Research Box - The Purpose and Meaningfulness of Modern Research

Research Box

Prof Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discuss the purpose and methods in research, emphasising its value in providing useful information and its role in decision-making. They also explore the growing significance of critical thinking in research, the process of pursuing a PhD, and the importance of building upon existing ideas.

Annette outlines that research is a systematic inquiry into something of interest, not just an academic pursuit. She points out that everyone is a researcher in some way, as they constantly seek information and solve problems in their daily lives. Annette also highlights the value of research in providing useful information that can be acted upon. They discuss the different types of research, including hypothesis-driven research and research that emerges from a need to understand a particular phenomenon. They agreed that research should serve a purpose and be driven by a passion for discovery and problem-solving.

Annette underscores the need for researchers to defend their choices and assess various viewpoints. They also explore the trend of practitioners engaging in research to verify information and test innovative solutions.

They discuss the value of building upon existing ideas and research rather than starting anew. They note, that while it may seem daunting to encounter similar concepts, it can be reassuring to know others have faced similar challenges. They emphasise the importance of adding individual perspectives and experiences to the ongoing 'conversation' of research, and highlight the usefulness of replicating experiments to ensure the validity of findings. Annette stresses that their goal is to make a contribution to the conversation, rather than simply answering questions.

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