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Chapter 1
Introduction
Doing research, whether it’s gathering information on an archaeological dig, examining the behavior of bacteria through a microscope or exploring the role of song in indigenous cultures, is exciting and rewarding. Making a contribution to knowledge and satisfying our curious natures provide the impetus for many a research project. However, no matter what the field of inquiry, ask any experienced researcher what doing research day to day is really like, and they are likely to tell you that it is much less about flashes of insight and fine theoretical abstractions than it is about methodical, organized activity. Behind every piece of efficient and cost-effective research is a sound and efficient organizational system.
It is this behind-the-scenes aspect of research that is the subject matter of this book. No matter what stage of the research process you are in, whether you are just thinking about doing a postgraduate research degree or are well into your research career, this book will assist you to manage your research more efficiently and overall to become a more effective researcher. Through offering many practical tips and suggestions we aim to help you develop effective organizational systems that use not only common sense strategies that have stood the test of time, but also to introduce you to readily available computer technologies that have revolutionized the way that research can now be done. By developing skills and strategies that allow you to be more efficient in your day-to-day organizational practices, you will save time, increase the effectiveness of your research practice, improve the quality of your research output and, most important of all, keep you sane throughout the process.
How do you become both an efficient and an effective researcher?
In this book we emphasize the value of research being done both efficiently and effectively. Being efficient means making the most of your available resources, particularly time, while being effective involves achieving your research goals and producing quality outcomes. We all know researchers who might well be very organized and efficient but whose research outcomes fall below their potential. We can also all think of researchers who have produced wonderful, ground-breaking research, but it has taken double the time it could have due to their inefficient work practices.
To become both an efficient and effective manager of your daily research activities, you need good strategies, in particular:
• time, project and process management skills and strategies;
• systems for organizing your hardcopy and electronic resources and your physical workspace;
• information literacy skills, such as efficient and effective library database and Web searching, as well as strategies for continual monitoring and management of the huge quantity of information you are likely to access;
• professional networking skills, including the use of a range of communication technologies;
• skills in collecting, managing and analyzing (often) large amounts of data, whether quantitative or qualitative, and the ability to make a decision about what data analysis software to use;
• efficient writing and word processing skills, including those that support the creation and management of large documents such as theses and reports;
• skills in presentation and publishing of research and research in progress, including public speaking, presenting to the media and planning a publication strategy.
Why become an efficient and effective researcher?
Our response would be “Can you afford not to?” Developing these skills will allow you to:
• save time by creating systems that stop you from spending many hours in unproductive or tedious activity;
• maintain your sanity by, for example, being able to find things quickly when you need them or effectively managing information overload;
• maintain a balance between your research, other work commitments and personal life;
• pursue a career in research, by building skills essential in an environment characterized by continual tightening of research budgets;
• develop effective work practices beyond your period of research training, benefiting both your professional practice and personal life;
• work smarter not harder. Academic and industry environments are constrained by the need to meet deadlines and be cost efficient. The days of extended research timeframes are (sadly for many) coming to an end as governments and industry are increasingly reluctant to fund research that takes too long to produce an outcome.
Who should use this book?
If you are a research student this book is an essential guide. Whether you are at honors, masters or doctoral level, and whatever your discipline (physical, biological, social sciences or humanities), you will find material relevant to your research process. This is certainly not a research design or methods text. In fact, it provides something completely different. It is a very practical resource that will enhance all aspects of your research activity. The book is also not a substitute for the guidance your supervisor can offer, but can be a valuable supplement to supervision as well as input from your peers. You might delve into sections of the book that are most applicable to your research. Alternatively, you may prefer to skim through several chapters to gain a general overview of the skills and strategies suggested, and then return to those most relevant as you travel along your research journey. This is certainly not a book that you are likely to read from cover to cover, nor one that you would engage with once and never pick up again.
If you are an early career researcher there are likely to be aspects of your research practice which you feel could be more efficient. While some systems, skills or strategies may be familiar to you, a skim through the various sections may reveal new ideas to enhance your practice.
If you are a supervisor (or advisor1) of postgraduate research students, you will see your role as a teacher and trainer of the next generation of researchers. Like most supervisors, the time available to work individually with your students will be limited and very va...
