admin - PhD Thesis Bangalore

Hazards in Data Collection

It’s an uphill climb so it has to has its share of pitfalls. The journey of research is such. However, it is better to take it step by step, one thing at a time. Let me take the chance today to explain to you the hazards and pitfalls of data collection. The most common mistakes … Continue reading “Hazards in Data Collection”

No impetus in the questionnaire: At the time of choosing the problem, as a researcher do not limit your vision to yourself. Broaden your vision and look towards whether the problem you wish to research upon is going to generate new insight in the phenomenon. The answers that you would seek from your research should be targeting more real rather than hypothetical problems.

Pursuing Fads: There are certain topics of research that remain popular in the market for a short duration. These are called as fads. Abstain as a researcher to get carried away towards these fads as your area of research. They have a short lived shelf life and they may die their own death before you even get to complete your research. Spend some time over choosing topics that have more time worthiness and can be of value over years to come.

Visionless data mining: Though the collection of data is a very minute step in the entire research process. But before commencing data collection, you have to ensure to undertake proper planning so as to avoid getting into a soup. All the data collection that is done without any proper planning may lead to imperfect, irrelevant and imperfect data which is wastage of time and effort. Knot up the key that abundance in data is not a substitute for quality in data.

Are You in the Procrastination Club?

Are you a member of the procrastination club? If you are reading this blog, I believe you are. I find people in that time of the year, all in the same boat, running around frantically for grants, fellowship, publications , event organising, essays. A great amount of stress is found floating around in the research community. I find almost all research scholars admitting it, cracking jokes about it and what not. By and large, no qualms about admitting that we all procrastinate in our doctoral journey. I wanted to research within my research that why does this word associate itself so prudently with research scholars.

I found that as scholars, most of them found themselves doing things that were not related to my research but refused to embrace the fact that we did so only because we wanted to do it. There is nobody who forces us to do this, like how nobody has forced us to do this PhD. Does procrastination have an effect on research? Well, that is another grave question of concern. To answer this , again I would say that there are largely two kinds pf people doing research. The one kind of people have a very methodical approach to research and create great and inspiring pieces of work with gradual and consistent approach towards work. The other categories of people need to have some pressure upon them in order to work. Their energy levels shoot up just before the deadline. I am the procrastinating type and I work like this. Performance under pressure. Does that actually mean that if I procrastinate, I only think of my PhD when under pressure and otherwise I lack focus. When I talk of myself, it may not be true. Yes, my way is to procrastinate working but my brain does not stop thinking of my PhD while I am involved into work beyond my desk.

I can keep going on and on defending the procrastinating approach but that would make this post lengthy and beyond the designated word limit. But I would surely want to trigger the thoughts through this blog that do you procrastinate? Are you guilty of doing so? Do you work around trying to combat the approach? Well friends, this is life and allow yourself some fun, allow yourself a life.

Is Your Dissertation a Pit That Doesn’t Let You Come Out?

There is pin drop silence around me. It is justified and accountable, for I am in the process of writing my dissertation. Before I found myself in this situation, I was harsh enough to mock at those people who told me it was the most painful part of their academic journey. I often wondered, how painful could it be? My perspective was that all that a dissertation calls for is to pen down all you have learnt over the years. Writing always gives you guaranteed results vis a vis experiments as by the end of the effort, positively there is something constructive to produce. This was a third person’s view and with this perspective I always looked forward to taking up a smooth ride towards writing my dissertation.

Is this giving you a good laugh? I will let you have one. I have done that n been there too!

By now you must have estimated and understood how awfully wrong I was. I was just not wrong but horribly, terribly and awfully wrong. After I ventured into writing my dissertation, there was not any end to writing. I had spent hours writing and I could further continue to write for days and weeks and still have lots to write about. To add to my misery, my supervisor sends me back my drafts with red ink dripping from them. How demotivating could that be? I am surely progressing, at a turtle’s pace, slowly and gradually! A few of my chapters are written and up for approval with the supervisor. I keep waiting for more and more changes to be done and don’t know for how long this vicious circle would move along.

