Research is a foundational aspect of academia and professional inquiry, requiring rigorous refinement to ensure clarity, relevance, and feasibility. Developing a research idea is rarely a linear process. Instead, it involves iteration, reflection, and adaptation to align with scholarly debates, organisational needs, and practical considerations. According to Bryman (2016), effective research requires both originality and focus, meaning that researchers must carefully refine their initial ideas into researchable topics that can withstand academic scrutiny.
This article explores key strategies for refining research ideas, including the Delphi Technique, conducting preliminary studies, continually testing out ideas, integrating concepts, and refining organisationally-driven topics. These methods ensure that research questions are not only feasible but also capable of contributing significantly to their respective fields.
1.0 The Delphi Technique
The Delphi Technique is a structured communication method developed in the 1950s as a systematic, interactive forecasting tool that relies on a panel of experts (Linstone & Turoff, 1975). The approach is highly valued in research refinement as it allows for iterative consultation with experts, ensuring that ideas are continuously improved. Anonymity is a central feature, preventing the dominance of strong personalities and enabling the free expression of views.
According to Okoli and Pawlowski (2004), the Delphi Technique enables the convergence of opinion on complex issues, making it particularly useful when topics are contested or underexplored. Recent applications extend beyond forecasting to refining research questions, particularly in areas like healthcare, education, and information systems (Skulmoski, Hartman & Krahn, 2007).
For example, Furtado et al. (2024) employed the Delphi method to clarify nursing competences, demonstrating its utility in refining ambiguous research domains. Similarly, Witter et al. (2016) applied the method to health systems research in fragile states, highlighting its role in agenda-setting and topic refinement. These cases illustrate that the Delphi Technique is not merely about consensus but also about sharpening the scope of inquiry.
2.0 Conducting a Preliminary Study
A preliminary study, often called a pilot study, provides an opportunity to test research instruments and refine research questions before the full-scale study. Van Teijlingen and Hundley (2001) stress that pilot studies help identify potential design flaws, measurement issues, and practical challenges. For example, they can reveal that a survey question is ambiguous or that a sampling strategy is unfeasible.
Pilot studies also generate early data that can be used to adjust hypotheses and narrow down research topics. Skulmoski et al. (2007) note that pilot work often results in better alignment between theoretical frameworks and empirical design. Additionally, Romig et al. (2016) argue that conducting pilot Delphi rounds in allied health research allowed them to refine not just the method, but also the definitions and objectives of the study itself.
Thus, preliminary research serves as both a testing ground and a refining mechanism, increasing the validity and reliability of the subsequent full study.
3.0 Continually Testing Out Ideas
Research ideas evolve as scholars engage with literature, data, and peer feedback. Creswell and Creswell (2018) emphasise that the iterative nature of research ensures that weak ideas are eliminated and strong ones are refined. One practical way to test ideas is through conference presentations, seminars, or even informal discussions with peers.
For example, Aliu et al. (2025) highlight how iterative testing of employability skills models in built environment research improved the conceptual clarity of their framework. Similarly, Kasiri, Sharda and Hardgrave (2012) applied repeated Delphi rounds in information systems research to refine the balanced scorecard framework for RFID applications.
Continual testing also benefits from supervisor feedback. According to Burnette et al. (2003), refining topics through iterative discussions with mentors enhances both academic rigour and practical relevance. This demonstrates that flexibility and openness to revision are critical qualities in the refinement process.
4.0 Integrating Ideas
Research is often interdisciplinary, requiring the integration of diverse perspectives. Eisenhardt (1989) highlights that theory-building involves synthesising insights from different fields to produce innovative contributions.
Integration can take place at several levels:
- Theoretical integration: combining frameworks from different disciplines.
- Methodological integration: employing mixed methods.
- Conceptual integration: merging insights from different stakeholders.
For example, Manias-Muñoz, Jin and Reber (2019) used Delphi to align views among international crisis communication scholars, showing that integration fosters consensus in fragmented research areas. Similarly, McDonald, Bammer and Deane (2009) argue that dialogue-based integration methods help researchers refine research topics in complex interdisciplinary contexts.
By integrating concepts, researchers move beyond narrow silos, ensuring that their topics capture the multi-dimensional nature of contemporary problems.
5.0 Refining Topics Given by Organisations
Researchers in applied contexts are often presented with broad topics by organisations. Refining these into manageable research questions requires alignment with organisational needs and strategic goals. Bryman (2016) argues that refinement must balance academic rigour with practical impact.
For example, in health policy research, Pinchover et al. (2024) showed how organisationally driven research agendas in child mental health were honed through Delphi to create actionable priorities. Likewise, Ellis (2021) emphasises that in the aviation industry, refining topics through iterative Delphi rounds ensured that research addressed both industry needs and academic contributions.
The key is to narrow down broad mandates into focused questions while ensuring feasibility, resources availability, and organisational relevance.
Refining research ideas is a dynamic and iterative process. Strategies such as the Delphi Technique, preliminary studies, continual testing, integration of ideas, and refining organisational topics collectively ensure that research is clear, focused, and capable of making a significant contribution.
By engaging in these processes, researchers avoid the pitfalls of vagueness and overambition, producing research that is both academically robust and practically relevant. As the academic landscape becomes increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, honing research ideas will remain a critical skill for scholars across fields.
References
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Bryman, A. (2016) Social Research Methods. 5th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Burnette, D., Morrow-Howell, N. & Chen, L.M. (2003) ‘Setting priorities for gerontological social work research: A national Delphi study’, The Gerontologist, 43(6), pp. 828–838.
Creswell, J.W. & Creswell, J.D. (2018) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 5th edn. London: SAGE.
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Furtado, L., Coelho, F., Pina, S., Ganito, C. & Araújo, B. (2024) ‘Delphi technique on nursing competence studies: A scoping review’, Healthcare, 12(17), pp. 1–16.
Kasiri, N., Sharda, R. & Hardgrave, B. (2012) ‘A balanced scorecard for item-level RFID in the retail sector: a Delphi study’, European Journal of Information Systems, 21(1), pp. 55–69.
Linstone, H.A. & Turoff, M. (1975) The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
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McDonald, D., Bammer, G. & Deane, P. (2009) Research Integration Using Dialogue Methods. Canberra: ANU Press.
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Pinchover, S., Raanan, R., Gadassi, H. et al. (2024) ‘Pediatricians at the forefront of child mental health? A Delphi method exploration’, Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 13(4), pp. 1–13.
Romig, B.D., Tucker, A.W. & Hewitt, A.M. (2016) ‘The future of clinical education: Using the Delphi technique’, Journal of Allied Health, 45(4), pp. 1–12.
Skulmoski, G.J., Hartman, F.T. & Krahn, J. (2007) ‘The Delphi method for graduate research’, Journal of Information Technology Education, 6, pp. 1–21.
Van Teijlingen, E. & Hundley, V. (2001) ‘The Importance of Pilot Studies’, Social Research Update, 35, pp. 1–4.
Witter, S., Woodward, A. & Sondorp, E. (2016) ‘Health systems research in fragile states: A research agenda-setting exercise’, Health Research Policy and Systems, 14(1), pp. 1–9.