quality of data is determined not only by the effective design of a database, but also through the perception of the end user (Mathieu & Khalil, 1997 )
  • The gap between the database course theory and industrial practice is big. Fresh graduate students find it difficult to cope up with the industrial pressure because of the contrast between what they have been taught in institutes and its application in industry (Allsopp et al., 2006 ). Involve top performers from classes in industrial projects so that they are able to acquiring sufficient knowledge and practice, especially for post graduate courses. There must be some other activities in which industry practitioners come and present the real projects and also share their industrial experiences with the students. The gap between theoretical and the practical sides of database has been identified by Myers and Skinner ( 1997 ). In order to build practical DS concepts, instructors should provide the students an accurate view of reality and proper tools.

Importance of software development standards and impact of DB in software success

  • They should have the strategies, ability and skills that can align the DSE course with the contemporary Global Software Development (GSD) (Akbar & Safdar, 2015 ; Damian et al., 2006 ).
  • Enable the students to explain the approaches to problem solving, development tools and methodologies. Also, the DS courses are usually taught in normal lecture format. The result of this method is that students cannot see the influence on the success or failure of projects because they do not realize the importance of DS activities.

Pedagogy and the use of education technology

  • Some studies have shown that teaching through play and practical activities helps to improve the knowledge and learning outcome of students (Dicheva et al., 2015 ).
  • Interactive classrooms can help the instructors to deliver their lecture in a more effective way by using virtual white board, digital textbooks, and data over network(Abut & Ozturk, 1997 ). We suggest that in order to follow the new concept of smart classroom, instructors should use the experience of Yau and Karim ( 2003 ) which benefits in cooperative learning among students and can also be adopted in DSE.
  • The instructors also need to update themselves with full spectrum of technology in education, in general, and for DSE, in particular. This is becoming more imperative as during COVID the world is relying strongly on the use of technology, particularly in education sector.

Periodic Curriculum Revision

  • There is also a need to revisit the existing series of courses periodically, so that they are able to offer the following benefits: (a) include the modern day database system concepts; (b) can be offered as a specialization track; (c) a specialized undergraduate degree program may also be designed.

DSE: Way forward

This research combines a significant work done on DSE at one place, thus providing a point to find better ways forward in order to improvise different possible dimensions for improving the teaching process of a database system course in future. This section discusses technology, methods, and modifications in curriculum would most impact the delivery of lectures in coming years.

Several tools have already been developed for effective teaching and learning in database systems. However, there is a great room for developing new tools. Recent rise of the notion of “serious games” is marking its success in several domains. Majority of the research work discussed in this review revolves around web-based tools. The success of serious games invites researchers to explore this new paradigm of developing useful tools for learning and practice database systems concepts.

Likewise, due to COVID-19 the world is setting up new norms, which are expected to affect the methods of teaching as well. This invites the researchers to design, develop, and test flexible tools for online teaching in a more interactive manner. At the same time, it is also imperative to devise new techniques for assessments, especially conducting online exams at massive scale. Moreover, the researchers can implement the idea of instructional design in web-based teaching in which an online classroom can be designed around the learners’ unique backgrounds and effectively delivering the concepts that are considered to be highly important by the instructors.

The teaching, learning and assessment methods discussed in this study can help the instructors to improve their methods in order to teach the database system course in a better way. It is noticed that only 16% of authors have the assessment methods as their focus of study, which clearly highlights that there is still plenty of work needed to be done in this particular domain. Assessment techniques in the database course will help the learners to learn from their mistakes. Also, instructors must realize that there is a massive gap between database theory and practice which can only be reduced with maximum practice and real world database projects.

Similarly, the technology is continuously influencing the development and expansion of modern education, whereas the instructors’ abilities to teach using online platforms are critical to the quality of online education.

In the same way, the ideas like flipped classroom in which students have to prepare the lesson prior to the class can be implemented on web-based teaching. This ensures that the class time can be used for further discussion of the lesson, share ideas and allow students to interact in a dynamic learning environment.

The increasing impact of big data systems, and data science and its anticipated impact on the job market invites the researchers to revisit the fundamental course of database systems as well. There is a need to extend the boundaries of existing contents by including the concepts related to distributed big data systems data storage, processing, and transaction management, with possible glimpse of modern tools and technologies.

As a whole, an interesting and long term extension is to establish a generic and comprehensive framework that engages all the stakeholders with the support of technology to make the teaching, learning, practicing, and assessing easier and more effective.

This SLR presents review on the research work published in the area of database system education, with particular focus on teaching the first course in database systems. The study was carried out by systematically selecting research papers published between 1995 and 2021. Based on the study, a high level categorization presents a taxonomy of the published under the heads of Tools, Methods, and Curriculum. All the selected articles were evaluated on the basis of a quality criteria. Several methods have been developed to effectively teach the database course. These methods focus on improving learning experience, improve student satisfaction, improve students’ course performance, or support the instructors. Similarly, many tools have been developed, whereby some tools are topic based, while others are general purpose tools that apply for whole course. Similarly, the curriculum development activities have also been discussed, where some guidelines provided by ACM/IEEE along with certain standards have been discussed. Apart from this, the evolution in these three areas has also been presented which shows that the researchers have been presenting many different teaching methods throughout the selected period; however, there is a decrease in research articles that address the curriculum and tools in the past five years. Besides, some guidelines for the instructors have also been shared. Also, this SLR proposes a way forward in DSE by emphasizing on the tools: that need to be developed to facilitate instructors and students especially post Covid-19 era, methods: to be adopted by the instructors to close the gap between the theory and practical, Database curricula update after the introduction of emerging technologies such as big data and data science. We also urge that the recognized publication venues for database research including VLDB, ICDM, EDBT should also consider publishing articles related to DSE. The study also highlights the importance of reviving the curricula, tools, and methodologies to cater for recent advancements in the field of database systems.

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Advances in Databases and Information Systems

  • Published: 27 December 2017
  • Volume 20 , pages 1–6, ( 2018 )

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  • Ladjel Bellatreche 1 ,
  • Patrick Valduriez 2 &
  • Tadeusz Morzy 3  

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1 Introduction

The success stories of the database technology keep companies continuously demanding more and more efficient services related to two principal entities: data and queries . The services dedicated to data concern mainly the following tasks: collecting, cleaning, filtering, integration, sharing, storing, transferring, visualizing, analyzing, securing. Regarding queries, services are often concentrated on processing, optimizing, personalizing and recommending. These services of both entities have to be revisited and extended to deal with the dimensions brought by Big Data Era and the new requirements of companies in the contexts of globalization, competition and climate change.

While (Huang et al. 2017 ) point out the seven V’s of Big Data, we would like to highlight four dimensions characterized by four V’s of Big Data, that challenges the traditional solutions of databases, in terms of data acquisition, storage, management and analysis. The first V concerns the Volume of data generated by traditional and new providers. To illustrate the data deluge, let consider three examples of data providers: Footnote 1 (i) the massive use of sensors (e.g. 10 Terabyte of data are generated by planes every 30 minutes), (ii) the massive use of social networks (e.g., 340 million tweets per day), (iii) transactions (Walmart handles more than 1 million customer transactions every hour, which is imported into databases estimated to contain more than 2.5 Peta-bytes of data). The second V is associated to the Variety, where data may come from various data sources, in different formats such as transactions, log data, social network, sensors, etc. from various applications, structured data as database table, semi-structured data such as XML data, unstructured data such as text, images, video streams, audio statement, and more. The third V is about the Velocity, where large amounts of data from transactions with high refresh rate resulting in data streams coming at great speed. The time to act on the basis of these data streams will often be very short. Consequently, the traditional batch processing has to move to real time streaming. The fourth V that got little attention is related to Vocabulary used to describe schemes, data models, semantics, ontologies, taxonomies, and other content- and context-based metadata that describe the data’s structure, syntax, content, and provenance.

The traditional database non-functional requirements were mainly focused on (i) improving low-latency query processing to satisfy the needs of end users (e.g., decision makers), (ii) minimizing the maintenance cost of the databases and optimization structures (e.g. indexes and materialized views) and (iii) better usage of the storage cost dedicated to store the optimization structures have been considered. These requirements have been enriched by new ones; mainly motivated by the development of green computing and services delivered by Cloud Computing. This for some years now, the international community regrouping states, governments, associations, and users has been closely involved in climate change by proposing initiatives to limit global warming. The database community has spared no effort propose initiatives in this sense. As a consequence, the reduction of energy has become a new non-functional requirement integrated in the processes of design and the exploitation of database and information systems (Roukh et al. 2017 ). The Claremont report on database research states the importance of designing power-aware DBMSs that limit energy costs without sacrificing scalability. This is also echoed in the more recent Beckman report on databases, which considers the energy constrained processing as a challenging issue in Big Data (Abadi et al. 2016 ). Another non-functional requirement that emerges with the development of Cloud computing is the pricing (Pay-as-You-Go) (Toosi et al. 2016 ). This is because Cloud computing providers offer numerous on-line services based on SLA (Service Level Agreement) between them and their customers.

Considerations above open the door to innovative research directions and challenges for the database research community, yet exploiting two opportunities: (i) computational and storage resource modeling and organization; (ii) Big Data programming models and (iii) processing power. This can be accomplished by means of actual powerful hardware and infrastructures as well as new programming models available at now.

Opportunity 1

The database storage systems are evolving towards decentralized commodity clusters that can scale in terms of capacity, processing power, and network throughput. The efforts that have been deployed to design such systems share simultaneously physical resources and data between applications. Cloud computing largely contributed in augmenting sharing capabilities of these systems thanks to their nice characteristics: elasticity , flexibility , on-demand storage and computing services .

Opportunity 2

Despite the data deluge and spectacular power of machines, traditional programming languages show their limitations. A new generation of programming models has been proposed, known by Big Data programming models (Wu et al. 2017 ). They represent the style of programming and present the interface paradigm for developers to write big data application programs (Wu et al. 2017 ). A nice classification of these programming paradigms is given in Wu et al. ( 2017 ). The authors distinguished eight classes of programming models: (1) Mapreduce (e.g. Hadoop), (2) functional (e.g. Spark, Flink), (3) SQL-based (e.g. HiveQL, SparkSQL), Actor (e.g., Akka, Storm), (5) statistical and analytical (e.g. R, Mahout), (6) dataflow (e.g. Oozie, Dryad), (7) Bulk Synchronous Parallel (BSP) (e.g. Giraph, Hama) and hogh-level DSL (e.g. Pig Latin, Linq).

Opportunity 3

Traditionally, storage systems managed databases that were primarily stored on secondary storage and only a small part of the data could fit in main memory. Therefore, disk Input-Output (IO) was the dominating cost factor. Nowadays, it is possible to equip servers with several terabytes of main memory, which allows us to keep databases in main memory to avoid the IO bottleneck (Arnold et al. 2014 ). Therefore, the performance of databases became limited by memory access and processing power (Breß et al. 2014 ). Many heterogeneous devices (e.g. GPU, FPGA, APU) are available and can be used in parallel in order to process database operations, where each processor is optimized for a certain application scenario (Breß et al. 2014 , 2016 ).

The database community, including researchers, industrials and funding organizations has spared no effort to conduct advanced research, by exploiting the achievements and above opportunities, to satisfy the requirements of companies in terms of data management and exploitation.

In the rest of this article, we first discuss some specific research challenges around the databases. We also present, in Section  3 , some of the latest development in this research area. We particularly report four research papers addressing different aspects of the database challenges.

2 Databases Research Challenges

The database and information systems technologies raise a good number of research challenges and in this section, we will discuss some of the most important ones, which are related to ADBIS conference, which represents the origin of this special section.

The ADBIS conference is one of concrete examples of these efforts. The ADBIS conference has been widely accepted as a key technology for enterprises and organizations to improve their abilities in data modeling, data management, data exploitation and information systems. The ADBIS conference has attracted the international interest of the research community and is being mentioned in several ranking lists and indexed in several digital libraries (e.g. DBLP, Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic Search).

The first challenge we would like to discuss is the management of evolution of new advanced databases. Methodologies and techniques used for designing advanced databases (data integration systems, data warehouses, data marts, etc.), research developments, and most of the commercially available technologies tacitly assumed that a semantic integration system is static (Bellatreche and Wrembel 2013 ). In practice, however, this assumption turned out to be false. An advanced database system requires changes among others as the result of: (1) the evolution of data sources, (2) changes of the real world represented in an integration system, (3) the evolution of domain ontologies and knowledge bases (such as DBpedia, FreeBase, Linked Open Data Cloud, Yago, etc.) usually involved in the construction of these databases, (4) new user requirements, and (5) creating simulation scenarios (what-if analysis).

As reported in the literature, structures of data sources change frequently. For example, during the last 4 years, the schema of Wikipedia changed every 9–10 days, on the average. From our experience, schemas of data sources may change even more frequently. For example, telecommunication data sources changed their schemas every 7–13 days, on the average. Banking data sources are more stable but they changed their schemas every 2–4 weeks, on the average. Changes in the structures of data sources impact all the layers of advanced database systems. Since such changes are frequent, developing solutions and tools for handling them automatically or semi-automatically is of high practical importance.

