Menu

5 Steps Toward Conducting Your Research Effectively

Leave a reply

When you conduct any type of research, you can make it impressive by following a model of hourglass. Similar to an hourglass, your research information starts from being wide through going narrow to being wide again. Based on the same model, here are some steps that can be followed to make your research really effective.

Step 1: Start by defining your problem clearly and meaningfully with the help of relevant hypotheses. Go about searching for the right information to assess the scope of your study. If required, then you can also reevaluate your problem.

Step 2: When you finalize a problem for investigation, find out the right methods that can help you do this. You may go for an interview or apply a questionnaire on your subjects. Consider the context of your study and then finalize your methods.

Step 3: Make strategic plans on executing your process. If any changes are required in your strategies, then take them up now. Start taking down notes while also structuring them and tracking your sources.

Step 4: After you refine your tracked sources, link them up with your previous knowledge and information. If hypotheses need to be revised, then do it according to the project needs. This can benefit you in using your information more effectively.

Step 5: Keep your work original and handle citations in the required style. When you take up information from several sources, do not forget to credit them if you use that information in your project.

After you have conducted your research, document it with similar effectiveness. Presentation is an important aspect of research and your content should also match your hard work. Ensure to define your writing guidelines so you can work according to proper linguistic styles and formatting standards.

The Etymology of PhD and Its Essence

Leave a reply

How many of you know what does PhD stand for? It is a word with a Latin origination “Philosophiae Doctor”. Some wonder why PhD in any stream is explained as Philosophy. The answer here is tricky and may not be known to many. The use of the word philosophy here is not connected to the branch of science but rather to the original Greek meaning which says “Love of Wisdom”. It is a degree that highlights that the scholar has contributed to existing knowledge with his hard work and wisdom.

The only way one can find out how to do a PhD is to do one!!

In light of the above statement and the etymology of PhD that has been explained, I wonder how relevant would all tips and advices be? But we still do not refrain from giving them. I suppose there isn’t any harm also, as long as we pick up ways to simplify a journey that otherwise would be herculean for many.

As much as we dream to celebrate the end of our PhD journey, I say the beginning needs to be celebrated as well. With plenty of novel experiences and opportunities coming way, it may be over whelming. A great percentage of people quit from their PhD half way because they cannot adapt to the requirements and challenges. Even if it isn’t rosy, I say do not quit. There are good reasons for not doing so.

The requirements and challenges of PhD are distinct for each country while keeping in mind the core essence of the degree. In countries like the US and Canada they call for a specific course work before starting pure research work. In the UK things are changing, there is focus on other activities such as contribution towards teaching and other activities. The conclusion or as we say the culmination of a PhD requires to submit the original contribution to research in the form of a thesis. It has to be of standard to be reviewed published in journals of repute. To maintain the worthiness of the degree it does not end here, in the end the candidate is expected to defend work in front of a panel of experts which is called as VIVA. The word VIVA has been taken from the Latin word “Viva Voice “meaning “Live voice”. Only once the panel is satisfied with the work and the defence given by the candidate do they finally allow to award the degree and the person may get the word Doctor Prefixed to his name.

At the end, it isn’t the end. In fact a PhD is a beginning of one’s professional journey that will require you to use not just the academic skills you have mastered through the course but also the patience, determination, tolerance and capacity to hard work to move along to lead you to your path to success.