1. 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? 2. Avoidance of duplication: Investigate whether the topic has been researched.
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. 3. Feasibility: Consider the complexity of the problem and the resources
you will require to carry out the study.
Thought should be given first to personnel, time, equipment and money that are locally available. In situations where the local resources necessary to carry out the project are not sufficient, you might consider sources available at the national level. 4. Political acceptability: It is advisable to research a topic that has the interest and
support of the authorities. This will facilitate the smooth conduct of the research and
increases the chance that the results of the study will be implemented. 5. Applicability of possible results and recommendations Is it likely that the recommendations from the study will be applied? This will
depend not only on the blessing of the authorities but also on the availability of
resources for implementing the recommendations.
Research methodology
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6. Urgency of data needed How urgently are the results needed for making a decision? Which