The data cleaning , also called data cleansing or scrubbing represents a serious challenge when integrating data from various sources (Rahm and Do 2000 ). It aims at detecting and removing errors and inconsistencies from data in order to improve the quality of data. Data cleaning is especially required when integrating heterogeneous data sources and should be addressed together with schema-related data transformations. In data warehouses, data cleaning is a major part of the so-called ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process. The first task of an ETL process is to extract data from multiple data sources, typically into a Data Staging Area (DSA). Once data are available in a DSA, the second phase is to perform data quality checks and transformations in order to make data clean and consistent with the structure of a materialized integration system. Finally, the third phase is to load data into an integration system. The ETL process is error-prone and cause significant downtime; especially, when it deals with a deluge of data issued from various and heterogeneous data sources. The causes of these errors concern mainly availability of data sources, reading, writing, incomplete data, duplicate, system crash or power outage machine hosted ETL, etc. The development of rigorous of testing procedure before the loading task contributes in increasing the quality of data integration systems.

A connected issue to the ETL quality concern its performance. It should be noticed that ETL processes are performed outside DBMS. An ETL process is typically implemented as a work-flow, where various tasks (a.k.a. activities or operations), which process data, are connected by data flows (Ali and Wrembel 2017 ). Optimizing this work-flow is one of important challenges for ETL research community, especially, in Big Data Era, where various sources are involved in the integration process, with a deluge of data. The recourse to Big Data programming models are highly recommended (Ali and Wrembel 2017 ).

The fourth challenge is related the vocabulary brought by Big Data. The vocabulary has a great role in designing new applications requiring semantics. Let us consider the example of an emerging topic which is the Cultural Heritage that faces an array of challenges. Scientific researchers, organizations, associations, schools are looking for relevant technologies for accessing, integrating, sharing, annotating, visualizing, analyzing the mine of cultural collections by considering profiles and preferences of end users. Most cultural information systems today process data based on the syntactic level without leveraging the rich semantic structures underlying the content. Moreover, they use multiple thesauri without a formal connection between them. This situation has been identified in the 90’s when the need to build a unique interface to access huge collection of data has appeared. During the last decades, Semantic Web solutions have been proposed to explicit the semantic of data sources and make their content machine understandable and interoperable. Efforts on integrating the Web Semantic technology in the Cultural Heritage have to be taken, by constructing adequate ontologies and vocabularies (Markhoff et al. 2017 ).

Finally, another challenge that has to be addressed is the development of cost models evaluating the non-functional requirements. Generally speaking, a cost model ( \(\mathcal {CM}\) ) can be seen as a mathematical function with input parameters and as an output the value of the measured cost in terms of response time, size and/or energy. A \(\mathcal {CM}\) has five main roles: (i) it selects the best query plans (Andrès et al. 1995 ), (ii) it guides algorithms to select optimization structures such as indexes, materialized views, etc. Bellatreche et al. ( 2000 ), (iii) it is used to deploy a database in advanced platforms (parallel, Cloud, etc.) Kunjir et al. ( 2017 ), (iv) it is used by advisory tools to assist database administrators in various of systems tuning and physical design (Chaudhuri and Narasayya 1998 ) and (v) self-driving database management systems (Pavlo et al. 2017 ). A \(\mathcal {CM}\) is difficult to develop, since it includes several parameters belonging to databases, platforms, DBMS, queries, devices, etc. Ouared et al. ( 2016 ). The evolution of non-functional requirements, databases, processing devises, storage systems, etc. pushes the database community to propose methodologies and guidelines to construct, calibrate and validate \(\mathcal {CM}\) s.

3 Papers in this Special Section

We got 14 papers for our special section distributed as follows:

two papers from the main conference ADBIS (Morzy et al. 2015 );

the best paper of each ADBIS workshop. It should be noticed that MEBIS and GIG Workshops were merged. In total, we got 6 papers from ADBIS workshops;

six papers from our open call.

Authors of selected papers (from ADBIS main conference and its workshops) were invited to submit an extended version with at least 30% difference in technical content. These papers were evaluated by at least two reviewers. After a second round of reviews, we finally accepted four papers. Thus, the relative acceptance rate for the papers included in this special section is competitive (28.5%). Needless to say, these four papers represent innovative and high quality research. The topics of these accepted papers are very timely and include: Big Data Applications and Principles, Evolving Business Intelligence Systems, Cultural Heritage Preservation and Enhancement and database evolution management.

We congratulate the authors of these four papers and thank all authors who submitted articles to ADBIS 2014 and our special section. It should be noticed that certain papers used case studies issued from international projects funded either by European Commission or German Research Foundation.

The four selected papers are summarized as follows:

The first paper titled: Evaluating Queries and Updates on Big XML Documents by Carlo Sartiani, Nicole Bidoit, Dario Colazzo and Noor Malla presents Andromeda – a system able to execute a subcategory of iterative and update XQuery Queries over MapReduce (Sartiani et al. 2018 ). This subcategory is identified as queries that iterate over forward XPaths, and can therefore easily be distributed by partitioning the document according to these paths. The authors described the global architecture, the basic principle and the used algorithms of Andromeda . The basic idea of this system is to dynamically and/or statically partition the input data to leverage on the parallelism of a Map/Reduce cluster and to increase the scalability. A great effort on formalization of iterative XQuery queries and updates has to be highlighted. Two partitioning algorithms are given for iterative XQuery queries and updates, respectively. Intensive experiments have been conducted on a multi-tenant cluster composed of a single master machine and 100 slave machines. Two distinct datasets have been used covering iterative and updates queries. The proposal is compared against the existing systems such as BaseX.

The second paper titled: Dependency Modelling for Inconsistency Management in Digital Preservation - The PERICLES Approach , by Nikolaos Lagos, Marina Riga, Panagiotis Mitzias, Jean-Yves Vion-Dury, Efstratios Kontopoulos, Simon Waddington, Georgios Meditskos, Pip Laurenson, and Ioannis Kompatsiaris presents an important aspect of the PERICLES project: the Linked Resource Model (LRM). A conceptual model to handle contextual and environmental constraints, focusing on the preservation of cultural heritage is presented (Lagos et al. 2018 ). In the proposed approach, models provide an abstract representation of essential aspects of the environment. The goal is to model details of dependencies concerning components of the artwork. For instance, a dependency between MS Visio and JPEG objects. The LRM provides concepts that allow recording when a change is triggered and its impact on other entities. Here the LRM is extended by links to other existing ontologies giving rise to Digital Video Art (DVA), a domain-specific model. Examples of automatic reasoning and handling of inconsistencies are given, based on the use of SPIN. The presented case study concerns the preservation of video art and considers the problem of how technology changes are managed and traced over time. The particularity of this paper is its usage of a domain-independent ontology (LRM), combined with domain-specific ontology, to model changes to video art. It also applied to in detecting inconsistencies. This work presents one of the key outcomes of the PERICLES FP7 project ( http://pericles-project.eu/ ).

The third paper entitled Robust and Simple Database Evolution , by Kai Herrmann, Hannes Voigt, Jonas Rausch, Andreas Behrend and Wolfgang Lehner presents a domain specific language (DSL), named CoDEL, to support the database evolution process. Apart from the language concepts and syntax, the authors prove that their language is as expressive as the relational algebra. The paper starts from a very important and real supposition that, nowadays, the process of software evolution including updates to meet frequent changes of the user requirements is much better supported than the process of database evolution. The main argument given by the authors of this paper is based on the fact that the database evolution process often presents a major bottleneck in the whole software evolution process (Herrmann et al. 2018 ). CoDEL is a well-defined relationally complete database evolution language and consequently, it can serve as a reference language for productive implementations of database evolution in DBMSs or as foundation for further support of database evolution. As an example, the authors present semi-automatic variant co-evolution. This work is funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; DFG) within the RoSI research training group (GRK 1907).

The fourth paper titled ETL Workflow Reparation by Means of Case-Based Reasoning , by Artur Wojciechowski presents a topic of high interest dealing with the following problem: How to cope with data source evolution in the ETL context? The paper proposes a prototype ETL framework, called E-ETL for repairing ETL workows semi automatically when structural changes in data sources occur (Wojciechowski 2018 ). The framework is based on a Case-Based Reasoning method. It consists of two main algorithms: (1) Case Detection Algorithm and (2) Best Case Searching Algorithm for choosing the most appropriate case. A test case scenario is presented for illustrating the approach. An experimental evaluation of the approach with respect to its performance is presented, for 6 different factors influencing the performance.

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Acknowledgments

We hope readers will find the content of this special section interesting and will inspire them to look further into the challenges that are still ahead before designing and exploiting advanced database and information systems.

The guest editors of this special section wish to express their sincere gratitude to all the authors who submitted their papers to this special section. We are also grateful to the Reviewing Committee for the hard work and the feedback provided to the authors. As guest editors of this special section, we also wish to express our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief: Professor R. Ramesh and Professor H.R. Rao for the opportunity to edit this special section for our ADBIS conference, their assistance during the special section preparation, and for giving the authors the opportunity to publish their work in Information Systems Frontiers. We would like to mention that it is the first time that ADBIS conference organizes a special section for Information Systems Frontiers Journal, Springer, and this coincides with the first French organization of ADBIS in 2015 in Poitiers City . Last but not least, we wish to thank the Journal’s staff for their assistance and suggestions.

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Bellatreche, L., Valduriez, P. & Morzy, T. Advances in Databases and Information Systems. Inf Syst Front 20 , 1–6 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-017-9819-2

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Design and implementation of declarative programming languages with applications to distributed systems, networking, machine learning, metadata management, and interactive visualization; design of query interface for applications.

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Finding an ideal big data research topic can take you a long time. Big data, IoT, and robotics have evolved. The future generations will be immersed in major technologies that will make work easier. Work that was done by 10 people will now be done by one person or a machine. This is amazing because, in as much as there will be job loss, more jobs will be created. It is a win-win for everyone.

Big data is a major topic that is being embraced globally. Data science and analytics are helping institutions, governments, and the private sector. We will share with you the best big data research topics.

On top of that, we can offer you the best writing tips to ensure you prosper well in your academics. As students in the university, you need to do proper research to get top grades. Hence, you can consult us if in need of research paper writing services.

Big Data Analytics Research Topics for your Research Project

Are you looking for an ideal big data analytics research topic? Once you choose a topic, consult your professor to evaluate whether it is a great topic. This will help you to get good grades.

  • Which are the best tools and software for big data processing?
  • Evaluate the security issues that face big data.
  • An analysis of large-scale data for social networks globally.
  • The influence of big data storage systems.
  • The best platforms for big data computing.
  • The relation between business intelligence and big data analytics.
  • The importance of semantics and visualization of big data.
  • Analysis of big data technologies for businesses.
  • The common methods used for machine learning in big data.
  • The difference between self-turning and symmetrical spectral clustering.
  • The importance of information-based clustering.
  • Evaluate the hierarchical clustering and density-based clustering application.
  • How is data mining used to analyze transaction data?
  • The major importance of dependency modeling.
  • The influence of probabilistic classification in data mining.

Interesting Big Data Analytics Topics

Who said big data had to be boring? Here are some interesting big data analytics topics that you can try. They are based on how some phenomena are done to make the world a better place.

  • Discuss the privacy issues in big data.
  • Evaluate the storage systems of scalable in big data.
  • The best big data processing software and tools.
  • Data mining tools and techniques are popularly used.
  • Evaluate the scalable architectures for parallel data processing.
  • The major natural language processing methods.
  • Which are the best big data tools and deployment platforms?
  • The best algorithms for data visualization.
  • Analyze the anomaly detection in cloud servers
  • The scrutiny normally done for the recruitment of big data job profiles.
  • The malicious user detection in big data collection.
  • Learning long-term dependencies via the Fourier recurrent units.
  • Nomadic computing for big data analytics.
  • The elementary estimators for graphical models.
  • The memory-efficient kernel approximation.

Big Data Latest Research Topics

Do you know the latest research topics at the moment? These 15 topics will help you to dive into interesting research. You may even build on research done by other scholars.

  • Evaluate the data mining process.
  • The influence of the various dimension reduction methods and techniques.
  • The best data classification methods.
  • The simple linear regression modeling methods.
  • Evaluate the logistic regression modeling.
  • What are the commonly used theorems?
  • The influence of cluster analysis methods in big data.
  • The importance of smoothing methods analysis in big data.
  • How is fraud detection done through AI?
  • Analyze the use of GIS and spatial data.
  • How important is artificial intelligence in the modern world?
  • What is agile data science?
  • Analyze the behavioral analytics process.
  • Semantic analytics distribution.
  • How is domain knowledge important in data analysis?

Big Data Debate Topics

If you want to prosper in the field of big data, you need to try even hard topics. These big data debate topics are interesting and will help you to get a better understanding.

  • The difference between big data analytics and traditional data analytics methods.
  • Why do you think the organization should think beyond the Hadoop hype?
  • Does the size of the data matter more than how recent the data is?
  • Is it true that bigger data are not always better?
  • The debate of privacy and personalization in maintaining ethics in big data.
  • The relation between data science and privacy.
  • Do you think data science is a rebranding of statistics?
  • Who delivers better results between data scientists and domain experts?
  • According to your view, is data science dead?
  • Do you think analytics teams need to be centralized or decentralized?
  • The best methods to resource an analytics team.
  • The best business case for investing in analytics.
  • The societal implications of the use of predictive analytics within Education.
  • Is there a need for greater control to prevent experimentation on social media users without their consent?
  • How is the government using big data; for the improvement of public statistics or to control the population?

