One of the simplest ways to develop a topic for research in social anthropology is to look at and examine the existing research in the field. This research can be found by perusing the bibliographies of your social anthropology textbooks, using database searches through your college or university website, or by Internet search, as well. Stick to the most recent research in the field. Find a dissertation or article on a topic in social anthropology that interests you and read as much as you can in that area. You will begin to see that scholars differ with one another on various theories and conclusions. You too may find that you disagree with a particular scholar or school of thought on a subject because of their faulty logic or poorly designed research. Using that as your starting point, develop a topic that contributes to the ongoing scholarly debate. For instance, the Association of Social Anthropologists lists its various publications on its website. Topics for research can include urban ethnicity, social anthropology and history, research methods in social anthropology and science and anthroplogy, among others.
Theory is one of the main guiding forces that informs researchers in the field of social anthropology. In fact, some theorists in the field make one particular theory the focus of their life's work. Social anthropological theory refers to basic constructs that researchers use to frame their research and conclusions. For instance, if one researcher believes that human actions are determined by biological forces, much of his research will reflect this bias that human actions are biologically determined in many, if not all, contexts. Arguing for or against a particular social anthropology research theory can be fruitful ground for further research. Possible theories and constructs to research include action theory, collectivism, conflict theory, exclusion theory, corporatism, feminist theory and exclusion theory, among others.
One of the more interesting areas of research in social anthropology is how and where the discipline intersects with other major academic disciplines. Social science as a field lends itself to interdisciplinary research. For instance, social anthropology involves the application of sociological theory to the field of anthropology. Social anthropology also intersects with other academic disciplines, like history, science, literature, religious studies, philosophy and ethics, among many others. Interdisciplinary research can focus on the impact of social anthropology on these disciplines or vice versa. Looking at the major contributions in the field that have cut across interdisciplinary lines can lead to an enlightening discussion of research in the field.