Curiosity not complexity: research is not a homework!

 It’s time to lift ourselves, encourage not pressurise! We must begin with celebrating question than celebrating to answers, ideas or solutions. You have already won here if you’re able to question anything because you can only ask wh-type questions when you have throughly put effort in understanding the topic. You are already half way there to define a “problem statement”. The beginning of any project, research or a commercial product begins with a problem statement. 

A problem statement is a brief description of an issue or a gap or that missing link which can help in investigating any challenge. It’s a context to your research which concisely frames all the wh-questions by giving us scope and direction. Defining a problem statement sounds complex but it’s rather just a documentation of your curiosity- “why is it done this way?” Or “what’s the impact on environment or children or animals?” Or “how is it affecting or helping?” Or “What is missing in this?” Or “what should happen instead?”

To construct a problem statement we don’t need to know the exact solution! It might sound odd but yes that helps to keep an open mind. Critical thinking and understanding of any certain subject or topic is crucial than just finding a solution. Merely the goal isn’t our goal, the process matters too because it’s responsible for the change in course of direction. What you begin with is not always that you will end with, new discoveries and inventions happen, even technology changes or becomes obsolete. What matters is the current situation of your problem, why is that a problem and what is the impact. The part where, “what should happen instead or which methodology can bridge the gap” is least significant and doesn’t have to be in detail. 

Let’s break it down like a formula = (Current problem status), however (problem), affecting (impact on who/what/how) hence (proposed approach)

Now construct it like a template which you can universally use.

Template: 

Background of the topic—However, (state the specific problem, gap, or challenge)—This impacts (explain the consequences or why it’s important) Hence, there is a requirement or need to (suggest an improvement)

The last part is tricky because the key is to summarise the improvement without giving the solution because the course of research may change during the process or giving away your work can result into plagiarism. 

-Dr. Gandhalee Manohar-Ramnathkar 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Research – And Why It Matters Even for Kids and Teens!

  You don’t need a lab coat, electron microscope or a telescope with a PhD to do research! You don’t have to wait until college or become 18, start small, start now and ask endless questions.  All you need is curiosity, patience, and a little guidance. Research is a majestic word that discourages us rather than making us curious being often related to something fancy-sciency!  Research is that peak of curiosity where you pause mid-stroke while painting, wondering how to make the pigments last longer; it is a spark that’s beyond textbooks and classrooms.  It is giving a thought to everything instead believing into everything heard and read. To become a researcher you need embrace every problem and everyone’s problem as yours which is what brings us to finding solutions or at least identifying the gaps and need for improvements. Today’s world has been blessed with AI than no longer basic tasks require human intervention. However, the abilities we possess as consciousne...
Read more

The big question: Choosing a research topic

    I would consider this to be one of the hardest questions on this planet. No matter how young are you or old this questions can consume your mind. Let’s see how can we get to asking a question. We start small, blank and with no worry of reaching a solution. Yes, don’t think of any conclusion yet.  It’s time to know yourself first before you become a samaritan solving world problems! We are going to begin with asking a questions to ourselves. So, let’s walk up to the mirror and give a big smile appreciating everything you see. Now let’s begin with asking, “What’s my favourite subject?” “What are my hobbies?” “What’s my favourite kind of leisure?” Do all the three answers to your questions align? Well, they don’t have to but if the do you have found the subject to dig deeper. If they don’t you have 3 options to pick to dig deeper. This works even when you’re not going to participate in any research, you can use this strategy to even make decisions to write about yourself...
Read more

I have nothing to offer: research is not for me!

 Is that what you’re thinking? It’s disappointing, we all have been there. Discoveries, inventions and research never happened overnight and without failures. It’s the chaos and failure that has got us into something new. Hang in there! The key is reading and writing. If you have read the previous article, it’s been stated that they help in building brain maps which when keeps absorbing more it will build connections. One day, you’ll find a missing link! This begins with curiosity, a why and what to everything. Question everything you see, listen and don’t judge. Listen to every opinion and see through every lens, this helps us in understanding a problem with multiple angles giving us a holistic perspective. It’s okay! Don’t search for a topic, title or a subject. Engross in knowing things, the knowing begins with comprehending things. However, before everything else you are going to ask this question to yourself- “what’s blocking you?”  “Is there lack of clarity, have I narro...
Read more