DOING RESEARCH

S P Sukhatme Professor Emeritus Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Workshop on Introduction to Research Methodologies June July 2012

Introduction

Introduction (contd.)
A thesis for the PhD must form a distinctive contribution to the knowledge of the subject and afford the evidence of originality shown by the discovery of new facts and/or the evidence of independent critical power. (University of London regulations)

DOING RESEARCH
Outline of Lecture Introduction The Research Process Characteristics Needed for Doing Research Developing Communication Skills The Issue of Plagiarism Concluding Remarks

The Research Process

Steps 1. Identify a research problem broadly in a general area of interest. 2. (a) Do background course work to acquire breadth. (b) Review basic concepts and theories. (c) Make a comprehensive review of relevant literature.

The Research Process (contd.)

3. Define the research problem of the thesis. 4. Formulate a hypothesis (if appropriate). 5. Plan the mode of execution. (Work could be experimental or theoretical or both.) 6. Deliver a seminar talk.

The Research Process (contd.)

For experimental work : 7. Design and build experimental set-up. 8. Do preliminary testing to check set-up. 9. Collect data in a systematic manner by varying the independent parameters.

The Research Process (contd.)

For theoretical work : 7. Model the situation and set up the governing equations with constraints. 8. Solve the equations ( either analytically or numerically). 9. Obtain results by systematically varying the independent parameters.

The Research Process (contd.)

10. Tabulate, analyze and interpret results. 11. Check hypothesis. Draw conclusions. 12. Write thesis. N.B. Steps in the research process will probably be modified by feedback as the whole process moves forward.

Characteristics Needed for Doing Research

Intelligence Motivation
Perseverance

Developing Communication Skills

Writing a PhD Thesis - Typical structure of contents - Style of writing How to Make an Effective Presentation - Preparing the presentation - Organization of talk - Visual aids - Delivering the talk

The Issue of Plagiarism

Plagiarism Using someone elses research work in the form of ideas, results or words and passing it off as ones own work by not giving credit to the original work. Plagiarism is unethical and incorrect, but is widespread.

Concluding Remarks
Enjoy your research while doing your PhD. Summing up