Law: Introduction to Research

To help you determine the suitability of your potential research questions, you should consider whether or not it is suitable for you.

Is the research question suitable and appropriate? 

You will live with your chosen research question for many months, so you must choose something that will retain your interest. Your research is more likely to be satisfying and has a successful outcome if the topic is congruent with knowledge and skills that you already possess or that can be developed easily over the next year. This is an important point. You should not pursue a problem that requires you to learn and master major new skills.

If you have already significant knowledge of the research question and context, it is likely that you will have insights into the causes and the factors that have an impact on them. You may consider that you fully understand how to investigate it in order to achieve the best results. Whilst it is entirely appropriate to take full advantage of your knowledge and understanding, it is important to recognise the downside of this situation. Your existing knowledge may lead to a lack of objectivity and a tendency to make subjective judgments instead of evaluations based on sound evidence.