research idea is

How to Conceptualize a Research Project

• First Online: 01 January 2013

Cite this chapter

• Shaili Jain M.D. 2 , 3 ,
• Steven E. Lindley MD, PhD 2 , 3 &
• Craig S. Rosen PhD 2 , 3 , 4  

3412 Accesses

1 Citations

The research process has three phases: the conceptual phase, the empirical phase, and the interpretative phase. In this chapter, we focus on the first phase: the conceptual phase—the part of the research process that determines which questions are to be addressed by the research and how research procedures are to be used as tools in finding the answers to these questions. Here we describe the various components of the conceptualization phase that need to be carefully considered before moving on to the empirical and interpretative phases of the research. Conceptualization involves simultaneously bringing together several considerations to identify a good research idea, i.e., an answerable research question that is worth answering. Components of this process include conducting a thorough search of the peer-reviewed literature, finding a research mentor and other collaborators, considering methodology and study design, and assessing feasibility. It should be noted that although we describe these various components in a linear fashion in the text, in reality, the conceptualization phase is not a linear process and will require consideration of these components to varying degrees at various stages depending upon evolving circumstances and the reader’s unique strengths and weaknesses. Even though careful attention to all these components will require considerable time and effort on the part of the physician scientist, we consider this to be time well spent as it will lay the ground for a successful research endeavor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Rose AM. Sociology: the study of human relations, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf; 1965, p. 9

Google Scholar  

Batey MV. Conceptualizing the research process. Nurs Res. 1971;20:296–301.

Article   PubMed   CAS   Google Scholar  

Sambunjak D, Straus SE, Marušic´ A. Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;296:1103–15.

Horn C, Plazas Snyder B, Coverdale JH, et al. Weiss Roberts L: educational research questions and study design. Acad Psychiatry. 2009;33:261–7.

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Additional Resources

Chapters 8, 10, 19, 20, and 24. In: Roberts LW, Hilty D, editors. Handbook of career development in academic psychiatry and behavioral sciences, 1st ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.; 2006.

Hulley SB, Cumming CR, Warren S, et al. Designing clinical research. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007.

Kraemer HC, Kraemer KL, Kupfer DJ. To your health: how to understand what research tells us about risk. New York: Oxford University Press; 2005.

Motulsky H. Intuitive biostatistics: a nonmathematical guide to statistical thinking. New York: Oxford University Press; 2010.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

VA Palo Alto Health Care System, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Menlo Park, CA, USA

Shaili Jain M.D., Steven E. Lindley MD, PhD & Craig S. Rosen PhD

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

VA Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Menlo Park, CA, USA

Craig S. Rosen PhD

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaili Jain M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral, Stanford University School of Medicine, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, 94305, California, USA

Laura Weiss Roberts

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Jain, S., Lindley, S.E., Rosen, C.S. (2013). How to Conceptualize a Research Project. In: Roberts, L. (eds) The Academic Medicine Handbook. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5693-3_30

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5693-3_30

Published : 22 February 2013

Publisher Name : Springer, New York, NY

Print ISBN : 978-1-4614-5692-6

Online ISBN : 978-1-4614-5693-3

eBook Packages : Medicine Medicine (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Developing the research idea

• PMID: 21524174
• DOI: 10.3109/08941939.2011.572797

After the interest in surgical research, developing the research idea is of fundamental importance because without it we can not have research. Where do the research ideas come from then? Is there any better way to improve our ability to generate research ideas? Where do they come from? What are the factors that stimulate the research idea? Anything we do in and out of medicine or surgery should be the force that will maintain our mind occupied on our future research ideas. From events in the clinical arena to discussions in formal rounds or informal meetings should be the origin of our thinking in research. So, the generation of research ideas come from any place and we should be aware of it. We could be successful in research if we could produce and accumulate the ideas as they frequently present to us in our professional or daily life. The research environment could help us in securing the presence and evolution of the idea. Be aware of changes and future developments and be ready to admit and grow the research idea that could be presented to you during the practice of medicine.

