First Law of Research

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First Law of Research

Domain

Explanation

Motivation?

In the real-world, complex domain,

To get anything conceived & implemented,

Tons of obstacles, difficulties, limitations & constraints of all sorts need to be made aware of, understood & overcome

The need & urge to overcome them underpins the motivation for Research - the way out of troubles

The technique

The research technique that has evolved from observation, learning & evolution is
The First Law of Research

First Law of Research

The primary cornerstone of research is to derive & evolve a generic class of techniques that is always applicable, irregardless of circumstances

Depicted below are overview of the First Law of Research

3 help

When difficulties are encountered in research, there are 3 approaches:

Seek people

Seek equipment, tools

Seek papers, textbooks

3 papers

When seeking papers, i realise that there are 3 types of papers that must be encountered, if not, the research is incomplete:

General research papers: survey, comparison, overview or collection of historical, current & potential future developments --> For: the big picture, get an idea of the state-of-the-art, discover or uncover loop-holes or niches for us to explore & exploit --> e.g. for our cases, we need survey of seismic structural design, isolation & control --> then, control is surveyed for passive, semi-active & active --> split into theory, R&D, constructed & commercialised

Specific complementary papers: detailed papers targeted & focused on their narrow objectives & scope that fits our needs --> e.g. Kamada et al 1998 researches (active control), for (Frames), (EQ), using (piezo) sensors & actuators, robust (controllers), with (shake table), & reduction of (structural responses) --> this type helps to highlight things for us to target or those that we have missed out, ignored or assumed

Specific contrary papers: these detailed papers have objectives that do not fit our objectives or needs, in fact can be totally opposite to our research --> e.g. Chase 2002 researches (semi-active control), using (semi-active dampers) & tries to diminish potential of active control (cost, power - nuclear plant (small one), complexity, design difficulty) --> this type helps us to see the inherent weakness of our side --> ideally, we should try to merge the strength of these into our designs

5 research tricks

Bear in the following 5 research tricks during actual researching:

Theorem of Least Work: always (not sometimes) do the least work to get done ... if it needs to be done in the 1st place ... never run 400m & come back sweating, but nothing done

Principle of Priority: prioritize yr tasks ... some are definitely more needy & fundamental than others ... aim for the most basic ... an analogy is to fly needs to walk needs to move ... ensure can move first

Doctrine of Stepping Stones: to get things done fully & completely ... all the inherent steps must be carried out ... identify all the necessary yet shortest (Theorem of Least Work) path of stones ... never try to skip stones (tasks) that are essential

Way of fundamentals: anything we don't know, not sure or ignored ... are probably important ... when mistakes arise ... question the observed mistake ... then conduct a thorough revision of the fundamental trilogy --> Dynamics, Control, Optimisation ... this is the way of fundamentals

TRIZ: we know monkeys can climb trees ... but TRIZ ... try this tried & tested methodology of problem solving: Inventive Problem Solving

Communications

From observations, people always ponder on 3 aspects:

Knowledge of subject-matter

Reporting as communicating or transferring this knowledge to others

Presenting as convincing others against their bias

Up until this point, U have been exposed to the knowledge aspect, whereby U are teleported from fundamental know-why & know-how towards research where there are uncertainties, where there are more questions than answers --> these can be overcome by literature review (3 types of papers) & the research techniques (5 tricks)

Now, U would face both reporting & presenting ... they are different from knowledge in that the target is now other people, instead of yourselves ... reporting is transferring knowledge to others in black & white ... presenting is audio-visual transfer

With the parameters of knowledge & communications, we can infer that there are the following types of people:

U don't know, U can't communicate: worst-case, poor fundamentals, insignificant research, non-existent transfer, can't understand & can't talk

U don't know, U can communicate: poor fundamentals, but able to communicate difficulties, so others can relate to yr problems

U know, U can't communicate: good fundamentals, but can't write, can't talk --> a tragedy --> implication: use the pyramid approach to reporting & communicating

U know, U can communicate: best, choose right research techniques --> & go all e way

