After researchers formulate an idea, they must evaluate its quality to decide whether the idea is really worth pursuing. Evaluate the research idea you developed using the following four criteria. If your idea fails to meet one or more of these criteria, think of another idea.
• Does the idea have the potential to advance our understanding of behavior? Assuming that the study is conducted and the expected patterns of results are obtained, will we have learned something new about behavior?
• Is the knowledge that may be gained potentially important? Importance is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. A study can be important in several ways:
(a) It tests hypotheses derived from a theory (thereby providing evidence for or against the theory);
(b) it identifies a qualification to a previously demonstrated finding;
(c) it demonstrates a weakness in a previously used research method or technique;
(d) it documents the effectiveness of procedures for modifying a behavioral problem (such as in counseling, education, or industry, for example);
(e) it demonstrates the existence of a phenomenon or effect that had not been previously recognized. Rarely does a single study provide earthshaking information that revolutionizes the field, so don't expect too much.
Ask yourself whether this idea is likely to provide information that other behavioral researchers or practitioners (such as practicing psychologists) would find interesting or useful.
• Do I find the idea interesting? No matter how important an idea might be, it is difficult to do research that one finds boring. This doesn't mean that you have to be fascinated by the topic, but if you really don't care about the area and aren't interested in the answer to the research question, consider getting a different topic.
• Is the idea researchable? Many research ideas are not viable because they are ethically questionable or because they require resources that the researcher cannot possibly obtain.