University Dissertation Topics on Big Data

Are you doing your Masters or Ph.D. and wondering the best dissertation topic or thesis to do? Why not try any of these? They are interesting and based on various phenomena. While doing the research ensure you relate the phenomenon with the current modern society.

  • The machine learning algorithms are used for fall recognition.
  • The divergence and convergence of the internet of things.
  • The reliable data movements using bandwidth provision strategies.
  • How is big data analytics using artificial neural networks in cloud gaming?
  • How is Twitter accounts classification done using network-based features?
  • How is online anomaly detection done in the cloud collaborative environment?
  • Evaluate the public transportation insights provided by big data.
  • Evaluate the paradigm for cancer patients using the nursing EHR to predict the outcome.
  • Discuss the current data lossless compression in the smart grid.
  • How does online advertising traffic prediction helps in boosting businesses?
  • How is the hyperspectral classification done using the multiple kernel learning paradigm?
  • The analysis of large data sets downloaded from websites.
  • How does social media data help advertising companies globally?
  • Which are the systems recognizing and enforcing ownership of data records?
  • The alternate possibilities emerging for edge computing.

The Best Big Data Analysis Research Topics and Essays

There are a lot of issues that are associated with big data. Here are some of the research topics that you can use in your essays. These topics are ideal whether in high school or college.

  • The various errors and uncertainty in making data decisions.
  • The application of big data on tourism.
  • The automation innovation with big data or related technology
  • The business models of big data ecosystems.
  • Privacy awareness in the era of big data and machine learning.
  • The data privacy for big automotive data.
  • How is traffic managed in defined data center networks?
  • Big data analytics for fault detection.
  • The need for machine learning with big data.
  • The innovative big data processing used in health care institutions.
  • The money normalization and extraction from texts.
  • How is text categorization done in AI?
  • The opportunistic development of data-driven interactive applications.
  • The use of data science and big data towards personalized medicine.
  • The programming and optimization of big data applications.

The Latest Big Data Research Topics for your Research Proposal

Doing a research proposal can be hard at first unless you choose an ideal topic. If you are just diving into the big data field, you can use any of these topics to get a deeper understanding.

  • The data-centric network of things.
  • Big data management using artificial intelligence supply chain.
  • The big data analytics for maintenance.
  • The high confidence network predictions for big biological data.
  • The performance optimization techniques and tools for data-intensive computation platforms.
  • The predictive modeling in the legal context.
  • Analysis of large data sets in life sciences.
  • How to understand the mobility and transport modal disparities sing emerging data sources?
  • How do you think data analytics can support asset management decisions?
  • An analysis of travel patterns for cellular network data.
  • The data-driven strategic planning for citywide building retrofitting.
  • How is money normalization done in data analytics?
  • Major techniques used in data mining.
  • The big data adaptation and analytics of cloud computing.
  • The predictive data maintenance for fault diagnosis.

Interesting Research Topics on A/B Testing In Big Data

A/B testing topics are different from the normal big data topics. However, you use an almost similar methodology to find the reasons behind the issues. These topics are interesting and will help you to get a deeper understanding.

  • How is ultra-targeted marketing done?
  • The transition of A/B testing from digital to offline.
  • How can big data and A/B testing be done to win an election?
  • Evaluate the use of A/B testing on big data
  • Evaluate A/B testing as a randomized control experiment.
  • How does A/B testing work?
  • The mistakes to avoid while conducting the A/B testing.
  • The most ideal time to use A/B testing.
  • The best way to interpret results for an A/B test.
  • The major principles of A/B tests.
  • Evaluate the cluster randomization in big data
  • The best way to analyze A/B test results and the statistical significance.
  • How is A/B testing used in boosting businesses?
  • The importance of data analysis in conversion research
  • The importance of A/B testing in data science.

Amazing Research Topics on Big Data and Local Governments

Governments are now using big data to make the lives of the citizens better. This is in the government and the various institutions. They are based on real-life experiences and making the world better.

  • Assess the benefits and barriers of big data in the public sector.
  • The best approach to smart city data ecosystems.
  • The big analytics used for policymaking.
  • Evaluate the smart technology and emergence algorithm bureaucracy.
  • Evaluate the use of citizen scoring in public services.
  • An analysis of the government administrative data globally.
  • The public values are found in the era of big data.
  • Public engagement on local government data use.
  • Data analytics use in policymaking.
  • How are algorithms used in public sector decision-making?
  • The democratic governance in the big data era.
  • The best business model innovation to be used in sustainable organizations.
  • How does the government use the collected data from various sources?
  • The role of big data for smart cities.
  • How does big data play a role in policymaking?

Easy Research Topics on Big Data

Who said big data topics had to be hard? Here are some of the easiest research topics. They are based on data management, research, and data retention. Pick one and try it!

  • Who uses big data analytics?
  • Evaluate structure machine learning.
  • Explain the whole deep learning process.
  • Which are the best ways to manage platforms for enterprise analytics?
  • Which are the new technologies used in data management?
  • What is the importance of data retention?
  • The best way to work with images is when doing research.
  • The best way to promote research outreach is through data management.
  • The best way to source and manage external data.
  • Does machine learning improve the quality of data?
  • Describe the security technologies that can be used in data protection.
  • Evaluate token-based authentication and its importance.
  • How can poor data security lead to the loss of information?
  • How to determine secure data.
  • What is the importance of centralized key management?

Unique IoT and Big Data Research Topics

Internet of Things has evolved and many devices are now using it. There are smart devices, smart cities, smart locks, and much more. Things can now be controlled by the touch of a button.

  • Evaluate the 5G networks and IoT.
  • Analyze the use of Artificial intelligence in the modern world.
  • How do ultra-power IoT technologies work?
  • Evaluate the adaptive systems and models at runtime.
  • How have smart cities and smart environments improved the living space?
  • The importance of the IoT-based supply chains.
  • How does smart agriculture influence water management?
  • The internet applications naming and identifiers.
  • How does the smart grid influence energy management?
  • Which are the best design principles for IoT application development?
  • The best human-device interactions for the Internet of Things.
  • The relation between urban dynamics and crowdsourcing services.
  • The best wireless sensor network for IoT security.
  • The best intrusion detection in IoT.
  • The importance of big data on the Internet of Things.

Big Data Database Research Topics You Should Try

Big data is broad and interesting. These big data database research topics will put you in a better place in your research. You also get to evaluate the roles of various phenomena.

  • The best cloud computing platforms for big data analytics.
  • The parallel programming techniques for big data processing.
  • The importance of big data models and algorithms in research.
  • Evaluate the role of big data analytics for smart healthcare.
  • How is big data analytics used in business intelligence?
  • The best machine learning methods for big data.
  • Evaluate the Hadoop programming in big data analytics.
  • What is privacy-preserving to big data analytics?
  • The best tools for massive big data processing
  • IoT deployment in Governments and Internet service providers.
  • How will IoT be used for future internet architectures?
  • How does big data close the gap between research and implementation?
  • What are the cross-layer attacks in IoT?
  • The influence of big data and smart city planning in society.
  • Why do you think user access control is important?

Big Data Scala Research Topics

Scala is a programming language that is used in data management. It is closely related to other data programming languages. Here are some of the best scala questions that you can research.

  • Which are the most used languages in big data?
  • How is scala used in big data research?
  • Is scala better than Java in big data?
  • How is scala a concise programming language?
  • How does the scala language stream process in real-time?
  • Which are the various libraries for data science and data analysis?
  • How does scala allow imperative programming in data collection?
  • Evaluate how scala includes a useful REPL for interaction.
  • Evaluate scala’s IDE support.
  • The data catalog reference model.
  • Evaluate the basics of data management and its influence on research.
  • Discuss the behavioral analytics process.
  • What can you term as the experience economy?
  • The difference between agile data science and scala language.
  • Explain the graph analytics process.

Independent Research Topics for Big Data

These independent research topics for big data are based on the various technologies and how they are related. Big data will greatly be important for modern society.

  • The biggest investment is in big data analysis.
  • How are multi-cloud and hybrid settings deep roots?
  • Why do you think machine learning will be in focus for a long while?
  • Discuss in-memory computing.
  • What is the difference between edge computing and in-memory computing?
  • The relation between the Internet of things and big data.
  • How will digital transformation make the world a better place?
  • How does data analysis help in social network optimization?
  • How will complex big data be essential for future enterprises?
  • Compare the various big data frameworks.
  • The best way to gather and monitor traffic information using the CCTV images
  • Evaluate the hierarchical structure of groups and clusters in the decision tree.
  • Which are the 3D mapping techniques for live streaming data.
  • How does machine learning help to improve data analysis?
  • Evaluate DataStream management in task allocation.
  • How is big data provisioned through edge computing?
  • The model-based clustering of texts.
  • The best ways to manage big data.
  • The use of machine learning in big data.

Is Your Big Data Thesis Giving You Problems?

These are some of the best topics that you can use to prosper in your studies. Not only are they easy to research but also reflect on real-time issues. Whether in University or college, you need to put enough effort into your studies to prosper. However, if you have time constraints, we can provide professional writing help. Are you looking for online expert writers? Look no further, we will provide quality work at a cheap price.

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One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

  • Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
  • Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
  • How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
  • How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
  • How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
  • How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

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Current Events

  • What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
  • How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
  • How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
  • Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
  • What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
  • What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
  • How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
  • How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
  • How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
  • What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
  • What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
  • What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
  • Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
  • Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
  • Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
  • Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
  • Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
  • Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
  • How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
  • Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
  • What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
  • How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
  • What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
  • Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
  • Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
  • Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
  • How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
  • Should graduate students be able to form unions?

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  • What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
  • How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
  • Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
  • Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
  • How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
  • How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
  • Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
  • Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
  • Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
  • Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
  • Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
  • Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
  • Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
  • Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
  • Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
  • How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
  • How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
  • What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
  • What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
  • Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
  • What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
  • What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
  • Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
  • Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
  • How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
  • Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
  • What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
  • How does stress affect the body?
  • Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
  • What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
  • Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
  • How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
  • What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
  • What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
  • Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
  • What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
  • What were the causes of the Civil War?
  • How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
  • Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
  • What caused Hitler's rise to power?
  • Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
  • What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
  • How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
  • What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

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  • Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
  • Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
  • How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
  • How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
  • What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
  • What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
  • How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

  • How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
  • How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
  • Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
  • Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
  • How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
  • How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
  • What are the pros and cons of fracking?
  • What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
  • What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
  • How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
  • Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
  • Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
  • What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
  • What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
  • How are black holes created?
  • Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
  • How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
  • Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
  • How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
  • Has social media made people more or less connected?
  • What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
  • Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
  • What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
  • How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
  • When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
  • Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

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How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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500 Good Research Paper Topics

Bonus Material: Essential essay checklist

Writing a research paper for a class and not sure how to start?

One of the most important steps to creating a great paper is finding a good topic! 

Here’s a hand-drafted list from a Princeton grad who has helped professors at Harvard and Yale edit their papers for publication and taught college writing at the University of Notre Dame and .

What’s more, we give you some foolproof formulas for creating your own paper topic to fit the requirements of your class.

Using these simple formulas, we’ve helped hundreds of students turn a B- paper topic into an A+ paper topic.

Keep reading for our list of 500 vetted research paper topics and our magic formulas for creating your own topic!

Of course, if you want help learning to write research papers tailored to your individual needs, check out our one-on-one writing coaching or academic writing workshop . Set up a free consultation to see how we can help you learn to write A+ papers!

Jump to paper topics in:

European & Mediterranean History

African history, asian history, history of the pre-columbian americas.

  • Latin American History

History of Science

Politics & public policy, education & education policy, political theory, science policy.

  • Health Sciences & Psychology

Download the essential essay checklist

What is a research paper?

In order to write a good research paper, it’s important to know what it is! 

In general, we can divide academic writing into three broad categories:

  • Analytical: analyze the tools an author uses to make their point
  • Research: delve deeply into a research topic and share your findings
  • Persuasive : argue a specific and nuanced position backed by evidence

What’s the difference between an analytical paper and a research paper? For an analytical paper, it’s okay to just use one or two sources (a book, poem, work of art, piece of music, etc.) and examine them in detail. For a research paper, however, the expectation is that you do, well . . . research .

student writing research paper

The depth of research that you’re expected to do will depend on your age and the type of class you’re taking.

In elementary or middle school, a “research paper” might mean finding information from a few general books or encyclopedias in your school library. 

In high school, your teachers might expect you to start using information from academic articles and more specific books. You might use encyclopedias and general works as a starting point, but you’ll be expected to go beyond them and do more work to synthesize information from different perspectives or different types of sources. You may also be expected to do “primary research,” where you study the source material yourself, instead of synthesizing what other people have written about the source material.

In college, you’ll be required to use academic journals and scholarly books, and your professors will now expect that you be more critical of these secondary sources, noticing the methodology and perspectives of whatever articles and books you’re using. 

In more advanced college courses, you’ll be expected to do more exhaustive surveys of the existing literature on a topic. You’ll need to conduct primary research that makes an original contribution to the field—the kind that could be published in a journal article itself.

For a walkthrough of the 12 essential steps to writing a good paper, check out our step-by-step guide .

student writing research paper

Working on a research paper? Grab our free checklist to make sure your essay has everything it needs to earn an A grade.

Get the essential essay checklist

What makes a good research paper topic?

One of the most important features of a research paper topic is that it has a clear, narrow focus. 

For example, your teacher may assign you to write a research paper related to the US Revolutionary War. Does that mean that your topic should be “the US Revolutionary War”? 

