1)Reading! , the more research articles one reads, the more ideas for research one get.

2) Literature review on specific field of Interest.

3) Attending conferences on the field of interest.

4) Discussing (brainstorming) and raising question with Peers.

Creative problem solving techniques for idea generation can be used along the way!

I just apply and see the relevance of a STIMULI PROJECT with Nonaka Takeuchi model.

Scientific research main objective is to help solving problems. Therefore, I choose a new research topic in my field through identifying a problem at the workplace and trying to solve it.

Basically, you get ideas by exposing yourself to research others are doing. This exposure comes from following the journal literature, from attending graduate seminars, and, most of all, from making it a habit to think about things you can do with the knowledge and skills you possess and are acquiring. Some ideas may come to you while you are doing advanced course work, e.g., you may notice an important gap in the mechanism of a reaction, etc. If you expect to defend a proposal within the first three years (as required by the rules), don't wait until the last minute and expect to come up with good research ideas.  When an idea occurs to you, go to the library and see if the work has already been done. Often you will find it has -- all the more reason to begin your quest as early as possible. 

It's an interesting question ...

I believe a new topic should arise from the work of several researchers around the world, as a result of a need and not by the will of one or another researcher.

Three main sources of research topics

1. Theory – an organized body of concepts, generalizations and principles that can be subjected to investigation

a. Provides conceptually rich topics

b. Provides confirmation of some aspects of theory

2. Personal experience

3. Replication

Start reading the published papers in the area of interest starting with the latest. Having assimilated the knowledge you will know the existing gaps in the knowledge from where you will be able to identify suitable research topics.

1)Reading! , the more research articles one reads, the more ideas for research one get.

2) Literature review on specific field of Interest.

3) Attending conferences on the field of interest.

4) Discussing (brainstorming) and raising question with Peers.

Creative problem solving techniques for idea generation can be used along the way!

Dear Umesh,

In addition to good responses above, the following points may be considered  in selecting a research topic:

• Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a difficult task to throw any new light in such a case.
• Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher.
• Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
• The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that the related research material or sources of research are within one’s reach.

Thank you Behrouz for your answer.  We should be focusing on new areas in our field.

In electrical Engineering

• Electrically conductive plastics promising for batteries, solar cells
• Quantum (properties of atoms) probe enhances electric field measurements

http://www.rdmag.com/topics/information-tech/electrical-engineering

Think laterally and look for the application expertise to solving real life questions and problems. These maybe very simple but the perfect question is often a very simple one.

In Management research