What is research?

Hey, how is everything going? I am introducing a brand new topic of this blog, say Research in thoughts. In this topic, I am going to share my experience, my references, and my opinion during doing research.

To begin with, I would like to answer what research exactly is? Due to the unique features of each field, I limit my attention to my current field (i.e. Microfluidic)   

Subsequent opinions are my completely personal view. You must bear in mind that I am not an experienced researcher and I am just at the beginning of this pathway. You know, even at this moment, I can only answer this question. You can search other resources for sure and sufficient like books, Wikipedia, or Youtube. What I am trying to address here is that you are able to know more clearly and detail the individual problems I encountered. Let's take a look.

    

1) Research is to repeatedly search solutions

Unfortunately, the solutions are not readily available to easily find. Those finding is incorporated theoretical investigation, mathematical analysis, experimental observations, numerical studies, or data collection along with creation, endless effort, and striving which in turn research is new.   

P.S: You know what? I used to attempt to seek my solutions by looking for exact answers from papers I have read. It is impossible. Because I didn't know about research in nature. 

I am accustomed to solving particular problems by searching and reading references, trying to think and brainstorm, and applying to gain final results which exist and our teachers know how to handle them. 

However, they don't work well with research. Research is new, is producing, not searching, and not learning. It is a justification that my problems have not been done yet, not known by anyone. As a result, I must deal with my own problems.

2) Research is a development from small things to bigger things.

A published paper is a reference for future works. The next papers are an expansion extending, confirming, or correcting the prior paper. Applicability is ultimately interested. In parallel, to me, it doesn't enable us to apparently determine whether this is a brand new invention, definition or not. Is it an opposition to answer number 1? 

P.S I am wondering if it interrelates with the following Isaac Newton's quote.  

Nếu tôi nhìn được xa hơn người khác là bởi vì tôi đang đứng trên vai những người khổng lồ

3) Research is uncertain

Uncertain means that research is experimental works with various assumptions, approximations, or equivalent things. As such,  objects of research, suppose phenomenon, mechanism, definition are obscure and cannot be fully, surely understood.

P.S: I didn't know that in the first place since I have not got the experience to handle research. With an analytical and logical mind to be familiar with maths problems, probability statistics, and so on, I always try to be sure everything such as the entire possibility. If A is connected with B, there must be A is identical with B 100%. But it's not. It is simply a hypothesis. Versatility and flexibility are indispensable skills to conduct research.

4) Research is patient

No doubt about this

P.S: Motivation helps you be patient and willing to continue what you believe in. 

5) To research, everything can happen

Everything can be a subject of research work. They study every single phenomenon.

P.S: Absolutely, I don't know why it can happen. I further don't know why researchers know it can happen. 

  

6) Research is a game of researchers who set rules by themself 

P.S I don't know whether someone has a similar thought to me. I feel like research is just a game where researchers set rules, regulations and follow that.

I came to research with the purest. I am purely an undergraduate with very minimal experience in research if it is said no experience. On the other hand, with plain papers with motivation, an aspiration, and a strong feeling to fulfill. I have been undergoing difficulties in the transition from a university student to a researcher. To make my destiny come true, I must persist, never give up on my way.

P.S (last but not least): Fact about research: Someone used to tell me that higher education is to study an infinitesimally small thing. I immediately thought about I just need to study a subject over and over. It sounded a promising option compared to classes at university. My thought is half true and half wrong. The true information is that I study very a small field. The wrong here is that I must approach, accumulate so much relevant knowledge, from chemical to thermodynamic, from electric to mathematics. Multidisciplinary is widely applied nowadays. It turns out that I also have to study so many issues, however, it is deeper and obviously, I'm merely required to study knowledge relating to my research. I do believe that after a long journey to gain the needed knowledge to do research well, you wouldn't hesitate to obtain more. 

  

Incheon, March 28, 2021