Adapting a Research Approach Midstream

# Adapting a Research Approach Midstream You have already invested substantial effort in a research approach when the person directing the work asks you to change it. Explain how you would evaluate the request, make a recommendation, and execute the decision without letting sunk cost or reflexive agreement drive the outcome. ### Constraints & Assumptions - The current approach has produced some work but has not yet delivered a final result. - The requested change may affect schedule, comparability, or reproducibility. ### Clarifying Questions to Ask - What new evidence or objective motivated the change? - Which completed work remains useful, and what deadline or decision depends on the revised approach? ```hint Make the trade-off visible Compare the two approaches against the research objective, remaining uncertainty, and cost to switch. ``` ### What a Strong Answer Covers - Curiosity about the rationale rather than defensiveness. - An evidence-based comparison of staying, switching, or running a bounded test. - Clear impact on scope, timeline, and reproducibility. - Alignment, documentation, and an explicit checkpoint after the change. ### Follow-up Questions - What if the requested approach is methodologically weaker? - How would you respond if the change arrives one day before a committed deadline?