Definitely not! There’s no way to craft a good paper with in-depth research with such a broad topic. (Unless you’re in elementary or middle school, in which case it’s okay to have a more general topic for your research paper.)

Instead, you need to find a more specific topic within this broader one. There are endless ways that you can make this narrower! Some ideas generated from this one broader topic might be:

  • Causes of the US Revolutionary War
  • Changes in military strategy during the Revolutionary War
  • The experiences of Loyalists to England who remained in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War
  • How the Revolutionary War was pivotal for the career of Alexander Hamilton
  • The role of alliances with France during the US Revolutionary War
  • The experiences of people of color during the Revolutionary War
  • How George Washington’s previous military career paved the way for his leadership in the Revolutionary War
  • The main types of weaponry during the Revolutionary War
  • Changes in clothing and fashion over the courses of the Revolutionary War
  • How Valley Forge was a key moment in the Revolutionary War
  • How women contributed to the Revolutionary War
  • What happened in Amherst, Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War
  • Field medicine during the Revolutionary War
  • How the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War
  • How different opinions about the Revolutionary War were reflected in poetry written during that time
  • Debates over abolition during the Revolutionary War
  • The importance of supply chains during the Revolutionary War
  • Reactions to the US Revolutionary war in Europe
  • How the US Revolutionary war impacted political theory in England and France
  • Similarities and differences between the US Revolutionary War and the French Revolution
  • Famous paintings inspired by the US Revolutionary War
  • Different ways that the US Revolutionary War has been depicted in modern contemporary culture
  • The appropriation of the “Boston Tea Party” by US politicians in the 2010s

This list could go on forever!

good research paper topics about the US Revolution

In fact, any of these topics could become even more specific. For example, check out the evolution of this topic:

  • Economic causes of the Revolutionary war
  • The way that tax policies helped lead to the Revolutionary War
  • How tax laws enacted 1763–1775 helped lead to the Revolutionary War
  • How the tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War
  • How the 1773 tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War, as reflected in letters written 1767–1775
  • How the 1773 tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War, as reflected in letters written by members of the Sons of Liberty 1767–1775

As you advance in your educational career, you’ll need to make your topic more and more specific. Steps 1–3 of this topic might be okay in high school, but for a college research paper steps 4–7 would be more appropriate!

As you craft your research paper topic, you should also keep in mind the availability of research materials on your subject. There are millions of topics that would make interesting research papers, but for which you yourself might not be able to investigate with the primary and secondary sources to which you have access.

Access to research materials might look like:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the sources exist somewhere
  • The source isn’t behind a paywall (or you or your school can pay for it)
  • Your school or local library has a copy of the source
  • Your school or local library can order a copy of the source for you
  • The source is in a language that you speak
  • The source has been published already (there’s tons of amazing research that hasn’t been published yet, a frustrating problem!)
  • You can access the archive, museum, or database where the primary source is held—this might mean online access or travel! To access a source in an archive or museum you’ll often need permission, which often requires a letter of support from your school.

If you’re not sure about access to source materials, talk to a librarian! They’re professionals for this question.

Finally, pick a research topic that interests you! Given that there are unlimited research topics in the world and many ways to adapt a broad topic, there should absolutely be a way to modify a research topic to fit your interests.

student writing research paper

Want help learning to write an amazing research paper? Work one-on-one with an experienced Ivy-League tutor to improve your writing skills or sign up for our bestselling academic writing workshop .

Insider tips to generate your own research paper topic

Use these formulas to generate your own research paper topics:

  • How did X change over a period of time (year, decade, century)?
  • What is the impact (or consequences) of X?
  • What led to X?
  • What is the role of X in Y?
  • How did X influence Y?
  • How did X become Y?
  • How was X different from Y?
  • How is X an example of Y?
  • How did X affect Y?
  • What were some reactions to X?
  • What are the most effective policies to produce X result?
  • What are some risks of X?
  • How is our current understanding of X incorrect? (advanced)
  • What happens if we look at X through the lens of Y theory or perspective? (advanced)

A good research paper topic often starts with the question words—why, how, what, who, and where. Remember to make it as specific as possible!

student writing research paper

Good research paper topics

These research paper topics have been vetted by a Princeton grad and academic book editor!

  • How did European rivalries (British vs French) impact North American history?
  • What was the role of British and French alliances with indigneous tribes during the Seven Years’ War?
  • Reactions to the 1754 Albany Congress among North American intellectual figures
  • How the Albany Plan served as a model for future attempts at union among the North American colonies
  • How did different religious identities (Calvinist, Catholic, etc.) play a role in the aftermath of the Seven Years’ War?
  • What were the consequences of the 1763 Treaty of Paris?
  • How did the Seven Years’ War impact British debt and colonial economics?
  • What were some causes of the US Revolutionary War?
  • How did military strategy change during the Revolutionary War?
  • What were the experiences of Loyalists to England who remained in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War?
  • How was the Revolutionary War pivotal for the career of Alexander Hamilton?
  • What was the role of alliances with France during the US Revolutionary War?
  • What were the experiences of people of color during the Revolutionary War?
  • How did George Washington’s previous military career pave the way for his leadership in the Revolutionary War?
  • What were the main types of weaponry during the Revolutionary War? How did that affect the options for military strategies?
  • How did clothing and fashion change over the courses of the Revolutionary War?
  • How was Valley Forge a key moment in the Revolutionary War?
  • How did women contribute to the Revolutionary War?
  • What happened in Amherst, Massachusetts (or any other specific location) during the Revolutionary War?
  • What was field medicine like during the Revolutionary War? 
  • How was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the Revolutionary War?
  • How were different opinions about the Revolutionary War reflected in poetry written during that time?
  • What were the debates over abolition during the Revolutionary War?
  • What was the role of supply chains during the Revolutionary War?
  • What were reactions to the US Revolutionary war like in Europe? What does that tell us about politics in England, France, the Netherlands, etc?
  • How did the US Revolutionary war impact political theory in England and France?
  • What are similarities and differences between the US Revolutionary War and the French Revolution?
  • What are some famous paintings inspired by the US Revolutionary War? What do differences between these paintings tell us about how the artists who created them saw the war?
  • What are some different ways that the US Revolutionary War has been depicted in modern contemporary culture? What does that tell us?
  • How was the story of the “Boston Tea Party” appropriated by US politicians in the 2010s, and why?
  • What was the difference between the Federalists and the Jeffersonians?
  • How did the 1797 XYZ Affair lead to the Quasi-War with France?
  • How were loans from European countries and companies (France, Spain, Dutch bankers) key to the early US?
  • What were reactions to the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
  • Why did the US remain neutral during the French Revolution?
  • How did the Alien and Sedition acts contribute to the election of Thomas Jefferson as president?
  • What was the US’s reaction to the Haitian revolution? Why did the US not recognize Haitian independence until 1862?
  • What were the reactions to John Jay’s Treaty of 1794?
  • How have the remarks made by George Washington in his Farewell Address inspired isolationist policies?
  • How did interpretations of the Monroe Doctrine change over the decades since its creation? 
  • How did the Roosevelt Corollary and Lodge Corollary change and expand the Monroe Doctrine?
  • How did the presence of US companies like the United Fruit Company affect US military interventions in Latin America? 
  • How was the Monroe Doctrine invoked in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? 
  • How was US culture shaped by the Cold War?
  • How did ecology play a role in the rise of Ancient Egypt?
  • How did water management technologies impact Ancient Egypt?
  • How did bureaucracies function in Ancient Egypt?
  • How did Egyptian art influence Ancient Greek art?
  • Who could be a citizen in Athens in the 5th century BCE? What does this tell us about classical Athenian society?
  • What was the impact of the Peloponnesian War?
  • What was the impact of Alexander the Great’s attempt to create an empire?
  • How does the way that Alexander the Great is represented in art demonstrate conceptions about the relationship between the human and the divine?
  • Was there a conception of race in the ancient world? How were these ideas different from our own modern conceptions of race?
  • What was the role of debt slavery in the Roman republic? How were these policies ended, and what is the significance of the end of debt slavery? What kinds of slavery remained?
  • To what degree does the movie Gladiator accurately the Roman Empire in 176–192 CE?
  • What was the role of slavery in managing the large latifundia ?
  • How and why did the emperor Constantine I adopt Christianity?
  • How did patterns of urbanism in the latter Roman empire change? What does this tell us about challenges being faced at that time?
  • What do reactions to the Byzantine empress Theodora tell us about ideas of gender in 6th-century Byzantium?
  • How did scientific advancements in Islamic Spain influence the rest of Europe?
  • What was the relationship between Muslim, Christian, and Jewish populations in Islamic Spain? How does this compare to the experience of Muslim and Jewish populations in Christian Spain?
  • How did medieval troubadour poetry represent a new idea of romantic relationships?
  • What are similarities and differences between medieval troubadour poetry and lyric poetry in Ancient Greece? 
  • What do letters between women and popes tell us about gender, power, and religion in medieval Europe?
  • In what ways was Hildegard of Bingen groundbreaking for her time?
  • Who produced beer in medieval England, and what does this tell us about society?
  • How did the adoption of hops affect the production and distribution of beer?
  • How did beer production allow some women a way to be financially independent?
  • How was clothing used to mark religious and cultural identities in 15th- and 16th-century Spain?
  • How did print culture change relationships and courting in Georgian England?
  • How did churches function as social gathering spaces in Georgian England?
  • To what degree is Netflix’s Bridgerton series historically accurate?
  • How did ideas of love change in the 18th century? How did philosophy play a role in this?
  • When were Valentine cards first commercially available? What does that show us about cultural ideas of love and courtship?
  • What were the consequences of the desertification of the Sahara?
  • How did trade links on the Red Sea influence Nubian culture?
  • How did Carthage build power in Northern Africa around 600–500 BCE?
  • What was the impact of the Mercenary War (241–238 BCE) in Carthage?
  • How did the Roman province of Africa play a key role in financing the Roman Empire?
  • What were the consequences of the Donatist division in the 300s in Northern Africa?
  • What was the impact of the large-scale movement of Bedouins from the Arabian peninsula into the Maghreb?
  • How was Mande society organized in the Mali Empire? 
  • What was the role of the book trade in Timbuktu? What does this tell us about culture and learning in the Mali Empire?
  • How did Aksum use trade to build wealth and power? 
  • What do Nok terracotta sculptures tell us about Nok culture?
  • How did the Luba Empire create a centralized political system? How did the idea of spiritual kins ( balopwe ) play a role in this system?
  • How did tax collection work in the Lunda empire?
  • What does it mean to say that the Ajuran Empire was a hydraulic empire? How did control over water resources allow the Ajuran Empire to build and consolidate power?
  • What is the significance of diplomatic ties between the Somai Ajuran Empire and Ming dynasty China? 
  • How did the tribute system in the Kingdom of Kongo help to stimulate interregional trade?
  • What was the impact of the introduction of maize and cassava to the Kingdom of Kongo?
  • How did women wield influence in the Kingdom of Benin?
  • How did the Industrial Revolution in Europe help lead to the Scramble for Africa 1878–1898?
  • What were the consequences of the Second Boer War?
  • What happened in the Year of Africa (1960)?
  • How did the Han dynasty consolidate power in frontier regions? 
  • How and why did the Han dynasty nationalize the private salt and iron industries in 117 BCE?
  • What are the earliest records of papermaking, and what is the significance of this invention?
  • What was the role of Daoist religious societies in rebellions at the end of the Han dynasty (Yellow Turban Rebellion, Five Pecks of Rice Rebellion)?
  • What do tomb paintings tell us about ancient Chinese society?
  • What was the impact of the Sui dynasty’s standardization and re-unification of the coinage?
  • What was the role of standardized testing in Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty China?
  • Why is the Tang dynasty often regarded as a golden age of cosmopolitan culture in Chinese history?
  • What was the role of slavery in imperial China? 
  • How did the rise of jiedushi (regional military governments) undermine the civil-service system? What were the consequences of this?
  • How did Tang dynasty China exert power over Japan and Korea?
  • What was the Three Departments and Six Ministries system in imperial China and how did it work?
  • What does the appearance of Inca, Maya, and Aztec goods in North America (Utah, Canada) and the appearance of goods from the Great Lakes region in Maya and Aztec ruins tell us about trade in the Pre-Columbian Americas?
  • How did celebration of maize play a central role in Mesoamerican cultures?
  • How did the Aztec empire use relationships with client city-states to establish power? How did the Aztec empire use taxation to exert power?
  • How did the luxury good trade impact Aztec political power? 
  • How did the building of roads play a key role in the Aztec empire?
  • How and why has archaeology played a pivotal role in expanding our understanding of the pre-Columbian Americas?
  • What are some common misconceptions about the Americas in the year 1491? Why do these misconceptions exist?

