Research Is a State of Mind
For many years there has been much misunderstanding as to just what research is.
The popular conception seems to be that there is something mysterious about it,
and before any research can be clone it is necessary to have expensive
scientific apparatus and large, elaborately equipped laboratories. Actually,
this is not so. 1 It is a simple,
organized way of trying to accomplish something you wish to do-so simple that
anyone can do research anywhere at any time. First, you select
the problem you would like to solve, then you list at least ten reasons why it
has not been solved. 2 It takes just as
much effort to solve a useless problem as a useful one.
3 After carefully-and I want to emphasize
that word "carefully" selecting the problem and the ten things between you
and the solution, you then use the same procedure as in solving a crossword
puzzle. 4 In the solution of the
remaining obstacles you may need some simple apparatus, but the things you will
probably need most are infinite patience and persistence. Few people realize the
difficulties of doing any new thing. Maybe one of the reasons
people are so easily discouraged is because of their education. During all our
years at school we were examined two or three times a year. If we failed once,
we were out. 5 If we are going to make
progress, we must learn to fail intelligently so that we won’t become
discouraged at the 99.9 per cent failure. A. Make sure the game
is worth the candle. B. That is a step in the right direction,
but I don’t believe it is enough. C. You take the easy
obstacles first and by a process of elimination you eventually arrive at the one
or two major ones. D. But in selecting the problem, you need to
be sure to analyze it carefully to see that it is worth the effort.
E. Research isn’t a physical thing at all;it’s a state of mind.
F. By contrast, all research work is 99.9 per cent failure and, if we
succeed once, we are in.