Metaphors for Research

[admin]

FROM: Richard Watson Todd (11/02/10 12:33 AM PST)
SUBJECT: Research is like teaching

When we teach, we start with a purpose or objectives. We then plan how to reach these objectives, but in implementing the plan we need to be flexible and things may change. We pay attention to our students' answers (collect data) and decide if the answers indicate that we need to change what we're doing (analyse data). In these ways, research is like teaching.

Can you come up with your own metaphor for research (try not to use the predictable ones) and show how it is similar to research?

[admin]

FROM: Richard Watson Todd (11/02/10 5:42 PM PST)
SUBJECT: RE: Research is like teaching

From Lunchukorn

Research is like getting married to a man.

As a woman, suppose that you (accidentally or intentionally) fall for a man, you might have an assumption that "he might be the one for you". On the other way, if you are a pessimistic, you may predict that "this is not going to last long" just like your previous relationship. To prove your beliefs (or to test the assumptions) you have to do the experiment. Being in a relationship or getting married is another way to prove these. You have to use your own theory or you can employ other's framework of "how to make this relationship work". How ever if (or when) your theory is FALSIFIED and you en up getting a divorced. That's OK because a hypothesis can be falsified and so does your love life.

What can you do after that? Well, conduct another research!!



From Urarat

Today from the research class, some metaphor showed is very touching. The first one is from Archana's, research is like a long journey and another one added by Lanchukorn, it is a long suffering journey.

However, at that time I compared doing research like finding the ways to teach our children to be the good one in he future.
I don't know what I'm thinking is right or not? I know only doing research depends on the point of view of each researcher.

So based on my metaphor I'll narrow my idea to see clearer, supposing that if we have a daughter and we'd like her to study in a famous primary school (objective).
Then, we'll ask ourselves 'how to prepare her to reach the criteria of the school' (research question). Next, we'll try to use several ways (instruments) to reach the goal. Those ways may be from noticing others' experience, reading books or asking from others (literature review). No one knows which way is helpful for her. We only hope that we'll succeed from using the way(s) we chose (hypothesis). After using the way(s) with our daughter (collecting data), we have to wait for the result, if our daughter is successful to reach the criteria required by the school or not? (finding) If the answer is 'Yes', we should specify which way we use and why it is successful. Similarly, if the answer is 'No', we should do in the same way with 'Yes' and find the reasons for failing. (data analysis)

That's all for mine!
Urarat Parnrod

[admin]

FROM: Parinda Jantori (11/03/10 9:26 AM PST)
SUBJECT: RE: Research is like teaching

I think research is like a maze game. You start out to find your directions and you might get lost somewhere between the path. If you get lost, or can't find the way out, you might have to look for other directions to go. This is similar to research in a way that if you cannot come up with the result, you might have to look at the problems or try to solve the problems from other perspectives hopefully to come up with the satisfactory result.

[admin]

FROM: Richard Watson Todd (11/03/10 6:20 PM PST)
SUBJECT: RE: Research is like teaching

Very creative and interesting metaphors.

Do any of them shed light on an aspect of research that you hadn't really considered before?

[admin]

FROM: woravut j (11/04/10 5:42 AM PST)
SUBJECT: RE: Research is like teaching

Research is like reading this post.
1. I know I want to read this post = I want to conduct research
2. When I actually read the first post, I think I understand it = I think I understand the research.
3. When I read more posts, I'm not sure what they will lead me to = I'm not sure where the research will take me to
4. When I see some posts are under a certan post, I'm not sure why it is so = I'm now szxfeberfefedfd....no...no..Or maybe research is not like reading this post, but it is like writing a reply to this post...

Woravut

[admin]

FROM: Archana Joshi (11/05/10 4:07 AM PST)
SUBJECT: RE: Research is like teaching

Set out to find a 'new land '. This land is green . It's a valley with the most beautiful flowers in it. It has a view that nobody has ever seen before .
You want to see it and be the first one to see it.

Some have heard about the land and some haven't. Some believe that the land exists and some don't.

You believe in it and so set out on your journey. From those who believe in the existence of the 'green land', you've heard that the journey may take some time . You still want to go.

