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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
AND SELECTION TECHNIQUES

What is Research

To sharpen the scientific knowledge and skills in the

respective field of science it is necessary to conduct
research.

Research is not just a compilation of report it is a

systematic phenomenon, a scientific culture which
has to be learnt by a researcher in order to produce a
good quality research.

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A systematic research comprises;

1) a proper research project identification.
2) various research project selection techniques.
3) proper assessment of time and resources.
4) usefulness and limitations of the proposed research
study.
5) a good systematic and self contained project
proposal.
6) proper and systematic framing of project objectives.
7) identification of systematic and feasible
methodology.
8) a thorough literature review to explore previous
research studies in the related field.
9) techniques in project planning and programming.
10) project design for data collection, analysis and
interpretation.
11) techniques for research project monitoring and
evaluation.
1 2) research findings and data presentation.
1 3) research project reporting and technical writing.
1 4) techniques and capability to present and defend the
research work.

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Identification of a research project/ topic may be made

by a researcher by adopting either of the following
means;

i) By observation
ii) Theory and Scientific Concepts
iii) Previous Research
iv) Practical Concerns
v) Personal Interest
vi) Resource and Financial Support Interest

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

By Observation

A researcher may find few concepts which are not

answerable. He start to wonder about it, why it is like
this.

Such observations may produces a research problem.

Example:
- As a fact we know maximum landslides occur during
or immediately after rainy season.

- A researcher may make his observation and come

up with a research topic/ project –

“ Role of water in inducing instability of slopes – in „ABC‟

region of Northern Ethiopia”.

Another example
– It is generally observed that there is an increase in
vegetation growth in the downstream of a dam
project.

For a researcher observation would be why it is so.

- a possible research problem will be
- “ Impact of dam projects on vegetation growth – with
special reference to „A‟ and „B‟ dam projects”

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Theory and Scientific Concepts

- In different scientific fields there exists several

theories and analytical techniques that explains
the same phenomenon in different ways.

- By examining the different theories and analytical

techniques carefully it is possible to design a
research project which may help to understand
which theory or analytical technique is more
accurate.

- Thus, such comparative study of different theory

and analytical techniques are possible good
research studies.
Example:
- Bieniawiski‟s Rock Mass Rating System (RMR) and
Barton‟s „Q‟ System both provides quality of rock mass
in underground excavations.

- Both classification system also suggests the possible

support measures.

For a researcher a possible research topic will be

“Comparison of RMR and „Q‟ system – effectiveness of two
rating systems to evaluate rock mass quality”.

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Previous Research
No research study ever answered all the questions that
may be asked about a particular subject.

New research findings always inspire new research

questions.

Sometimes it is because these findings are surprising, or

because they conflict with existing theory, or other
research findings.

With the limitation of time, resources and financial

constrains it is not always possible to meet out all the
objectives set for the proposed study.

Therefore, there is always a scope to continue the

previous research work and the objectives which were left
unsolved, fully or partially, are covered in the later study.

Example : A researcher proposed to work on a research

problem entitled

“ Identification and Engineering geological studies of small

hydropower sites in Waleka, Jema and Muger sub-basins of
Abay”.

In the study area a total of 36 potential small hydropower sites

were identified.

However, with the limitation of time, resources and financial

constrains only 4 small hydropower sites were selected to carry
out Engineering geological studies.

In such case there exist a possibility to continue this research by

another researcher and carry out engineering geological studies
for remaining 32 small hydropower sites.

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Practical Concerns

Researcher may be motivated by looking into the

problems in the real world.

Problems which are faced by him and the community

around him.

Much research problems are aimed at solving

immediate problems in the world.

Example:

A hydrogeologist may frame a research problem related

to drinking water problem being faced by the community
in a particular area.

A possible research problem may be

“ Exploration of ground water sources around „ABC

region‟.

Another problem related to practical concern may be

“ Landslide studies and remedial measures for

stabilization of slopes along the road cut in Abay Gourge
– Gohatsion – Dejen road section”

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Personal Interest

It is often the case that researcher have its own

special area of interest and the researcher is inspired
by his own interest.

In such cases a researcher will be motivated by his

own way and he may follow his own criteria of
selection of research project.

