How meaningful is your research?

Research students, please get in here!

 


One frequently asked question by undergraduate and graduate students, during the concluding semesters of their course of study, is about what research project topic to select. For many such research students, the idea is just to do a research investigation in order to fulfil the partial requirements for obtaining a degree certificate, a necessary evil as they say. However, I think student investigations should be seen as a necessary good, because the outcomes of meaningful research may contribute to national policy as well as decision-making processes of individual economic agents. So, I would always advise that students seek out topics in their areas of interest.

 

Subject to research time and budget constraints, I think we can all carry out empirical studies on real world phenomena we truly care about. So doing, we can passionately and diligently carry on research that may general social impact. For the most part, many economics students prefer to use readily available secondary data to analyse issues of social and macroeconomic importance. However, for many other day to day issues in developing countries needing investigation, secondary data may not be readily available or accessible. Therefore, a new breed of student researchers who can be conscientious about designing new instruments and generating data is desirable. Moreover, with the increase in use of online and e-mail survey services, data collection for innovative studies requiring new instrument development can be seamless.

 

Below are ten (10) socio-economic research ideas to jumpstart your thinking.

1. Cost-Benefit analysis of suretyship.


2. Impact of social networks on consumption behaviour


3. Comparative analysis of multidimensional poverty index (MPI) of police, military, naval and air forces personnel in Nigeria.


4. Effect of corporal punishment on child behavioural outcomes.


5. Determinants of littering behaviour among college students.


6. The impact of hybrid-employment status on time poverty.


7.  Effect of time use patterns on student academic achievement.


8. Determinants of informal financing among formal sector workers.


9. Determinants of primary school preferences of working mothers.


10. Impact of religiosity on individual well being indicators.

 

What do you think?

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you!

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