Publication types

• Biomedical Research*
• General Surgery*

• Privacy Policy

Home » Idea – Definition, Types and Examples

Idea – Definition, Types and Examples

Table of Contents

Definition:

Idea is a mental concept or thought that represents something that does not exist in the physical world or is not directly perceived by the senses. It is a product of imagination, creativity, or inspiration that can be used to solve a problem, create something new, or achieve a goal.

Types of Idea

Types of Ideas are as as follows:

Creative Ideas

These are ideas that involve thinking outside of the box and coming up with new and innovative solutions to problems or challenges.

Business Ideas

These are ideas for new products, services, or business models that can potentially generate revenue and profit.

Scientific Ideas

These are ideas that involve developing new theories or concepts to explain phenomena in the natural world, or devising new experimental methods to test hypotheses.

Philosophical Ideas

These are ideas that relate to fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, ethics, and meaning.

Social Ideas

These are ideas that aim to address social issues such as inequality, discrimination, poverty, and environmental sustainability.

Political Ideas

These are ideas that relate to government policies, systems of governance, and political ideologies.

Artistic Ideas

These are ideas that relate to creative expression in various forms such as music, literature, visual arts, and performing arts.

Technological Ideas

These are ideas that involve the development of new technologies or the improvement of existing ones.

Personal Ideas

These are ideas that relate to personal growth, self-improvement, and self-discovery.

Examples of Idea

• A social network exclusively for pet owners where they can share pictures, stories, and connect with other pet owners.
• A subscription service that sends monthly surprise boxes of locally sourced, organic produce to customers’ homes.
• A mobile app that provides personalized workout routines based on the user’s fitness level, goals, and available equipment.
• A virtual interior design service that allows customers to upload photos of their space and receive customized design recommendations.
• A charity that collects and distributes unused toiletries from hotels to homeless shelters and other organizations that serve those in need.
• A platform that connects freelance graphic designers with businesses looking for logo designs, social media graphics, and other design work.
• A meal kit delivery service that focuses on providing healthy and organic meals for families with young children.
• A travel company that curates eco-friendly and sustainable travel experiences for adventurous travelers.
• A language learning app that uses virtual reality technology to immerse users in real-life scenarios and conversations.
• A subscription service that sends monthly boxes of art supplies and project ideas to inspire creativity in kids and adults alike.

Applications of Idea

Applications of Idea are a follows:

• Business : In the business world, an “idea” can refer to a new product or service that a company wants to develop, or to a new approach to solving a problem or improving efficiency. Generating and implementing innovative ideas is crucial for staying competitive and growing a successful business.
• Creativity : In the realm of art, literature, and other creative pursuits, an “idea” can refer to a concept or inspiration that forms the basis of a work. Artists and writers often seek out new and unique ideas to help them create original and compelling pieces.
• Innovation : In the context of technological or scientific advancements, an “idea” can refer to a new concept or theory that has the potential to revolutionize an industry or field. Ideas in this sense often require extensive research, development, and testing before they can be successfully implemented.
• Problem-solving: In the context of problem-solving, an “idea” can refer to a proposed solution or strategy for addressing a particular issue or challenge. Brainstorming and generating ideas is an important part of the problem-solving process, as it can help individuals and teams come up with creative and effective solutions.

Purpose of Idea

The purpose of an idea can vary depending on the context in which it is used. In general, an idea is a thought or concept that can be used to solve a problem, create something new, improve an existing product or process, or inspire creativity and innovation. Ideas can also be used to communicate, persuade, or inform others, or to express artistic or philosophical concepts. The ultimate purpose of an idea is often to bring about positive change or achieve a particular goal, whether that goal is personal, social, or professional in nature.

Characteristics of Idea

Here are some key characteristics of ideas:

• Originality : A good idea is often novel and unique. It should bring a new perspective or solution to an existing problem.
• Relevance : A good idea should be relevant to the context or situation in which it is being used. It should be applicable and useful in solving the problem or achieving the goal at hand.
• Feasibility : A good idea should be feasible and achievable within the given resources and constraints. It should be realistic and not overly ambitious or impractical.
• Clarity : A good idea should be clear and easy to understand. It should be able to be explained in a concise and understandable way.
• Impact : A good idea should have the potential to create a significant positive impact. It should be able to bring about positive change or solve a problem in a meaningful way.
• Adaptability : A good idea should be adaptable and flexible. It should be able to evolve and change over time as circumstances change.
• Scalability : A good idea should be scalable, meaning it can be expanded or replicated to have a broader impact or reach a larger audience.

