WHAT SHOULD I RESEARCH ?
This post will help you make that decision. It will offer advice to help you decide on what you should research and for choosing a good topic. Before you decide on what to research, there are some important questions which you need to ask yourself first when deciding.
Am I Passionate About this Topic?
In research, passion can be a double-edged sword. It can be a good or a bad thing depending on the amount of it that you have. Being passionate about a topic can provide you with the drive you need to navigate the often arduous and frustrating task that is a research project. Passion can keep you from going insane from the stress of completing a project i.e. the sleepless nights, delays, red tape etc.Yes passion can be a very good thing in this sense. Keep in mind that you will in some cases be dedicating multiple years of your life to this project. I have heard stories of people who have become stuck with a project they don't like and are not passionate about and this can be a very distressing situation to be in.
At the same time too much passion can be a bad thing. Being too passionate about something can bias your view on that topic. For example many people (myself included) are passionate about environmental protection but this might give you a skewed, radical view on the subject and stop you from considering other important aspects of your study such as the practicality of your recommendations.
An infamous incident where too much passion for a topic played a role was the case of Dr. J Robert Openheimer, aka. the father of the atomic bomb. He was once forced by his adviser to study a topic that he hated (experimental physics) and attempted to murder him as a result (Gladwell 2008). Somehow he got out of it with only probation (Gladwell 2008). Please do not attempt to murder your supervisor if they stick you with a topic you don't like. As enticing as the thought may appear to you at that time, you will most likely not get out of it with only probation.
Is this Topic Worth Studying?
A second important question you need to ask yourself after you have selected a topic is if its worth studying. What is its value to the academic community and to society as a whole? YOU might be passionate about studying the diameter of Prairie Dog's toenails in North America, but that doesn't mean its worth studying. A good topic should add something of value to society and should be something that can help improve it. This is not just an egalitarian consideration, but a practical one as well. Consider the fact that you have to apply for funding of research from third parties (unless you're Tony Stark and can fund your own research). People will not just give their money to you unless they see the value in your work. It is a cold truth that not everything is worth studying, even if you may be passionate about it.
Can I Reasonably Study this Topic?
Another practical question you should ask is whether or not you could reasonably study the topic chosen. Is it within your current skillset? If not, can you learn the required skills? Never attempt to do a project which is too ambitious for you. Stick within the limits of your own abilities. If you are unable to do something, then don't attempt to. There is no shame in admitting that you have limitations. You are human after all and we all do. You may become overwhelmed by the work if you lack the ability to handle it.
However, this is not meant to discourage you from accepting a challenge. If it is a new field and you want to challenge yourself to do it and are sure that you can handle it then by all means jump right in. Challenges help us grow in life and you should not shy away from one out of fear. But at the same time, do not take stupid risks. Always remember, "Calm seas do not make skilled sailors."
Do I have the Resources to Conduct this Research?
Perhaps the most practical of all the questions you need to ask yourself when deciding on a research topic is whether or not you have the access to resources to do this project. This can be broken down into three categories:
1.Funding
Can you afford to pay for your research? If not can you source funding from a third party like an NGO or corporation? If you answered the first question yes, then you should have no problem (also call me, I think we can be friends). However if you do have to source funding from a third-party, be wary of the fact that that funding comes with strings attached. Entities like states, corporations and NGO's almost always have an agenda and vested interests to protect. You may lose control of your research and in extreme cases be forced to compromise your integrity. The Union of Concerned scientists published a report on this, link below.
http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/how-corporations-corrupt-science.html
2.Equipment
Do you have access to the equipment needed to do your project? Can you acquire it? Does it exist? That last one might seem ridiculous but you should consider these questions. Without the right equipment your project will fail. For example, you may want to conduct a LiDAR survey of your country but may not have access to an aircraft equipped with a LiDAR system and may not be able to afford it. You may want to map planets in the Andromeda Galaxy, but the technology for you to do this has not been invented yet. Be realistic.
3.Access
Do you have access to the study site? Do you have access to any secondary data which you may need? Not having access to these critical elements can cripple your research efforts. If your study site is within a protected or secure area eg. a nature preserve or military base you may have to navigate a gauntlet of red-tape to get to it. You may even be denied permission. Some companies may not be willing to share data for various reasons (See my previous post on red-tape for hints with dealing with this).
Conclusion
A research project can probably be considered analogous to raising a child. At times it can be difficult, maddening and a huge challenge. But there are moments when it is rewarding and enjoyable and when you hand over a completed project it feels very much like handing over your baby. Just as with child-rearing, you should be ABSOLUTELY SURE that you want to do it before embarking upon the project. Hopefully this post helped you make up your mind.
Thanks for Reading,
Barindra
References
Gladwell, Malcolm. 2008. Outliers. New York: Little, Brown and Co.