Latin American History (post-1492)

  • How and why did the Spanish appropriate Aztec sites of significance (e.g. Mexico City at the site of Tenochtitlan)?
  • What were reactions among Latin American intellectuals (e.g. Luis María Drago, Alejandro Álvarez and Baltasar Brum) to the Monroe Doctrine?
  • How was the US’s involvement in the Venezuela Crisis of 1902–1903 a pivotal turning point in the relationship between the US and Latin American countries?
  • What were the effects of the US’s involvement in the Cuban War for Independence?
  • How did the Roosevelt Corollary of 1904 benefit the US?
  • How did Simon Bolivar’s time in Europe affect his ideas about Latin American independence?
  • How did 19th century academic societies play a role in the advancement of scientific discoveries? Who was excluded from these societies?
  • How was music connected to the sciences in medieval thinking?
  • When was the concept of zero first used, and how was it instrumental for advancements in math?
  • What role did Islamic Spain play in the spread of scientific advancements in medieval Europe?
  • What role has translation between languages played in the development of sciences?
  • Why were Galileo’s ideas about astronomy controversial at the time?
  • What was the connection between art and advancements in human anatomy?
  • Why were Darwin’s ideas about natural selection controversial at the time?
  • To what degree does the film Master and Commander accurately depict the voyages of Charles Darwin?
  • How did the discovery of quinine and other medical innovations help to facilitate the European colonization of Africa?
  • How and why was the internet invented?
  • Does Virgil’s Aeneid celebrate the new Roman Empire or subvert it?
  • Why was the poet Ovid exiled from Rome?
  • What are the pagan influences in Beowulf ? What are the Christian elements in Beowulf ? What does that tell us about late Anglo-Saxon England?
  • How does Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales reflect gender roles in late medieval England?
  • How does Dante’s Inferno draw on book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid ? 
  • How are gender roles presented and subverted in Shakespeare’s plays?
  • To what degree did Henry David Thoreau live out the ideals he described in Walden in his own life?
  • How did the serialized publication of novels affect the way that they were written?
  • Does Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities accurately portray the French Revolution?
  • How did 18th-century novels propagate the idea of marrying for love?
  • What did contemporary readers think about Jane Austen and her novels?
  • To what degree do Jane Austen’s novels reflect economic realities for women in Regency England? What do they leave out?
  • How did Lord Byron’s personal life affect his poetry?
  • What do we know about the romantic life of Emily Dickinson?
  • What were the religious movements that influenced the writer George Eliot, and how do those influences appear in her novels?
  • In what ways were Walt Whitman’s writings new or different?
  • How did British poets react to the horrors of Word War I?
  • What do Tolkien’s letters reveal about the ways in which the two world wars influenced his writings?
  • How did the friendship between CS Lewis and Tolkien affect their respective writings?
  • What are the arguments for and against Catalonian independence from Spain?
  • What are the arguments for and against Scottish independence from the United Kingdom?
  • What are some risks of contact sports, especially for children?
  • What are the most effective policies for combating childhood obesity?
  • What are the most effective policies for reducing gun violence?
  • Which countries have the longest life expectancy and why?
  • What are some differences between the healthcare system in the US and in European countries? Which country has the most similar system to the US?
  • What policies for parental leave exist in different countries? What are some effects of these policies?
  • Has the drinking age in the US always been 21? What have been some different policies, and what were some consequences of them?
  • What is the debate around museum artifacts like the Elgin Marbles in London or the Benin Bronzes in Berlin?
  • How have politicians attempted to control population growth in different countries, either directly or indirectly? What have been some effects of these policies?
  • Which countries have the most gender parity reflected in national governments? How have they accomplished this?
  • How has public funding of K-12 education changed since the 1930s in the US? 
  • How has public funding of higher education changed in the US?
  • What is early childhood education like in different countries?
  • What are some effects of free or reduced-cost meals in schools?
  • How does access to menstrual products affect education outcomes for girls in different countries?
  • What was the impact of Rousseau’s writings on education?
  • How did Plato’s ideal forms of government reflect contemporary Athenian concerns about the unruly masses ( demos )?
  • How did Aristotle justify slavery?
  • How has wealth inequality increased in recent decades?
  • How is inflation calculated, and what are the implications of this methodology?
  • How have genetically-engineered crops changed the way that the planet feeds itself?
  • How has animal testing changed since 2000?
  • How is animal testing regulated differently in different countries?

Health Sciences and Psychology

  • How do different societies reflect the natural circadian rhythms of the human body?
  • How does secondhand smoke affect the human body?
  • How does lack of sleep affect the body?
  • How does stress affect the body?
  • What are some ways to reduce stress?
  • How have cancer treatments changed in the past 30 years?
  • Why is it hard to find a “cure” for cancer?
  • How has the Human Genome Project changed medical science?
  • How were the Covid vaccines developed so quickly? What is the difference between the various Covid vaccines that have been developed?

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database research paper topics

Emily graduated  summa cum laude  from Princeton University and holds an MA from the University of Notre Dame. She was a National Merit Scholar and has won numerous academic prizes and fellowships. A veteran of the publishing industry, she has helped professors at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton revise their books and articles. Over the last decade, Emily has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay. 

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67 Data Management Essay Topics & Database Research Topics

🏆 best database research topics, ✍️ data management essay topics for college, 🎓 most interesting database topics for research paper, 💡 simple data management systems essay topics.

  • Database Management Systems’ Major Capabilities
  • Data Assets Management of LuLu Hypermarkets System
  • Object-Oriented and Database Management Systems Tradeoffs
  • Information Technology-Based Data Management in Retail
  • Database Management and Machine Learning
  • Health Data Management: Sharing and Saving Patient Data
  • Relational Database Management Systems in Business
  • Data Management, Networking and Enterprise Software Enterprise software is often created “in-house” and thus has a far higher cost as compared to simply buying the software solution from another company.
  • Big Data Usage in Supply Chain Management This paper gives a summary of the research that was conducted to understand the unique issues surrounding the use of big data in the supply chain.
  • Modern Data Management and Organization Strategies Today, with a shrinking focus on data and analytics, a proper data management strategy is imperative to meeting business goals.
  • Data Collection and Management Techniques for a Qualitative Research Plan To conduct complete qualitative research and present a cohesive qualitative research plan, it is necessary to match the structure and topic of the study.
  • Data Management and Financial Strategies By adopting comprehensive supply chain management, businesses can maximize the three main streams in the supply chain— information flow, product flow, and money flow.
  • Policy on People Data Management Law No. (13) of 2016 is a data protection legislation that applies to all public institutions and private organizations across Qatar.
  • The Choice of a Medical Data Management System The choice of a medical data management system is critically important for any organization providing healthcare services.
  • Data Analytics and Its Application to Management The role of the collection of data and its subsequent analysis in the industry is as big as ever. Specifically, it pertains to the managerial field.
  • Big Data Opportunities in Green Supply Chain Management The problem reviewed within the framework of the current project was the growing pool of green SCM knowledge that got interconnected with technology, such as Big Data.
  • Technology-Assisted Reviews of Data in a Document Management System The TAR that is used in DMS falls into two major categories. These are automatic TAR and semi-automatic TAR, where the last implies the intervention of a human reviewer.
  • Why Open-Source Software Will (Or Will Not) Soon Dominate the Field of Database Management Tools The study aims at establishing whether open-source software will dominate the database field because there has been a changing trend in the business market.
  • Data Management in a Medium-Sized Business This paper will use a medium-sized business data management offering highly specialized, high-quality business development education services as an example.
  • Data Collection and Management Techniques of a Qualitative Research Plan This research paper recommends interview method in the collection of data and the application of NVivo statistical software in the management of data.
  • Big Data Management Research This paper will present a literature review of three articles that examine text mining methods for quantitative analysis.
  • Big Data Fraud Management The growth of eCommerce systems has led to an increase in online transactions using credit cards and other methods of payment services.
  • Deli Depot Case Study: Data Analysis Management Reporting To improve customer service, Deli Depot has embarked on initiatives to better understand its customers. The company did market research using a questionnaire-based survey.
  • Data Storage Management Solutions: Losses of Personal Data The term data refers to a collection of facts about anything. As it is often said, processed data results to information and he who has information has power.
  • EHR Database Management: Diabetes Prevention The data needed to prevent diabetes is usually collected throughout regular screenings conducted whenever a patient refers to a hospital, as well as by using various lab tests.
  • Childhood Obesity: Data Management The use of electronic health records (EHR) is regarded as one of the effective ways to treat obesity in the population.
  • Electronic Health Record Database and Data Management Progress in modern medicine has resulted in the amount of information related to the health of patients to grow exponentially.
  • Adopting Electronic Data Management in the Health Care Industry
  • Distributed Operating System and Infrastructure for Scientific Data Management
  • Advanced Drill Data Management Solutions Market: Growth and Forecast
  • The Changing Role of Data Management in Clinical Trials
  • Business Rules and Their Relationship to Effective Data Management
  • Class Enterprise Data Management and Administration
  • Developing Highly Scalable and Autonomic Data Management
  • Cloud Computing: Installation and Maintenance of Energy Efficient Data Management
  • Exploring, Mapping, and Data Management Integration of Habitable Environments in Astrobiology
  • Data Management: Data Warehousing and Data Mining
  • Efficient Algorithmic Techniques for Several Multidimensional Geometric Data Management and Analysis Problems
  • Data Management for Photovoltaic Power Plants Operation and Maintenance
  • Elderly Patients and Falls: Adverse Trends and Data Management
  • Data Management for Pre- and Post-Release Workforce Services
  • Epidemiological Data Management During an Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease
  • Dealing With Identifier Variables in Data Management and Analysis
  • How Data Mining, Data Warehousing, and On-Line Transactional Databases Are Helping Solve the Data Management Predicament
  • Improving the New Data Management Technologies and Leverage
  • Integrated Process and Data Management for Healthcare Applications
  • Making Data Management Manageable: A Risk Assessment Activity for Managing Research Data
  • The Use of Temporal Database in the Data Management System
  • Multi-Cloud Data Management Using Shamir’s Secret Sharing and Quantum Byzantine Agreement Schemes
  • Data Management Is More Than Just Managing Data
  • Is Effective Data Management a Key Driver of Business Success?
  • National Data Centre and Financial Statistics Office: A Conceptual Design for Public Data Management
  • Big Data Management and Relevance of Big Data to E-Business
  • Redefining the Data Management Strategy: A Way to Leverage the Huge Chunk of Data
  • Structured Data Management Software Market in Taiwan
  • Towards Effective GML Data Management: Framework and Prototype
  • Data Management in Cloud Environments
  • Digital Communication: Enterprise Data Management
  • The Impact of Big Data on Data Management Functions
  • Analysis of Data Management Strategies at Tesco
  • The Best Data Management Tools Overview
  • What Is Data Management and Why Is It Important
  • Data Management and Use: Governance in the 21st Century
  • What Is Data Management and How Do Businesses Use It?
  • The Difference Between Data Management and Data Governance
  • Types of Data Management Systems for Data-First Marketing Strategies and Success
  • Reasons Why Data Management Leads to Business Success

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StudyCorgi. (2022, June 5). 67 Data Management Essay Topics & Database Research Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/data-management-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "67 Data Management Essay Topics & Database Research Topics." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/data-management-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "67 Data Management Essay Topics & Database Research Topics." June 5, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/data-management-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Data Management were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 27, 2023 .

Robert L. Bogomolny Library

What's happening at the library and items of interest to the UB community

Using Databases to Find a Research Paper Topic

It’s almost mid-semester and you still haven’t picked a topic for your research paper. No worries! The RLB Library has a few tips and tools that can help you find a topic.

Your topic can be on something you’d like to learn more about, or about an issue that is relevant today. It helps to choose a topic that is broad enough to allow research on several aspects of an issue, but not too broad that you find yourself going off on tangents. The topic should be interesting to you and perhaps meaningful in some way to today’s society. In addition, you should be able to support your ideas with research from appropriate sources.

A good way to look for topics is to  read lots of stuff  in the general subject areas that interest you. The RLB Library has tools for you to find reading material online. These tools include:

1. Research Starters

Go to the Library’s homepage library.ubalt.edu and type in some keywords in the gray box under the “library search” tab. For example, the keyword “inflation” will result in a “Research Starter” display at the top of the search results. Research Starters are a good way to get an overview of a topic. Clicking on “more” will take you to a detailed article on the topic.

2. Credo Reference

This database is another great place to read background information on many topics. You can access Credo Reference by going to the library homepage and clicking on “Databases” beneath the search box. When you get to the list of A-Z Databases, click on the letter C and scroll down for “Credo Reference.”

In Credo Reference, you can browse by subjects. On the right side there are useful “Research Quick Tips.” You can also use “mind maps” to explore related concepts.

3. Academic OneFile (Gale)

This database includes a Topic Finder. When you input a search term, a diagram appears with “tiles” that you can click on to narrow your search and pull up relevant articles. You can access Academic OneFile through the A-Z Databases list under “A.”

4. Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context)

If you are interested in contemporary issues, the database Opposing Viewpoints is a good starting point to read about current social issues, with articles exploring contrasting viewpoints. This database can also be accessed from the A-Z Databases list under “O.”

In summary, finding a topic for your research paper or project can be made easier by reading background material. The four resources mentioned above can help you find those background articles that point you to an interesting and compelling topic. But don’t procrastinate! You need to set aside time to read.   Ask a Librarian if you want more information on the research process or on how to pick a good topic.

**For a really good tutorial demonstrating how to find a topic, check out this video from NC State University Libraries.**

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Reference management. Clean and simple.

The top list of academic research databases

best research databases

2. Web of Science

5. ieee xplore, 6. sciencedirect, 7. directory of open access journals (doaj), get the most out of your academic research database, frequently asked questions about academic research databases, related articles.

Whether you are writing a thesis , dissertation, or research paper it is a key task to survey prior literature and research findings. More likely than not, you will be looking for trusted resources, most likely peer-reviewed research articles.

