ACADEMIC RESEARCH Part 3 of 5: Factors to Consider in selecting a research area/Topic

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

‪#‎AcademicResearch‬

RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION

(CHOOSING A TOPIC)

Part 3 of 5: Factors to Consider in selecting a research area/Topic

1. Interest

√This is the most important consideration in selecting a research problem.

√A research endeavour is time-consuming, and involves hard work and possibly unforeseen problems. √If one selects a topic which does not greatly interest him/her, it becomes extremely difficult to sustain the required motivation, and hence its completion.

2. Magnitude

√One should have sufficient knowledge about the research problem to be able to visualize the work involved in completing the proposed study.

√Narrow the topic down to something manageable, specific and clear.

√The topic chosen must be one that be can managed within the time and resources at your disposal.

3. Measurement of concepts

√Where a study involve use of concepts, one must make sure he/she is clear about its indicators and their measurement.

√Example

In a study to measure the effectiveness of a health promotion programme, one must be clear as to what determines effectiveness and how it will be measured.

√A researcher should not use concepts in a research problem he/she is not sure how to measure

4. Level of expertise

√The researcher must have an adequate level of expertise for the task proposed.

√NB: Although one will learn during the study and may receive help from research supervisors and others, the researcher will have to do most of the work by self.

5. Relevance

√Select a topic that is of relevance to you as a professional.

√The study need to add to the existing body of knowledge, bridge current gaps or be useful in policy formulation.

√This will help you to sustain interest in the study.

6. Availability of data

√If your topic entails collection of information from secondary sources (office records, client records, census or other already-published reports, etc) ensure that these data are available in the required format before finalizing the topic,

7. Ethical issues

√Consider also the ethical issues involved in the type of study e.g. how the study population would be affected by some of the questions (directly or indirectly); deprived of an intervention; expected to share sensitive and private information; or expected to be simply experimental ‘guinea pigs’.