Pushing through the pain: Sustaining your research interest

FCM Post-Graduate Lecture Series 2By

Dr. Neo Tse KianAssociate Professor

Sustaining the research interest

• You have submitted your proposal• You have been accepted into the

Master/PhD programme• You are happy and motivated• You are VERY EXCITED

• Now what do you???

Sustaining the research interest

• Now reality sets in- Feeling of fear- Feeling of despair- Feeling of “did I make a mistake”

“Shall I quit and get a real job???”

Sustaining the research interest

How to get over these feelings?

Sustaining the research interest

• Back to the basics – Why do you want to do the research?– What was your motivation?

• Start to discuss and meet your supervisor– The more the merrier- Come with questions and look for guidance

NOT answers(the “So how?” questions.)

Sustaining the research interest

• READ!– Journals– Conference papers– Textbooks– Websites (even Wikipedia…)

Sustaining the research interest

Chapter 1 - Summary - Overview of your research - To discuss the motivation of the research

- GAP. ISSUE. PROBLEM. NOVELTY

- To discuss the aim and objectives- Research Questions- How you will conduct your research

- Scope, Method

Sustaining the research interestChapter 1 outline:

– Introduction– Background of the research – Problem / Issue / Gap

• Justification for the research – Aim and Objective– Research Question– Method– Scope– Definitions– Outline of the thesis– Summary

Sustaining the research interest

Literature Review

Sustaining the research interest• Literature reviews should comprise the following

elements:– Select sources RELEVANT to your area (focus!)– Organise your articles properly– Cite your sources!– Practice good ethics in writing

Literature Review• It is more than a summary of previous research.

• This is where the researcher argues his or her case through critically evaluating previous research, re-organise them and synthesises them into a logical and reader friendly manner

• This is where the researcher must show that he or she understand the area of study.

• Must show depth and breath of the area he or she has read and understood

Sustaining the research interest

Sustaining the research interest

How to maintain your interest in the field?

Sustaining the research interest

• Publish:– Journals– Conference– Participate in seminar and talks

Sustaining the research interest

• Grants:– Internal Grants– External Grants

Sustaining the research interest

• Group therapy– Talk to many Professors in different and

related fields– Attend talks by experts in the field– Meet other post graduates and share– Experiment with ideas (trial and error)– Have a career mindset not a student mindset

Sustaining the research interest

Conclusion

Going through the pain will add worth to the process of getting a post-graduate degree.

Rewards > Pain

THE END