Pyramid approach

If U don't know, use the 3 helps, 3 papers & 5 research techniques for knowledge of subect-matter

Most of us are U know, but can't communicate, hence use this:
Pyramid approach:

The pyramids are inherently stable structures --> large base for resisting base shears & base moments: Good Fundamentals --> thinning pyramid body to reduce elevated dead weights --> pointed tips to the heavens: Clear, concise, Sharp communication

We can use this analogy for reporting & presenting:

Large base: good fundamentals to fall back on during difficulties --> good, broad-based introduction & literature review (use comprehensive papers, overview)

Narrowing body: narrow down your research topic from the general to the specific, from the overview to the detailed, from the conceptual to the detailed, from the superficial to the in-depth, from perceptions to your objectives & scope

Pointed tip: short, sharp & piercing arguments towards your research focus, provide all that's absolutely necessary to make the shortest, sharpest ordering & transferring your work to others

Treat the others as if they are "yourselves a few months ago, before you started this research" ... remember the idea beats the details ... the best type of response that U can get is ... "Oh ... like this lah ... so simple!"

Inverted Pyramid approach

In communications - talk & write ... there can be millions of approaches ... but i realise that all are composed of 2 extremes ... like the tension & compression ... push & pull ... structure capacity & exciting load ... the 2 extremes are:

From general to detailed: pyramid approach --> from thin to thick

From detailed to general: inverted pyramid approach --> from thick to thin

In writing or talking ... u can give the big picture then the small ... like someone asks "Where U live?" ... i answer first "Earth" ... "where exactly?" ... "Equator" ... "Singapore" ... "Northern" .... this is the pyramid approach --> suitable for conceptual understanding, then applying that concept to specific uses --> present in research (tutorial level)

If u give details then infer the big picture ... like someone asks "Where U going to?" ... i answer first "taking bus home" ... "to do?" ... "do homework" ... "finish my course" ... "complete my degree" ... "start career" ... "realise my dreams" ... this is the inverted pyramid approach --> suitable for explorative inference of present conditions, then expanding those conditions to broad concepts --> present in most complex situations (transformational research)

Both are inherently conflicting & opposing, yet it is incomplete to emphasize only the pyramid approach ... to be engineer is to be a professional ... to be a professional is to be conversant with both extremes ... is to pierce through the infinite combinations of both approaches ... is to be methodical according to yr present situations ... is to be on

Doctrine of stepping stones: to get things done fully & completely ... all the inherent steps must be carried out ... identify all the necessary yet shortest path of stones ... never try to skip stones (tasks) that are essential

Then, applying the doctrine ... improvise yr own method, yr own style ... in how U combine the 2 extremes ... from ideas to (messy) set-up & results to simple conclusions ... from our wishes/hopes/dreams to our toil/sweat/worry/difficulties to our finale/methodologies/findings/conclusions ... in the words of my lecturer (Sam GE ShuZi) ... "from thin to thick to thin" ... so U see ... it is using pyramid approach to start off & then the inverted pyramid approach to round up ...

With this, U can see that this path of research is nothing more than what we have felt all along ... ever since young ... from sports to learning to studies ... hence, take this period of training as polishing this skill ... where university has been described as the breeding ground for ideas as well as failures ... i hope that U stand aside from the worry of failure or success ... & thoroughly soak up this rather unique research experience where U toil through the thin then thick & finally thin again ... then repeating this ... what we get is simply a unique chain of (thin-thick-thin) for each of us ... when we finally acknowledge that life as an engineer is really just these ... we begin not to feel worried or nervous ... we start calming & treating these & every engineering else as serenity 平常 ... & what we realise is the true meaning of ... from dust to dust … 本來無一物, 何處惹塵埃

In summary

I have highlighted the following to U:

3 help:

Seek people

Seek methods

Seek papers, texts

3 types of papers:

General research papers

Specific complementary papers

Specific contrary papers

5 research techniques:

Theorem of Least Work

Principle of Priority

Doctrine of Stepping Stones

Way of fundamentals

TRIZ

2 comm. Approaches:

