How to Start ResearchSaleem Saaed Qader

MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGSConsultant General Surgeon, Lecturer

General Director, Medical Research Centre, Hawler Medical UniversityDepartment of Surgery, Rizgary Teaching Hospital Department of Surgery, Medical College, Hawler Medical University

TMC Oct 2014

What is Research and Why Do It?

Why?Create, have fun, playInvent, be on leading edge of discovery, be a scientistTransfer discoveries to benefit society Work in interesting and rewarding careers To raise living standardsReligious

What?Investigation of a problem in scientific manner

Discovery of a solution that advances state of knowledge in areas from theory to experimentation, to applications

Idea … Experimentation … Application

Starting Your Research Journey

Research is a journey/ process characterized by:

1. Wanderings

2. Dead-ends and false starts

3. Difficulties

4. Writing blocks

5. Pleasures and surprises

6. Excitement and challenge

1. Being a top! Not necessary …

2. Know your limit! Ready for failures!

3. Your motivation?But all you need is passion…

Prepare Yourself Psychologically

Research is not a job, and is more like a hobby!

Papers communicate ideas

Your goal is to infect the mind of your reader with your idea like a virus

The greatest ideas are (literally) worthless if you keep them to yourself

1. Language skills2. Computer skills3. Statistics4. Knowledge (field!!!)5. Patience and cooperation skills6. Permissions and possibilities …

Scientific approvalEthics approvalBudgetRoom (lab.)Team (group work)

Requirements for doing research

Get more knowledge in the area …Read and Read and Read:

Articles, Thesis and Books Conference proceedingsInternet e.g. Google and PubMed

Discuss with senior researchersSend mails to others … authors, editorsRead about the health challenges in KRGGet contact with Medical Research Centre

Give you the research themeMake teams for youGive a seminar about the topic!!!

Advertisement, Find a partner, See the reflections

Requirements for doing research

Read few review articles in the field:To get the most recent achievementsTo raise a question To list of original articles:

Reference listProtocolFamous names in the field

To get names of journals in the fieldTo get names of the authors in the fieldTo get names of publishers !!! True or FakeGet contact with authors in the same field for:

Protocol for conduction of the projectName and source of the materialsFuture collaboration and joint research

project

Requirements for doing research

Write a proposal Write a protocolApply for the grantGet the material (which may take long time)Order animalsLearn how to treat animals

Put a time table … extremely important

Start research early - don’t wait!!!

Requirements for doing research

Conducting Research

Be honest/ ethical in all things “trust is essential”

Understand your equipment, methods & limits

Be ultra-organized, keep excellent records

Think about the next step in your career as you go along; early preparation is key

1. Be confident

2. Be both critical and collaborative

3. Be both ambitious and realistic

4. Take a chance!

In summery you have to be:

The only way you can improve yourself is to learnthings that you are the most afraid of!

Choosing a Research Area

Criteria Exciting and interesting area to you Important problems in the area Research type is suitable to you

Ways to identify a research area Take courses and attend seminars Talk to professors, visitors and students Consider both applied and theoretical areas Read widely Learn about yourself, what you like, etc. Solve some research problems

How to choose a Research Advisor

Advisor-advisee relationships are forever!

Talk to potential advisors and their adviseesWhat are their projects?How much time do they spend for you?Do they have group and/or individual meetings?How long to return written materials?How much freedom do they give?Does the adviser publish a lot? Order of the names?Who presents the papers that are co-authored?Do they have research assistantships?Do you feel comfortable with this person?

Working with a Research Team (or not)

Why work on a team (in a group)? Part of a larger project Research often a collaborative and social process Helps you to learn to communicate ideas Try new ideas, practice talks, get feedback on papers, learn to advise other students, etc.

How to work on a research team Stop your problem in the group Be generous with giving credit to others, but Stand up for your accomplishments Your role in the group will change as you progress

Persevere

There are no guarantees!

You’ll often have difficult/ stressful times

But remember: drive distinguishes the great scientists

Don’t disclose your research results except for the team

What are the Components of a Research Project?

Rationale: Underlying reasons

Objectives: A goal or aim

Project description

Budget

Project description

Duration and time tableMethods: practical and theoretical Materials: equipments, consumables

Glassware, Chemicals and Stationary etc.Activity planAnalyses of data: statistical and computerHow to report the results:

Tables, Graphs, Flow charts, Photographs, Text and Film etc.

Budget

EquipmentConsumablesSalaries & Personnel allowancesTravelling & SubsistenceStationary

Unforeseen: 5-10% of the total cost

Research challenge? Purpose? Questions?

The audience?

What do I know? What do I need to know?

What could my product be?

The plan?

WORK WITH THE INFORMATION Read, view, listen

Interpret, record, and organize

Look for patterns, make connections

Check for understanding

Review, revise, reorganize, edit

Work with the information until it is your own

Organize, Reorganize, and Reshape the ideas

To make it new and new meaning

Use various document and format features, charts, graphs, imported images, drawing or web design tools, multimedia presentations to prepare your final product

COMMUNICATE

What did I learn about the topic?

What worked well?

What will I do differently next time?

What did I learn about the research ?

Ask: Task was successful? Process was effective?

REFLECT

Reflection completes the research process

Thank YouZOR SUPAS