7 points to think while deciding your Research Problem
By: Anupama Nilmani
Tags: PhD, Students, Research, Academia, Decision Making

“You are an electronics engineer. What were you doing in an operation theatre?“ perplexed but impressed, Ila queried.

“I am researching health monitoring devices of micro sometimes nano sizes. I was taking readings for one such device during surgery”, explained Rita to her cousin.

“Okay…. “, Ila, like a typical teenager, had another question ready, ”But how did you decide to research on medical devices?“

“How to explain that?”, Rita said teasingly, “Look at it this way, a few years ago you started experimenting with makeup, and now you are almost an expert in eye-makeup. “

Ila laughed, “But seriously, I am sure it is not as easy as deciding on makeup.”

“No, it is not,” Rita replied. She had developed an interest in semiconductors and Nano-devices back in under-grads.

It had further narrowed down to Nano-fabricated medical devices. But now, she had to choose just one aspect of it, which will become her Research Problem, for further research and final thesis of her Ph.D.

Be it natural sciences or social sciences, in every doctoral students’ life, there comes a time when they have to finalize the research problem. It is the central idea of the research and the thesis paper. A good research problem defines the scope and aim of the thesis.

Here are seven points to keep in mind while deciding on your research problem.

1. Relevance of the problem

Read and analyze existing research papers, look for unanswered problems/questions; that may fill the gap, and provide a base for further research. Identify how your work can affect the field and life of people on a larger scale.

2. Scope of the problem

If too broad, the research may become too general and uninteresting. Too narrow, and you may not find enough data to write a good paper. Finding that sweet spot is hard but will save you a lot of time and trouble in the later stage.

3. Keep it manageable

Select a problem that is within your skillset and doable within a realistic time frame. You will have to learn lot of new things, but be aware about your strengths before you start working. We do best at things which we are naturally good at.

4. Consider options given by mentor

Your mentor must already have worked out its scope, manageability, relevance, etc. It will be a safe and quick choice to consider working on problems laid out by your mentor.

5. Common interest

If you are choosing a topic by yourself, take up something close to you and your advisor’s interest. You are going to stumble over many times, and your advisor can help you cross them. Better, if they are equally interested.

6. It need not be a breakthrough

Don’t take up completely alien problems just for the novelty. The research must be original, relevant, and challenging.

7. Budget and grant

Last but not least, whatever the field, you need money to complete your research. Keep the budget of research and availability of grants in mind while choosing your research problem.

The problem or topic may influence the direction of one’s research and career. Put considerable effort into it. Show-off your skills in focused research, and presentation of the problem by choosing a persuasive and reasonable research problem.

Good luck!