1. Managing Your Motivation and Your Research Project
Dr. Yuliana Zaikman
GROW Session 5

2. Motivation
“…. the general desire or willingness of someone to do something….”
It will not be constant
It will not be equally distributed
Take advantage of it when you have it
Accept that sometimes you will not have it
Work on powering through it
Check lists
Reward yourself

3. Research Project Finding the RIGHT adviser/mentor for YOU
Be sure the person is available to be your adviser
If possible, make sure you and your adviser have similar research interests
Check out the adviser’s publishing/research record

4. Research Project Once you find your adviser/mentor
Discuss your expectations from the process (i.e., what are you trying to get from this process?)
Develop a concrete timeline with concreate goals and schedule
Understand that the schedule is VERY likely to be adjusted
Schedule weekly or bi-weekly meetings
If you have questions, ASK
Don’t feel like you are bothering your adviser

5. Research Project Manage your own schedule
Plan each day in your week, scheduling everything you need to do:
Classes
Outside work
Family
Food
Research project….

6. Research Project
Try to find a topic that is inherently interesting to you
Develop an outline for your project/paper
Intro to the intro
Quick general introduction to the topic
Why it is important to study? Think big picture
What is the purpose of this research project
Read previous literature but don’t dwell on it TOO MUCH

7. Research Project How to keep working on the research project? Write.
Step One. Write daily for at least minutes.
Step Two. Record your minutes spent writing—share records daily.
Step Three. Write from the first day of your research project.
Step Four. Organize your thesis around a template.