Pyramid approach

Inverted pyramid approach

只要功夫深鐵杵磨成針

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Domain	Explanation
Motivation?	In the real-world, complex domain, To get anything conceived & implemented, Tons of obstacles, difficulties, limitations & constraints of all sorts need to be made aware of, understood & overcome The need & urge to overcome them underpins the motivation for Research - the way out of troubles
The technique	The research technique that has evolved from observation, learning & evolution is The First Law of Research
First Law of Research	The primary cornerstone of research is to derive & evolve a generic class of techniques that is always applicable, irregardless of circumstances Depicted below are overview of the First Law of Research
3 help	When difficulties are encountered in research, there are 3 approaches: Seek people Seek equipment, tools Seek papers, textbooks
3 papers	When seeking papers, i realise that there are 3 types of papers that must be encountered, if not, the research is incomplete: General research papers: survey, comparison, overview or collection of historical, current & potential future developments --> For: the big picture, get an idea of the state-of-the-art, discover or uncover loop-holes or niches for us to explore & exploit --> e.g. for our cases, we need survey of seismic structural design, isolation & control --> then, control is surveyed for passive, semi-active & active --> split into theory, R&D, constructed & commercialised Specific complementary papers: detailed papers targeted & focused on their narrow objectives & scope that fits our needs --> e.g. Kamada et al 1998 researches (active control), for (Frames), (EQ), using (piezo) sensors & actuators, robust (controllers), with (shake table), & reduction of (structural responses) --> this type helps to highlight things for us to target or those that we have missed out, ignored or assumed Specific contrary papers: these detailed papers have objectives that do not fit our objectives or needs, in fact can be totally opposite to our research --> e.g. Chase 2002 researches (semi-active control), using (semi-active dampers) & tries to diminish potential of active control (cost, power - nuclear plant (small one), complexity, design difficulty) --> this type helps us to see the inherent weakness of our side --> ideally, we should try to merge the strength of these into our designs
5 research tricks	Bear in the following 5 research tricks during actual researching: Theorem of Least Work: always (not sometimes) do the least work to get done ... if it needs to be done in the 1st place ... never run 400m & come back sweating, but nothing done Principle of Priority: prioritize yr tasks ... some are definitely more needy & fundamental than others ... aim for the most basic ... an analogy is to fly needs to walk needs to move ... ensure can move first Doctrine of Stepping Stones: to get things done fully & completely ... all the inherent steps must be carried out ... identify all the necessary yet shortest (Theorem of Least Work) path of stones ... never try to skip stones (tasks) that are essential Way of fundamentals: anything we don't know, not sure or ignored ... are probably important ... when mistakes arise ... question the observed mistake ... then conduct a thorough revision of the fundamental trilogy --> Dynamics, Control, Optimisation ... this is the way of fundamentals TRIZ: we know monkeys can climb trees ... but TRIZ ... try this tried & tested methodology of problem solving: Inventive Problem Solving
Communications	From observations, people always ponder on 3 aspects: Knowledge of subject-matter Reporting as communicating or transferring this knowledge to others Presenting as convincing others against their bias Up until this point, U have been exposed to the knowledge aspect, whereby U are teleported from fundamental know-why & know-how towards research where there are uncertainties, where there are more questions than answers --> these can be overcome by literature review (3 types of papers) & the research techniques (5 tricks) Now, U would face both reporting & presenting ... they are different from knowledge in that the target is now other people, instead of yourselves ... reporting is transferring knowledge to others in black & white ... presenting is audio-visual transfer With the parameters of knowledge & communications, we can infer that there are the following types of people: U don't know, U can't communicate: worst-case, poor fundamentals, insignificant research, non-existent transfer, can't understand & can't talk U don't know, U can communicate: poor fundamentals, but able to communicate difficulties, so others can relate to yr problems U know, U can't communicate: good fundamentals, but can't write, can't talk --> a tragedy --> implication: use the pyramid approach to reporting & communicating U know, U can communicate: best, choose right research techniques --> & go all e way
