in search of research

“In Search Of Research”

Prepared & Presented by,P.S.Jagadeesh Kumar,Assistant Professor/IT,SSNCE, Kalavakkam.

Outline� What is Research?

� Is Engineering different from Science?

� Can Research be classified as Good research and Bad research?

� Can small thinking give rise to new research?� Can small thinking give rise to new research?

� What is a research paper?

� Research in industry Vs. academia?

� Turning Difficulties into Opportunities in Research.

� What Does it Take to Be a Researcher?

� The Ten Commandments of Creativity in Research.

� The Ten Commandments of Success in Research.

� Conclusion.

What is Research?[1/3]

� Is building a new device, research?

� Is writing a new software, research?

� Is repairing a device or debugging a software, research?� Is repairing a device or debugging a software, research?

� Is drawing a conclusion from a lot of data, research?

� Is proving a theorem, research?

� Is formulating a theorem, research?

What is Research?[2/3]

Research could involve any of the above, or none of the above….!!!!!!!!

Dr.Uday Khedker

(www.cse.iitb.ac.in/˜uday)

Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering,

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

What is Research?[3/3]

� Research is the systematic process of collecting andanalyzing information to increase our understanding ofthephenomenonunderstudy.thephenomenonunderstudy.

� Research is a process of investigation. An examinationof a subject from different points of view.

� Research is a game of significant ideas.

Who is the father of research?

� Father of computer – Charles Babbage

� Father of internet – Vinton Cerf

� Father of Geometry – Euclid

� Father of Bio-technology – Louis Pastuer

……

� Father of Research – ???????? No evidence !!!!!!!!!!

Is Engineering different from Science?

� Science try to understand nature.

� Engineering try to make things that do not exist innature.

To embodyan inventiontheengineermustput his� To embodyan inventiontheengineermustput hisidea in concrete terms, and design something thatpeople can use.

� Engineers use the knowledge of science,mathematics, logic, economics, and appropriateexperience or tactic knowledge to find suitablesolutions to a problem.

Can Research be classified as Good research and Bad research?

� Researchhas its own associatedrisk factors,� Researchhas its own associatedrisk factors,so classifying research into good and bad doesreveal any meaning.

Can small thinking give rise to

new research?

� Why Is The sky Blue?

The case, "Why is the sky blue?", was finally settledby Einstein in 1911, who calculated the detailedformula for the scatteringof light from molecules;formula for the scatteringof light from molecules;and this was found to be in agreement withexperiment.

Rayleigh scattering, Mie theory, etc…http://www.juliantrubin.com/einsteininvent

� The Relativity Theory showed that mass could beconverted directly into energy (E=mc²), and that aminute piece of mass could release a vast amount ofenergy. In 1939 Einstein collaboratedwith severalenergy. In 1939 Einstein collaboratedwith severalother physicists in writing a letter to PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, pointing out the possibility ofmaking anatomic bomb. The letter, which bore onlyEinstein's signature, helped lend urgency to efforts inthe U.S. to build the atomic bomb, but Einsteinhimself played no role in the work and knew nothingabout it at the time.

� The fact that things fall towards the Earth when they are dropped.

What Newton came up with was a formula for howbig the force of gravity will be betweenany twobig the force of gravity will be betweenany twoobjects and show that this accurately accounts for themotion of the moon and planets. The formula was sogood that it remained in use as the best prediction ofgravitational force until Einstein's theory of GeneralRelativity in the 20th Century and is still used todaywhere relativistic effects do not apply.

� The Italian astronomer Galileo was inspired to createhis first telescopeby thework of HansLippersheyofhis first telescopeby thework of HansLippersheyofthe Netherlands. Lippershey's spyglass inventionwas a tube with glass lenses placed on each end.Galileo experimented with the idea, creating atelescope capable of 40 times the magnification.

What is a research paper?

� A research paper analyzes a perspective or argues apoint. Regardlessof the type of researchpaperyoupoint. Regardlessof the type of researchpaperyouare writing, your finished research paper shouldpresent your own thinking backed up by others' ideasand information.

� Reviewof the Literature in a Field� Reviewof the Literature in a FieldA review of the literature in a field requires you to

research information and then summarize andparaphrase. A research paper adds the step ofsynthesizing the information and developing yourown insight or analysis or argument on a topic orissue that the information presents.

� Analysis in Research PapersTo analyzemeansto breaka topic or conceptdownTo analyzemeansto breaka topic or conceptdowninto its parts in order to inspect and understand it,and to restructure those parts in a way that makessense to it.

Usually you explain or defend your thesis withreasons and evidence gained from your own personalexperience; often you are expected to include newthinking gained from your reading or research.

� Argument in Research PapersAn argumentative research paper needs to supportyour stand on an issue.

Research in Industry Vs. Research in Academia

� Research in industry is product driven whereas research in academia is idea driven.

� A product is typically based on a large number of ideas.

Industry◮ Needs to combine results of many idea driven research efforts.

◮ Faces the challenge of deployment much more significantly.

◮ Focus on an independent idea may be an unaffordable luxury.

Research in academia◮ Typically not bound by a particular product.

◮ Can afford to focus on ideas exclusively.

◮ Can have longer gestation periods.

Turning Difficulties into Opportunities in ResearchKnowing right questions is the first step in knowing the answers.

“What appears to be a fault, often, by a change of viewpoint, turns out to be one of the greatest assets you can have. ”turns out to be one of the greatest assets you can have. ”

- Hamming

Research is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

“If others would think as hard as I did, they would get similar results.”

- Newton

What Does it Take to Be a Researcher?What we all may already possess….Motivation, Curiosity, Creativity, insistence, Good Grasp.

What we may have to acquire with effort?What we may have to acquire with effort?Strong Background.

Enhances the effectiveness of all the above traits.

The Ten Commandments of Creativity in Research

1. Seek extension of an earlier known solution.

2. If you have a solution, find a problem.

3. Find out the right questions to ask.

4. Seek generality by removing specificities.4. Seek generality by removing specificities.

5. Seek symmetry by testing for duality.

6. Distill the essence, refine your ideas.

7. Distinguish the necessary from the unnecessary.

8. Distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant.

9. Build levels of abstractions and migrate between them.

10. Mix deep thinking with routine mechanical work.

The Ten Commandments of Success in Research1. Work on important problems.

2. Work on multiple problems.

3. For each problem, identify where you are.

4. Seek beauty in everything you do.4. Seek beauty in everything you do.

5. Get emotionally involved.

6. Remain committed.

7. Work hard, work continuously.

8. Consolidate your understanding.

9. Don’t depend on luck.

10. Handle uncertainty well.

Conclusion� Research makes a researcher a much better learner.

� Research enables better consolidation of skills.

◮ Depth of skills

◮ The “skill” of applying various skills!

� One gets involved with all aspects of solving a particular problem.

Research takes us to a different state of mind!

Thank YouThank You