Introduction > Planning Your Research > Anticipate Problems

Anticipate Problems Although you may not be able to account for every eventuality, especially if you're working with humans, animals or plants, or you're working out in the field, you can still anticipate problems and therefore have a contingency plan to fall back on. From your literature review, you may have already identified potential problems that previous researchers have come across. It's a good idea to speak to colleagues in your department/school who have done similar research or who have previous experience with the equipment that you'll be using. They can give you an idea of problems they've encountered and how they overcame them. A top tip is to make a list of things that could go wrong, and what you'll do if that happens. Obvious problems include equipment breaking down, volunteers withdrawing from a study and raw materials not being delivered on time. If you are prepared for every eventuality, you'll panic less if and when it happens and because you have a back-up plan, your research may not be affected. One important aspect of your research to plan carefully is your time management.

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