Pyramid approach	If U don't know, use the 3 helps, 3 papers & 5 research techniques for knowledge of subect-matter Most of us are U know, but can't communicate, hence use this: Pyramid approach: The pyramids are inherently stable structures --> large base for resisting base shears & base moments: Good Fundamentals --> thinning pyramid body to reduce elevated dead weights --> pointed tips to the heavens: Clear, concise, Sharp communication We can use this analogy for reporting & presenting: Large base: good fundamentals to fall back on during difficulties --> good, broad-based introduction & literature review (use comprehensive papers, overview) Narrowing body: narrow down your research topic from the general to the specific, from the overview to the detailed, from the conceptual to the detailed, from the superficial to the in-depth, from perceptions to your objectives & scope Pointed tip: short, sharp & piercing arguments towards your research focus, provide all that's absolutely necessary to make the shortest, sharpest ordering & transferring your work to others Treat the others as if they are "yourselves a few months ago, before you started this research" ... remember the idea beats the details ... the best type of response that U can get is ... "Oh ... like this lah ... so simple!"
Inverted Pyramid approach	In communications - talk & write ... there can be millions of approaches ... but i realise that all are composed of 2 extremes ... like the tension & compression ... push & pull ... structure capacity & exciting load ... the 2 extremes are: From general to detailed: pyramid approach --> from thin to thick From detailed to general: inverted pyramid approach --> from thick to thin In writing or talking ... u can give the big picture then the small ... like someone asks "Where U live?" ... i answer first "Earth" ... "where exactly?" ... "Equator" ... "Singapore" ... "Northern" .... this is the pyramid approach --> suitable for conceptual understanding, then applying that concept to specific uses --> present in research (tutorial level) If u give details then infer the big picture ... like someone asks "Where U going to?" ... i answer first "taking bus home" ... "to do?" ... "do homework" ... "finish my course" ... "complete my degree" ... "start career" ... "realise my dreams" ... this is the inverted pyramid approach --> suitable for explorative inference of present conditions, then expanding those conditions to broad concepts --> present in most complex situations (transformational research) Both are inherently conflicting & opposing, yet it is incomplete to emphasize only the pyramid approach ... to be engineer is to be a professional ... to be a professional is to be conversant with both extremes ... is to pierce through the infinite combinations of both approaches ... is to be methodical according to yr present situations ... is to be on Doctrine of stepping stones: to get things done fully & completely ... all the inherent steps must be carried out ... identify all the necessary yet shortest path of stones ... never try to skip stones (tasks) that are essential Then, applying the doctrine ... improvise yr own method, yr own style ... in how U combine the 2 extremes ... from ideas to (messy) set-up & results to simple conclusions ... from our wishes/hopes/dreams to our toil/sweat/worry/difficulties to our finale/methodologies/findings/conclusions ... in the words of my lecturer (Sam GE ShuZi) ... "from thin to thick to thin" ... so U see ... it is using pyramid approach to start off & then the inverted pyramid approach to round up ... With this, U can see that this path of research is nothing more than what we have felt all along ... ever since young ... from sports to learning to studies ... hence, take this period of training as polishing this skill ... where university has been described as the breeding ground for ideas as well as failures ... i hope that U stand aside from the worry of failure or success ... & thoroughly soak up this rather unique research experience where U toil through the thin then thick & finally thin again ... then repeating this ... what we get is simply a unique chain of (thin-thick-thin) for each of us ... when we finally acknowledge that life as an engineer is really just these ... we begin not to feel worried or nervous ... we start calming & treating these & every engineering else as serenity 平常 ... & what we realise is the true meaning of ... from dust to dust … 本來無一物, 何處惹塵埃
In summary	I have highlighted the following to U: 3 help: Seek people Seek methods Seek papers, texts 3 types of papers: General research papers Specific complementary papers Specific contrary papers 5 research techniques: Theorem of Least Work Principle of Priority Doctrine of Stepping Stones Way of fundamentals TRIZ 2 comm. Approaches: Pyramid approach Inverted pyramid approach