Academic research databases make it easy to locate the literature you are looking for. We have compiled the top list of trusted academic resources to help you get started with your research:

Scopus is one of the two big commercial, bibliographic databases that cover scholarly literature from almost any discipline. Besides searching for research articles, Scopus also provides academic journal rankings, author profiles, and an h-index calculator .

  • Coverage: 90.6 million core records
  • References: N/A
  • Discipline: Multidisciplinary
  • Access options: Limited free preview, full access by institutional subscription only
  • Provider: Elsevier

Search interface of Scopus

Web of Science also known as Web of Knowledge is the second big bibliographic database. Usually, academic institutions provide either access to Web of Science or Scopus on their campus network for free.

  • Coverage: approx. 100 million items
  • References: 1.4 billion
  • Access options: institutional subscription only
  • Provider: Clarivate (formerly Thomson Reuters)

Web of Science landing page

PubMed is the number one resource for anyone looking for literature in medicine or biological sciences. PubMed stores abstracts and bibliographic details of more than 30 million papers and provides full text links to the publisher sites or links to the free PDF on PubMed Central (PMC) .

  • Coverage: approx. 35 million items
  • Discipline: Medicine and Biological Sciences
  • Access options: free
  • Provider: NIH

Search interface of PubMed

For education sciences, ERIC is the number one destination. ERIC stands for Education Resources Information Center, and is a database that specifically hosts education-related literature.

  • Coverage: approx. 1.6 million items
  • Discipline: Education
  • Provider: U.S. Department of Education

Search interface of ERIC academic database

IEEE Xplore is the leading academic database in the field of engineering and computer science. It's not only journal articles, but also conference papers, standards and books that can be search for.

  • Coverage: approx. 6 million items
  • Discipline: Engineering
  • Provider: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Search interface of IEEE Xplore

ScienceDirect is the gateway to the millions of academic articles published by Elsevier, 1.4 million of which are open access. Journals and books can be searched via a single interface.

  • Coverage: approx. 19.5 million items

Search interface of ScienceDirect

The DOAJ is an open-access academic database that can be accessed and searched for free.

  • Coverage: over 8 million records
  • Provider: DOAJ

Search interface of DOAJ database

JSTOR is another great resource to find research papers. Any article published before 1924 in the United States is available for free and JSTOR also offers scholarships for independent researchers.

  • Coverage: more than 12 million items
  • Provider: ITHAKA

Search interface of JSTOR

Start using a reference manager like Paperpile to save, organize, and cite your references. Paperpile integrates with PubMed and many popular databases, so you can save references and PDFs directly to your library using the Paperpile buttons:

database research paper topics

Scopus is one of the two big commercial, bibliographic databases that cover scholarly literature from almost any discipline. Beside searching for research articles, Scopus also provides academic journal rankings, author profiles, and an h-index calculator .

PubMed is the number one resource for anyone looking for literature in medicine or biological sciences. PubMed stores abstracts and bibliographic details of more than 30 million papers and provides full text links to the publisher sites or links to the free PDF on PubMed Central (PMC)

database research paper topics

database security Recently Published Documents

Total documents.

  • Latest Documents
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NETWORK DATABASE SECURITY WITH INTELLECTUAL ACCESS SUPERVISION USING OUTLIER DETECTION TECHNIQUES

Comparison of performance rot13 and caesar cipher method for registration database of vessels berthed at p.t. samudera indonesia.

Database security is a very important aspect of an information system. A general information is onlyintended for certain groups. Therefore, it is very important for a company to prevent database leakage sothat the information contained in it does not fall to unauthorized people. Cryptographic technique is an alternative solution that can be used in database security. One way to maintain the security of the database is to use encryption techniques. The method used to secure the database is encryption using the ROTI3 and Caesar Cipher methods. Both of these methods have advantages in processing speed. For thisreason, the author will compare the use of the two algorithms above in terms of the encryption and decryption process time

A Novel Framework for Efficient Multiple Signature on Certificate with Database Security

Abstract PKI gives undeniable degree of safety by transferring the key pair framework among the clients. By constructing, a PKI we combine digital identities with the digital signatures, which give an end-to-end trust model. Basically, PKI is an attempt, which can simulate the real-world human analyzation of identity and reliability in a computerized fashion. In any case, the existing applications are centered on a tight trust model which makes them inadequate as an overall device for trust examination. After years of research, development and deployment, PKI still facing strong technical and organizational challenges such as attacks against Certificate Authorities (CA). CAs are the primitive component of PKIs which plays powerful role in the PKI model. CA must be diligent, creditable and legitimate. In any case, a technocrat who picks up control on a CA can use CA's certificate to issue bogus certificate and impersonate any site, such as - DigiNotar, GobalSign, Comodo and DigiCert Malaysia. In this paper we proposed an approach to reduce the damage of compromised CA/CA’s key by imposing Multiple Signatures (MS) after verifying/authenticating user’s information. One single compromised CA is not able to issue a certificate to any domain as multiple signatures are required. Private key and other perceptive information are stored in the form of object/blob. Without knowing the structure of class no one can access the object and object output stream. Proposed MS achieve better performance over existing MS schemes and control fraudulent certificate issuance with more database security. The proposed scheme also avoids MITM attack against CA who is issuing certificate to whom which is using the following parameters such as identity of Sender, Receiver, Timestamp and Aadhar number.

A guiding framework for enhancing database security in state-owned universities in Zimbabwe

Technique for evaluating the security of relational databases based on the enhanced clements–hoffman model.

Obtaining convincing evidence of database security, as the basic corporate resource, is extremely important. However, in order to verify the conclusions about the degree of security, it must be measured. To solve this challenge, the authors of the paper enhanced the Clements–Hoffman model, determined the integral security metric and, on this basis, developed a technique for evaluating the security of relational databases. The essence of improving the Clements–Hoffmann model is to expand it by including a set of object vulnerabilities. Vulnerability is considered as a separate objectively existing category. This makes it possible to evaluate both the likelihood of an unwanted incident and the database security as a whole more adequately. The technique for evaluating the main components of the security barriers and the database security as a whole, proposed by the authors, is based on the theory of fuzzy sets and risk. As an integral metric of database security, the reciprocal of the total residual risk is used, the constituent components of which are presented in the form of certain linguistic variables. In accordance with the developed technique, the authors presented the results of a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of the protection of databases built on the basis of the schema with the universal basis of relations and designed in accordance with the traditional technology of relational databases.

Hybrid Security Approach for Database Security using Diffusion based cryptography and Diffie-Hellman key exchange Algorithm

Application of network database security technology based on big data technology, database security in a dynamic it world.

Databases are vulnerable. Public statements by Target, Home Depot, and Anthem following their extremely advertised data breaches are each uniform and succinct on how their breaches unfolded: unauthorized access to those systems that ultimately led to the extraction of sensitive information. A comprehensive strategy to secure a database is over data security. Usually, security events will be related to the later action: illegitimate access to data confidentiality damage, injury to the integrity of knowledge, loss of data accessibility (Discover). Loss of privacy of data, creating them accessible to others without a right of access is not visible within the database and does not need changes deductible database. This paper addresses these events to confirm database security.

A Review of Database Security Concepts, Risks, and Problems

Currently, data production is as quick as possible; however, databases are collections of well-organized data that can be accessed, maintained, and updated quickly. Database systems are critical to your company because they convey data about sales transactions, product inventories, customer profiles, and marketing activities. To accomplish data manipulation and maintenance activities the Database Management System considered. Databases differ because their conclusions based on countless rules about what an invulnerable database constitutes. As a result, database protection seekers encounter difficulties in terms of a fantastic figure selection to maintain their database security. The main goal of this study is to identify the risk and how we can secure databases, encrypt sensitive data, modify system databases, and update database systems, as well as to evaluate some of the methods to handle these problems in security databases. However, because information plays such an important role in any organization, understanding the security risk and preventing it from occurring in any database system require a high level of knowledge. As a result, through this paper, all necessary information for any organization has been explained; in addition, also a new technological tool that plays an essential role in database security was discussed.

Database protection model based on security system with full overlap

Security is one of the most important characteristics of the quality of information systems in general and databases, as their main component, in particular. Therefore, the presence of an information protection system, as a complex of software, technical, cryptographic, organizational and other methods, means and measures that ensure the integrity, confidentiality, authenticity and availability of information in conditions of exposure to natural or artificial threats, is an integral feature of almost any modern information system and database. At the same time, in order to be able to verify the conclusions about the degree of security, it must be measured in some way. The paper considers a database security model based on a full overlap security model (a covered security system), which is traditionally considered the basis for a formal description of security systems. Thanks to expanding the Clements-Hoffman model by including a set of vulnerabilities (as a separately objectively existing category necessary to describe a weakness of an asset or control that can be exploited by one or more threats), which makes it possible to assess more adequately the likelihood of an unwanted incident (threat realization) in a two-factor model (in which one of the factors reflects the motivational component of the threat, and the second takes into account the existing vulnerabilities); a defined integral indicator of database security (as a value inverse to the total residual risk, the constituent components of which are represented in the form of the corresponding linguistic variables); the developed technique for assessing the main components of security barriers and the security of the database as a whole, based on the theory of fuzzy sets and risk, it becomes possible to use the developed model to conduct a quantitative assessment of the security of the analyzed database.

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Topics for Research

  • Resources for Finding Topics

Hot Topics from Opposing Viewpoints Database

Research Paper Topics from Opposing Viewpoints 01.    9/11 Attacks 02.    Abortion 03.    Abortion: Late-Term/Partial-Birth 04.    Abortion: Parental Consent 05.    Activism 06.    Addiction 07.    Adoption 08.    Advertising 09.    Affirmative Action 10.    Afghan War 11.    Agricultural Subsidies 12.    Agriculture Industry 13.    AIDS 14.    Air Pollution 15.    Airport Security 16.    Al Qaeda 17.    Alcohol and Tobacco Advertising 18.    Alcoholism 19.    Alternative Medicine 20.    Alzheimer's Disease 21.    American Housing Collapse 22.    America's Global Influence New! 23.    Amnesty 24.    Animal Experimentation 25.    Animal Rights 26.    Antibiotics 27.    Arab-Israeli Conflict 28.    Arms Trade 29.    Artificial Intelligence 30.    Assisted Suicide 31.    Atheism 32.    Athletes and Sports 33.    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 34.    Autism 35.    Banking Crisis 36.    Bilingual Education 37.    Bioethics 38.    Bioterrorism 39.    Birth control 40.    Body Image 41.    Body Piercing and Tattooing 42.    Book Banning 43.    BP Oil Spill 44.    Bullying 45.    Campaign Finance Reform 46.    Cancer 47.    Capital Punishment 48.    Capitalism 49.    Carbon Offsets 50.    Censorship 51.    Central Intelligence Agency 52.    Chemical Dependency New! 53.    Child Abuse 54.    Child Labor 55.    Child Welfare 56.    Childhood Obesity 57.    Children of Divorced Parents 58.    China 59.    Church and State 60.    Civil Rights 61.    Cloning 62.    Coal 63.    Concealed Weapons 64.    Conspiracy Theories 65.    Consumer Debt 66.    Consumerism 67.    Corporate Corruption New! 68.    Cosmetic Surgery 69.    Creationism 70.    Crime 71.    Cuba 72.    Cults 73.    Cyberbullying 74.    Cybercrime 75.    Democracy 76.    Developing Nations 77.    Divorce 78.    DNA Technology and Crime 79.    Domestic Terrorism 80.    Domestic Violence 81.    Doomsday Scenarios 82.    Drinking (Alcoholic Beverages) 83.    Drug Abuse 84.    Drug Legalization 85.    Drug Trafficking 86.    Drugs and Athletes 87.    Drunk Driving 88.    E-Waste New! 89.    Eating Disorders 90.    Education 91.    Egyptian Revolution 92.    Elderly Issues 93.    Electronic Voting 94.    Emigration and Immigration 95.    Employment 96.    Endangered Species 97.    Energy Crisis 98.    Environmentalism 99.    Espionage and Intelligence 100.    Evolution 101.    Executive Compensation 102.    Extremism 103.    Federal Budget Deficit 104.    Federal Bureau of Investigation 105.    Feminism 106.    Flu Pandemics 107.    Food Safety 108.    For-Profit Education 109.    Free Trade 110.    Freedom of Speech 111.    Gambling 112.    Gangs 113.    Gay Parents 114.    Gays in the Military 115.    Genetic Disorders 116.    Genetic Engineering 117.    Genetically Modified Food 118.    Genocide 119.    Global Warming 120.    Globalization 121.    Government Bailouts of Private Industry 122.    Green Cities 123.    Ground Zero Mosque 124.    Gun Control 125.    Guns and Violence 126.    Hate Crimes 127.    Health Care Issues 128.    Health Insurance 129.    Homelessness 130.    Homeschooling 131.    Homosexuality 132.    Human Rights 133.    Human Trafficking 134.    Hunting 135.    Identity Theft 136.    Illegal Immigrants 137.    India 138.    Insurance Companies 139.    International Adoption 140.    Internet 141.    Interracial Adoption 142.    Interracial Marriage 143.    Iran 144.    Iranian Green Movement 145.    Iraq 146.    Iraq Wars 147.    Islamic Fundamentalism 148.    Israel 149.    Japan 150.    Judicial Activism 151.    Junk Food 152.    Juvenile Drug Abuse 153.    Juvenile Offenders 154.    Labor Unions 155.    Latin America 156.    Local Food Movement 157.    Marijuana 158.    Mass Media 159.    Media Bias 160.    Media Violence 161.    Medical Care 162.    Medical Ethics 163.    Medical Marijuana 164.    Medicare 165.    Mental Disorders 166.    Mental Health 167.    Mexico 168.    Middle Class 169.    Middle East 170.    Middle East Peace Process 171.    Military Deployment 172.    Minimum Wage 173.    Mobile Phones 174.    Monopolies 175.    Muslim Women 176.    National Security 177.    Native American Casinos 178.    Natural Disasters 179.    North Korea 180.    Nuclear Energy 181.    Nuclear Safety 182.    Nuclear Weapons 183.    Nutrition 184.    Obesity 185.    Occupy Movement 186.    Oceans 187.    Offshore Drilling 188.    Online Education 189.    Online Gambling 190.    Online Music Trading 191.    Online Pornography 192.    Online Social Networks 193.    Organ Transplantation 194.    Organic Food 195.    Outsourcing 196.    Pacifism 197.    Pakistan 198.    Paranormal Phenomena 199.    Patriot Act 2001 200.    Patriotism New! 201.    Peer Pressure 202.    Pharmaceutical Industry 203.    Political Corruption 204.    Pollution 205.    Popular Culture 206.    Population Growth 207.    Pornography 208.    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 209.    Poverty 210.    Prescription Drugs 211.    Presidential Election Process 212.    Prisons 213.    Privacy 214.    Prostitution 215.    Race Relations 216.    Racism 217.    Rap (Music) 218.    Rape 219.    Rebuilding the World Trade Center Site 220.    Recycling 221.    Religious Issues 222.    Renewable Energy 223.    Reproductive Technology 224.    Right of Privacy 225.    Right to Bear Arms 226.    Same-Sex Marriage 227.    School Funding 228.    School Reform 229.    School Uniforms 230.    School Violence 231.    Seat Belts 232.    Sex Education 233.    Sexting 234.    Sexually Transmitted Diseases 235.    Slavery Reparations 236.    Smoking 237.    Social Justice 238.    Social Security 239.    Socialism 240.    South Korea 241.    Space Exploration 242.    Special Education and Learning Disabilities 243.    Standardized Testing 244.    Stem Cells 245.    Street Teens 246.    Student Loans 247.    Student Rights 248.    Suicide 249.    Supreme Court 250.    Sweatshops 251.    Taliban 252.    The Tea Party Movement 253.    Technology and Society 254.    Teenage Pregnancy 255.    Teenage Sexual Behavior 256.    Television 257.    Terminal Care 258.    Terrorism 259.    Texting While Driving 260.    Title IX 261.    Torture 262.    U.S. Armed Forces 263.    Underage Drinking 264.    Unemployment 265.    United Nations 266.    United States Foreign Relations 267.    Urban America 268.    US Economy 269.    Vaccines 270.    Vegetarianism 271.    Video Games 272.    Wall Street 273.    War Crimes 274.    Water Pollution 275.    Weapons of Mass Destruction 276.    Welfare Reform 277.    White-Collar Crime 278.    WikiLeaks 279.    Women's Rights 280.    Working Women 281.    World Trade Organization 282.    Zero Tolerance Policies  

