how to do research – part 2 fausto giunchiglia literature: robert v. smith. graduate research,...
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How to do research – PART 2
Fausto Giunchiglia
Literature:
Robert V. Smith. Graduate Research, 1998
Jeffrey A. Lee. The scientific endeavor, 2000
By Fausto Giunchiglia and Alessandro Tomasi
Index:
1. Research and Scholarship2. Factors for success
2.1 Attitude2.2 Commitment2.3 Creativity
3. Making Choices3.1 Types of research3.2 Advisor3.3 Programs of Study3.4 Disciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary
4. Time Management4.1 Set Goals4.2 Make a todo list4.3 Time Wasters
5. PHD Thesis5.1 Choosing a scientific problem5.2 Timing of PHD
Commitment
“It has been my experience that the most unattractive problem becomes absorbingly interesting when one digs into it ... when you really get acquainted with a problem, you are apt to fall in love with it”
Testimonial from student №1 [Pavel Shvaiko]
Multiple attempts as a materialization of commitment
There is nothing wrong in failing or “if it does not kill us, it makes us stronger”
Failures is a good experience to learn from
Failures is an INTEGRAL part of the ultimate success (e.g., PhD Thesis)
Autonomy
• Know what you don’t know
• Know what to ask
• Know when to ask
• Know where is the boundary
Flexibility and Openness
Flexibility:
maintain context, be ready to change context
Openness:
new ideas may come from
boundary between areas
Formulate Research Objectives
Three Levels:
1. There is the problem and you don’t see it
2. There is the problem, you see it but you don’t know how to solve it
3. There is the problem, you see it and you know how to solve it
Difficulty:
Creativity
1. Originality (newness)
2. Usefulness (basic vs. applied)
3. Transformation Property
4. Condensation Property
Transformation Property
Forces us to “see” reality in a new way
Example 1: Example 2:
3 wheels, some wood on the top
witch connects them
I have built a truck
It’s a new concept
Condensation Property
You must answer to:
• what have you done?
• what is the key idea?
• what characterize the work?
Through a Minimal Explanation“One paper (thesis, talk, ...) one message”
Making Choices
3.1 Type of research
3.2 Advisor
3.3 Program of Study
3.4 Disciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary
3.5 Research Problem (PhD Thesis)
Type of research
3.1.1 Basic Research:
3.1.2 Applied Research:
Study about application orapplicability of one or moretechniques in problem domain
Advisor
Human factor makes the difference.Three Levels of advisor:
1. Collaborator type
2. Hands-off type
3. Senior scientist type
Time
Age / Experience
Advisor: positive and negative aspects
Senior Scientist Type:
Experience and Knows the state of the art
Experience and Obsolete
Advisor: positive and negative aspects
The bottom line is research quality.
The indicators are:
• how much one publishes
• where one publishes
• how much one is cited
See at: http://citeseer.nj.nec.com
Choosing an Advisor
• Accomplishments in teaching and research• Enthusiasm for advising students• Experience in directing graduate students• Management and organization of his or her
research group• Reputation for setting high standards in a
congenial atmosphere• Compatible personality• Ability to serve as a mentor
Disciplinary vs Interdisciplinary
Disciplinary Research:• Easier: there is a community to identify
Interdisciplinary Research:• Harder: there is no community
(the community may never be created)
• Passing Comprehensive • Passing Qualifying• Passing Exams• Giving Thesis• Finding a job
• Upgrading Horizontal dimension• Upgrading Vertical dimension
• Attending Seminars• Resolving research problems• Publishing papers• Attending conferences• Visiting other places• ...
Set Goals
1. Research Objective2. Out of knowledge (state of the art)3. You can do it (next steps)4. Usefulness
Setting Goals
What you know
What you don’t know 1.
2.
3.
4.
Make a todo list
Set a Priority for each goals:
• priority A
• priority B
• priority C
There can be transitions between phases
Priority A:
1. Critical2. May be unpleasant to do3. Goal related4. Must be done today
Make a todo list
Priority C:
1. Can wait2. May or may not be goal related3. No significant time pressure4. Usually easy, quick and pleasant
Make a todo list
Time Wasters
1. Telephone interruptions2. Ineffective use of the telephone3. Visitors dropping in without notice4. Crisis situations5. Lack of deadlines6. Not sticking to high-priority work7. Indecision and procrastination8. Over-involvement with detail and routine9. Attempting too much10. Underestimating the time needed to perform tasks11. Poor communication12. Inability to say “no”
Testimonial from student №1 [Pavel Shvaiko]
Do nothing but the work you are focused on - I
It takes about 10 minutes to enter the state when you are fully absorbed by a problem
If you are interrupted (e.g., wasters 1-3), it takes again 10 minutes to get back
Do a time log with throughout records of your daily activities. At the
end of the week analyze the time you have spent on each type of activity (e.g., research, e-mails, chatting, coffee breaks)
Split the time into uninterrupted blocks
These vary from 60 to 120 minutes depending on a task
Testimonial from student №1 [Pavel Shvaiko]
Do nothing but the work you are focused on - II
Experiment
Listening to the music during the uninterrupted blocksmight help in cutting the connection with the rest of the world, and in staying totally concentrated and focused on a problem you work on
Music without vocals (e.g., trance) might accelerate thinking
Choosing a scientific problem
• Can it be enthusiastically pursued and can interest be sustained
• Is the problem solvable (in time – if PhD)
• Is it worth doing
• Is it manageable in size (especially when PhD)
• Will it lead to other research problems
• What is its potential to make original contributions (literature)
• If the problem is solved, will it be reviewed by scholars
• Are you, will you become competent to solve it
• By solving it will you have demonstrated independent skills in your discipline
• Will the research prepare you in an area of demand or promise for the future
The Biggest Question
Choose the research problem that you can solve:
• in 3 years
• individually (with help of advisor)
Choosing a scientific problem
Timing of PHD
First Year:• Cover needed background knowledge
• Pass Comprehensive Examination as soon as possible
• Achieve Scholarship
• Upgrade Vertical dimension
• Identify Research Problem
• Try at least 1-2 public presentations
• Pass qualifying
• Write a paper (if you are lucky…)
Timing of PHD
Second Year:
• Intuition of the solution of research problem
• Submit one or two papers to top conferences with your idea semi-solved
• Spend sometime abroad
• give as many presentations as possible
Timing of PHD
Third Year:
• Consolidate your Knowledge
• Propagate your Knowledge
• Produce for a top Journal Paper
• Set the basis for extensions
Timing of PHD
Forth Year: (optional)
• do what you have not done before
• get the best out of your work
Testimonial from student №1 [Pavel Shvaiko]
Keep the balance
You can not be always extremely productive Set your times
With your professional growth, ensure the growth in your personal life, and vice versa
Concentrating only on work at the expense of the other spheres of your personal life will only make it a never-ending and ever-escalating struggle