How to do research To provide some hints on what to do and what not - PDF document

24/01/2018 Aim of the course How to do research To provide some hints on what to do and what not to do when you are interested in: Giorgio Buttazzo g.buttazzo@sssup.it  doing research  writing papers  presenting your results Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna 2 Outline Meaning of research 1. Understanding research Research = Re - Search   Re again 2. How to write scientific papers  Search  examine carefully, try, test, probe – Making a good structure – Typical mistakes Research 3. Getting into the publication process  Detailed and systematic study aimed at discovering new knowledge about our world (scientific approach). 4. How to make presentations  Detailed study of a subject aimed at inventing new 5. How to write research projects solutions for specific problems (engineering approach). 6. Simulating a small conference 3 4 Scientists vs. Engineers Basic vs. Applied Research It is common to distinguish between: Scientists Basic research They are interested in aimed at advancing our knowledge with  the world as it is little concern for any immediate practical  understanding the behavior of benefits. what already exists Applied research Engineers aimed at achieving practical outcomes They are interested in that are useful to the society.  changing the world  solving practical issues Such a distinction, however, creates confusion on the Such a distinction, however, creates confusion on the  inventing something that meaning of Applied Research , often considered as the meaning of Applied Research , often considered as the does not exist application of known results for making industrial products. application of known results for making industrial products. 5 6 1

24/01/2018 Basic vs. Applied Research Theory vs. Practice Hence it is good to clarify that Believing that a theoretical study is not useful to the society is completely wrong!! Applying known results for developing specific products Applying known results for developing specific products is not applied research . is not applied research . What’s more relevant for the society? The theory of electro-magnetic field or a practical study to optimize a screwdriver? Good research is always characterized by a Good research is always characterized by a rigorous scientific study aimed at advancing knowledge rigorous scientific study aimed at advancing knowledge and producing new results that ( sooner or later ) and producing new results that ( sooner or later ) will be useful for the society. will be useful for the society. Another important aspect of research is to produce results that can be generalized to slightly different situations. 7 8 Pasteur’s Quadrant Fundamental science by Donald Stokes, 1997 No modern technology would exist without fundamental science: Galileo Pure basic Use‐inspired Newton High research research Faraday Maxwell Niels Bohr Louis Pasteur Fundamental Understanding Einstein Bad Pure‐applied Schrödinger Low research research Heisenberg Thomas Edison They had no idea about the implications of their results. They had no idea about the implications of their results. What motivated them were not applications, but curiosity! What motivated them were not applications, but curiosity! Low High Consideration of use 9 10 What is Engineering? The abstraction process Abstract World “Engineering is the development of cost-effective solutions to practical problems, model Mathematical description of the system through the application of scientific knowledge” Relevant variables Definition of  Cost-effective Relations among variables Considering design trade-offs on resource usage  Solutions Emphasis on building devices, but also methodologies  Practical problems Problems that matter to people and improve human life Real Real  Application of scientific knowledge system system Systematic use of analytical techniques (  generalization) Real World 11 12 2

24/01/2018 A simple robot model The abstraction process Abstract World Relevant variables L Parameter = link length model solution Analysis Analysis ( x , y ) = tip coordinates Output variables  = joint angle Control variable assumptions implementation Relations among variables Abstraction Concretization  ( x , y ) x = L cos   L Problem Problem Solved Solved y = L sen  instance instance problem problem  Real Real system system Real World 13 14 Types of contributions The abstraction process (by decreasing impact) Good knowledge of Math Abstract World 1. Building a new model and and Physics is important Mendeleev’s periodic table, public key in cryptography, Liu & Layland model) provide the related analysis model solution Analysis Analysis 2. Solving a problem, finding Bubble sort, Rate Monotonic scheduling, assumptions implementation Priority Inheritance an algorithm Abstraction Concretization 3. Building a tool Matlab, Simulink, Schedulability analyzer Problem Problem Solved Solved Evaluation 4. Increase the performance make it faster, smaller, cheaper, more instance instance problem problem of an existing approach resource efficient 5. Performace study Compare and evaluate different Real Real Experiments Experiments algorithms and approaches system system 6. Buiding an application Developing a working system Real World 15 16 Elements of success Elements of success The path to success consists of three simple elements: Find what interests you that you can do well and is your your Understading yourself talent interest needed by the people. - Lui Sha social needs Important questions to answer: Space of all research areas  What is easier for you, writing a complex your your software program or proving a difficult theorem? talents interests Your research  What excites you? topic should be there  What excites the community? social needs  Does it fall into your skills? 17 18 3

24/01/2018 Elements of success Importance of idols Many people became good in something because they were Be the best on something (anything) astonished by the ability of someone elected as their idol . average skill disciplines Music is more important than Soccer, but it would be crazy Music is more important than Soccer, but it would be crazy if Messi would quit soccer to compose a minor song. if Messi would quit soccer to compose a minor song. Idols can also be found in science when you are Idols can also be found in science when you are illuminated by the paper written by someone! illuminated by the paper written by someone! 19 20 Research step by step Research step by step 0. Find a 1. Understand 5. Validate your topic the field and the solution in practice application domain 6. Compare your solution against existing 2. Think of 3. Formalize ones the the problem problem 7. Extend the solution to more general cases 4. Find a solution 8. Communicate the solution to the problem to the world 21 22 1. Understanding the field 1. Understanding the field  Are there ethical issues involved (e.g., weapons,  Why is it important? animals)? Better to clear these things up before starting.  What are the main application areas?  Talk to people that already worked on the topic to  Identify the key components (HW and SW) of your know tricks, shortcuts, and bottlenecks. system.  What disciplines are needed to understand details?  Read the documentation related to the main Do you have the required expertise? components (HW and SW). If not, which courses do you need to attend? You must become the Master on that subject. 23 24 4