Tips

Ten ‘Rules’ for Being Creative in Producing Research

January 2, 2015 2070

Pith helmet guySince the changing of the year seems to be the time for lists, top ten lists, etc., I decided to compile mine about being creative whist producing cutting‐edge research. Not for the faint‐hearted! Here goes:

1. Be curious. Be a detective. Be ready to be surprised by answers you never expected. It should, in the end, be a good story that you can tell.

2. Insure that the method fits the question(s). This can often take some time. Be willing to investigate until you find the right method. This will save you a lot of grief later.

Kip Jones

This article by Kip Jones originally appeared at his personal KIPWORLDblog and is reprinted here by permission.

3. Explore methods. Combine them, expand them, reinvented them, but be prepared to then follow them.

4. If your research question is about people, find a way to really involve them in the process, not just answer some stupid questions.

5. Don’t panic if you method produces a lot of data. Swim in it. It’s fun and it is here that the surprises bubble up. Whatever you do, try to avoid reducing the amount of data by ‘categorizing’ it. (I detest little boxes.)

6. Think hard and long about how you want to share the results of your efforts. Text is only one of many possibilities. Really try to get your personal interests out of the way in this process and let the data lead you in selecting a format or art form.

7. Research is about discovery; Dissemination is about putting your findings into action. Ideally, we can be creative at both.

8. About half of your effort (and time) should be on producing the research, the other half on creating the outputs.

9. Creative outputs produce unexpected outcomes. Be willing to experiment, ‘go it alone’. ‘Doing’ and ‘making’ produce additional findings. Use them, they are rich and you’ve earned them.

10. Be willing to make 100 versions, then one more (Sister Corita Kent). It’s that last one that you will use.

Note: Remember, oh ye serious social scientists, that in Big Science, some of the greatest discoveries were made through mistakes and acknowledging the unexpected. Some famous Scientists also slept with their lab assistants and even a few later married, but we won’t go there, at least not now. Therefore:

Rule 11: Be curious about the history of your craft. Soak up as much as you can. It will both inspire and lead you.


Kip Jones is an independent visiting scholar at the Faculty of Media and Communication and the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University. He was executive producer and author of the award-winning short biopic RUFUS STONE (2012). In retirement, he plans to complete several books on performative social science and auto-fiction.

View all posts by Kip Jones

Related Articles

Webinar Discusses Promoting Your Article
News
November 3, 2022

Webinar Discusses Promoting Your Article

Read Now
Webinar Examines Open Access and Author Rights
Event
October 11, 2022

Webinar Examines Open Access and Author Rights

Read Now
Ping, Read, Reply, Repeat: Research-Based Tips About Breaking Bad Email Habits
Communication
December 10, 2021

Ping, Read, Reply, Repeat: Research-Based Tips About Breaking Bad Email Habits

Read Now
Quick Tips on Being an Ethical Co-Writer
Communication
April 2, 2021

Quick Tips on Being an Ethical Co-Writer

Read Now
Watch the Archived Webinar: Demystifying Academic Processes: From Publishing Your Research to Promoting it

Watch the Archived Webinar: Demystifying Academic Processes: From Publishing Your Research to Promoting it

“Demystifying Academic Processes: From Publishing Your Research to Promoting it,” answered three main questions: How can you get published in an academic journal (whether an early career researcher or veteran)? How can you promote your publications? And how should you think about measuring impact?

Read Now
Stale to Stellar: The Truth Behind Creating an Engaging Webinar

Stale to Stellar: The Truth Behind Creating an Engaging Webinar

What makes a webinar presentation feel stale? You probably know ’em when you experience ’em. But how do you escape that trap in your own presentation, Echo Rivera is here to help …

Read Now
Here Are the Blocks You Need to Tell Your Impact Story

Here Are the Blocks You Need to Tell Your Impact Story

At a loss for how to demonstrate impact? Laura Meagher and David Edwards outline a dynamic understanding of impact evaluation comprised of ‘building blocks’. These building blocks are five types of impacts; five broad categories of stakeholders; and eight causal factors, along with a set of over-arching reflective questions.

Read Now
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments