How to Start Research Saleem Saaed Qader MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGS Consultant General Surgeon, Lecturer General Director, Medical Research Centre, Hawler Medical University Department of Surgery, Rizgary Teaching Hospital Department of Surgery, Medical College, Hawler Medical University TMC Oct 2014

What is Research and Why Do It? Why? Create, have fun, play Invent, be on leading edge of discovery, be a scientist Transfer discoveries to benefit society Work in interesting and rewarding careers To raise living standards Religious What? Investigation of a problem in scientific manner Discovery of a solution that advances state of knowledge in areas from theory to experimentation, to applications Idea … Experimentation … Application

Starting Your Research Journey Research is a journey/ process characterized by: 1.Wanderings 2.Dead-ends and false starts 3.Difficulties 4.Writing blocks 5.Pleasures and surprises 6.Excitement and challenge

1.Being a top! Not necessary … 2.Know your limit! Ready for failures! 3.Your motivation? But all you need is passion… Prepare Yourself Psychologically Research is not a job, and is more like a hobby!

Papers communicate ideas Your goal is to infect the mind of your reader with your idea like a virus The greatest ideas are (literally) worthless if you keep them to yourself

1.Language skills 2.Computer skills 3.Statistics 4.Knowledge (field!!!) 5.Patience and cooperation skills 6.Permissions and possibilities … Scientific approval Ethics approval Budget Room (lab.) Team (group work) Requirements for doing research

Get more knowledge in the area … Read and Read and Read: Articles, Thesis and Books Conference proceedings Internet e.g. Google and PubMed Discuss with senior researchers Send mails to others … authors, editors Read about the health challenges in KRG Get contact with Medical Research Centre Give you the research theme Make teams for you Give a seminar about the topic!!! Advertisement, Find a partner, See the reflections Requirements for doing research

Read few review articles in the field: To get the most recent achievements To raise a question To list of original articles: Reference list Protocol Famous names in the field To get names of journals in the field To get names of the authors in the field To get names of publishers !!! True or Fake Get contact with authors in the same field for: Protocol for conduction of the project Name and source of the materials Future collaboration and joint research project Requirements for doing research

Write a proposal Write a protocol Apply for the grant Get the material (which may take long time) Order animals Learn how to treat animals Put a time table … extremely important Start research early - don’t wait!!! Requirements for doing research

Conducting Research  Be honest/ ethical in all things “trust is essential”  Understand your equipment, methods & limits  Be ultra-organized, keep excellent records  Think about the next step in your career as you go along; early preparation is key

1.Be confident 2.Be both critical and collaborative 3.Be both ambitious and realistic 4.Take a chance! In summery you have to be: The only way you can improve yourself is to learn things that you are the most afraid of!

Choosing a Research Area Criteria  Exciting and interesting area to you  Important problems in the area  Research type is suitable to you Ways to identify a research area  Take courses and attend seminars  Talk to professors, visitors and students  Consider both applied and theoretical areas  Read widely  Learn about yourself, what you like, etc.  Solve some research problems

How to choose a Research Advisor Advisor-advisee relationships are forever! Talk to potential advisors and their advisees  What are their projects?  How much time do they spend for you?  Do they have group and/or individual meetings?  How long to return written materials?  How much freedom do they give?  Does the adviser publish a lot? Order of the names?  Who presents the papers that are co-authored?  Do they have research assistantships?  Do you feel comfortable with this person?

Working with a Research Team (or not) Why work on a team (in a group)?  Part of a larger project  Research often a collaborative and social process  Helps you to learn to communicate ideas  Try new ideas, practice talks, get feedback on papers, learn to advise other students, etc. papers, learn to advise other students, etc. How to work on a research team  Stop your problem in the group  Be generous with giving credit to others, but  Stand up for your accomplishments  Your role in the group will change as you progress

Persevere  There are no guarantees!  You’ll often have difficult/ stressful times  But remember: drive distinguishes the great scientists  Don’t disclose your research results except for the team

What are the Components of a Research Project?  Rationale: Underlying reasons  Objectives: A goal or aim  Project description  Budget

Project description  Duration and time table  Methods: practical and theoretical  Materials: equipments, consumables Glassware, Chemicals and Stationary etc.  Activity plan  Analyses of data: statistical and computer  How to report the results: Tables, Graphs, Flow charts, Photographs, Text and Film etc.

Budget  Equipment  Consumables  Salaries & Personnel allowances  Travelling & Subsistence  Stationary  Unforeseen: 5-10% of the total cost

 Research challenge? Purpose? Questions?  The audience?  What do I know? What do I need to know?  What could my product be?  The plan?

WORK WITH THE INFORMATION  Read, view, listen  Interpret, record, and organize  Look for patterns, make connections  Check for understanding  Review, revise, reorganize, edit Work with the information until it is your own  Organize, Reorganize, and Reshape the ideas To make it new and new meaning

Use various document and format features, charts, graphs, imported images, drawing or web design tools, multimedia presentations to prepare your final product COMMUNICATE

 What did I learn about the topic?  What worked well?  What will I do differently next time?  What did I learn about the research ?  Ask: Task was successful? Process was effective? REFLECT Reflection completes the research process