Resource and Financial Support Interest

Often it happen that if a researcher is employed with

some organization where some research project is
ongoing.

In such circumstances a researcher may be motivated

to identify a research problem which is related to the
ongoing project in the organization.

In such cases a researcher may get all kind of

resource and financial support.
Example:
A researcher working with Roads Authority may
identify his research problem as

“ Behaviour of expansive soils and remedial measures

for safe pavement design along „A‟ – „B‟ road section”.

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PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Conclusion
For a good research project identification
- a researcher must look in many different places
at the same time.
A researcher must do
- a thorough literature review, interact to people
working in the related stream and observe
carefully the world around him.

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RESEARCH PROJECT SELECTION TECHNIQUE

For a researcher it is always good to generate several

possible research projects and than choose the best
one.

After all, no body would walk into a shop and buy the
first shirt that he saw.

Instead he would look at several shirts, will compare

as per his choice for colour, design, price, and finally
will purchase the one which is best.

The same applies to selection of research project.

Every research project has its strength and

weaknesses and the choice of the best topic is
sometimes difficult.

The selection of research project must be made based

on certain criteria which can be used to judge the
usefulness of the research project.

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RESEARCH PROJECT SELECTION TECHNIQUE

The criteria for the selection of research project are

listed below;

i) Availability and access to the data/ information

needed for the proposed research project.

ii) Relevance of the research project as per the

stream under which research is performed.

iii) Skill set and capability of a researcher to

undertake the proposed research project.

iv) Usefulness and limitation of the proposed

research project.

v) Interest and willingness of researcher to

conduct the proposed research.

vi) Accessibility and workability for field work of

the proposed research project.

vii) Time required, financial support and

equipment/ instruments to conduct proposed
research.

viii) Potential to generate further research for later

researcher.

ix) Other specific criteria that relate to particular

discipline, field of study or institution.

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RESEARCH PROJECT SELECTION TECHNIQUE

Using Attribute Grids for Selection of Research

project

Often with many proposed research projects and

various criteria for the selection of appropriate
research project it is confusing to make the selection.

Attribute grids are the right solution to make an

appropriate selection of a research project.

This involves the following steps to be followed for

right selection:

1) First make a table with 9 columns (or number of

columns as per set criteria) and as many rows
equal to possible research projects.

2) To each criteria assign a score (between 1 to 10)

based on its merits and demerits.

3) This system allows to compare various possible

research project proposals systematically.

Thus, by using attribute grid system the selection of a

proposed research project will be more logical and
feasible.

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SETTING THE LIMITS ON THE RESEARCH STUDY

In the initial stages of planning of research project

researcher are very ambitious.

During this stage a researcher plans to frame number

of research objectives which are very wide for his
proposed study without looking into the limitations
which he has to undergo during the execution of real
research.

These limitations are on resources, time and financial

constrains.

It is necessary that the researcher must specify the

limits of the study in a way that makes it clear what is,
and is not, to be studied.

A common mistake is to define the problem too

broadly (or to set no limits at all).

Later find that the resources and the time required for
such a large study are not available.

Example: a researcher proposed a research problem

“Behavior of expansive soils for building foundations in

Oromia Region”.

This research problem is very wide and exhaustive.

It may require a huge amount of financial support with good

and wide infrastructural support.

Such research problem may be feasible to execute by an

organization but not by an individual who intend to perform
this research for his M.Sc thesis.

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SETTING THE LIMITS ON THE RESEARCH STUDY

Setting Financial Limits to Research

Research studies are normally conducted with

financial support from some institution or
organizations.

Such financial support may be of two types;

i) Fixed financial support.

ii) Financial support as per the requirement.

Fixed Financial Support :

The budget to conduct a research project is fixed.

A researcher has to identify his research project to

complete within the allotted fixed financial support.

For such financial support a researcher has to set the

financial limits to his research project.

The research project has to be completed within the

fixed financial limits.

It is simple like if your monthly salary is ETB 2000 you

have to meet out all your monthly expenditure within
ETB 2000.

Fixed financial supports are generally provided by the

educational institutions to the students to perform
research for their degree.

