Skills for Researchers

1. Skills for Researchers Concepts and Skills are the inevitable components for a Researcher. Brushing up the Research skills lead to understand the principles and approaches relevant to undertake the Research work

2. There are two perspectives from which the issue of Researchers’ Skill can be viewed: • One is concerned with the values of honesty and frankness and personal integrity • The other with those of ethical responsibilities to the subjects of research, such as consent, confidentiality and courtesy

3. It is also necessary for a researcher to find out what conditions apply in his/her situation

4. Honesty in Your Work • Honesty is essential, not only to enable to engender a level of trust and credibility to promote debate and the development of knowledge. • This applies to all researchers, no matter what their subject.

5. Intellectual Ownership and Plagiarism • Unless otherwise stated, what you write will be regarded as your own work; the ideas will be considered your own unless you say to the contrary. • The worst-offence against honesty in this respect is called plagiarism. • Plagiarism means directly copying someone else’s work into your report, thesis etc. And letting it be assumed that it is your own.

6. Using the thoughts, ideas and the works of others without acknowledging their source, is unethical.

7. Citation and Acknowledgement Obviously, in no field of research can you rely entirely on your own ideas, concepts and theories. Therefore standard practices have been developed to permit the originators of the work and ideas to be acknowledged with in your own text. This is called citation.

8. The researcher should have complete knowledge of methods of reference to quote from a wide variety of sources ( such as books, journals, conferences, talks, interviews, TV programmes etc.). • Very often, editors insist on the use of particular form of referencing for their publication.

9. There are software programmes ( e.g. ProCite) which are accurate and time - saving utilities that enable you to convert your list of references almost instantaneously from one form to another and act as a database for all your references and notes.

10. Responsibility and Accountability • Researchers’ responsibilities to fellow researchers, respondents, the public and the academic community • Apart from correct attribution, honesty is essential in the substance of what you write.

11. Accurate descriptions are required of: • What you have done • How you have done it • The information you obtained • The techniques you used • The analysis you carried out • The results of experiments

12. Data and Interpretations • It is difficult to be free from bias. • Scientific objectivity should be maintained. • If you can see any reason for a possibility of bias in any aspect of the research, it should be acknowledged and explained. • If the study involves personal judgements and assessments, the basis for these should be given. • It is good practice to admit to limit of competence and resources.

13. Epistemology (the theoretical perspective) • The theoretical perspectives of the researcher should be made clear at the outset of the research so that the ground rules or assumptions that underpin the research can be understood by the readers and, in some instances, the subjects of the reearch.

14. Ethics • The aims of the research can be analysed from an ethical viewpoint. • Is the research aimed merely gaining greater knowledge and understanding of a phenomenon? • If so this kind of quest, has little or no ethical consequences: the expansion of scientific knowledge is generally regarded as a good thing. • Researchers must be aware of necessary ethical standards that should be observed to avoid any harm which might be caused by carrying out or publishing the results of the study.

15. The developers of the atomic bomb relied on the research in nuclear Physics. • Research in genetics resulted in the ability to clone a sheep. • The aims of research should be examined from an ethical viewpoint. • ‘No gain without pain’ is popular expression – but can this approach be justified by a researcher?

16. To Sum Up With A Few Tips • Skill to learn for contribution made by the researcher. • Skill to present the findings • Skill to reveal a capacity to write clearly and cogently (with strong and convincing arguments) • Capability with frank, fair and just assesment • Skill to make survey of literature

17. Skill to organise the relevant material • Understanding of research area • Use of analytical tools • Capable to discover the new facts • Fresh approach towards interpretation of facts or theories • Capable to make a distinct advancement in the subject

18. Researchers’ ability for critical examination and sound judgement • Deep and intensive knowledge of the subject • Skill of mechanics of writing and originality of language

19. Terminology Used • Need to be constantly aware of the real meaning of terms, and their use within the particular context.

20. Thanks By S.C. Rajora Professor University of Kota, Kota