Words Don't Come Easy - Writing Top Research Papers

When explaining how to write journal papers I mention simple pop songs as a model. The old song by F. R. David called Words. You may remember it:




"Words don't come easy to me

I've got to find a way

To make you see, I love you

Cause words don't come easy"

Well that's my recollection of it. The point is, it is a very simple song that did well at the time. It is memorable, maybe not in this case for being high quality, but at least it is memorable.

A research paper should be easy to follow. Sometimes researchers try to make it all too complex. There should be a simple message behind the paper just as there is with each pop song. Don't try to have multiple competing messages in the one paper otherwise people get confused.

If you can stick to the pop song formula then people should actually read your paper, follow it and also remember it. "Words ......."

It Aint Easy!

Obtaining competitive funding for research projects in many countries is very difficult with success rates as low 20%, and in some cases even lower. I would be interested to hear about people's experiences in other countries related to what worked and was successful. Do people have strategies or just ad hoc approaches?

All Research Is Flawed

This is not a criticism of how people conduct research but just to say that there is no such thing as perfect research. There is awalys some limitation, some aspect that could have been done better, even if it is just the write up.

The danger with not accepting that research is flawed is that researchers become paralysed and incapable of progressing with their work. Sometimes you just have to accept their are limitations with your work and get on with it and do the best job you can and of course, declare the limitations of your work!

Reasons for Doing Research

Just interested to know why people who visit this blog do research?

www.CompletePhD.com

Group meetings

Yesterday, I organised a group meeting of my PhD students. It included 4 here in Perth, one in sydney and one on Victoria. Fot the remote students I used the speaker phone for one and Skype for the other. The line was poor for the Skype student but it worked out OK in the end.

There was a lot of value in having them all just explain where they are up to and what they have planned for this semester. Everyone thought it was of value. The benefits included:

1) A chance to talk about about their research in front of others (even though it is was a small group).
2) Finding out where others are up to and the challenges they face can help solve your own issues.
3) It provides a sense of not being on one's own but part of a team that together can make an impact. This should be encouraging.
4) Provides a wider circle of contacts to draw upon for advice, information and support.

Maybe it is worthwhile having these sessions at the start of semester and at the end of semester.