As You Begin Your Research … Diljit Singh

1. As You Begin Your Research … Diljit Singh

2. Preparing for the Journey

3. Where am I going? Why am I going? Who is going? When am I going? How am I going? What do I need? … … … Preparing for the Journey

4. How Are You Starting?

5. How Are You Starting?

6. How Are You Starting? or

7. How Do You Intend to Finish?

8. How Do You Intend to Finish?

9. How Do You Intend to Finish? or

10. Start well, finish strong A good beginning is half completion The seeds of success are sown right at the start, as are the seeds of failure.

11. Start well Finish successfully

12. You Want to be Successful at the End

13. You Want to be Successful at the End

14. Outline of Presentation • Importance of good research • The need to start well • Type of research should you be doing • Resources to help you with your research • Having a successful professional relationship with your supervisor • Successfully completing your research

15. Importance of Good Research Scenario 1 • Applications open for PhD, scholarship available Candidate A: • Graduate of University of ABC • CGPA : 3.5 • Lecturer’s recommendation: Good • Papers published: 1 local conference Candidate B: • Graduate of XYZ University • CGPA : 3.5 • Lecturer’s recommendation: Good • Papers published: 1 local conference, 1 international conference, 2 journal papers (incl 1 ISI journal paper) • Who should get the place for the PhD?

16. Importance of Good Research Scenario 2 • Your are Head of Department of Computer Science, University DEF, and have the opportunity to employ a new lecturer Candidate A: • PhD holder • Finished PhD in 3 years • Supervisor's recommendation: Good • Papers published: 3 conference papers, 2 journal papers, No of times papers have been cited: 8 Candidate B: • PhD holder • Finished PhD in 5 years • Lecturer’s recommendation: Good • Papers published: 3 conference papers, 2 journal papers, No of times papers have been cited: 0 • Whom would you employ?

17. Importance of Good Research • Enhance personal reputation • Enhance university reputation • Better job / promotion prospects • More satisfying experience • Less use of resources

18. Importance of Good Research • Research output plays an important part in university rankings • UM aims to be among the top 100 by 2013

19. The Need to Start Well Start well, finish strong A good beginning is half completion The seeds of success are sown right at the start, as are the seeds of failure.

20. The Need to Start Well • Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. St. Francis of Assisi

21. Starting Your Research • Research involves • Identifying a research area and topic • Identifying a problem and research question(s) • Linking your research to the work of others • Collecting and analyzing data / Developing a system • Drawing your conclusions • Communicating your findings • If you have not already started, start today

22. Types of Research • Research that is of interest to you • Research in emerging areas • Research that can be published • Research that leads to citations

23. Starting Your Research • Choose an area that really interests you • You have to sustain your interest for 6 - 12 months (maybe more) • Read widely about the topic • Develop a bibliography of research resources related to topic • Install EndNote on to your computer (can be downloaded free from http://ict.um.edu.my/); attend UM Library training workshop if necessary

24. Starting Your Research • Develop a bibliography of research resources related to topic • Search Google scholar, Library databases, Web of Science; use forward and backward chaining • Focus on journal articles, theses and dissertations, conference papers; minimize books and .com web sites • Search also Conferences and Call for Papers to identify topics of current interest • Identify research groups and key people in your area, look at their web sites • Identify ‘hot’ research topics - important for publication later on

25. Starting Your Research • What are ‘hot topics’? • New research areas • Areas of focus by academia, industry, nation • How to identify ‘hot topics’ • Look at conference ‘Call for Papers’ • Attend conferences, network with people • Look at top journals

26. Starting Your Research • Read at least 20 – 25 journal articles, theses and dissertations, conference papers • Develop a brief proposal (5-10 pages), • introduction, statement of problem, objectives, brief literature review, methodology, significance of research • Discuss it proposal with potential Supervisor

27. Starting Your Research • Refine proposal, or find a new Supervisor • Get commitment from Supervisor • Submit form to Office, indicating research area and name of Supervisor

28. Types of Research • Research that is of interest to you • Research that can be published • Research in emerging areas • Research that leads to citations

29. Professional Relationships • Keeping a good professional relationship • With your Supervisor • Get to know him / her well • Know his expectations • Keep him informed • Follow his / her advice, but know when to differ • With your mentor(s) • With professional colleagues (other students)

30. Resources for Your Research • Supervisor • Colleagues / peers in UM • Colleagues / peers internationally • Equipment • Finances • Library resources

46. Succeeding in Your Research • Prepare yourself • Intellectually • Emotionally • Socially • Physically • Financially

47. Plan Your Research • Set a goal to complete I shall successfully complete my ……………………. (name of degree) by ……….………. Month Year …………… Signature

48. Plan Your Research • Plan your activities • Aim to do some work every day, at least 30 minutes

49. Plan Your Research • Write out your proposal • Apply for funding • PPP From UM, e.g. IPPP http://www.ippp.um.edu.my/ • Max. RM 30,000 for full research students, RM 10,000 for coursework + dissertation students • From outside UM, e.g. eScience, industry

50. Keep to Your Plan • Keep a record of your activities