Choose a compelling topic with these considerations

  • Topic meeting the criteria of the assignment
  • Interesting to you and the readers of your work
  • Appropriate and approved by your professor
  • Broad enough to find credible information
  • Narrow enough for the scope of your assignment

Library Databases for Compelling Topics

Lists of topics can be found in these databases along with associated articles.

  • CQ Researcher Plus Archive This link opens in a new window Explores a single "hot" issue each week, ranging from social and teen issues to environment, health, education, and science. 44 reports produced each year, including four expanded reports. Includes charts, graphs and sidebar articles. Also contains the complete archive of Editorial Research Reports—the venerable precursor to CQ Researcher—dating back to 1923 which includes over 3,000 in-depth reports Funded by: Statewide Allocation

Library Databases for News

  • Access World News Research Collection (NewsBank)
  • America's News (NewsBank)
  • Florida Newspapers (NewsBank)
  • New York Times

Online News Sources for Current Issues and Controversies

  • WFSU Public Media
  • Google Trends See what people are searching for on Google. Goes back to 2001.
  • National Public Radio
  • OnPoint Controversy and issues news show
  • PBS-Frontline News show
  • PBS-Nova News show
  • Pew Research Center Lots of graphics and charts
  • ProCon from Britannica
  • Twitter Use "Trending Tweets" for interesting topics
  • Wikipedia Use for subject headings and references. Any encyclopedic information on Wikipedia needs to be verified by other authoritative sources.
  • WUSF Public Media
  • Last Updated: Oct 23, 2023 11:41 AM
  • URL: https://spcollege.libguides.com/topics

iNetTutor.com

Online Programming Lessons, Tutorials and Capstone Project guide

40 List of DBMS Project Topics and Ideas

Introduction

A Capstone project is the last project of an IT degree program. It is made up of one or more research projects in which students create prototypes, services, and/or products. The projects are organized around an issue that needs to be handled in real-world scenarios. When IT departments want to test new ideas or concepts that will be adopted into their daily operations, they implement these capstone projects within their services.

In this article, our team has compiled a list of Database Management System Project Topics and Ideas. The capstone projects listed below will assist future researchers in deciding which capstone project idea to pursue. Future researchers may find the information in this page useful in coming up with unique capstone project ideas.

  • Telemedicine Online Platform Database Design

  “Telemedicine Online Platform” is designed to allow doctors to deliver clinical support to patients remotely. Doctors can communicate with their patients in real-time for consultations, diagnoses, monitoring, and medical supply prescriptions. The project will be developed using the SDLC method by the researchers. The researchers will also compile a sample of hospital doctors and patients who will act as study participants. A panel of IT specialists will review, test, and assess the project.

  • Virtual and Remote Guidance Counselling System Database Design

Counseling is a vital component of a person’s life since it aids in the improvement of interpersonal relationships. Humans must cease ignoring this issue because it is essential for the development of mental wellness. The capstone project “Virtual and Remote Guidance Counselling System,” which covers the gap in giving counseling in stressful situations, was built for this reason. It answers to the requirement to fill in the gaps in the traditional technique and make it more effective and immersive in this way.

  • COVID-19 Facilities Management Information System Database Design

COVID – 19 has put people in fear due to its capability of transmission when exposed to the virus. The health sectors and the government provide isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients to mitigate the spread and transmission of the virus. However, proper communication for the availability of the facilities is inefficient resulting to surge of patients in just one facility and some are transferred multiple times due to unavailability. The COVID-19 respondents must have an advance tools to manage the COVID-19 facilities where respondents can easily look for available facilities to cater more patients.

  • Document Tracking System Database Design

The capstone project, “Document Tracking System” is purposely designed for companies and organizations that allow them to electronically store and track documents. The system will track the in/out of the documents across different departments. The typical way of tracking documents is done using the manual approach. The staff will call or personally ask for updates about the documents which are time-consuming and inefficient.

  • Face Recognition Application Database Design

Technology has grown so fast; it changes the way we do our daily tasks. Technology has made our daily lives easier. The capstone project, entitled “Face Recognition Attendance System” is designed to automate checking and recording of students’ attendance during school events using face recognition technology. The system will work by storing the student’s information along with their photographs in a server and the system will detect the faces of the students during school events and match it and verify to record the presence or absence of the student.

  • Digital Wallet Solution Database Design

The capstone project, named “Digital Wallet Solution,” is intended to allow people to store money online and make payments online. The digital wallet transactions accept a variety of currencies and provide a variety of payment gateways via which the user can pay for products and services. The system allows users to conduct secure and convenient online financial transactions. It will speed up payment and other financial processes, reducing the amount of time and effort required to complete them.

  • Virtual Online Tour Application Database Design

The usage of technology is an advantage in the business industry, especially during this challenging pandemic. It allows businesses to continue to operate beyond physicality. The capstone project entitled “Virtual Online Tour Application” is designed as a platform to streamline virtual tours for clients. Any business industry can use the system to accommodate and provide their clients with a virtual experience of their business. For example, the tourist industry and real estate agencies can use the system to provide a virtual tour to their clients about the tourist locations and designs of properties, respectively.

  • Invoice Management System Database Design

The researchers will create a system that will make it easier for companies to manage and keep track of their invoice information. The company’s sales records, payables, and total invoice records will all be electronically managed using this project. Technology is highly used for business operations and transactions automation. The capstone project, entitled “Invoice Management System” is designed to automate the management of the company’s invoice records. The said project will help companies to have an organized, accurate, and reliable record that will help them track their sales and finances.

Invoice Management System Database Design - List of Tables

  • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance Management System Database Design

Information Technology has become an integral part of any kind of business in terms of automating business operations and transactions. The capstone project, entitled “Vehicle Repair and Maintenance Management System” is designed for vehicle repair and maintenance management automation. The said project will automate the vehicle garage’s operations and daily transactions. The system will automate operations such as managing vehicle repair and maintenance records, invoice records, customer records, transaction records, billing and payment records, and transaction records.

  • Transcribe Medical Database Design

Information technology has made everything easier and simpler, including transcribing the medical diagnosis of patients. The capstone project, entitled “Medical Transcription Platform,” is designed to allow medical transcriptionists to transcribe audio of medical consultations and diagnose patients in a centralized manner. A medical transcriptionist is vital to keep accurate and credible medical records of patients and can be used by other doctors to know the patients’ medical history. The said project will serve as a platform where transcribed medical audios are stored for safekeeping and easy retrieval.

  • Multi-branch Travel Agency and Booking System Database Design

The capstone project, entitled “Multi-Branch Travel Agency and Booking System,” is designed as a centralized platform wherein multiple travel agency branches are registered to ease and simplify inquiries and booking of travels and tour packages by clients. The said project will allow travel agencies to operate a business in an easy, fast manner considering the convenience and safety of their clients. The system will enable travel agencies and their clients to have a seamless online transaction.

  • Pharmacy Stocks Management Database Design

The capstone project “Pharmacy Stocks Management System” allows pharmacies to manage and monitor their stocks of drugs electronically. The Pharmacy Stocks Management System will automate inventory to help ensure that the pharmacy has enough stock of medications and supplies to serve the needs of the patients.

  • Loan Management with SMS Database Design

The capstone project entitled “ Loan Management System with SMS ” is an online platform that allows members to apply and request loan. In addition, they can also monitor their balance in their respective dashboard. Management of cooperative will review first the application for approval or disapproval of the request. Notification will be send through the SMS or short messaging service feature of the system.

  • Service Call Management System Database Design

The capstone project, entitled ” Service Call Management System,” is designed to transform service calls to a centralized platform. The said project would allow clients to log in and lodge calls to the tech support if they encountered issues and difficulties with their purchased products. The tech support team will diagnose the issue and provide them with the necessary actions to perform via a call to solve the problem and achieve satisfaction.

  • File Management with Approval Process Database Design

The File Management System provides a platform for submitting, approving, storing, and retrieving files. Specifically, the capstone project is for the file management of various business organizations. This is quite beneficial in the management and organization of the files of every department. Installation of the system on an intranet is possible, as is uploading the system to a live server, from which the platform can be viewed online and through the use of a browser.

  • Beauty Parlor Management System Database Design

The capstone project entitled “Beauty Parlour Management System” is an example of transactional processing system that focuses on the records and process of a beauty parlour. This online application will help the management to keep and manage their transactions in an organize, fast and efficient manner.

  • Exam Management System Database Design

Information technology plays a significant role in the teaching and learning process of teachers and students, respectively. IT offers a more efficient and convenient way for teachers and students to learn and assess learnings. The capstone project, “Exam Management System,” is designed to allow electronic management of all the information about the exam questions, courses and subjects, and teachers and students. The said project is an all-in-one platform for student exam management.

  • Student and Faculty Clearance Database Design

The capstone project, entitled “Student and Faculty Clearance System,” is designed to automate students and faculty clearance processes. The approach is intended to make the clearance procedure easier while also guaranteeing that approvals are accurate and complete. The project works by giving every Department involved access to the application. The proposed scheme can eliminate the specified challenges, streamline the process, and verify the integrity and correctness of the data.

  • Vehicle Parking Management System Database Design

The capstone project entitled “ Vehicle Parking Management System ” is an online platform that allows vehicle owners to request or reserve a slot for parking space. Management can accept and decline the request of reservation. In addition, payment option is also part of the system feature but is limited to on-site payment.

  • Hospital Resources and Room Utilization Database Design

The capstone project, “Hospital Resources and Room Utilization Management System” is a system designed to streamline the process of managing hospital resources and room utilization. The said project is critical especially now that we are facing a pandemic, there is a need for efficient management of hospital resources and room management. The management efficiency will prevent a shortage in supplies and overcrowding of patients in the hospitals.

  • Church Event Management System Database Design

The capstone project entitled “Church Event Management System” is designed to be used by church organizations in creating and managing different church events. The conventional method of managing church events is done manually where members of organizations will face difficulties due to physical barriers and time constraints.

  • CrowdFunding Platform Database Design

Business financing is critical for new business ventures. In this study, the researchers concentrate on designing and developing a business financing platform that is effective for new startups. This capstone project, entitled “Crowdfunding Platform” is a website that allows entrepreneurs to campaign their new business venture to attract investors and crowdfund.