Advantages of Idea

There are several advantages of having good ideas:

• Creativity and Innovation : Ideas fuel creativity and innovation, allowing individuals and organizations to come up with new and unique solutions to problems and challenges.
• Competitive Advantage: Good ideas can give individuals and organizations a competitive advantage by providing a unique selling point or value proposition that sets them apart from others.
• Cost Savings: Ideas can help reduce costs by identifying more efficient and effective ways of doing things or by finding ways to eliminate unnecessary expenses.
• Improved Productivity : Ideas can lead to improved productivity by streamlining processes and procedures, eliminating bottlenecks, and improving overall efficiency.
• Enhanced Problem-solving: Good ideas can help individuals and organizations to better solve problems and overcome challenges by providing new and creative solutions.
• Better Decision Making : Ideas can improve decision making by providing new and innovative options, enabling individuals and organizations to make more informed and effective choices.
• Personal and Professional Growth: Having good ideas can lead to personal and professional growth by fostering creativity, innovation, and critical thinking skills.

Disadvantages of Idea

Disadvantages of Idea are as follows:

• Idea overload: Sometimes, when brainstorming or generating new ideas, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with the number of potential options. This can lead to decision paralysis or a lack of focus on any one idea.
• Lack of practicality: Not all ideas are feasible or practical. While it’s important to think outside the box and consider innovative solutions, it’s also important to evaluate whether an idea is realistic and can be implemented within the given constraints.
• Resistance to change : New ideas can sometimes be met with resistance or skepticism from others, particularly if the idea challenges existing norms or requires significant changes to established processes.
• Implementation challenges : Even the most promising idea may face implementation challenges. This can include difficulty securing resources, lack of support from key stakeholders, or unforeseen roadblocks that arise during implementation.
• Fear of failure: The process of generating new ideas can be exciting and energizing, but it can also be intimidating. Fear of failure or fear of being judged can sometimes stifle creativity and prevent individuals or teams from fully exploring new possibilities.

Limitations of Idea

Limitations of Idea are as follows:

• Implementation : Having a great idea is only the first step. The real challenge is implementing that idea in a way that brings it to life. This requires resources, time, and effort, and can often be more difficult than coming up with the idea itself.
• Context : Ideas are often generated in specific contexts, and may not be applicable or relevant in other contexts. For example, an idea that works well in one country may not work as well in another country with different cultural norms, economic conditions, or political systems.
• Competition : In many cases, multiple people may have the same idea, or similar ideas, at the same time. This can lead to intense competition for resources, funding, and attention, and may make it difficult for any one person or group to fully realize their vision.
• Execution : Even if an idea is well-conceived and well-suited to its context, it may not be successful if it is not executed properly. This requires careful planning, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Unintended consequences: Ideas can have unintended consequences that may be difficult to predict or control. For example, a new technology may have unforeseen negative impacts on the environment, or a social policy may unintentionally exacerbate existing inequalities.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

You may also like

What is Art – Definition, Types, Examples

What is Anthropology – Definition and Overview

What is Literature – Definition, Types, Examples

Economist – Definition, Types, Work Area

Anthropologist – Definition, Types, Work Area

What is History – Definitions, Periods, Methods

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

Thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner? Nurse practitioners have one of the fastest growing careers in the country, and we have all the information you need to know about what to expect from nurse practitioner school .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Smart. Open. Grounded. Inventive. Read our Ideas Made to Matter.

Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

An interdisciplinary program that combines engineering, management, and design, leading to a master’s degree in engineering and management.

