Switching research focus during grad school

[psych.meout]

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Is it normal/acceptable to change or alert one's research focus from application and the beginning of grad school?

I'm not necessarily talking about abandoning one's initial focus entirely, but just refocusing it a bit. E.g. Starting our researching anxiety disorders and then refocusing to comorbidity of anxiety disorders with other maladies or anxiety and neuropsych.

Is this kind of shift normal or looked down upon by POIs and grad school departments?

 

[Ollie123]

Research interests are constantly evolving for most of us. If its not a major shift (i.e. neural basis for anxiety -> cultural basis for schizophrenia) its probably not a big deal at all. Especially that early on - I'd wager very few people actually end up studying exactly what they discuss in their grad school application or during interviews. In general, the key is probably whether or not you would need/want to switch labs. If the answer is yes - that is likely to cause some turmoil but won't be impossible in most places. If you could still realistically work with the same advisor and they have sufficient expertise to make that a good idea, its probably just about further tweaking/refining your interests and completely normal and expected.

 

[bmedclinic]

OP I did something very similar, and I think it's perfectly fine, assuming some parameters. If you were accepted into your doctoral program under the pretenses of working on a specific grant with a specific PI and you switch, that might be a problem. If you're given some leeway by your mentor and you want to research anxiety in a different context, all the power to you. FWIW I narrowed my area of focus from anxiety to anxiety in medical settings as my career progressed, and never once did I catch flack for it.

 

[psychgirl77]

I actually switched my research focus pretty substantially during grad school and had no difficulties during internship interviews. As long as you can tell a good narrative about why you switched there likely won't be much of a problem.

 

[madeincanada]

I have known of students who have shifted tracks, much less research focus.

This definitely occurs.

 

[psych.meout]

Thanks for all the advice and help everyone.

Is there any point at which switching one's focus would be viewed as too early or too late? E.g. Would switching focus during year one seem too early or during year three seen as too late?

 

[AcronymAllergy]

It's very common, at least in my experience, particularly with respect to narrowing/focusing or incorporating additional areas.

I don't know that there's any point at which it's too late, per se. However, the later it occurs, the less time you'll have to gather experience, gain funding, and put out products in that new area prior to graduating. That'd be about the main downside I can imagine.

 

[PBCocce]

Thanks for all the advice and help everyone.

Is there any point at which switching one's focus would be viewed as too early or too late? E.g. Would switching focus during year one seem too early or during year three seen as too late?

Why are you switching?

If there is a good reason, it does not matter if it is "early" or "late."

Do what is best for you.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

If you can provide a sensible narrative as to the shift/change, I think it is very doable. During my grad training I had to shift my focus, though mine was due to faculty leaving…I still had to consider how I would explain why I chose the area I did.