How to create a research idea?

Choice of an interesting research topic

By AHMED ELBADRY
[email protected]

1. The definition of research

Research can be defined as the search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, with an open mind, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories.

like many graduate students, I had great difficulty

finding a topic for my thesis. Unfortunately, I did not attend to the lesson I should have been learning via this experience about the importance of and difficulties associated with choosing a good research problem. Today I believe that the choice of research problem choosing the phenomena

we wish to explain or predict is the most important decision we make as a researcher

(Weber (2003)).

2. Theory and Research

Theory is an explanation of observed regularities. Theory is important to the social researchers because: 1. It provides a rational for the research that is being conducted. 2. It provides framework within which social phenomena can be understood and the research findings can be interpreted.

3. What type of theory? We can classify theories into: 1. Deductive theory 2. Inductive theory

3.1 Deductive theory (approach)

Represents the commonest view of the nature of the relationship between theory and social research.

The researcher , on the basis of what is known about a particular domain and of theoretical considerations in relation to that domain, deduces a hypothesis (or hypotheses) that must then be subjected to empirical scrutiny.

.Deductive theory
1. Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. 2. Sometimes this is informally called a "top-down" approach. 3. Conclusion follows logically from premises (available facts).

3.2 Inductive theory (approach)

In the inductive theory, the researcher infers the implications of his or her findings for the theory that prompted the whole exercise. The findings are fed back into the stock of theory and the research findings associated with a certain domain of enquiry.

 Inductive theory

 Inductive theory
1. Inductive reasoning works the other way, moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories.

2. Informally, we sometimes call this a "bottom up approach. 3. Conclusion is likely based on premises.
4. Involves a degree of uncertainty

4. Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Quantitative Theory/approach Qualitative Deductive, testing of Inductive, theory generation of theory Natural sciences model, in particular positivism Interpretivism (how individuals interpret their social world?)

Epistemological orientation

Ontological orientation

Objectivism (a view Constructionism of social reality as an external, objective reality)

Prior to conducting any research, be it quantitative or qualitative, a researcher needs to review existing literature in order to avoid replicating previous work. A useful discussion provided by Webster and Watson (2002), who state: A review of prior, relevant literature is an essential feature of any academic project. An effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers where research is needed.

The importance of literature

The literature review is a very important in the initial selection of the topic. This will be more a matter of doing extensive reading rather than a formal literature review, which will happen at an early stage of the research. Because a PhD is an addition to the body of knowledge, you need to have a good idea of what the body of knowledge is in that area. Your supervisor will be able to direct you to the most useful starting points as you do your survey of the literature, but here are some suggestions:

Sources to review the literature

1. 2. 3. Reports of research in peer-reviewed journals, looking in particular at their suggestions for further research. Theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and general reports, which may have similar indicators of future research. Reviews of the field of study (sometimes, literature reviews are published in academic journals). Books and book reviews (the latter provide useful indicators of the former's contribution to knowledge, and can often be accessed via citation indexes). Conference announcements, reports and proceedings look at tracks and themes. Reports in the media are there particular issues that keep coming up, particularly ones that will be important to managers?

4.
5.

6.

1. Identifying Source Materials

2. Navigation of research topic

5. Key questions to generate research ideas

It is important that you think through the following questions, not only to help you get your head around your idea, but also in terms of refining your research question.

5.1 What is the purpose?

It is important to state the aim or purpose of the research, and basically an outline of the question you intend to ask and what you intend to do. That includes the research question, and also forces you to think about how you go about finding the answer to your question. It may be useful to start by brainstorming or mindmapping ideas you have.

5.2 Where are you going?

Do you have a hypothesis? A hypothesis is a tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event. A hypothesis is a proposed answer to your research question. It may be an assumption that you have as to where the research may lead you, and what the outcome of the research will be. Thinking about a hypothesis for your research allows you to further conceptualise the process of how you may go about answering your question.

5.3 Who am I to be doing this research?

It is imperative that the researcher be fully aware of themselves. Also, that the researcher understand their role and relationship with/within the communities with whom their research interfaces.

5.4 Who will this research benefit?

Part of the function of research is to increase our knowledge base about the world and the people around us. Therefore it is important that someone else will be interested in the results of your research.

5.5 How will your research be of benefit?

How does the research you intend to conduct impact on the people that you have thought about above? What impact does your research have on communities and other organisations? Does your research impact positively on these groups or negatively? Is there a transformative element in your research that may assist or give back to these groups?

5.6 Has anyone else already answered this question?

Many people have great ideas and questions that need to be answered, however sometimes if you look around you may find that someone else has already answered the question that you are asking.