Executive Programs

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

This 20-month MBA program equips experienced executives to enhance their impact on their organizations and the world.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

How storytelling helps data-driven teams succeed

Financial services’ deliberate approach to AI

MIT report details new cybersecurity risks

Credit: kazuend via Unsplash / MarioGuti / iStock

Ideas Made to Matter

Financial Markets

Categorical thinking can lead to investing errors, research finds

Betsy Vereckey

May 6, 2024

It’s impossible to explore every single stock in the stock market. Investors have limited time and attention and can’t investigate everything. That’s why they often try to keep it simple by choosing to study the value of an index rather than researching all of the individual stocks contained in an index.

But in placing their focus at a high level — whether on technology, automotive, or blue-chip stocks — investors may miss the nuances among specific companies within each category. And that can cause them to forfeit lucrative investment opportunities, said Rahul Bhui,  an assistant professor of marketing at MIT Sloan.

Categorical thinking, as described by Bhui, involves using the broader category of an item (automotive stocks, for example) to infer characteristics about specific items within that category (General Motors stock). “Categorical thinking can be a double-edged sword because it helps us to rapidly make sense of the world, but at the same time can lead us to mistakes,” he said.

A new paper, “ Attention Constraints and Learning in Categories , ” co-authored by Bhui and Maastricht University’s Peiran Jiao , provides new insight on when and why investors focus on high-level categories rather than drilling down into the details of individual companies.

The researchers were motivated by the psychology of rational inattention — a theory that acknowledges that we optimize our attention within the constraints of our limited mental resources — as it applies to financial markets.

When time is of the essence, categorical thinking is the default

For their study, Bhui and Jiao created a stock prediction game where players were given a certain amount of time to make investments with abstract stocks in different categories. The game was not unlike the old Nintendo game called Wall Street Kid , Bhui said.

The researchers chose 883 participants from an online labor market and did not necessarily have investment experience. Participants were asked to estimate the values of hypothetical stocks after receiving information on the factors that could potentially affect the stocks’ value.

Bhui and Jiao analyzed participants’ decision-making via mouse-tracking , a method that measures a person’s computer mouse movements as they contemplate different options. The authors measured the amount of time spent mousing over each industry- or stock-specific factor and evaluated how these behaviors changed when properties of the environment were manipulated.

Participants were allowed to mull over any combination of stock indexes and individual stocks but had a specific amount of time to do so. In most cases, they had 12 seconds to gather information, though in one experiment, the time limit varied between 8 and 20 seconds.

The researchers found that those participating in the study relied on industry-level information when:

• They were given many stocks to evaluate.
• They had a short amount of time to complete their evaluation.
• All of the stocks were of similar value.

Armed with those results, Bhui and Jiao were able to draw the following conclusions and offer guidance to fund managers and investors.

When distracted or under pressure, investors are more likely to default to analyzing broad categories of stocks.

When pressed for time, study participants were more likely to default to broad categories. The authors believe that real-world investors respond in a similar manner. When external events cause investors to pay less attention to financial markets, they focus more on market-level information than on firm-specific information.

Related Articles

“When you’re really attention-constrained, you’re not fiddling around with the details of any individual assets that might be in a portfolio,” Bhui said. “You're going to think in broader strokes.” Examples of distracting events include international sports competitions, a pandemic, or a  large lottery jackpot that day , he said.

Money managers should be aware that this can lead to increases of co-movement of assets in the same class, especially when investors’ attention is taxed in “thick” markets with lots of firms, analysts, and investors.

Examples of co-movement include when small cap stocks have correlated returns or when assets trading in the U.S. stock market have more correlated returns than do assets trading in the German stock market.

Some co-movement is natural, Bhui said, but inattention can lead to excess co-movement, which in turn can impede diversification.

When the market is volatile, investors may miss relevant information about individual stocks.

The research suggests that there are drawbacks to looking at categories instead of individual stocks. For example, while the whole biotech sector might be down, there may be one company in the mix that is still promising — an opportunity an investor might miss when distracted.

Focusing on aggregate information can have its drawbacks. As an example, Bhui cited the dot-com bubble: During that period, some companies added “.com” to the end of their name, without having changed their business model, and saw their stock price rise — even if their fundamentals weren’t good.