  • Vehicle Franchising and Drivers Offense Software Database Design

The proposed software will be used to electronically process and manage vehicle and franchising and driver’s offenses. The proposed software will eliminate the manual method which involves a lot of paper works and consumes valuable amount of time. The proposed project will serve as a centralized platform was recording and paying for the offenses committed by the drivers will be processed. The system will quicken the process of completing transaction between the enforcers and the drivers. Vehicle franchising and managing driver offenses will be easy, fast and convenient using the system.

  • Student Tracking Performance Database Design

The capstone project entitled “Student Academic Performance Tracking and Monitoring System” allows academic institutions to monitor and gather data about the academic performance of students where decisions are derived to further improve the students learning outcomes. Tracking and monitoring student’s performance serves a vital role in providing information that is used to assist students, teachers, administrators, and policymakers in making decisions that will further improve the academic performance of students.

  • Webinar Course Management System Database Design

The capstone project, entitled “Webinar Course Management System,” is designed to automate managing webinar courses. The project aims to eliminate the current method, which is inefficient and inconvenient for parties involved in the webinar. A software development life cycle (SDLC) technique will be used by the researchers in order to build this project. They will gather a sample size of participating webinar members and facilitators to serve as respondents of the study.

  • Online Birth Certificate Processing System with SMS Notification Database Design

The capstone project, “Online Birth Certificate Processing System with SMS Notification “ is an IT-based solution that aims to automate the process of requesting, verifying, and approving inquiries for original birth records. The system will eliminate the traditional method and transition the birth certificate processing into an easy, convenient, and efficient manner. The researchers will develop the project following the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) technique.

  • Food Donation Services Database Design

Information technology plays a significant role in automating the operations of many companies to boost efficiency. One of these is the automation of food donation and distribution management. “Food Donation Services,” the capstone project, is intended to serve as a platform for facilitating transactions between food groups, donors, and recipients. Food banks will be able to respond to various food donations and food assistance requests in a timely and effective manner as a result of the project.

  • COVID Profiling Database Design

The capstone project “City COVID-19 Profiling System with Decision Support” is designed to automate the process of profiling COVID-19 patients. The project will empower local health officers in electronically recording and managing COVID-19 patient information such as symptoms, travel history, and other critical details needed to identify patients. Manual profiling is prone to human mistakes, necessitates a lot of paperwork, and needs too much time and effort from the employees.

  • Evacuation Center Database Design

Calamities can have a significant impact on society. It may result in an enormous number of people being evacuated. The local government unit assigned evacuation centers to provide temporary shelter for people during disasters. Evacuation centers are provided to give temporary shelter for the people during and after a calamity. Evacuation centers can be churches, sports stadium community centers, and much more that are capable to provide emergency shelter.

  • QR Code Fare Payment System Database Design

The capstone project, “QR Code Fare Payment System” is designed to automate the procedure of paying for a fare when riding a vehicle. Passengers will register in the system to receive their own QR code, which they will use to pay for their fares by scanning in the system’s QR code scanning page. The project will enable cashless fare payment.

  • Web Based Psychopathology Diagnosis System Database Design

The capstone project entitled “Web-Based Psychopathology Diagnosis System” is designed for patients and medical staff in the field of psychopathology. The system will be a centralized platform to be used by patients and psychopathologists for consultations. The said project will also keep all the records electronically. Mental health is important. Each individual must give importance to their mental health by paying attention to it and seek medical advice if symptoms of mental disorders and unusual behavior occur.

  • Service Marketplace System Database Design

The capstone project, “Services Marketplace System” is designed to serve as a centralized platform for marketing and inquiring about different services. The system will serve as a platform where different service providers and customers will have an automated transaction. Technology made it easier for people to accomplish daily tasks and activities. In the conventional method, customers avail themselves of services by visiting the shop that offers their desired services personally.

  • Fish Catch System Database Design

The capstone project, entitled “Fish Catch Monitoring System” will automate the process of recording and monitoring fish catches. The said project is intended to be used by fisherman and fish markets to accurately record fish catches and will also keep the records electronically safe and secure.

  • Complaints Handling Management System Free Template Database Design

The capstone project, “Complaint Handling Management System” is a system designed to help educational institutions to handle and manage complaints electronically. The system will improve the response time of the school’s management in addressing the complaints of the students, parents, staff, and other stakeholders.

  • Senior Citizen Information System Free Template Database Design

The system will replace the manual method of managing information and records of the senior citizen to an electronic one. The system will serve as a repository of the record of the senior citizen within the scope of a specific local government unit. By using the system, paper works will be lessened and human errors in file handling will be avoided. The system is efficient enough to aid in managing and keeping the records of the senior citizens in the different barangay.

  • Online and SMS-Based Salary Notification Database Design

The “Online and SMS Based Salary Notification” is a capstone project intended to be used by companies and employees to automate the process of notifying salary details. The application will work by allowing the designated company encoder to encode details of salary and the employees to log in to his/her account in the application and have access to the details of his/her salary. One of the beauties of being employed is being paid. Employers manage the employee’s salary and are responsible to discuss with the employees the system of the salary and deductions.

  • Maternal Records Management Database Design

The capstone project, “Maternal Records Management System” is a system that automates the process of recording and keeping maternal records. The said project will allow maternity clinics to track and monitor their patients’ records from pregnancy to their baby’s immunization records.

  • Online Complaint Management System Database Design

Online Complaint Management System is a capstone project that is design to serve as a platform to address complaints and resolve disputes. The system provides an online way of resolving problems faced by the public or people within the organization. The system will make complaints easier to coordinate, monitor, track and resolve.

  • Online Donation Database Design

The capstone project ,  “Online Donation Platform for DSWD” is an online platform for giving and asking donations in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The system will be managed by the staffs of the DSWD to verify donors and legible beneficiaries electronically. The system will have an SMS feature to notify the donors and beneficiaries about the status of their request.

  • OJT Timesheet Monitoring System using QR Code Database Design

The capstone project, “OJT Timesheet Monitoring System using QR Code” allows employer to automate timesheet of each trainee for easy monitoring. The system will be used by the on-the-job trainees to serve as their daily time in and out using the QR code generated by the system. The entire system will be managed by the administrator.

Technology is attributed with driving change in a wide range of enterprises and institutions. Because of information technology, the world has altered dramatically. It is difficult to imagine an industry or organization that has not benefited from technology advances. In these businesses, the most common role of IT has been to automate numerous procedures and transactions in order to increase efficiency and improve people’s overall experience and satisfaction. The aforementioned capstone project ideas will be useful in a range of sectors. It will aid in enhancing operational efficiency as well as the services provided to the project’s users.

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80+ International Business Research Paper Topics With Samples

Business students who look for academic paper topics have a great variety of subjects to choose from. International business research paper topics are one of the options. We’ve gathered the collection below to inspire you and give you some ideas about your future paper. You can also check out our examples of business research papers – follow the links in our list!

The list is quite impressive – more than 80 examples of research paper topics about business from our college paper writer . Good luck finding your perfect idea!

International business topics for research papers on general concepts

  • What are the main business cycles and how do they affect world economics?
  • Why are master programs in international business popular among applicants?
  • How does social media affect international business activity?
  • How do modern technologies affect international business?
  • How does e-commerce affect international business?
  • What is cultural imperialism? Is it caused by international business?
  • What structures are available to international business?
  • How does the foreign exchange market work?
  • How does terrorism affect global economics?
  • The importance of strategic management in international business.
  • How does shadow banking affect global financial stability?
  • List and analyze three advantages and disadvantages of international business.

International business research paper topics on companies

  • How does BBC get profits from the Olympic Games?
  • International eBay business.
  • Toyota company: value chain model.
  • Zara company: international business case study .
  • Apple Inc.: the role of social media marketing .
  • How does Disney enter the Chinese market?
  • International business: General Electric.
  • How did Walmart become internationally successful?
  • Competitive advantage theory: McDonald’s.
  • How did IKEA become international?
  • Give examples of companies that have failed on the international market but succeed on the national market. Why have they failed?
  • The soap company Savon de Marseille insists that the government should give them the label of originality because cheap Chinese and Turkish knockoffs try to force them out from the market. What should the government do in this case?

International business research paper topics for college students about countries

  • Imitation jewelry business in India.
  • Why is it so hard to do business with Chinese?
  • The government policy toward international companies in Indonesia.
  • How does political lobbying in the USA affect international business?
  • Analyze the international business environment of Bahrain.
  • Expanding international business to Great Britain: pros and cons.
  • What is the business relationship between the USA and South Africa?
  • How does international business evolve in Saudi Arabia?
  • Is India an appropriate environment for international companies?
  • Indian companies in Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
  • What impact did the election of Donald Tramp have on international business in the USA?
  • Why is China essential for global business?
  • How do social systems in Arab countries affect international business?
  • International trade in Costa Rica.
  • China has advanced much further in mobile technologies than the US. What are the factors that influence the development of the mobile industry in China?
  • The economic impact of immigration in the United States in the last five years: How do immigrants affect the US economy in general?
  • How does Brexit influence the economics of the EU?
  • The British government has rejected the deal on a nuclear power station. Predict the economic consequences of this decision.
  • Try to explain why the prices on houses have increased after Brexit.

Argumentative business topics for research papers

  • What will be the most important digital marketing trend.
  • Do cultural differences have an impact on international business relationships?
  • The importance of cryptocurrency for international companies.
  • What country is a leader in the international cocoa industry?
  • What ethical dilemmas are the most frequent when it comes to international business?
  • Is globalization coming to the end, and how should international companies react?
  • Should managers in international companies concentrate on the cultural similarities or differences more?
  • What are the main reasons for internationalizing of business?
  • What is the best strategy of cross-cultural negotiations?
  • What are the most common political risks for international companies?
  • What countries have the biggest influence in the global energy industry?
  • Should expatriate employees be a part of international HR strategy?
  • Should international companies have different standards for customer service?
  • What were the most effective advertising campaigns in 2016?
  • Which big international companies are likely to go bankrupt if they fail to change their strategy as soon as possible?
  • Do you think that all big companies should be present in social media?
  • What ways do you know to predict US recessions? Which of them is the most effective in your opinion?
  • The US government urges wars in Africa with the aim to distribute guns. Prove or disapprove this opinion.

Analytical business research paper topics for college students

  • How to bring a product into a new country successfully?
  • How to start an international business?
  • Describe and analyze three possible levels of involvement in international business.
  • How was international business possible without online trading?
  • What role does climate change play in international business development?
  • Explain why aviation has always been treated as a special case in international business.
  • How do different religions affect international business?
  • Describe and analyze three attitudes that managers might have toward international business.
  • Describe how regional trading alliances are reshaping the international business environment.
  • How do governments profit from war? What kinds of companies grow in the conditions of constant war?
  • What would be the consequences for the poor if all countries live only on the products that they manufacture?
  • There’s a tendency in logo design to change the shape of the design to flat. Who started doing this first and why?
  • What other languages besides English could be international languages for business?

Examples of research paper topics about business: definitions

  • Define the abbreviation MNC.
  • What are the BRICS countries? What role do they play in international business?
  • What is an export credit guarantee?
  • Define “international business” and “international trade” and compare these terms.
  • Define the term “relationship marketing.” Is it important for international business?

Compare and contrast business topics for research papers

  • Compare and contrast international business development in Eastern Europe and Western Europe.
  • Is there any difference between the decision-making in international and national companies?
  • Compare and contrast economic environments for the international businesses in China and USA.
  • Does business ethics in international companies differ from local businesses?

It’s hard to pick one option when you have so many of them. Need some help with your choice? Read the tips below!

Choosing business topics for research papers

If you are assigned to write a research paper, your primary task is to choose your topic. You should consider the following things:

– Even if your professor offers several topics, try to choose the one that interests you. – Ensure that your international business research paper topic isn’t too narrow or too general.

– You’ll find a lot of materials if you are looking for information on broad topics, and not enough facts in the latter case. – Once having chosen a subject, look through the library catalog and internet databases for good ideas. – Look up current events and news on international business sites. – Look through several reference books (handbooks, encyclopedias, reports, dictionaries) when choosing international business research paper topics. They will provide you with the necessary background information and general topic overview.

How to research business research paper topics

Your topic is chosen! Now, make sure you plan and conduct your research properly:

  • Determine the sources and materials within the particular time frame and other limitations.
  • Pay special attention to the supervisor’s assistance and a working bibliography.
  • Start data collecting at once after choosing a particular topic.
  • Ensure the quality of your resources.
  • Check the age of the source – it is extremely important when you are going to write a research paper on a relevant international business topic.

We hope that our instructions will make the whole writing process easier for you! If you need write my college essay help, you can get academic assistance at EssayShark.com!

International business research paper topics help

Business research papers are usually assigned to college and university students. This type of paper is a part of a student’s semester work and influences the final marks. From the very beginning of the semester, supervisors put an emphasis on the importance of writing well-thought-out research papers.

If you can’t cope with academic writing on international business research paper topics, the best way out is to apply for assistance. EssayShark.com business essay writing service is there for you! You will never regret asking for help from our academic custom writing service. Just fill in the order form, write your specifications, and wait for the delivery. Business research paper writing has never been so easy!

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  1. 10 Current Database Research Topic Ideas in 2024

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