It is important that you do some background checking on what research has already been conducted in the area of your own topic. This might involve reviewing the existing literature, whereby you look for other books, articles, and other pieces of information related to your topic.

It is also important to talk about your idea or question to other people. When you find relevant information, it is useful to read and take note of what there is for two reasons.

Firstly, it allows you to check and see if there is any overlap between your research and someone elses. Secondly, any material you find can be used at a later stage in your research, such as in your research proposal, literature review and in the final research report.

6. Finding a PhD topic

6.1 Identifying the area of study

This is self evidently the first step, and should not be too difficult; in all likelihood, it will be determined by some interest generated by previous study or by employment. This in itself will suggest a supervisor, although for some the desire to work with a particular individual or research centre comes before the particular interest.

6.2 Finding the supervisor

Here are some things to bear in mind:
Is he/she eminent in the chosen area? Have they recently published articles, managed funded research projects, spoken at conferences? What is their record in terms of student completion? Do they also have the skills in terms of research methodology? How accessible are they likely to be will they be able to meet with you on a regular basis and be there if you run into difficulties? What are their views on the management of student research will they provide plenty of help in initial stages, and then stand back as the research progresses? Will you be able to form a relationship of trust with them will they look out for you personally and professionally, speak well of you, defend your work, help you graduate in a reasonable time frame, and always give you credit for your work? Will you be able to establish a rapport with them not only in the above respect, but also in terms of supervision style? Will they provide a pattern of supervision which will suit your needs will you be looking for someone who can give constant advice and feedback, or someone who will be prepared at times to stand back and let you think and reflect? Will they provide you with other opportunities for research apprenticeship, for example helping them write articles to which your name will also be added? Are they well connected in the field, so that they can help you gain employment at the end of your thesis?

6.3 Initial selection of topic

Make sure of the following:
Your supervisor is interested in your topic they will spend a lot of time on it too. You can also ask them to come up with some ideas. Your topic interests you this is essential as you will be spending a long time on it, so you need to keep up your motivation! You need to own and shape your idea you are making a big emotional investment. You are doing something of interest to the research community. You are addressing a real problem as opposed just to plugging a gap in knowledge you should be saying, not "I want to do research on branding" but "I want an answer to a specific question", such as "Why do companies seek co-branding?" You have picked something truly original this is the defining criteria of PhD research. You must be able to convince both yourself and others of the novelty of your topic. You can complete in the necessary time frame.

What is originality?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Setting down a major piece of new information in writing for the first time. Continuing a previously original piece of work. Carrying out original work designed by the supervisor. Providing a single original technique, observation, or result in an otherwise unoriginal but competent piece of research. Having many original ideas, methods and interpretations all performed by others under the direction of the postgraduate. Showing originality in testing somebody else's idea. Carrying out empirical work that hasn't been done before. Making a synthesis that hasn't been made before. Using already known material but with a new interpretation. Trying out something in your country that has previously only been done in other countries. Taking a particularly technique and applying it to a new area. Bringing new evidence to bear on an old issue. Being cross-disciplinary and using different methodologies. Looking at areas that people in the discipline haven't looked at before. Adding to knowledge in a way that hasn't been done before.

6.4 Is it feasible?
You should consider: 1. Will there be sufficient data and will you be able to gain access to it? 2. If you want to set up a field experiment, conduct a survey, interview key people, or observe the workforce, will this be possible, in other words will you gain cooperation for your research design with your subject? 3. Will you be able to complete the topic in the time available? Draw up a research plan, with a schedule and objectives, and see if you can meet your deadline. 4. Do you have, or will you be able to acquire or gain assistance with, the necessary technical skills? For example, many methods require use of statistical analysis techniques: will you be able to acquire these, is your supervisor/other tutors to whom you will have access able to help you? Will there be help with any necessary programming and will the requisite software be available? 5. Will you be sufficiently well covered financially for costs over and above tuition and living expenses, for example, for the cost of carrying out a survey, travelling to visit companies etc? 6. What are the risks that the project will be impossible to complete?

6.5 Is it valuable?
What will be the value to the community at large? Will companies be able to find better and quicker ways of doing business? Will it make a difference to the lives of managers? Will you be able to demonstrate a new educational method? More data on health care in a particular part of the world? These days it is hard to obtain funding if you cannot demonstrate the social or wealth creation aspect of your research.

6.6 Is it symmetrical?
Issues of symmetry concern the uncertainty of results of a particular piece of research, and whether the possible outcomes of the research, and the answers to the questions which it poses, are of equal interest. If there is no positive outcome, will the research still be valid?

6.7 Is there sufficient scope?

This is related to what beliefs are held in the area, and how strongly they are held. For example, linking smoking and heart disease (as in the example above) is of value but little surprise.

The role of the researcher