Demystifying Research Dr Clare Atkins

Structure What do you think research is What is ‘Research’ ? How to turn research into Research Purpose : Show that Research is not so scary!

What is research? What are your ideas? Suggestions ……

What is research? What are your ideas? Suggestions …… Finding out about something Solving a problem Answering a difficult question Discovering patterns/trends in things Identifying problems that need solving

For Example Finding out about something? –What do cats eat ? Solving a problem –Why won’t my cat eat chicken necks? Answering a difficult question? –What will she eat (will it sustain her,can I afford it)? Discovering patterns/trends in things –Why does she sometimes want fish not chicken? Identifying problems that need solving –How can I make less fussy about her food?

Everyday Stuff Think of an example of something that you have done recently…..for example: –Buying a new car/computer/mobile phone…… –Finding out what courses you want/need to study….. –Deciding where to go on holiday….. –Deciding whether to take your cat to the vet!!!… Identify the process you went through

Everyday Stuff So what were the processes you used?

Everyday Stuff So what were the processes you used? Asked others casually or formally Gathered information - net search, reading magazines etc. Observed, used past experience as a guide Decided and acted on it Told others about it and explained to anyone who would listen, why you made that decision Others…………..? This is all research but……

What is Research? “A search or investigation undertaken to discover facts and reach new conclusions by the critical study of a subject or by a course of scientific enquiry” Shorter Oxford Dictionary (1993)‏ “Systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources etc., to establish facts, collate information etc..” Shorter Oxford Dictionary (1993)‏

How is this different? Critical: involving careful judgment or observation Scientific: valid according to the objective principles of scientific method (consisting of systematic observation, measurement and experiment with the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses) i.e. repeatable Systematic: arranged or conducted according to a system, plan or organised method…. Shorter Oxford Dictionary (1993)‏

What are the implications? We need to be systematic about what we want to know what process we are going to follow how we are going to discover this knowledge We need to be able to describe the whole thing so someone else can do it again with same or similar result explain how we arrived at our conclusions explain how what we have done fits with whatever is already known

General Research Process Identity research focus –general area of interest –What do I want to know ? (the more specific the better)‏ Identify type of research –e.g pattern discovery, problem solving etc…. –define the ‘question’ tightly and clearly as possible Identify type of research design survey, observations, experiment….. Discover what is already known –gather as much info as you can –use as many sources as you can –identify which ones are ‘reliable’ i.e. which do you believe? Why?

General Research Process Do what you’ve planned/collect results –test it out first, if appropriate –check you’re asking the right questions Collate, analyse, integrate results –the fun bit! –take time out to reflect on what it all means Draw conclusions and summarise –what didn’t you discover? –did it confirm what you had thought would be the case? –Were you biased in any way? Link your findings to what’s known –how does this ‘new’ stuff compare to what others have done? Reflect on what else could be done –what if I had asked this….? –what if I had observed for longer?

General Research Process Put your knowledge into the sharable pool –PRESENT IT to anyone who will listen! to your group, your department, your institute to a conference! –PUBLISH IT on your blog in a newsletter, local newspaper, local radio, in a specialist magazine or academic journal write a book…..!

How do we turn our research into Research? Think carefully about what we want to know Plan carefully how we are going to find out Try to be objective (or at least recognise our bias) in our doing and rationalising Discuss with others - often! Get it out there for others to criticise, think about, work from…. Constantly wonder - how could I make this more useful?

Back to the cat! Cat nutrition and psychology - why will my cat only eat fish sometimes? Pattern Discovery Observation and Experiment Search net, talk to vet, get books Watch/note closely for 2 weeks Write up notes and think She only eats fish on Fridays! Have others found this? Some say only eat fish if….. What if I had watched for 2 months? Put it all up on my blog (good idea?)

Conclusion Research is fun, exciting and very rewarding There is no mystery to it - just a more formal approach than we use day to day Research is not always about winning a Nobel prize, just about gradually adding to the general pool of knowledge…. You can do it!