How to Start
Research
Saleem Saaed Qader
MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGS
Consultant General Surgeon, Lecturer
General Director, Medical Research Centre, Hawler Medical University
Department of Surgery, Rizgary Teaching Hospital
Department of Surgery, Medical College, Hawler Medical University
TMC
Oct 2014
What is Research and Why Do It?
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
Why?
Create, have fun, play
Invent, be on leading edge of discovery, be a scientist
Transfer discoveries to benefit society
Work in interesting and rewarding careers
To raise living standards
Religious
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
Prepare Yourself Psychologically
1. Being a top! Not necessary …
2. Know your limit! Ready for failures!
3. Your motivation?
But all you need is passion…
Research is not a job, and is more like a hobby!
Papers communicate ideas
infect
Your goal is to
the mind of your
reader with your idea like a virus
The greatest ideas are (literally) worthless if
you keep them to yourself
Requirements for doing research
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Language skills
Computer skills
Statistics
Knowledge (field!!!)
Patience and cooperation skills
Permissions and possibilities …
Scientific approval
Ethics approval
Budget
Room (lab.)
Team (group work)
Requirements for doing research
Get more knowledge in the area …
Read and Read and Read:
Articles, Thesis and Books
Conference proceedings
Internet e.g. Google and PubMed
Discuss with senior researchers
Send mails to others … authors, editors
Read about the health challenges in KRG
Get contact with Medical Research Centre
Give you the research theme
Make teams for you
Give 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 achievements
To raise a question
To list of original articles:
Reference list
Protocol
Famous names in the field
To get names of journals in the field
To get names of the authors in the field
To get names of publishers !!! True or Fake
Get contact with authors in the same field for:
Protocol for conduction of the project
Name and source of the materials
Future collaboration and joint research project
Requirements for doing research
Write a proposal
Write a protocol
Apply for the grant
Get the material (which may take long time)
Order animals
Learn how to treat animals
Put a time table … extremely important
Start research early - don’t wait!!!
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
In summery you have to be:
1. Be confident
2. Be both critical and collaborative
3. Be both ambitious and realistic
4. Take a chance!
The only way you can improve yourself is to learn
things 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 advisees
What 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 table
Methods: practical and theoretical
Materials: equipments, consumables
Glassware, Chemicals and Stationary etc.
Activity plan
Analyses of data: statistical and computer
How to report the results:
Tables, Graphs, Flow charts, Photographs, Text
and Film etc.
Budget
Equipment
Consumables
Salaries & Personnel allowances
Travelling & Subsistence
Stationary
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
COMMUNICATE
Use various document and format features, charts,
graphs, imported images, drawing or web design
tools, multimedia presentations to prepare your final
product
REFLECT
 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?
Reflection completes the research process