"How Corporations Corrupt Science At The Public's Expense (2012)". 2016. Union Of Concerned Scientists. http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/how-corporations-corrupt-science.html.
Am I Passionate About this Topic?
In research, passion can be a double-edged sword. It can be a good or a bad thing depending on the amount of it that you have. Being passionate about a topic can provide you with the drive you need to navigate the often arduous and frustrating task that is a research project. Passion can keep you from going insane from the stress of completing a project i.e. the sleepless nights, delays, red tape etc.Yes passion can be a very good thing in this sense. Keep in mind that you will in some cases be dedicating multiple years of your life to this project. I have heard stories of people who have become stuck with a project they don't like and are not passionate about and this can be a very distressing situation to be in.
At the same time too much passion can be a bad thing. Being too passionate about something can bias your view on that topic. For example many people (myself included) are passionate about environmental protection but this might give you a skewed, radical view on the subject and stop you from considering other important aspects of your study such as the practicality of your recommendations.
An infamous incident where too much passion for a topic played a role was the case of Dr. J Robert Openheimer, aka. the father of the atomic bomb. He was once forced by his adviser to study a topic that he hated (experimental physics) and attempted to murder him as a result (Gladwell 2008). Somehow he got out of it with only probation (Gladwell 2008). Please do not attempt to murder your supervisor if they stick you with a topic you don't like. As enticing as the thought may appear to you at that time, you will most likely not get out of it with only probation.
Is this Topic Worth Studying?
A second important question you need to ask yourself after you have selected a topic is if its worth studying. What is its value to the academic community and to society as a whole? YOU might be passionate about studying the diameter of Prairie Dog's toenails in North America, but that doesn't mean its worth studying. A good topic should add something of value to society and should be something that can help improve it. This is not just an egalitarian consideration, but a practical one as well. Consider the fact that you have to apply for funding of research from third parties (unless you're Tony Stark and can fund your own research). People will not just give their money to you unless they see the value in your work. It is a cold truth that not everything is worth studying, even if you may be passionate about it.
Can I Reasonably Study this Topic?
Another practical question you should ask is whether or not you could reasonably study the topic chosen. Is it within your current skillset? If not, can you learn the required skills? Never attempt to do a project which is too ambitious for you. Stick within the limits of your own abilities. If you are unable to do something, then don't attempt to. There is no shame in admitting that you have limitations. You are human after all and we all do. You may become overwhelmed by the work if you lack the ability to handle it.
However, this is not meant to discourage you from accepting a challenge. If it is a new field and you want to challenge yourself to do it and are sure that you can handle it then by all means jump right in. Challenges help us grow in life and you should not shy away from one out of fear. But at the same time, do not take stupid risks. Always remember, "Calm seas do not make skilled sailors."
Do I have the Resources to Conduct this Research?
Perhaps the most practical of all the questions you need to ask yourself when deciding on a research topic is whether or not you have the access to resources to do this project. This can be broken down into three categories:
1.Funding
Can you afford to pay for your research? If not can you source funding from a third party like an NGO or corporation? If you answered the first question yes, then you should have no problem (also call me, I think we can be friends). However if you do have to source funding from a third-party, be wary of the fact that that funding comes with strings attached. Entities like states, corporations and NGO's almost always have an agenda and vested interests to protect. You may lose control of your research and in extreme cases be forced to compromise your integrity. The Union of Concerned scientists published a report on this, link below.
http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/how-corporations-corrupt-science.html
2.Equipment
Do you have access to the equipment needed to do your project? Can you acquire it? Does it exist? That last one might seem ridiculous but you should consider these questions. Without the right equipment your project will fail. For example, you may want to conduct a LiDAR survey of your country but may not have access to an aircraft equipped with a LiDAR system and may not be able to afford it. You may want to map planets in the Andromeda Galaxy, but the technology for you to do this has not been invented yet. Be realistic.
3.Access
Do you have access to the study site? Do you have access to any secondary data which you may need? Not having access to these critical elements can cripple your research efforts. If your study site is within a protected or secure area eg. a nature preserve or military base you may have to navigate a gauntlet of red-tape to get to it. You may even be denied permission. Some companies may not be willing to share data for various reasons (See my previous post on red-tape for hints with dealing with this).
Conclusion
A research project can probably be considered analogous to raising a child. At times it can be difficult, maddening and a huge challenge. But there are moments when it is rewarding and enjoyable and when you hand over a completed project it feels very much like handing over your baby. Just as with child-rearing, you should be ABSOLUTELY SURE that you want to do it before embarking upon the project. Hopefully this post helped you make up your mind.
Thanks for Reading,
Barindra
References
Gladwell, Malcolm. 2008. Outliers. New York: Little, Brown and Co.
"How Corporations Corrupt Science At The Public's Expense (2012)". 2016. Union Of Concerned Scientists. http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/how-corporations-corrupt-science.html.
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