When it comes to conducting quality research and effecting meaningful projects, it indeed becomes crucial to understand the various parameters which should be considered while finalizing the topic of the project as unlike a short-term assignment like writing a research paper, the dimensions of the project might change mid-way on the virtue of the sheer scale and time-factor associated with the same. Question is, how the same could be ensured, that is, finalization of an effective topic for a research project? The question has been asked with reference to executing a project in management and social sciences
You can ask yourself these questions before finalizing your protocol:
Can this project contribute to our collective understanding of a research problem?
Is the scope focused enough so that I and/or my collaborators can gather and assimilate the relevant data within the time frame of the project?
Do I and/or my collaborators have the necessary skills and resources to carry the project to completion?
Six months ago, I started a postdoctoral fellowship where I had to come up with a research topic. I will share with you what I have done to date, maybe it might prove useful.
1. Understand the focus of the research group
I took time to read the work that was published by my new research group to understand their focus. I believe this applies to new assistant professors too. Each university has its areas of interest listed in their annual strategic plan.
2. Identify knowledge gaps
While reading the previous work, you will probably notice some knowledge gaps - areas of potential research. It is important to read your local research in the context of broader scientific knowledge. A gap in my research group might have been answered by another group.
3. Talk to people within and without your area of interest
My research is primarily fate and transport of pollutants and I am interested mainly in development of analytical techniques. However, in the past six months I spoke to people who specialize in English language, media, global studies, virology, and so forth. They offered me a clearer window to what I could focus my study on.
4. Write a review manuscript
I learned this from my supervisor, Yogeshkumar Naik. He encouraged me to write informal reviews every six months. Although it appeared as unnecessary back then, I have realized that practice helped me stay abreast with advancement and knowledge gaps in my research area. My current supervisor was surprised when I send him a review manuscript after 5 months taking up the job.
5. Prepare a detailed project proposal
I use my review manuscript for developing my research proposal. The proposal is always detailed and oftentimes I include time frames and protocols.
6. Be flexible
Although I am detail-oriented and always want to stick to my plan, I have found science sometimes happen in unplanned avenues. In graduate school, I set out to study environmental behavior of phthalates but my dissertation was on enantiomeric fate and toxicity of pharmaceuticals.
Dear Amit,
From experience I would recommend ensuring that it is possible to collect data in order to investigate the project and that there are sufficient resources to carry out the project within the given constraints. Often the first draft project proposals I see are much too broad or they are impossible to answer because there is no practical way to collect data about them.
Dear Amit,
Following questions may be useful for finalizing a topic:
•Is it short?
•Is it clear?
•Is it relevant to the field of interest to the researcher?
•Is it representing what is being proposed to study or what has been studied?
•Is it not a sentence?
•Does it have a substantial body of literature associated with it?
•Has it captured your interest seriously?
Best wishes!
To add to what others have already suggested, please consider the following.
Is it possible to research the topic within the time frame available to you? Some research topics are more complex than others. Please consider the time available for the research before settling on the topic
Also, consider whether there is a good chance of getting the necessary data on that topic within a reasonable time. In my experience, I realised too late that it was difficult to get data on my research topic, as a result, I completed the research later than planned.
Do you have the motivation to investigate that topic? The research is much easier if it is on a topic you really love.
Regards
Look up the following work of mine from my RG page.
Presentation A Guide to Qualitative Research Writing
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