Understanding Scientific Research

Scientific Research and Its Importance

• Scientific research is the process of discovering something new by answering a question or solving a problem, using methodology, critical thinking, accuracy, and evidence.

Search vs Research

• Search: finding an easy answer to a question by searching the web.
• Research: finding a relevant answer to a question by trying different search terms, analyzing data, and using critical thinking.

Motivation to Research

• Development leads to prosperity, welfare, power, and civilization.
• Historical significance: research contributes to the growth of knowledge.
• Career development: research skills can be learned and improved, leading to a successful career.
• Student benefits: learning research skills early on can open up new opportunities and make it easier to achieve goals.

Research as a Passion

• Passion involves loving, being good at, needing, and getting paid for research.
• Research can be pursued in various fields, including:
  • Academy (universities or research centers)
  • R&D (company-based product development and problem-solving)
  • R2E (scientific research, business model canvas, fundraising, minimum viable product, and investment)

Researcher vs Scientist

• Researcher: conducts research, gathers data, and analyzes results.
• Scientist: applies scientific knowledge to develop theories, principles, and laws.

Characteristics of a Good Researcher

• Good reader: able to read and comprehend research materials.
• Good thinker: able to analyze data and think critically.
• Creative: able to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions.
• Humble: willing to learn from others and acknowledge limitations.
• Patient: able to persevere through the research process, even when faced with challenges.

Research Options

• Research options include review articles, research projects, and secondary research

Research Projects

• Primary research projects, also known as "original papers", involve:

  • Observation
  • Cross-sectional studies (medical studies)
  • Case-control studies
  • Case reports
  • Cohort studies

• Experimental research projects involve:

  • Lab work
  • Clinical trials

Hypothesis and Secondary Research

• Hypothesis is a crucial aspect of research
• Secondary research includes:
  • Narrative review
  • Systematic review
  • Meta-analysis

Writing a Review Article

• Why write a review article?
  • To lock in Higher Rankings (HR) and have more time for research
  • To gain more knowledge and become a good writer and generator of ideas
  • For publication

How to Write a Review Article

• The 15-step process to write a review article:
  • Point: Identify the topic
  • Team: Assemble a team of researchers
  • Data collection: Gather relevant data
  • Filteration: Filter out irrelevant data
  • Classification: Organize data into categories
  • Outlines: Create an outline for the article
  • Enhancement: Enhance the content with additional information
  • Reading: Conduct thorough reading and research
  • Story: Develop a narrative for the article
  • Writing: Start writing the article
  • First draft: Complete the first draft
  • Designs: Create designs and graphics for the article
  • Reviewing: Review and revise the article
  • Final draft: Finalize the draft
  • Publication: Publish the article