Here is an overview and example process for coming up with different titles. You could use the same strategies for coming up with a title for your thesis or professional project.
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Tips to Writing a Good Title
Three Common Types of Titles
A Note on Subtitles
The purpose of a subtitle is to provide additional clarification that is not captured by the main title. You do not have to have a subtitle for a straightforward title or one that poses a question (although it is not uncommon either). Almost all catchy main titles need a subtitle to provide context and to provide information to the reader about the subject of the content.
Working Title vs. Title
Don't worry about coming up with a final title until you have a completed thesis or action research project. This way you have the data, analysis, results, and conclusion to help inform what the work should be called. It can be helpful to have a place holder title while you work on the project (also known as a working title) that simply describes your research question or topic in general terms. The working title is then replaced with your final title before publication.
How to come up with a title
Pull ideas from the different sections of your thesis or project including the Abstract, Statement of Problem, Study Overview/Research Methods, Findings, Results, and Conclusion.
Example--Crafting a Title
Below are sections of a paper with highlighted phrases, ideas, and concepts followed by possible titles derived from the highlighted portions.
Abstract:
This article describes the results of an international research collaboration. The aim of the study was to identify the dispositional traits of interpreters that may be predictive of occupational performance. Empirically, general cognitive ability has been shown to be highly predictive of job performance across most occupations and is considerably more predictive than non-cognitive factors. The cognitive complexity of the task of interpreting is irrefutable, and it is likely there is a strong link between an interpreter’s level of competence and his or her general cognitive ability across a number of important cognitive domains. The personality performance link is more ambiguous in an organizational context however, although intuitively dispositional traits are likely to play a role in interpreter education and training, and in interpreting practice. Drawing on literature from organizational psychology, personality psychology, interpreting and translation, and applied linguistics, an online survey methodology was developed to explore interpreter disposition and competence. The questionnaire incorporated reliable and valid tests of personality constructs including ‘The Big Five’ (openness to experience; conscientiousness; extraversion; agreeableness; and neuroticism), as well as constructs of perfectionism and self-esteem. The survey received 2193 responses from interpreters residing in 38 different countries, and is the largest international study of sign language interpreter personality ever undertaken. The results reveal clear patterns in regard to personality factors that predict interpreter performance. Based on the data collected in this global study, and the growing body of scholarly work in this area, the personality factors that appear to have predictive value for interpreters will be outlined, addressing possible implications for both pedagogy and practice in the profession
POSSIBLE TITLES FROM ABSTRACT--STRAIGHT FORWARD, QUESTION, AND CATCHY TITLE:
How personality, perfectionism and self-esteem impact interpreters’ disposition and competence in the workforce
Can dispositional traits help organizations hire successful interpreters?
Seven personality traits to rule them all: Dispositional traits of successful interpreters
Overview of Study
This study is therefore timely and unique for three reasons: (1) it directly compares the personality characteristics of signed language interpreters worldwide across 38 different countries, and (2) it compares professional working signed language interpreters (rather than students) across those countries; and (3) it is the largest comparative study of signed language interpreter personality characteristics ever conducted, with a participant sample of over 2,000 interpreters.
In particular we were interested in exploring the following research questions:
POSSIBLE TITLES FROM OVERVIEW OF STUDY: STRAIGHT FORWARD, QUESTION, AND CATCHY TITLE
The common personality traits of sign language interpreters across the world
Does personality matter? An international study of sign language interpreter disposition
Swipe right: Building profiles for sign language interpreter occupational suitability
Discussion
Based on the data from this study, we know with a level of confidence that if a sign language interpreting student, or an interpreter, has good general mental ability, and rates highly on self-esteem, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness, they are in a strong position to succeed in this profession.
Our data indicates dispositional feelings of self-worth impact on perceived interpreter competence, and that perceived level of competence correlates with actual level of interpreter accreditation.
POSSIBLE TITLES FROM DISCUSSION: STRAIGHT FORWARD, QUESTION, AND CATCHY TITLE
The personality characteristics common in sign language interpreters who succeed in the profession
Do dispositional feelings of self-worth impact an interpreter’s perceived competence compared to their actual qualifications for the job?
There is something about them that…: How mental ability, self-esteem, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness impact the success of sign-language interpreters
Conclusion
With regard to our research questions then, personality does play a role in predicting job performance for sign language interpreters, and the specific aspects of personality that are most predictive can be identified
POSSIBLE TITLES FROM CONCLUSION: STRAIGHT FORWARD, QUESTION, AND CATCHY TITLE
The role personality plays in predicting job performance for sign language interpreters
What role does personality plays in predicting job performance for sign language interpreters?
The role of a lifetime: How personality predicts job performance for sign-language interpreters
CONSIDERING ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS
You want to pick a title that is both engaging and accurately describes the content. You don’t want to mislead readers with a title the grabs their attention but doesn’t deliver on the promise.
Review all the options you came up with:
Select the best one. At this stage you may also mix and match titles in title/subtitle option. The authors decided to go with a question followed by a subtitle for the published version of their title:
Does personality matter? An international study of sign language interpreter disposition
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Excerpts taken from and modified for demonstration purposes from:
Bontempo, K., Napier, J., Hayes, L., & Brashear, V. (2014). Does personality matter? An international
study of sign language interpreter disposition. Translation & Interpreting, 6(1), 23–46.
https://doi-org./10.12807/ti.106201.2014.a02
Available at:
https://wou.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=95512152&site=ehost-live