Doing any work is not easy, it requires knowledge, experience and patience. It is even more difficult if you are starting something new, and do have a leak in experience. However, this should not be a reason for leaving a duty. Research work, is more difficult because at the beginning of the work researcher may have no idea about the final product, risks and the difficulties that will be visible only in the future. Therefore, at any point of the time researcher must know clear answer to the following questions: Am I doing right things? Am I doing things right?
On the other hand, other organizations (ex, DARPA) have their list of questions that will help you to understand your research area. They seem easy and simple, but it is not always easy to answer to the following questions:
- What are you trying to do?
It is just the basic one for getting started. Simply tells you to describe your final product. Do you want to create something new or update existing solution? Is it a game that will catch attention of all teenagers, weapon that will disable firearms or a medical that will heal most of the existing diseases? - How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
For answering to this particular question, you must have clear understanding of the area you are working and must have some knowledge about existing products. It will be very funny and unprofessional if there is someone who wants to create a universal treatment and have no idea about what is "aspirin". - What’s new in your approach and why will it be successful?
There is a Russian proverb: "There is no need to reinvent a bicycle". The meaning of it is that there is no need of doing anything in the case if it doesn't lead to some change. Moreover, if some work has to be done it would be better if the result of the work is success. So before answering to these questions, you need to prove firstly to yourself, and then to the auditory that you are doing right thigs, things that are not going fail in the long term. - Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
Product can be a product only in the case if there is customer, who wants to own this product. From my point of view, any company, that specializes in weapons, will want to have a scientist in their team, who is able to create dinosaur killing gun. But unfortunately, there is no dinosaurs, and this item can only be served for human attraction in the museums or in the advertisement. Therefore, there is no reason for spending time, energy or money for the inventions that are not usable. - What are the risks and the payoffs?
"Qaşı düzəldərkən, gözü çıxartma" (Azerbaijanian, translation: Do not damage to eye while improving eyelash.). Simply, homo sapiens at least must have some understanding about what may go wrong, and have a clear plan of solving or evacuating himself/herself during the tough time. From my point of view this is the most important question and no work should be done before having clear answer. - How much will it cost? How long will it take?
Unfortunately, health (life) and the wealth of the human being is limited and spending it random stuff is not acceptable. So if you want to create a product that will make happy your grandpa it is better to do it as fast as possible. - What are the midterm and final exams to check for success?
All products, must meet some expectations. These expectations must be continuously checked, and these test cases are midterm exam. Final exam is a little bit different, after it you will have clear idea about how successful your product is. - Why now?
No job is being done without a need. Even simple stuff like sleeping, eating or drinking are being fulfilled when there is a need. Therefor, before doing a research you should know that it fits either to todays or tomorrows needs.
All in all, before starting a research researcher should do some research and have clear vision about future plans, obstacles and needs.
Jalal Rasulzade
MS Student from Azerbaijan