Scientific Method Steps for Experiments

This is probably the most ignored aspect of PhD training. (I bet many of you were told to just read some papers…) No. Finding gaps in research isn’t as easy as reading a few papers and figuring out what they missed or did wrong. That’s what I call “review and correct papers.” These add very little to answering a specific research gap. To find an exciting research gap, I recommend to: 1. Discuss research landscape with your supervisor(s) - they should be subject matter experts and aware of main trends and issues in the field. 2. Review the recent review articles related to your subject of study - this will provide thorough overview of current challenges, issues, gaps. 3. Review the work published in your subject and similar subjects - this will provide you with understanding of what other people are doing, but also will allow for cross-pollination of ideas. 4. Write critical literature review (or review paper) - this will consolidate the current research related to your subject of study and will help you understand the aspects that need doing. 5. As you g through reviews, papers, and write your own literature review, always schedule regular meetings with supervisors (or other co-authors). This discussion is critical to verifying your thinkng, identifying and prioritising research gaps. What would you add? #science #scientist #research #chemicalengineering #publishing #professor #phd

For students and fresh researchers who want to start their journey in systematic reviews, I created these simple notes to break down the process into easy and manageable steps. Many beginners find systematic reviews overwhelming, but understanding the basic workflow can make the process much easier. 🔹 Research Question 🔹 Keywords & Search Strategy 🔹 Databases 🔹 Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria 🔹 PRISMA Flow Diagram 🔹 Quality Appraisal 🔹 Data Extraction 🔹 Synthesis & Writing These notes are designed as a quick guide to help early-career researchers understand the fundamental stages of conducting a systematic review. Learning research becomes easier when complex concepts are simplified into clear and practical steps. I hope these notes will be helpful for students, interns, and aspiring researchers beginning their evidence synthesis journey. #SystematicReview #ResearchMethods #ResearchSkills #AcademicResearch #EvidenceBasedPractice #LiteratureReview #ResearchEducation #StudentResearch #EarlyCareerResearcher #PsychologyResearch #ResearchTraining #PRISMA #QualityAppraisal #DataExtraction #ResearchCommunity #LearningTogether #HumairaAkbar

My supervisor rejected my literature review 3 times. The 4th time, it got approved without a single comment. Here's the exact 7-step framework that changed everything 👇 ――――――――――――――――― The mistake most researchers make? They summarize papers. A literature review is not a summary. It's a synthesis — and there's a massive difference. ――――――――――――――――― 𝟭. DEFINE RESEARCH SCOPE Write a 2-3 page outline first. Cover: research question, knowledge gaps, target audience, significance. No scope = no direction. No direction = rejection. 𝟮. LITERATURE SEARCH Build a systematic search strategy. Database selection + keyword mapping + inclusion criteria. If your search isn't structured, your review won't be either. 𝟯. CRITICAL ANALYSIS For every key paper: assess methodology, evaluate findings, score quality. Don't just read. Judge. 𝟰. FINDINGS SYNTHESIS Create a synthesis matrix. Identify themes → map relationships → note contradictions → spot gaps. This is exactly where most researchers fall apart. 𝟱. RESEARCH BLUEPRINT Build a 5-7 page outline showing your theoretical framework, argument structure, evidence mapping, and research positioning. Write the skeleton before the body. 𝟲. WRITING AND REVISION First draft → peer review → supervisor review → final manuscript. Multiple drafts aren't weakness. They're seriousness. 𝟳. ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT Share via conferences, journal submissions, seminars, and networks. Research that stays in your drawer helps no one. ――――――――――――――――― The researchers who get published don't write more. They write smarter. Save this framework. Your next literature review will thank you. 🔖 Which step do you struggle with most? Drop it below 👇 #LiteratureReview #AcademicWriting #ResearchWriting #PhDLife #Dissertation #Thesis #ResearchMethodology #ScientificWriting #AcademicSuccess #PublishOrPerish #ResearchTips #HigherEducation #ResearchCrave #PeerReview #JournalPublication #TheoreticalFramework #KnowledgeGap #GrowthMindset #ResearchSkills #LifelongLearning

Literature Review Guidelines: Do's and Don'ts DO: Demonstrate a thoughtful synthesis of relevant material about your key constructs. Aim to integrate and analyse the existing literature coherently and comprehensively, focusing on the aspects directly related to your research aim and objectives. DO NOT: ➜ Merely summarise sources without adding insightful analysis or synthesis. Instead, try to provide a coherent and integrated grasp of the body of information already known in your subject. ADDITIONALLY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU: ➜ Describe the gap in the literature that your topic highlights.   ➜ Show the state of current knowledge by presenting a clear picture of the current state of understanding in your research area. This means highlighting the most recent and significant contributions. This will demonstrate your awareness of the existing literature and its implications for your own work.   ➜ Emphasise themes and conflicts. To do this, summarise the current state of knowledge thoroughly and identify major themes, patterns, and disagreements in the literature. You can present a nuanced opinion by displaying opposing arguments or unsolved disputes.   ➜ Evaluate the literature by engaging in a critical analysis of the sources you include. Assess the strengths and limitations of the studies, the methodologies employed, and the credibility of the arguments. This evaluation will demonstrate your ability to assess the quality and reliability of the literature. ➜ Use your voice by ensuring your literature review accurately represents your viewpoint and distinctive contribution to the topic. While maintaining objectivity is crucial, your review should include your interpretations and ideas. Using your own voice can help people recognise your literature review as a unique contribution.   By following these recommendations, you can actually create a literature review showing your understanding of the field's body of knowledge and offering a valuable synthesis and critical assessment of the literature relevant to your study. Make no mistake, this is a tough piece of work. I wish you good luck and follow #thedalemethod. #highereducation #postgraduate

