How can you identify impactful algorithm research questions?

1 Define your scope and goals

The first step to identify impactful algorithm research questions is to define your scope and goals. What are the main problems or challenges that you want to address with your algorithms? What are the existing solutions or limitations that you want to improve or overcome? What are the potential applications or benefits of your algorithms? How do you measure the impact or performance of your algorithms? These questions can help you narrow down your focus and clarify your objectives.

2 Review the literature and state of the art

The next step is to review the literature and state of the art in your domain of interest. This can help you identify the gaps, trends, and opportunities in the current algorithm research. You can use various sources, such as academic journals, conferences, books, blogs, podcasts, or online platforms, to find relevant and recent publications or projects related to your scope and goals. You can also use tools, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, or Arxiv, to search and filter the literature by keywords, authors, citations, or dates.

3 Generate and refine your research questions

The third step is to generate and refine your research questions based on your scope, goals, and literature review. You can use different methods, such as brainstorming, mind mapping, or question formulation technique, to generate as many research questions as possible. Then, you can refine your research questions by applying some criteria, such as feasibility, novelty, relevance, clarity, and specificity. You can also use the PICOT framework, which stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time, to structure your research questions.

4 Validate and prioritize your research questions

The fourth step is to validate and prioritize your research questions based on your scope, goals, and literature review. You can use different methods, such as peer feedback, expert consultation, or literature analysis, to validate your research questions. You can ask for opinions, suggestions, or critiques from your colleagues, mentors, or reviewers. You can also compare your research questions with the existing literature and state of the art to assess their originality, significance, and contribution. Then, you can prioritize your research questions by using some criteria, such as impact, interest, urgency, or resources.

5 Plan and execute your research

The final step is to plan and execute your research based on your validated and prioritized research questions. You can use different methods, such as research design, data collection, data analysis, algorithm development, algorithm testing, or algorithm evaluation, to conduct your research. You can also use different tools, such as software, hardware, frameworks, libraries, or datasets, to support your research. You should document and report your research process and results in a clear and concise manner.

6 Publish and disseminate your research

The last step is to publish and disseminate your research based on your research questions and results. You can use different channels, such as journals, conferences, workshops, seminars, or online platforms, to publish and share your research. You should follow the guidelines and standards of your chosen channel and target audience. You should also highlight the main findings, implications, and contributions of your research. You should also acknowledge the sources, references, and collaborators of your research.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?