Effective Research
Effective research requires an understanding of the following:
1)
Knowing the chemical literature. If you do not know what has been
published, you may waste time repeating research already performed or
trying to perform research in an inferior manner to some published work.
It is absolutely essential that you continually search the literature when
entering new areas and learn how to rapidly find pertinent information.
The literature also gives you a perspective concerning the position and
value of your research within the field. Spend time finding out what is
available in the Chemistry Library and the Group Library. Don't be like
one student who discovered "three months in the lab can save you an
hour in the library!".
2)
Utilizing your labmates and other experts. The members of the Turro
group have established expertise in numerous techniques and have
experience with certain aspects of the literature. Take advantage of this
resource by asking questions of your colleagues. Later on others will be
asking you for advice.
3)
4)
Seeing the big picture. By this we mean understanding how to
think in terms of the established paradigms. See 5B. Effective
Research (More III) for some ideas in this regard. Read the
following paper: N. J. Turro, "Geometric and Topological Thinking
in Organic Chemistry," Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Engl., 25, 882 (l986)
– see ‘Welcome to the Turro Group’.
Thinking systematically. By this we mean understanding the power of
strong inference, by which one proceeds from the possible to the plausible
to the probable to the proven. Read the following paper (Professor Turro
will give you a copy to xerox): J. R. Platt, Science, 146, 347 (1964) – see
‘Welcome to the Turro Group’.
5A. Effective Research94