Assessing one's aptitude and cultivating a persevering attitude are key requirements
TOUGH GRIND: A researcher might have to work
long hours.
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.
- Galileo Galilei
The list of research institutions featured last week in these columns is
only indicative and not exhaustive. You may get in touch with the
institutions you have in mind and confirm that they currently promote
research in the area of your choice, and that there are competent
supervisors for your topic.
The proposal
Once this is done, you should prepare a proposal containing an outline
of the study envisaged, along with the requirement and extent of
funding.
This will have to be submitted to the institution for scrutiny and
approval. You may have to indicate your expectation regarding guidance
and help from the supervisor.
The institution will weigh all aspects pertaining to your study
including your competence and potential, and give a green signal if the
proposal is approved. It may be noted that many of our public sector
laboratories frequently invite those who have proved their eligibility
in the NET, to undertake research in specific areas.
Often, candidates who are qualified in the NET but whose concept of
potential areas of research is limited seek the help of
professors/scientists through letter, phone or e-mail, indicating their
preferences. That would be the starting point of their enterprising
journey.
Types of research
Research is often classified as primary and secondary. Primary research
implies original observation, survey, investigation, study, experiments,
analysis, and findings. Secondary research is usually an extension of
what another researcher has done, or further study based on information,
ideas or opinions available in books, journals, or other publications. A
great part of academic research would be secondary in nature.
Your area of study should not be too broad or general. You should not
say that the topic is "Population Studies." It lacks definition. You
have to narrow down the area. It may perhaps be the "Impact of family
planning on the demographic trends in the State of Bihar during the
period from 1985 to 2005."
Check and recheck
Before you plunge headlong into research, you should check and recheck
your attributes so as to confirm that you are prepared to continue this endeavor at least for a few years.
The life of a research scholar is totally different from that of a usual
salaried employee who may have to attend an office or shop floor for a
specific number of hours each day and then go home and relax.
You may have to work with concentration for 10 to 14 hours at a stretch
to meet a deadline. A research scholar will have a problem that may have
to be carried in his mind for a few years, and worked on continuously.
Naturally, you should be endowed with ample persistence and tenacity;
your striving for a goal has to continue until the problem at hand is
happily resolved or new light has been shed on the lines you hoped for.
There would be frequent setbacks, and unexpected turn of events
including development in your area of work produced by scholars
elsewhere. If you have the necessary will power to stand all such
trials, you can certainly go ahead with your project.
The focus should never drift from your core task. Often research
scholars may be given a teaching assignment. This has necessarily to be
done well, but not at the expense of your research work.
Power of language
There are certain other elementary aspects that you cannot afford to
ignore. Check honestly your English language skills for effective
comprehension, expression, and communication - both written and
spoken. There is no harm in brushing up your school English to ensure
that you do not do any injustice to language.
For example, you may otherwise state that `the data is missing,' whereas
`the data are missing' is the right form, since data is the plural of
datum. You may have to interact with other scholars and experts over the
telephone and through e-mail. It is not very easy to express your ideas
with clarity, unless you are aware of the nuances of the language.
So also, following accurately what a foreigner whose mother tongue is
English speaks over the phone requires familiarity with his accent and
vocabulary. Anyone may feel that his English is fine; but the belief may
not be justified. So if necessary, you may update your language skills
to meet the demand of your work.
Presentation skills
Developing presentation skills is also important. It may be remembered
that anyone who assesses your performance through a presentation is
likely to be carried away not only by the quality of the content, but by
the appeal of your presentation.
B.S. WARRIER
No comments:
Post a Comment