How do you turn 100+ papers into one coherent argument? I had no idea. Then I developed a 7-step system that changed everything. "This is an incoherent mess." My supervisor's words. About my literature review. I had read 100+ papers over 6 months. Notes scattered across 15 different documents. But I couldn't write a single coherent paragraph. I was drowning in information without direction. That's when I developed my 7-step system. It turned my chaos into my most cited publication. Here's the framework: 1. Define Your Research Focus Start with one clear question. Know exactly what's missing. 2. Search Systematically Right databases. Clear search terms. Document everything. 3. Evaluate What You Find Rate quality. Note strengths and weaknesses. Spot patterns. 4. Connect the Ideas Group by theme. Map how concepts link. See the bigger picture. 5. Create Your Framework Link theory to evidence. Build a logical argument flow. 6. Write and Refine Draft from your outline. Get feedback. Polish ruthlessly. 7. Share Your Work Present at conferences. Submit to journals. Build connections. The results: → My literature review became a standalone publication → 47 citations in the first year → Two international collaborations started from it → It became the foundation for my entire PhD The difference wasn't reading more papers. It was having a system to organise what I read. Most PhD students collect information without a plan. Smart students build knowledge systematically. I've broken down each step in detail in the visual below. Save it before your next literature review. --- Which step feels most challenging for you right now? #LiteratureReview #PhDLife

Are you drowning in papers,  but still unsure what your research is really about? For any researcher, the ability to critically review literature is a skill that underpins credible research and impactful publications. It's more than just summarizing articles; it's about systematically engaging with existing knowledge to advance your own work. ↳ Demonstrate knowledge & credibility: A robust literature review showcases your familiarity with past and current research, establishing your authority in the field. This involves accurately citing both classic and recent works, and crucially, reading the original material to avoid misrepresentation. ↳ Identify research gaps: Beyond knowing what exists, a critical review pinpoints what's missing – areas that haven't been examined, have been misstudied, or show inconsistent findings. Look for "calls for future research" from authors; these are golden opportunities for your own contributions. ↳ Generate specific research questions: The identified gaps serve as the foundation for developing precise, answerable research questions for your work. This ensures your research is focused and directly addresses unfulfilled areas in the literature. ↳ Position your research: Critically engaging with literature helps you understand the ongoing "conversations" within your discipline. This allows you to clearly demonstrate how your work contributes to existing debates and extends prior findings, effectively "positioning" your unique contribution. ↳ Develop theory: Whether working within quantitative or qualitative paradigms, a deep understanding of the literature is essential. It aids in developing testable hypotheses (quantitative) or interpreting data to construct new theories (qualitative), enriching the theoretical implications of your findings. The Three Stages of a Critical Review: ►Assemble: This involves identifying and obtaining relevant articles. Begin with key readings and systematically broaden your search using databases, keywords, and by exploring authors' cited works and profiles. ►Arrange: Organize the collected literature effectively. Employ electronic referencing systems (e.g., RefWorks, End-Note) and categorize articles based on themes or concepts. ►Assess: Evaluate the literature and discover new research opportunities. This stage moves beyond summarizing to deeply analyzing strengths, weaknesses, and neglected issues within the existing body of work, paving the way for your unique contributions. Have you found your own way of making literature reviews more strategic and impactful? _________________ 📌 This is Prof. Samira Hosseini. I’ve helped 12,000+ ambitious academics go from struggling with publishing papers in Q1 journals, limited visibility, and poor citation records to building a solid research trajectory and high 𝘩-index, gaining recognition & reputation, and positioning themselves as authorities in their disciplines.