I feel as if I am not different from anyone who has fallen into a pit and is finding it difficult to climb out. The only change or difference here is that I chose to jump into the pit rather than by accident. I assumed a pit to be a pond from where I could successfully swim out like a fish.

I do suggest to all those who feel similar, do not lose hope and trust your potential and capabilities. It is a slow journey but a sure success if you bring in consistency and discipline in your effort. Do not shy away to seek help from reliable and experienced sources. It surely simplifies the hurdles and keeps the spirits high. Good Luck!!

All That You Can Learn from Your PhD Supervisor

Your supervisor has a very important role to play in the progression of your work, but at the same time they are much occupied in their own work and not find time often to transfer knowledge to their scholars on regular basis. As a research scholar you need to have the tact to extract the … Continue reading “All That You Can Learn from Your PhD Supervisor”

Your supervisor has a very important role to play in the progression of your work, but at the same time they are much occupied in their own work and not find time often to transfer knowledge to their scholars on regular basis. As a research scholar you need to have the tact to extract the best knowledge from the limited time that your supervisor gives to u.

I can suggest you some selective ways to be able to learn the best from the supervisor:

Exploit the tea/coffee break: Make the best use of the tea coffee breaks. I personally have found the best lessons have been learnt in the most casual of conversations with my guide. A lot of practical tips related to academic life that are not available in any book can be absorbed here.

Field trips: Field trips are the practical learning of the classroom theoretical concepts. Never leave an opportunity to accompany your supervisor on site as you will be able to learn all that is not being taught in the courses.

Writing Papers: Supervisors are happiest when you are writing to the best of your capacity. My supervisor quickly sees the draft of my paper when I send it to him. Practical ideas related to better clarity in the concept, use of figures and explanation of data. An analysis by my supervisor with a critical eye is a great help in improvising my writing skills and knowing my flaws.

I always look for opportunities where I can benefit from the experience of my advisor but hey are always scarce. Do you know of any other idea that could help to learn better from the supervisor?

Does Social Media Help Researchers?

Social media in the present times is undoubtedly a very significant research tool. Let us look at some ways in which it can help us to better collaborate, publicise and carry out our research in a more effective manner. Most of the people use Facebook as a medium for socialising, getting connected to friends, picture sharing and at times for gaming. But this isn’t its only use, it has also become a very popular medium to assist in research and other academic initiatives. How can you use Social media, specifically Facebook to facilitate your research? Here are some tips:

Developing a research page of Facebook: It is a very good idea for researchers to create a Facebook page that would help them in their research. Try to keep your professional and personal presence on the social networking site distinct.

Voting/polling: you can use Facebook for polling simple questions that do not need much explanations or detailing. Facebook gives you a good option to do that. The Facebook Poll app also gives you the alternative here.

Events: We usually see the Event feature getting used for informal events but these days a lot of formal events are also getting publicized through Facebook. A lot of researchers are using this tool for organising and publicizing events and conferences. You can create an open, closed or a secret event on Facebook. It can be determined by the type of event you are publicizing and what you seek from the effort.

Groups: There would be people who may not be your friends but you may want to be in touch with them because of some common interests. There are a lot of groups and pertaining to your interest, you may join one or many of the Facebook groups. You will be able to stay in touch with the members of the group through chatting or mails.

There are certain things that one needs to be cautious over and sometimes you need to put in a lot of extra effort. You will have to work around credibility issues and create the confidence that the purpose of your research is largely academic. You should initially acquaint yourself with the members before actually bringing out your research interests to them. Also v when you want to use your Facebook profile for academic purpose do not leave it open for public access. Try to have a more formal and professional image on the site so that you stay away from inappropriate comments and images which may become a hurdle in your future work.