It is a common practice for many research organizations, research firms, sponsors, funding agencies, and ministries to list priority research areas before they call for a research proposal. In doing so, they usually arrange workshops with experts to identify research problems.
Each problem proposed for research is judged for its merit in terms of a few guidelines or criteria. A brief description of each of these criteria is given below:
Justifying Merit of Proposed Research Topic
Relevance
Before one decides on a topic, each proposed topic should be compared with all other options. This enables the researcher to decide whether the topic so chosen is a priority problem or not.
The key questions that will help one to decide whether the problem was chosen is a research problem or not are, among others;
- how large or widespread is the problem
- who is affected by the problem, and
- how severe is the problem?
If the topic is not considered relevant based on these criteria, it is not worth continuing the study.
Avoidance of duplication
Before it is decided to carry out the study, it is important to see whether the suggested topic has been investigated earlier in the proposed study area or an area with a similar environment or setting.
If the topic has been studied before, the results should be reviewed to explore whether major questions remained unanswered and thus deserves, in your judgment, further investigation. If not, there is no justification for repeating the study.
Feasibility
Every proposed study must be considered for its execution regarding the complexity of the problems and resources required to carry out the study.
Thought should be given first to personnel, time, equipment, and money that will likely be available locally.
In the case of insufficient locally available funds, the possibility of obtaining technical and financial assistance from external sources should be explored. The local environment in which the study is to be conducted must also be considered.
Political acceptability
In general, it is desirable and, at the same time, advisable to choose a research topic that has the interest and support of the relevant authorities, including significant political opinions.
This will increase the chance that the study’s recommendations will be implemented. If needed, an extra effort is to involve the policymakers concerned at an early stage to avoid confrontation later.
Applicability
The ultimate goal of any study is that the results will lead to some policy recommendations. How likely will these recommendations be endorsed and implemented by the authorities for which the study was undertaken?
This will depend not only on the blessings of the authorities but also on the availability of resources for implementing the recommendations.
The opinions of the political clients, fund-providing agencies, and the responsible staff will also influence the implementation of the recommendations.
The urgency of data needed.
In implementing the study results, the authorities give top priority to those studies which are urgently needed for decision-making.
This is an important criterion for a research problem. One should, therefore, decide on:
- Which research should be done first, and which can be done later?
- How urgently are the data needed for making a decision?
- Do we have easy access to these data right now?
Ethical consideration
When choosing a research problem, one must carefully consider its acceptability to those being studied. Care must be taken so that the subjects of the studies are harmed neither physically nor psychologically, and their fundamental rights are not ignored.
Careful considerations must be given to research situations when there is a possibility of such harm, exploitation, invasion of privacy, and loss of integrity.
Ethical issues in research reflect important moral concerns about the practice of responsible behavior in society.
FAQs
Why do research organizations prioritize certain research areas?
Research organizations prioritize certain research areas to ensure they address the most relevant and pressing topics, streamlining research efforts and optimizing resource allocation.
How can one determine the relevance of a proposed research topic?
The relevance of a proposed research topic can be determined by comparing it with other options and asking key questions such as how widespread the problem is, who is affected by it, and how severe the problem is.
Why is it essential to avoid duplicating research topics?
Avoiding duplication ensures that resources aren’t wasted on previously studied topics. Before undertaking a study, it’s important to review existing research to see if significant questions remain unanswered or if there’s no new perspective to offer.
What factors should be considered when assessing the feasibility of a research topic?
The feasibility of a research topic is assessed based on the complexity of the problems, required resources (personnel, time, equipment, and money), and the local environment where the study will be conducted. External technical and financial assistance sources should also be explored if local resources are insufficient.
How does political acceptability impact a research topic?
Political acceptability is crucial as a research topic with the interest and support of relevant authorities is more likely to have its recommendations implemented. Engaging policymakers early can also help gain their support and avoid potential issues later.
What determines the applicability of a research study’s results?
The applicability of a study’s results is influenced by the support of authorities, resource availability for implementing recommendations, and the opinions of political clients, funding agencies, and responsible staff. The aim is to ensure actionable policy recommendations arise from the study’s findings.
Why are ethical considerations important in research?
Ethical considerations are vital to ensure the subjects of studies aren’t harmed physically or psychologically and their fundamental rights are upheld. Researchers must avoid potential harm, exploitation, privacy invasion, or integrity loss.