What limitations do scientists face for what topics or problems they can study in their work?

Answer 1

There are many limitations for the topics or problems scientists can study in their work. Here are just some limits:

1. Ethics and ethical research must always guide and underpin research.
2. Human Subjects requires a special Human Subjects Research Review committees before research can commence. This protects the human subjects.
3. Animal Research also carries special ethics that govern the work.
4. Sample size - Most research needs a good sample size (number of subjects) to be valid research.
5. Repeatability - A scientist must show steps of their work so other scientists can perform the same steps-- good research and the outcome must be repeatable when other scientists perform the same work.
6. Generalizing - Most scientific studies must seek to apply to a larger group or "all". Research on a few people or animals makes it specific only to them. It's called anecdotal, not research.
7. Applicable - Must be applicable (apply to) a larger group and show how it is. Example: if you only study 5 people's risk for Heart diseases, the results cannot apply to millions of people.
8. Funding - no money, no research. The best grants allow longer (longitudinal) studies done over years, examples: AIDS, HIV, Cancer, Heart disease.