1. How to start research V. Jayalakshmi

2. Why do we research? – To solve a problem – To satisfy an itch – To gain more market share/ Develop and improve – It is part of the Job – To make more money – To get a Ph.D Degree

3. What are the types of Academic Research Works? What are the types of Academic Research Works? A totally new innovation or frame work Any analysis/ approach/ new algorithm / procedure with at least some deviation from existing methods so as to have contribution which can reduce cost/time/ and or increase in performance

4. How to proceed?

5. DECIDING ON A TOPIC What am I most interested in? Do I want to know a lot about a little or a little about a lot? Narrower papers are easier, broader ones more difficult

6. AREA OF INTEREST Pick a Direction or area of interest – Based on our background/ knowledge/ Exposure (Subjects handled, Courses taken, readings Conferences attended seminars etc.)

7. Example - Networking Example - Networking This is an area only. It could be “Multicasting in Networks” Could be further refined to 'Congestion control for Reliable multicast’ Further, 'Congestion control through Admission Control’

8. Do not say, – “Wireless Networks” (too general) it can be – Wireless with infrastructure / Ad-hoc Networks / Wireless Sensor Networks Narrow down further, “Systematic Testing of Wireless MAC layer”/ “Efficient hand off for IP mobility” / “Security by modifying the protocol ” in any of the above networks

9. Do not just say “Network Security” but, “Security through – Protocol – Encryption/ decryption algorithms – Key management – Hardware deployment”

10. Do not say as “Quality of Service in networks”, but as, “Quality of Service in IP Networks through Congestion Control” In unicast In Multicast

11. KEY WORDS KEY WORDS Compile a set of Key Words on the chosen topics Start searching for the key words from IEEE library on line ACM library on line Google (selectively) Citeseer.com

12. Searching for papers in General area of Computer Networks, look for IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking IEEE Journal on Selected Areas of communications Computer Network Journal (Elsevier) And many others

13. On Wireless Networks.. ACM Mobicom ACM MobiHoc ACM MANET Journal AdHoc Networks Journal (Elsevier) IEEE / ACM IPSN IEEE WCNC And many more Journals and conferences

14. SELECT PAPERS From the topics of papers we have collected, Select papers that we think most related to what we have in our mind Do not read all the papers now Check the title, abstract, authors and affiliations, Journal or Conference

15. Refine Key words.. Now try to refine our key words and perform multiple searches for quality works If a specific paper is liked, look at the list of references this will give a good indication to follow

16. Consolidate With these additions narrow down to 15- 20 papers –of most related, we think, for the selected area of work

17. Gather Information Now start reading – ONLY THE ABSTRACT, INTRODUCTION and CONCLUSION Skim the rest of the paper for general idea Identify the emphasis of each paper

18. Pick the best Based on our reading and understanding pick 4-6 papers that We think that address our research interests and challenges in the field most appropriately Read these 4-6 papers thoroughly from the beginning to the end

19. Analyze Main approaches Methods of Analysis –Metrics – Evaluation tools –Analysis and interpretation of results –Simulation or –Measured data Conclusions

20. Some questions on these ideas.. Did all/some papers use similar approaches? Have they used same evaluation criteria? Same method of analysis? If not, – What are the strengths / weaknesses of each method? Keep a list of ideas we want to explore This will create another list of readings

21. Keep a list of –What do we think the authors may have missed – The gaps and Limitations that could be improved upon Any idea of how to accomplish these improvements

22. Proposal Write two pages of proposal defining as clearly as possible, the following: –Motivation –Research Challenges –Overview of the existing work –Limitations of the existing work –Potential directions and ideas for improvement –Expected results and impact in the field

23. Ask the trust-worthy friends to read and comment on these two pages about If it is not clear, go back and rewrite If we think we have missed some other work, go back to the 15-20 list and pick another 3-5 good papers to read and rewrite the proposal

24. Focus on an idea Be selective in readings Try to focus, not get confused Write these two pages The next step is to write a 10 page proposal elaborating on the 2 pages

25. Publish Send paper to Journal/Conference Do not mind if not accepted This will give good comments by referees Improve upon the paper utilizing the comments It will get accepted and published

26. Thesis and Synopsis If 2 Journal papers and 2 conference papers published, think of consolidating the work Left out works, links that may be needed have to be completed Write the draft Thesis Write the Synopsis

27. Thank You!