During your journey there are things which intrigue you and also work as a clue to find the 'new land'. You begin to get excited . There are times when the things which seem like clues are not really clues to the 'new land '. These seem to lead you to a land which is dry and not what you set out for and then you suddenly feel as if you are back on track with green patchy lands with beautiful lakes.

Subsequently , you either find your land or you don't , but you sure find something !

Columbus discovered America while he was in search of India and he thought that he had found India !

[admin]

FROM: ANGVARRAH LIEUNGNAPAR (11/02/10 2:37 PM PST)
SUBJECT: Yummy research

I think doing research is like cooking. First we need to know what we're going to cook (Having purposes). It seems to be a good idea to read some cook books to know how it should be done (Doing literature review). Then, we need to buy some ingredients (collecting data). At this process it can be vice versa. We then have to start cooking it (Analyzing) by applying what we learn about how to cook it, even from being told by famous chefs or the experienced ones. Sometimes we need to taste it first to see if its taste is likely to be delicious enough (this is like doing some pilot analysis to see what we've been doing is in the right direction or not and it will also help us to make a further decision what we need to do more; which ingredients we need more to make our dish really yummy). Importantly, we need to serve our dish not only to share but also to get some recommendation for our next cooking (Publishing). Are you hungry for doing some research now?

[admin]

FROM: Pornpol Wuttikrikunlaya (11/03/10 12:48 AM PST)
SUBJECT: Research is like raising a cat.

Research is like raising a cat.

When it is a baby, its eyes are blue, it has fuzzy hair, and its walking is not good. In this stage, it is like novice researchers who know a little of research, so they all are the same.

When it is a bit older, its eyes change following their genes, it has smooth hair, and its walking is quite good. In this stage, it is like medium-level researchers who know quite a lot of research, so they all have their own ways of research and are quite strong in research methodology.

When it is fully grown up, its walking is very good because their muscle is very firm. In this stage, it is like sophisticated researchers who know a lot of research, so they all can criticise research, be aware of research characteristics and very strong in research methodology.

[admin]

FROM: Thanisa Choombala (11/04/10 12:23 AM PST)
SUBJECT: Research is like...

Research is like being involved in a detective case. We may begin with a problem. Then, out of the problem comes a set of questions. We may start with considering some possible methods of investigation prior to information gathering. Nevertheless, we always keep in mind that the information to be gathered may change the set course of investigation and force us to include more methods or change them completely. If we're lucky, we might arrive at the best tools and leads early in the investigation, which will save us a lot of time and effort to get to the answers. However, in most cases, we will have to continue gathering more information and even make more changes to the methods we initially selected. Eventually and hopefully, these trials and errors will lead us to one possible but informed interpretation of the case.

[admin]

FROM: MONTARAT RUNGRUANGTHUM (11/04/10 7:56 PM PST)
SUBJECT: Metaphors for research

For me, doing research is like "finding the way through labyrinth". When you decide to walk in to the labyrinth, you've already made up your mind that you are in this game and cannot turn back. You might encounter the darkness, the fear, or even CONFUSION. Isn't it similar to the first stage of conducting research?

While you're walking in a labyrinth, you might get distracted, losing your goal what you're doing. Sometimes, conducting research, you have to keep a broad overview in your mind and try to focus on one direction. But it might be an illusion, or not always true. Doing research, you have to be aware of what is your purpose and be aware of your assumption.

You might walk in circle over and again, and then you might ask yourself "Where is the exit?". In the worst case, you might need a shovel and a lantern, making sure that you're well-equipped and digging the way out. Prepare your mind and do everything with all your might.
Doing research, you have to find an alternative, be open to other disciplines.

Following map or knowing the single area cannot give answer to you all the time, Sometimes, you might see monsters, bats, and traps. But you cannot complain even if you struggle to find the way out.

n the end, you might find a guardian angel, a warrior, an adventurer, and a team-mate, supporting your back. Conducting a good piece of research, you need to learn from others and sometimes, you need a strong support from your supervisors and your friends.

You might discover a treasure, an empty box, and the exit. Doing a research, sometimes the results may lead to a new discovery, confirming hypothesis, or even a new idea.

Isn't it challenging?