great research, great publications – why & how
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Great Research, Great Publications – Why & How. Graham H. Pyke School of the Environment University of Technology Sydney. Content. Research & Being a researcher … What’s it all about? Great Research … How to recognise? Great Research … How to do? Approach/ Mindset Tools - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Great Research, Great Publications – Why & How
Graham H. PykeSchool of the Environment
University of Technology Sydney
Content• Research & Being a researcher… What’s it all about?• Great Research … How to recognise?• Great Research … How to do?
Approach/ MindsetTools
• Great Research … What’s the point?• Research quality … How assessed?
Research is about …• Observations & QuestionsÞWhy is it so?ÞWhat are the consequences?
• Explanation & PredictionÞIf A then B … Yes/ No?
• Iterative processÞUnderstanding increases
Being a Researcher is about …
… discovering/ understanding
& ??
Being a Researcher is about …
… discovering/ understanding
& telling the world
& ??
Being a Researcher is about …
… discovering/ understanding
& telling the world
& having fun
Research has …
Context
Great research requires …
Approach/ Mindset:
“SIP”
• Significance
• Influence
• Presentation
Tools required: Significance
• Identify questions &/or issues
• Hierarchy
• Evaluate Fundamental significance Relevance
Example: Significance
Fundamental Question:
Why do animals (& other organisms) forage the way they do?
Þ Hierarchy of questions
Tools required: Influence
• Audience size
• Influence level
(Context)
Example: Influence
• Audience
Everyone interested in Biology
• Influence sought:
Adopt advocated approach
Tools required: Presentation
• Standard approach …KISSConciseLogicalClear
• Pursuing Excellence …CaptivatingCompellingMemorable
Writing: My Approach
• Logical order of simple points• These are lead sentences of separate
paragraphs• One point per paragraphÞApplies to articles, reviews, grant
proposals, reports etcÞTest & Outcomes
Writing: Test
Combine lead sentences of each paragraph into single body of text.
Convey ‘story’ simply & completely
Understandable to almost anyone
=> Feedback
Writing: Outcomes
Basis for abstract or summary
Basis for being captivating, compelling & memorable
Research excellence: How?
• SIP Approach …Significance maxInfluence max Presentation is captivating, compelling &
memorable
• Tools
• Feedback
Great Research: Your career
• Opportunity
• Grants
• Students
• Institution
ÞYou
Research Excellence: Metrics
• QuantityÞ ‘Publish … Or perish’
• Qualitye.g., # publs weighted by venue ‘quality’
# citations
Þ Now: ‘Publish in high quality venues and be well cited …. Or perish”
Þ Future: ‘Publish & be well cited … Or perish’
Great Research? Great publications?Goals
Research of (relatively) high significance & influence
Publication (or other presentation) that is captivating, compelling and memorable, while being simple, concise, logical and clear.
Great Research? Great publications?How
• SIP approachÞResearch & presentation excellenceÞCitations & other performance measuresÞAll-round benefits
• Tools essential
• Focus & Determination
Why do you do research?
Why do you do research?
‘Because I love it’
Why do you do research?
‘Because I love it and seek to make a significant and positive difference’
Further Reading
• Pyke, G.H. (2000) A strategy for reviewing the biology of animals. Australian Zoologist 31: 482-491
• Pyke, G.H. (2013) Struggling scientists. Please cite our papers! Current Science 105 (8): 1061-1066
• Pyke, G.H. (2014) Achieving research excellence and citation success: What’s the point and how do you do it? BioScience Advance Access 15 Jan 2014
Questions?