How can you determine if you need to change your research focus?

1 Assess your progress

The first step to determine if you need to change your research focus is to assess your progress so far. How much have you achieved in terms of data collection, analysis, and writing? Have you met your milestones and deadlines? Are you satisfied with the quality and relevance of your results? If you find that you are falling behind, struggling to find or interpret data, or producing weak or inconclusive findings, you may need to reconsider your research focus and see if it is too broad, too narrow, or too vague.

2 Seek feedback

The second step to determine if you need to change your research focus is to seek feedback from various sources. Your supervisor, peers, and other experts in your field can provide valuable insights and suggestions on your research topic, methods, and outcomes. They can also point out any gaps, flaws, or inconsistencies in your research design, logic, or argument. You can seek feedback through formal or informal meetings, presentations, or publications. Be open-minded and receptive to constructive criticism, and use it to improve your research.

4 Evaluate the costs and benefits

The fourth step to determine if you need to change your research focus is to evaluate the costs and benefits of doing so. Changing your research focus may require you to revise your proposal, adjust your methods, collect new data, rewrite your chapters, or extend your timeline. This can have implications for your budget, resources, ethics, and graduation. On the other hand, changing your research focus may also help you to overcome obstacles, renew your motivation, enhance your skills, and produce better results. You need to weigh the pros and cons carefully and realistically before making a decision.

5 Communicate your decision

The fifth step to determine if you need to change your research focus is to communicate your decision to the relevant parties. You need to inform and justify your decision to your supervisor, committee, funding agency, and any other stakeholders involved in your research. You also need to update your documents, such as your proposal, ethics approval, and progress reports, to reflect your new research focus. Be clear, concise, and confident in explaining your rationale and plan for changing your research focus.

6 Implement your change

The final step to determine if you need to change your research focus is to implement your change and follow through with your new research plan. You need to set new milestones and deadlines, and monitor your progress and performance. You also need to seek feedback and support from your supervisor, peers, and other experts, and address any issues or challenges that may arise along the way. Be flexible, adaptable, and resilient in pursuing your new research focus, and celebrate your achievements.