Fund managers should pay more attention to economic aggregates in recessions and to asset-specific stocks in booms.

Bhui said that previous research suggests that during a recession, when volatility is typically high, it makes more sense to focus on economic aggregates. In contrast, investors can take advantage of boom times and use the opportunity to evaluate individual stocks more closely.

“Money managers seem to do better when they [execute] this particular strategy,” Bhui said. “The idea is that when you have a recession, there’s a lot more volatility in the market and it’s a lot riskier so you really want to pay attention to the big picture and not focus on all the little details.”

Read next: How target date funds impact investment behavior

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Less alcohol, or none at all, is one path to better health

Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart. But better research methods have thrown cold water on that idea. A growing number of public health experts say if you choose to drink alcohol, you should drink as little as possible. (AP Video: Laura Bargfeld)

FILE - Bottles of alcohol sit on shelves at a bar in Houston on June 23, 2020. Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods starting in the 2010s have thrown cold water on that. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

• Copy Link copied

It’s wine time. Beer Thirty. Happy hour. Five o’clock somewhere.

Maybe it’s also time to rethink drinking ?

Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods have thrown cold water on that.

“Drinking less is a great way to be healthier,” said Dr. Timothy Naimi, who directs the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

AP AUDIO: Less alcohol, or none at all, is one path to better health.

AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.

ARE DRINKING GUIDELINES CHANGING?

Guidelines vary a lot from country to country but the overall trend is toward drinking less.

The United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Holland and Australia recently reviewed new evidence and lowered their alcohol consumption recommendations. Ireland will require cancer warning labels on alcohol starting in 2026.

“The scientific consensus has shifted due to the overwhelming evidence linking alcohol to over 200 health conditions, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases and injuries,” said Carina Ferreira-Borges, regional adviser for alcohol at the World Health Organization regional office for Europe.

From Dry January to Sober October to bartenders getting creative with non-alcoholic cocktails , there’s a cultural vibe that supports cutting back.

“People my age are way more accepting of it,” said Tessa Weber, 28, of Austin, Texas. She stopped drinking for Dry January this year because she’d noticed alcohol was increasing her anxiety. She liked the results — better sleep, more energy — and has stuck with it.

“It’s good to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol,” Weber said.

WAIT, MODERATE DRINKING DOESN’T HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS?

That idea came from imperfect studies comparing groups of people by how much they drink. Usually, consumption was measured at one point in time. And none of the studies randomly assigned people to drink or not drink, so they couldn’t prove cause and effect.

People who report drinking moderately tend to have higher levels of education, higher incomes and better access to health care, Naimi said.

“It turns out that when you adjust for those things, the benefits tend to disappear,” he said.

Another problem: Most studies didn’t include younger people. Almost half of the people who die from alcohol-related causes die before the age of 50.

“If you’re studying people who survived into middle age, didn’t quit drinking because of a problem and didn’t become a heavy drinker, that’s a very select group,” Naimi said. “It creates an appearance of a benefit for moderate drinkers that is actually a statistical illusion.”

Other studies challenge the idea that alcohol has benefits. These studies compare people with a gene variant that makes it unpleasant to drink to people without the gene variant. People with the variant tend to drink very little or not at all. One of these studies found people with the gene variant have a lower risk of heart disease — another blow to the idea that alcohol protects people from heart problems.

HOW MANY DRINKS CAN I HAVE PER DAY?

That depends.

Drinking raises the risk of several types of cancer , including colon, liver, breast and mouth and throat. Alcohol breaks down in the body into a substance called acetaldehyde, which can damage your cells and stop them from repairing themselves. That creates the conditions for cancer to grow.

Thousands of U.S. deaths per year could be prevented if people followed the government’s dietary guidelines, which advise men to limit themselves to two drinks or fewer per day and women to one drink or fewer per day, Naimi said.

One drink is the equivalent of about one 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor.

Naimi served on an advisory committee that wanted to lower the recommendation for men to one drink per day . That advice was considered and rejected when the federal recommendations came out in 2020.

