Do you have “research buddies” to discuss your PhD research? No novel is written in a vacuum. You cannot expect a seminal research work will come out of thin air. To me, research is a studious inquiry aiming at discovering new knowledge, and this process requires recurring discussions and rigorous debates with others. Having your research buddies on your side is essential when you are in your research journey. Have you ever experienced the power of organising study group during your high-school or undergraduate? I did. I always have my study groupmates when I was in college. In a study group, instead of spending valuable time puzzling over the difficulty, you can learn quickly and effectively by raising relevant questions among your peers.
Specifically, if you are researching on your own, you will always see your thesis from the same perspective. While doing research alone seems to be legitimate, getting a fresh perspective from others could help you learn your works more thoroughly. Research buddies are your good resources to come up with these new perspectives. As you listen and ask questions, you may start noticing a wide variety of viewpoints on the same idea. This will force you to think more about your position and develop your critical thinking that facilitates your research. Over the discussion, you will also improve your skills of presenting ideas to others. I am sure you will find the conversation with your research buddies useful, especially for preparing your next academic conference.
Also, it is essential to have your research buddies over your academic career life as they may be your collaborators in the future. I still remembered one of the questions that I asked my supervisor in our first meeting is to recommend me people to discuss research ideas. I am so eager to have a buddy to discuss research ideas as I know it is hard to make a convincing research argument without debating with others. Having research buddies to debate your research is not something new. From the ancient’s Socrates-Plato to the modern Shapley-Curtis debate, human’s knowledge has been cumulating from the various argumentative dialogue between individuals. I believe discussing with others about our research is the most effective way to stimulate and promote our critical thinking.
Indeed, your supervisor could be your most “intimate” research buddy. I was lucky to have an inspiring advisor who can always give me some fierce criticism and tough pushback that force me to think of my research ideas. A good research buddy is not someone who is nice, friendly and never give you criticism. Do attach yourself to someone intense. Sometimes, your research buddy could be out of your department or even beyond your PhD granted institution. My Fulbright and Endeavour experience tells me the fact that most active researchers should have some regular research buddies to talk with – not only limited to the time during your PhD study but also in your future research career. For instance, my faculty host in UCLA always has coffee breaks with his colleagues to discuss research. One time I was lucky to join the discussion, I was surprised by the breadth and depth of their research dialogues. From the Trump’s policy impacts on residential segregation to the LGBT influences on the use of the space, the discussion is full of insights that could formulate some captivating research questions.
Bear in mind that chit-chatting with your friends about research may not be able to gain the potential benefit of having research buddies. A good research buddies’ group can support you to achieve your academic goals, but you have to be strategic about how to buddy up. Who to talk to? Don’t routinely pick friends as your research buddies. Discuss with your peers who are motivated to achieve academic success. Make sure that they are critical and constructive in providing feedback. When to do the discussion? Stick with a regular time and place to discuss. Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. If you only casually do some informal discussion, you will not enjoy the full-fledged benefits from the conversation with your research buddies. Where to discuss is also essential – Discuss in a place that can allow your group with your research notes or materials displayed, and the venue should be free from any distractions. Have a plan for each discussion session so that each of your peers is prepared to cover specific material. Stick to the topic you will be reviewing so that you can make the most of the discussion time. In any case, having a research buddy provides you with some built-in socialisation during your PhD study. This can cut down the stress and boredom often associated with researching alone. From role-playing a focus group interview for your survey to puzzling with each other with an insignificant p-value from the new data analysis, researching is one thing that’s more fun when done with buddies.
Dr William K.S. Cheung
BSSc, MPhil, MSc, PhD, MRICS, PINZ, Fulbright Scholar, Endeavour Fellow
Lecturer in Property | University of Auckland Business School
E william.cheung@auckland.ac.nz W property.auckland.ac.nz
