How can you prioritize research topics in a network?

Research collaboration and networks are becoming more important in the academic and professional world, as they can enhance the quality, impact, and relevance of research. However, managing a network of researchers with diverse interests, backgrounds, and goals can be challenging, especially when it comes to prioritizing research topics. How can you decide what topics are worth pursuing, and how can you align them with the network's vision, mission, and values? In this article, you will learn some practical tips and strategies to prioritize research topics in a network, based on criteria such as feasibility, significance, novelty, and stakeholder needs.

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1 Define the network's scope

Before you can prioritize research topics, you need to have a clear understanding of the network's scope, that is, the overarching theme or domain that connects the network members and their research interests. The network's scope should be broad enough to allow for diversity and creativity, but narrow enough to avoid dispersion and confusion. You can use tools such as mind maps, concept maps, or keywords to identify the main aspects and subtopics of the network's scope, and to create a shared language and vision among the network members.

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Sadar Uddin Siddiqui

Ex Member PARC, Curator, National Genebank of Pakistan at NARC, Islamabad
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Consider the competency of the stakeholders, collaborators in the network and available matching with grants for funding. Give a broad theme to stakeholders to outline problems that have emerged and are emerging. Narrow down the list and finally prioritize. Share it with stakeholders, those agreed are collaborators.

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2 Identify the network's goals

Another important step to prioritize research topics is to identify the network's goals, that is, the specific and measurable outcomes that the network wants to achieve through its research activities. The network's goals should be aligned with the network's scope, and reflect the network's values, mission, and vision. You can use tools such as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) or OKR (Objectives and Key Results) to define the network's goals, and to communicate them clearly and effectively to the network members and stakeholders.

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Sadar Uddin Siddiqui

Ex Member PARC, Curator, National Genebank of Pakistan at NARC, Islamabad
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If the stakeholders don't know what is the mission and goals to achieve, they are in a wrong network, find an appropriate network first.

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3 Evaluate the network's resources

Once you have defined the network's scope and goals, you need to evaluate the network's resources, that is, the human, material, financial, and institutional assets that the network has or can access to conduct its research. The network's resources can influence the feasibility and quality of the research topics, as well as the network's capacity to address challenges and opportunities. You can use tools such as SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) or PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) to assess the network's resources, and to identify the gaps and needs that the network needs to fill or overcome.

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4 Generate and filter research topics

After you have evaluated the network's resources, you can start generating and filtering research topics, that is, the specific questions or problems that the network wants to investigate or solve through its research. You can use tools such as brainstorming, nominal group technique, or Delphi method to generate and filter research topics, involving the network members and stakeholders in the process. You can apply criteria such as relevance, novelty, significance, and feasibility to filter the research topics, and to rank them according to their priority.

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5 Align and integrate research topics

The final step to prioritize research topics is to align and integrate them, that is, to ensure that they are consistent and complementary with the network's scope, goals, and resources. You can use tools such as logic models, theory of change, or impact pathways to align and integrate research topics, and to show how they contribute to the network's outcomes and impacts. You can also use tools such as matrices, diagrams, or maps to visualize and communicate the relationships and synergies among the research topics, and to identify potential overlaps or gaps.

By following these steps, you can prioritize research topics in a network, and create a coherent and effective research agenda that reflects the network's aspirations and capabilities. Prioritizing research topics can help you to optimize the network's resources, to increase the network's visibility and credibility, and to foster the network's collaboration and innovation.

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6 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?

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How can you prioritize research topics in a network?

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1 Define the network's scope

2 Identify the network's goals

3 Evaluate the network's resources

4 Generate and filter research topics

5 Align and integrate research topics

6 Here’s what else to consider

Research Management

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