“The simple message that’s best supported by the evidence is that, if you drink, less is better when it comes to health,” Naimi said.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

BU’s Innovator of the Year Has Pioneered Devices to Advance Astronomy, Microscopy, Eye Exams

Photonics Center Director Thomas Bifano recognized for helping others nurture their ideas and for “always trying to solve problems”

Thomas Bifano, an ENG professor of mechanical engineering, is the cofounder of Boston Micromachines Corporation, a company specializing in deformable mirrors that he spun out of his BU lab 25 years ago.

Andrew Thurston

Jackie ricciardi.

The light from the stars filling the sky travels mind-boggling distances to reach us: the nearest star, beyond our own, is about 25 trillion miles from Earth. For most of its journey to our planet, that light is undisturbed, flying parallel and unimpeded through the vacuum of space. But then, in the very last microseconds, our atmosphere gets in the way, and the light bends.

If you’re looking through a telescope, “the result is that the image is blurry, because not all of the light is getting to the right focus,” says Boston University mechanical engineer Thomas Bifano .

For astronomers studying distant stars, blurry just won’t cut it.

But Bifano created a solution: a mirror that can shift its surface as quickly as every millisecond to compensate for the atmosphere’s fluctuating effect, pulling the image into focus. It’s a technology, called MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) deformable mirrors, that he’s also used to improve eye exams, satellite communications, and imaging research—and that has now helped earn Bifano BU’s Innovator of the Year award .

The director of the University’s cross-disciplinary Photonics Center , Bifano is the 14th winner of the award, given to an “outstanding faculty member who has translated world-class research into an invention or innovation that benefits humankind.” A holder of 10 patents, he’s also chief technology officer of Boston Micromachines Corporation , a company he cofounded to develop and market deformable mirrors and other optics products.

“I’m deeply, deeply honored by the award,” says Bifano, a BU College of Engineering professor of mechanical engineering. “But I’m also aware that my advocacy for others is partly responsible for why I’ve been chosen.”

As head of the Photonics Center—which is a hub for the study of light and development of technologies utilizing it—Bifano has helped many others nurture their own innovations. The center is home to 70 faculty research labs and the Business Innovation Center , which hosts tech, biotech, manufacturing, and medical devices start-ups and corporations.

“Tom’s leadership at Boston Micromachines, where he solves real optics problems, and his role in connecting innovative research groups across the University via the Photonics Center, demonstrate his ability to think creatively and foster interdisciplinary collaboration,” says biotech entrepreneur David Freedman (ENG’10), whose first company, NanoView Biosciences , was incubated and funded through the Photonics Center. Freedman is now back on campus, using the Business Innovation Center to cultivate his latest start-up, Everest Biolabs.

“Tom’s ability to balance risk-taking with practicality and his commitment to fostering innovation make him a role model for success,” he says. “He has his own innovative track record, but also creates an ecosystem of innovation.”

Playing, Discovering, Failing, Solving

Before Bifano’s MEMS deformable mirrors, existing peer technologies for bending light were big, expensive, and drained lots of power. That meant they were mostly only viable in large instruments—think a hulking telescope in a desert rather than a small microscope in a lab. His innovation was leveraging microfabrication techniques used for making microscopic objects—like inkjet printer nozzles—to develop tiny mirrors moved by electrostatic actuators. By creating deformable mirrors that were smaller, faster, cheaper, and more efficient, Bifano vastly opened up their range of applications.

He spun Boston Micromachines out of his lab in 1999 and says the company hitting its quarter of a century mark is gratifying—and not just because of the impact its technologies have had on astronomy, healthcare, and more.

“I’ve watched the employees there grow and raise their children, put them through college,” says Bifano. “And the reason they’ve been able to do all those things, to have lives that are meaningful and useful, is a direct result of the innovations that we made here at BU.”

One of those who has been at Boston Micromachines from the start is Paul Bierden, its president and CEO. A former student in Bifano’s lab, Bierden (ENG’92,’94) helped him found the company.

“I have known Tom since I was 18 years old. He has been a teacher, a mentor, a business partner, and a friend,” says Bierden. “He is a true engineer, which in my opinion, is that he is always trying to solve problems.