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SETTING THE LIMITS ON THE RESEARCH STUDY

Financial support as per requirement

This type of financial support is provided by the

financial institutions or organizations to conduct
research.

Under this category the actual financial requirements

to conduct the research are submitted with the
research proposal to the financial institution /
organization.

As per the project budget, after scrutiny the funds are

released in installments to the researcher.

Setting Limits for Time

For any research project it is important to schedule all

the activities in such a way that the research project
is completed within the allotted time.

The total allotted time to complete the research

project will depend upon the nature of study and the
norms set by the financial institution or organization.

While scheduling the various research activities it is

essential to keep some room for eventualities.

Particularly the activities like field data collection,

secondary data/ information to be collected from
secondary sources and the laboratory testing in some
other laboratories, other than the parent institution.

All these activities are beyond the control of a

researcher.

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SETTING THE LIMITS ON THE RESEARCH STUDY

Activity Schedule Chart

Activity schedule charts is a simple and effective

means to plan the research activities well in advance
at the initial stages of the research study.

For the preparation of Activity Schedule Chart

following systematic steps are followed;

i) First draw a table divide it into columns equal to

the total length of the proposed time for the
completion of the research study. If the total
project time is 12 months, the table has to be
divided into 12 columns.

ii) Now draw the rows equal to the number of

activities to be covered for the proposed
research project.

iii) Now draw the bars for each activity from the
proposed start time to the completion of the
activity.

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SETTING THE LIMITS ON THE RESEARCH STUDY

Table 1.1 Sample Activity Schedule Chart for „ABC‟ Research Project –
completion time 12 Months.

Activities Year 2005

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Initial Planning
and Resource
appraisal
Literature
Review
Preliminary
Field planning
and base map
preparation
etc.
Field work
Lab. Testing
Data analysis
and
interpretation
Draft Report
Preparation
Final Report

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SETTING THE LIMITS ON THE RESEARCH STUDY

Setting Limits for

Resources

Before the initiation of

any research project it
is advisable to assess
the actual availability
of the resources
required for the
proposed study.

Resources may be research study specific however,

some common resources required for any research
study are;

i) Relevant study material – Books, Related Journals,

Previous research study reports etc.

ii) Available Laboratory Facilities – Testing equipments,

technical support to perform the required laboratory
tests, cost for laboratory facilities etc.

iii) Availability of transportation for the field work –

Vehicle condition, maintenance requirements, driver,
cost etc.

iv) Equipment and Instruments required for testing in

field and other data collections.

v) Computation facilities – computers, required

softwares, printing facilities and other computer
peripherals.

There may be limitation on these resources

therefore, a researcher must plan his research
study keeping in mind the limitation on resources.

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PRIORITY SETTING FOR RESEARCH PROJECT

 The research study has to be performed in a

systematic and well organized manner.

 Each research activity has to be performed as per

it‟s priority.

 Say for example it may not happen that you start

writing your report before collecting and
analyzing actual field data.

 It is important to fix the priority for each research

activity before the actual initiation of the research
study.

The priority of various research activities to be taken

up as per there order of importance are listed below;

i) Identification of research Project/ Problem.

ii) Exploring the availability of resources required

for the proposed research study.

iii) Preparation of draft research proposal and get

it examined by other researcher working in the
related field. Incorporating comments by other
researchers and submitting it to the funding
institution/ organization.

iv) Literature review and reviewing the related

previous studies.

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PRIORITY SETTING FOR RESEARCH PROJECT

v) Preparation of working plan and scheduling

the various research activities.

vi) Finalisation of the methodology to be adopted

for the proposed study.

vii) Collection of secondary data from other

sources.

viii) Preparation for the field work (equipments/

instruments, working maps, transport etc)

ix) Field work.

x) Data analysis and laboratory testings.

xi) Interpretation of the results.

xii) Field visit if required for data verification.

xiii) Draft report preparation.

xiv) Submission of draft report to the funding

agency/ institution/ advisor.

xv) Preparation of final report after incorporating

comments from the reviewers (Funding
agencies, institutions/ organizations, advisors
etc.)

xvi) Presentation and defense of the research

study.

Project Design and Research Methods