Struggling to turn piles of papers into a strong, insightful literature review? This 5 C’s of writing a literature review (Cite, Compare, Contrast, Critique, Connect) narrow it down well. But how do you actually do these well in practice? Here’s how I teach my PhD mentees to move beyond theory and into action: 1. CITE: Be strategic, not exhaustive. ✅ Don’t just collect papers, curate them. Prioritize studies that shape the field, influence your thinking or set up your argument. 📌 Use citation mapping tools (like Connected Papers or ResearchRabbit to visually trace foundational works and identify key influencers fast. 2. COMPARE: Patterns matter more than papers. ✅ Group studies by themes: methods, theories, findings, not by author name or publication date. 📌 Create a simple comparison matrix in Excel, SciSpace or Anara to spot patterns across studies. You’ll see trends (and gaps) much faster this way. 3. CONTRAST: Don’t be afraid to question the giants. ✅ Highlight conflicting evidence, contradictory findings or evolving theories. This shows depth. 📌 Always ask yourself: Why might these studies disagree? Sample? Method? Context? Theory? This leads to stronger insights. 4. CRITIQUE: Not all papers deserve equal weight. ✅ Evaluate studies for quality, not just relevance. Weak studies make weak foundations. 📌 Apply a simple checklist when reading: clarity of aim, appropriateness of method, robustness of findings. Highlight these in your notes for easy reference. 5. CONNECT: Your review needs to lead somewhere. ✅ Your literature review is a bridge to your research question. 📌 After reviewing each group of studies, explicitly write: “What does this mean for my study?” This helps transition from review to rationale. A literature review is not about how much you’ve read. It’s about how clearly you can show your reader: 📍 What’s known 📍 What’s contested 📍 What’s missing 📍 And why your study matters PS: Which of these 5 C’s do YOU find the trickiest to apply? Share in the comments REPOST this to help others.

*** Conducting Literature Reviews *** ~ The world of literature reviews—a gateway to academic discovery and a chance to dive deep into existing research. Whether you're setting out to synthesize the findings of past studies or looking to identify gaps in knowledge, a well-conducted literature review is a cornerstone of scholarly work. Here's a step-by-step approach to help you get started: 1. Define Your Research Question: What specific topic or question are you exploring? Narrowing your focus will help guide your review. 2. Search for Relevant Literature: Use databases like PubMed, JSTOR, Google Scholar, and your institution's library resources. Keywords are your friends here. 3. Evaluate and Select Sources: Not all sources are created equal. Assess the relevance, credibility, and quality of the studies you find. 4. Organize Your Findings: Create a system to categorize your sources. You might use a spreadsheet, reference management software (like EndNote or Zotero), or note cards. 5. Summarize and Synthesize: Write summaries of each study, highlighting key findings and methodologies. Then, synthesize this information to identify patterns, trends, and gaps in the literature. 6. Write Your Review: Structure your literature review with an introduction, body (organized by themes or chronologically), and conclusion. Be sure to provide a critical analysis and not just a summary. 7. Cite Your Sources: Proper citation is crucial. Follow your field's appropriate style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). ~ Conclusion And remember, literature reviews are iterative. You might need to go back and search for more sources as you delve deeper into your topic. --- B. Noted

Part 13/14 Learning Beyond PhD | AI tools + human mind = Smart Lit Review Workflow Expecting an AI tool to write a literature review directly is unrealistic. The real value comes when you pinpoint the gaps, provide direction, and let AI accelerate the structure and drafting. It’s a combined effort: your critical thinking + AI’s speed = a useful, high-quality lit review. Let me share my tested workflow for literature reviews, combining AI tools + human mind: 1️⃣ Start with a seed paper → Use Litmaps or Connected Papers to build a network of related studies. 2️⃣ Write a 250-word brief capturing the study’s core idea, then use an AI tool to generate a lit-review skeleton (your framework). 3️⃣ Organize your sources in a reference manager like Paperpile, Zotero, or Mendeley. 4️⃣ Upload PDFs + notes into NotebookLM (or similar), now you have an assistant that “knows” both your sources and structure. 5️⃣ Draft the Lit Review by interacting with Google NotebookLM, weaving your insights with citations from your reference manager. 6️⃣ Polish the writing using Grammarly or Paperpal. 7️⃣ Get feedback from your co-authors and iterate. 8️⃣ If needed, iterate further with tools like Paper-Wizard, which provide AI-assisted feedback. 9️⃣ Match your work with a suitable outlet using free journal-finder tools. ✅ Submit! Remember: You do the thinking first; AI only accelerates the process. There’s no one-size-fits-all basket experiment; adapt and find what works best for your workflow. Share your experience.... #AItools #ResearchTips #AIForResearch #PhD

Most literature reviews are summaries. The best ones tell a story. A dynamic literature review shows three things 📍 What’s been done 📍 Where the field is headed and 📍 Where your work fits in. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to take your literature review from descriptive to directional ——————————————— 🔹 Laying the Groundwork → Why does this topic matter right now? → What’s the broader urgency or societal relevance? 🔹 Mapping the Terrain → What major questions remain unanswered? → Where are the bottlenecks or contradictions in past work? 🔹 Current Landscape → What do we already know? → Which studies shaped the field’s current direction? 🔹 Critical Examination → How were those studies done? → What methods worked or didn’t? 🔹 Research Gap → What’s still missing? → Is there a population, variable, or method no one has fully explored? 🔹 Your Path Forward → What will YOU contribute? → How does your research move the field beyond what’s already known? ——————————————— ♻️ Save and share this with anyone writing a thesis or PhD proposal. #LiteratureReview #PhDProposal