“Tom has always instilled in me to not be afraid to try something new. Dive into a problem, break things, flip switches, turn knobs, learn from your mistakes, and try again.”

Those lessons in innovation are ones Bifano continues to share today, encouraging students to roll with the failures, to keep playing and discovering—but to also focus on the end goal.

“I tell my students early on—and the ones who grasp it do much better than the ones who don’t—that you need to own the problems you’re working on,” he says. “You’re not working on it because somebody assigned it to you, you own it, it’s yours. The motivation is not to satisfy me or your doctoral committee, it’s to knock down the problem.

“You’re not really a good engineer unless the things you do turn into helpful benefits for society.”

Explore Related Topics:

• Ophthalmology
• Share this story
• 0 Comments Add

Editor, The Brink Twitter Profile

Andrew Thurston is originally from England, but has grown to appreciate the serial comma and the Red Sox, while keeping his accent (mostly) and love of West Ham United. He joined BU in 2007, and is the editor of the University’s research news site, The Brink ; he was formerly director of alumni publications. Before joining BU, he edited consumer and business magazines, including for corporations, nonprofits, and the UK government. His work has won awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the In-House Agency Forum, Folio: , and the British Association of Communicators in Business. Andrew has a bachelor’s degree in English and related literature from the University of York. Profile

Staff photojournalist

Jackie Ricciardi is a staff photojournalist at BU Today and Bostonia  magazine. She has worked as a staff photographer at newspapers that include the Augusta Chronicle  in Augusta, Ga., and at Seacoast Media Group in Portsmouth, N.H., where she was twice named New Hampshire Press Photographer of the Year. Profile

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

Post a comment. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest from The Brink

Bu study shows a correlation between social media use and desire for cosmetic procedures, covid-19 photo contest winners capture moments of joy, sorrow, meaning in crisis, how high-level lawsuits are disrupting climate change policies, the h5n1 bird flu is a growing threat for farm animals and humans—how serious is it, why is a bu researcher so fascinated with the diets of dung beetles, we are underestimating the health harms of climate disasters, three bu researchers elected aaas fellows, should people be fined for sleeping outside, secrets of ancient egyptian nile valley settlements found in forgotten treasure, not having job flexibility or security can leave workers feeling depressed, anxious, and hopeless, bu electrical engineer vivek goyal named a 2024 guggenheim fellow, can the bias in algorithms help us see our own, do immigrants and immigration help the economy, how do people carry such heavy loads on their heads, do alcohol ads promote underage drinking, how worried should we be about us measles outbreaks, stunning new image shows black hole’s immensely powerful magnetic field, it’s not just a pharmacy—walgreens and cvs closures can exacerbate health inequities, how does science misinformation affect americans from underrepresented communities, what causes osteoarthritis bu researchers win $46 million grant to pursue answers and find new treatments.

The demand to cut research ties with Israelis is a blow to free inquiry

Squelching collaborations with academics because of their national origin goes against the purpose of higher education..

Last week, I casually mentioned to the head of my academic department that I was considering new research that might take me to Israel. Here’s how she did not respond: “You are not allowed to conduct research or collaborate with Zionist entities in the Zionist state.”

Because such a response would be wrong, bigoted, and in violation of academic freedom, a value that scholars in this country hold dear. Instead, she responded empathetically with concerns for my safety. She may be my administrative boss, but she does not get to tell me which line of scholarly inquiry to pursue or whom to do it with or where to do it.

That’s why I find student encampment protesters’ calls to boycott, shame, and cut ties with universities in Israel so troubling. These same students who have lambasted their universities for free-speech violations now call for free-speech violations for others.

At issue here are two free-inquiry concerns. The first is the First Amendment right to assemble, which the Supreme Court has held is part of a broader right of free expression and association . If protesting students get their way and force academics to cut ties with Israel, they would limit our ability to undertake scholarly collaboration.

The second concern is the principle of academic freedom. According to the American Association of University Professors, the holy grail of academic free speech is rooted in pursuing knowledge and innovation for the public good: “The common good depends upon the free search for truth and should not be guided by the desires of wealthy donors, by partisan political aims , by religious institutions, or by the desire not to offend .” (The italics are mine.)

