Tags: Research, Design Thinking, Scientific Method
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” -Proverbs 25:2
As Christian young professionals studying the sciences, we are daily faced with exciting opportunities to understand and explore the world we live in. Intentionally approaching those opportunities will allow you to discover information that can lead to advancements in medical care opportunities, patient outcomes, disease prevention, and healthcare technology. The statement from Proverbs succinctly captures how we can navigate toward these goals—through research. Research is the foundation of intentional exploration of the world. This verse gives us a very concise definition of research: to search out a matter.
Have you ever:
Wondered how seashells form for their soft-bodied inhabitants?
Been curious about cloud composition and soil mineral deposits?
Had questions about water concerns in developing countries?
Wanted to understand the cause of meningitis and determine prevention methods?
Wondered about usage of robotics in healthcare settings?
The above questions have been explored, and resources such as Google Scholar are helpful in finding articles that answer the questions you ask. This illustrates one aspect of research: finding answers to questions through published data. However, what if you wanted to discover the answer through your own observations or explore an article’s answer further through additional research and discovery? This concept requires the hands-on application of research. You can apply this aspect of research in two different ways:
Design Thinking:
Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, Implement
This concept leads to the creation of technology or processes that can improve current models.
Empathize with your target audience.
Define the problem they are facing.
Ideate solutions to the specific problem.
Prototype a likely solution.
Test the design (redesign as needed from test results).
Implement the solution.
Scientific Method
Ask, Explore, Hypothesize, Assess, Summarize
This process generates answers to proposed questions.
Ask questions about the world around you.
Explore your questions using current data and other information on the topic.
Hypothesize answers to your question through a hypothesis statement.
Assess your hypothesis through experimentation and data analysis.
Summarize your findings.
These two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they are two methods of approaching a problem or question and jumpstarting a way to generate a solution or answer.
The First Step Towards Discovery
Begin a question journal. Keep track of any questions that come to mind, which you would be interested in exploring later. By also journaling observations from the world around you, you will be well-equipped to craft questions. Stay up to date with our research blog posts to gain more research tools and insights. Let us know what you are currently researching in the comments below.
Happy researching!
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