Research Considerations

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Research Considerations

• Steven A. Jones
• Biomedical Engineering
• Louisiana Tech University

Created for Louisiana Techs NSF-Sponsored Undergr
aduate Research Experiences in Micro/Nano
Engineering Program
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Dissertation Topic Quiz
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Jones Rules of Research

1. First, have a question.
2. If it doesnt work, try plugging it in.
3. Look at your data.
4. When presenting your work, have a point.
5. Cite references Nobody cares what your opinion
   is.
6. Prepare questions before you go to the
   literature. You will never find what you are
   looking for unless you know what you are looking
   for.
7. Before you take data, make sure something is
   happening.
8. Do not try to curve fit a goat into a camel.
9. If your results differ from theory by an order of
   magnitude, you might want to check into it.
10. Use your brain. It is the most valuable piece of
    equipment you will ever have.

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Jones Rules of Research

• If your range of interest is 0 to 100 mm Hg,
  calibrate instruments within the range of 0 to
  100 mm Hg.
• Know what you want to measure.
• If you need to find B A, know what A is
  (offset).
• Use a positive control.
• Use a negative control.

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Jones Axioms of Research

1. The most interesting part of your work will never
   be directly related to the question you set out
   to answer.
2. If you discover a new phenomenon, it will be
   immediately criticized on the grounds that (a) it
   is physically impossible and (b) it was already
   demonstrated definitively 100 years ago.
3. If a curve fit of your data looks wrong, it is
   wrong.
4. A good mathematical model will always be more
   useful than you initially thought it would.
5. A mathematical model is useful only to the extent
   that it is useful.
6. Regardless of the cost of your equipment, you
   will still need to hold something together with
   duct tape.

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Components of an Experiment

1. Question
2. General Hypothesis
3. Null Hypothesis
4. Alternative Hypothesis
5. Dependent Variables
6. Independent Variables
7. Calibration(s)

1. Positive Control
2. Negative Control
3. Experimental Setup
4. Experimental Protocol
5. Data Analysis
6. Statistical Testing
7. Interpretation of Results

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Elements of a GoodResearch Question

• Specific Not a fishing expedition
• Measurable Testable (statistically)
• Attainable Something that you can do
• You have the expertise
• You have the equipment and resources
• Realistic
• Based on some sort of rational physics
• Can be done in a reasonable time frame
• Timely
• Novel
• Preferably based in new technologies (has a
  past).
• Important to current concerns (has a present).
• Can lead to new directions i.e. is not an
  endpoint in itself (has a future).
• Unbiased Meaningful whether the answer is Yes
  or No.

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Contents of a Laboratory Notebook

1. The date of the entry, along with your signature.
2. A record of daily activities on the project
3. Summaries of important information you have
   learned through the literature, contacts, or
   other sources
4. Your own ideas and thoughts
5. Photographs and drawings of prototypes and
   experimental setups.
6. Calculations that are related to your work
7. A description of any experiments that you are
   doing, including protocols, instrumentation and
   materials used.
8. Data that you have collected, including
   calibrations, tests of your setup (positive
   controls) and experimental data.
9. Make liberal log entries. You never know what
   information you will need to look up at a later
   time. Use your log book as a tool. Log books
   that are merely diary entries are not sufficient.

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Contents of a Laboratory Notebook

1. Each of these elements is important for two
   reasons. 1) It provides a single place where
   this information can be readily found (for the
   sake of writing up reports, re-creating
   experimental protocols, etc.) and 2) It serves as
   proof of intellectual property.
2. You should make sure that an independent person
   signs and dates each page of your laboratory
   notebook periodically (e.g. once a week) as a
   certification that this is your work.
3. Log entries must be in ink. Errors should be
   crossed out with a single line, not erased.
4. Do not leave any pages blank. Draw a line through
   each blank page or portion thereof.
5. Do not tear out any pages.

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Advice onLaboratory Notebooks

1. Make liberal log entries. You never know what
   information you will need to look up at a later
   time.
2. Use your log book as a tool.
3. A log book is more than a diary.