Advice for students: don't try to explain the whole world. Focus! The moment you think your reserach question is too small or too simple, that is the moment you probably will be able to write a significant piece of work. And never forget to enjoy doing reserach.
Curiosity
Always try to find out how things work or why things are done in a particular way. It will teach you a lot about everything and most of the time you need to know those things.
Collaboration
Get involved! with your subject, with your peers, .. . Not one great article is done by one person only. You need advice, you need guidance, you need feedback. Go find it, ask for it, give it to others.
Be modest. Adopt a fallibalistic approach, and always consider the possibility (probability) that you might be wrong.
Do what you think is right. Do not bracket yourself in other (traditional) points of view, methods or ways of addressing a situation.
Advice for students: don't try to explain the whole world. Focus! The moment you think your reserach question is too small or too simple, that is the moment you probably will be able to write a significant piece of work. And never forget to enjoy doing reserach.
Do not panic and never get disappointed if you encounter discouraging reactions from others or difficulties in research. Be objective and honest.
Several of these interesting and constructive comments mention that the researcher needs to acknowledge fallibility and the possibility of being wrong. Does this, then, mean being critically reflective? What are the tools that help towards reflection? Do they include, for example, keeping a reflective diary during the research process?
David Gray:
That is an excellent question. Part of being honest and objective is to constantly try to refute one's own hypotheses and afirmations, seeking out and looking hard at any evidence that would tend to weaken or refute one's assertions. This is elementary, but is often not done -or is not done with enough rigor- in research projects. Working with multiple hypotheses and trying to refute -not just support- each one is what separates science from pseudoscience.
Yes better to amend what you have created, than stare at a blank screen!
Be proactive and enjoy your research. Keep working hard. Be proud of your work.
Go to conferences and talk with intellectuals people who have similar interests topics to yours
Be open to advice and to good and bad reviews. Get involved in diverse research activties and be open to different ways of doing research. Don't think about yourself neither as the next Einstein, nor as the less qualified researcher. Focus, enjoy and try to survive ;).
Become an expert at time management - one of the best compilations of time management tips can be found here: http://www.alice.org/Randy/timetalk.htm
Is your research likely to be funded extramurally?
If not, can you buy out time intramurally to perform your research and can you obtain sufficient internal funding to obtain the data, hire the research assistants and otherwise complete your research?
If not, consider changing the focus of your research so that one or both of the above questions can be answered in a positive way...
It has always been that way (vide: Medici patrons of the sciences, RS support of Newton, etc) for most of us, and is likely to stay that way. We may not like it, but recognizing this is the first step...
Remain patiently observant and constantly curious. Also keep improving Maths skills and stay in touch with peers.
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