Sally Kornbluth, the president of MIT, agrees. After a tumultuous few months, she is firmly planted in the land of academic freedom. In a message to the MIT community last weekend, Kornbluth rejected the suggestion that professors cut ties with Israeli academics: “Our faculty represent a wide range of viewpoints that are appropriately expressed in a university dedicated to broadening our students’ minds. And faculty routinely work with colleagues around the world, including in Israel — and all sponsored research on our campus is openly shared, publishable, and freely available to investigators everywhere.”

Advertisement

The student Free Palestine movement’s demand for academic boycotts of Israel has, until now, received less attention than the fervor of the encampments, the shock of widespread student arrests, and calls to divest from Israel. But the demands for an academic boycott reveal a sinister position: the viewpoint that anything to do with Israel — any knowledge and innovation to emerge from the country — is tainted. According to the website for the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement , “Israel overtly uses culture as a form of propaganda to whitewash or justify its regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid over the Palestinian people.”

As an academic, I find it chilling to hear students demand that we cut off access to inquiry based on national status. While the scholarly publication of one’s work or positive peer review is hardly guaranteed, no one — and certainly not students studying at a university — should prevent others from the pursuit of discovery.

Yet the Free Palestine movement seeks exactly that. The student divestment movement at the University of California, Berkeley , calls for the school to “permanently sever ties and academic collaborations with Israeli universities.” This sentiment, echoed by student organizations at Tufts, Emerson, Yale , and Columbia , would not only constrain free-speech and assembly rights of US researchers to collaborate with Israeli colleagues but would also deprive the roughly 60,000 Palestinian Arab students enrolled in Israeli universities from access to international scholars and the research process.

The fact that US university students are calling for a halt to collaborative scholarly work and to the production of new knowledge and innovations should be a wake-up call about the extent to which simplistic thinking is taking hold.

Israeli society is not a right-wing monolith. I would have expected university students to know by now that individual members of a population can hold starkly contrasting views from those of their democratically elected government. (See: the Iraq war, the Trump presidency, gun violence, abortion access, to name a few examples.)

In 2022, Mona Khoury, the Arab-Israeli vice president for strategy and diversity at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, spoke out in opposition to academic boycotts of Israel. “I can understand it but I don’t support it because it affects us,” she told London’s Jewish Chronicle newspaper. “I question whether this is the best way to do it because if you boycott academia, it’s actually one of the only left-wing voices against what is going on in the country. So, if you want us to shut our mouths, who will talk about what’s going on?”

If you don’t want to collaborate with Israeli scholars, then don’t. If you don’t want to meet or support Israeli university students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, then follow your moral code and find collaboration and camaraderie elsewhere. Just don’t mistake your push to squelch academic inquiry for a righteous stand. It’s the opposite of what university education represents.

This article was updated on May 2 to add more detail to the photo captions.

Hinda Mandell is a professor in the school of communication at Rochester Institute of Technology. She graduated from Brandeis University and Harvard University, where she studied the Middle East for her undergraduate and master’s degrees, respectively.

Globe Ideas

Get Access To 1000+ Research Topic Ideas

If you’re trying to find a suitable research topic for your dissertation, thesis or research project, this is for you. Simply put, this mega list of research topic ideas will help stimulate your thinking and fast-track the topic ideation process.

The list provides 1000+ topic ideas across 25 research areas, including:

• Accounting & finance
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
• Biotech and genetic engineering
• Blockchain and crypto
• Business, management and leadership
• Communication
• Cybersecurity
• Data science and analytics
• Education and training
• Engineering
• Environmental science and climate change
• Law and public policy
• Materials science
• Mental health
• Neuroscience
• Political science
• Psychology and sociology
• Public administration
• Public health and epidemiology
• Robotics and automation

Simply put, this is the largest single source of research topic inspiration you’ll find. Plus, you’ll get free access to our popular webinar , Research Topic Ideation 101, as well as our tried and trusted research proposal template . 

PS – You can also download our free dissertation template below 🙂