The Power of Direction in Scientific Research

A visual representation of a Western Blot to remind the reader of the technique.

Imagine having a liquid sample and injecting this into some sort of gel matrix. In this case, you might get some diffusive movement thanks to gravity and the flux of molecules to a lower concentration. But the magic of Western Blot comes into play when this diffusion is given some direction in the form of an applied electric field.

The concept of a guiding force, like an applied electric field, is the key of unlocking powerful techniques for experiments and applications in research. The same holds true for the researchers themselves: a goal, a motivation, and a pathway forward unlock the intellectual and creative potential of any researcher.

The principal risk of running a research program without clear direction is a waste of resources: waste of materials, time (the salary for this time), precious brain power of researchers, and overhead costs associated with research. While research waste will make a more robust future post, this post will focus on the two principal aspects of meaningful research direction in academic supervision: a goal and a pathway forward.

Component 1: The Goal

The goal is inextricably linked to the scientific process itself. The goal is closely related to the research question – with an extra little flair for the unique environment of academia. In project management, we often talk of setting SMART goals, goals that are:

S: Specific

M: Measurable

A: Attainable

R: Realistic

T: Timely

This notation is used less in academic environments than other working environments, even though it holds just as much value within the walls of academia. Setting SMART goals is a wonderful way to guide research questions.

Let's turn this into an applicable formula for research. Fundamentally, research questions follow the template:

What is the impact of x on y?

The attributes of a SMART goal should be applied to both x and y in the research question template shown above.

	x	y
Specific	Identify x precisely so that it can be isolated and manipulated to investigate a relationship with y	Identify y such that it is a characteristic of the system in question that can be measured
Measurable	Tracking the evolution of x, the independent variable, throughout the experiment(s) provides data necessary for establishing a relationship with changes in y	Qualifying or quantifying the changes in y, the dependent variable, throughout the experiment(s) is the main goal of the research question
Attainable	Probing the role of x relies on having the available technology and being able to isolate it from other factors that may play a role in the behavior of y	Probing the impact on y relies on having the available technology to observe and measure it, as well as a plan in place to analyze statistics where necessary
Realistic	Having the know-how necessary to control and manipulate x must be available to the researchers working on the project	Having the know-how necessary to observe, measure, and report the behavior of y must be available to the researchers working on the project
Timely	The plan of carrying out the experiments and reporting the results to the community must have a clear timeline to honor the requirements from funding bodies, researchers' career goals, and the time necessary to complete a full and thorough investigation of the research question

There is very little metascientific research on what makes a good research question. There have been efforts to standardize the approach to setting clear goals in research, such as registered reports. Ideally, I would have a study to cite demonstrating a link between specificity of questions in research proposals and publishing efficiency. We can consider this logically, however. If a research question clearly and specifically defines the independent and dependent variables, experimental design and data analysis become very straightforward tasks. The criteria of a SMART goal can safe-guard against scientific misconduct in the form of HARKing (Hypothesizing After Results are Known) and provide the basis for a clear research question, and set the stage for a quick path to success.

Component 2: The Pathway Forward

The pathway forward should be predetermined before any work is undertaken and charted collaboratively with a supervisor and researcher. Researchers have individual skill sets, interests, and career goals that should be considered in charting a plan of action. Ownership over various aspects of a research project forges productive, empowered employees that are motivated to see their work through. Including researchers in developing a plan for a research project allows both supervisor and researcher to grow in their professional capacities and accomplish goals more efficiently.

A research project has a number of milestones. Asking the research question sets the goal of which knowledge should be generated, but deciding the way this knowledge is disseminated is another important milestone. Writing a research article, presentation, patent, internal report all require additional additional skills and processes beyond the scientific method. Writing, public speaking, knowledge of open science policy, and other skills can be exercised through research projects that may propel a researcher forward in their career. The opportunities to build those skills should be available via the pathway forward.

Tasks that build important skills for an researcher's career should be entrusted to the researcher when undertaking projects in academia. This approach strengthens the psychological contract between researcher and supervisor, allows the researcher to take ownership and responsibility in the project, and therefore alleviating some of the contributing factors to mental health decline in the research environment.

Takeaways

The best way to have your research team live up to their potential is by providing clear direction. Direction comes from setting SMART goals by crafting precise research questions, and from building a pathway forward that honors the strategic milestones for a project as well as researchers' professional ambitions. Together these pillars of direction are the equivalent of adding an electric field to guide progress through the gel matrix.