Prioritizing and selecting a research topic

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Prioritizing and selecting a research topic

Why do we prioritize public health problems?
1.      Limited resources.
2.      Not enough people.
3.      Not enough time.
4.      Not enough money.

Criteria for selecting a research topic:
Relevance: The topic you choose should be a priority problem. Questions to be asked include: How large or widespread is the problem? Who is affected? How severe is the problem?
q How large or widespread is the problem?
q Who is affected?
q How severe is the problem?

Avoidance of duplication: Before you decide to carry out a study, it is important that you find out whether the suggested topic has been investigated before, either within the proposed study area or in another area with similar conditions. If the topic has been researched, the results should be reviewed to explore whether major questions that deserve further investigation remain unanswered. If not, another topic should be chosen.

Urgency of data needed (timeliness): Are data urgently needed for decision-making or developing interventions at various levels (from community to policy)?

Political acceptability of study: Is the topic acceptable to high level policymakers? Or has the topic been the interest and support of the local/national authorities?

Feasibility of study: Look at the project you are proposing and consider the complexity of the problem and the resources you will require carrying out your study. Thought should be given first to manpower, time, equipment and money that are locally available.

Applicability of results: Is it likely that the recommendations from the study will be applied?

Ethical acceptability: We should always consider the possibility that we may inflict harm on others while carrying out research.
•      Therefore, review the study you are proposing and consider important ethical issues such as:
•      How acceptable is the research to those who will be studied?
•      Can informed consent be obtained from the research subjects?
·     Confidentiality of data collected


Scales for rating research topics

Relevance
 1 = Not relevant
 2 = Relevant
 3 = very relevant

Avoidance of duplication
 1 = Sufficient information already available
 2 = Some information available but major issues not covered
 3 = No sound information available on which to base problem-solving

Feasibility
 1 = Study not feasible considering available resources
 2 = Study feasible considering available resources
 3 = Study very feasible considering available resources

Political acceptability
 1 = Topic not acceptable
 2 = Topic somewhat acceptable
 3 = Topic fully acceptable

Applicability
 1 = No chance of recommendations being implemented
 2 = Some chance of recommendations being implemented
 3 = Good chance of recommendations being implemented

Urgency
 1 = Information not urgently needed
 2 = Information could be used but a delay of some months would be acceptable
 3 = Data very urgently needed for decision-making

Ethical acceptability
 1 = Major ethical problems
 2 = Minor ethical problems
 3 = No ethical problems


links and sources:
roblem-prioritization



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