How do you design research that is both creative and rigorous?

I usually start with the data. Exploratory data analysis is key. When I have a good idea about the consistency of the data and the questions addressed in the dataset, I evaluate some potential research questions through nonparametric regression analysis. This will help choose the right research questions and establish the following research hypotheses.

I agree, but in my view before formulating the research question, it is important to define the purpose of the research. This would help you to identify the philosophical underpinnings of the research such as ontological and epistemological position of research.

I agree I feel like the number one best way to gain experience is by attending conferences and meeting those who are experts working alongside you. Some ways to define your research question are: 1. To choose a broad topic and then to narrow down 2. Ask open ended questions to let your thoughts flow and by the end of the session, it will give you more clarity 3. Conduct preliminary research. Before you define your question, it would be better to understand the current state of knowledge in your chosen area.\ 4. Seek feedback from professionals.

Some ways to define your research question are: 1. To choose a broad topic and then to narrow down 2. Ask open ended questions to let your thoughts flow and by the end of the session, it will give you more clarity 3.Conduct preliminary research. Before you define your question, it would be better to understand the current state of knowledge in your chosen area.\ 4.Seek feedback from professionals

I think the key is to identify what one is really interested in answering. Research is daunting, and is a huge commitment, often with a lot of failures along the way. A very clear thought process of what we aim to answer helps immensely. As we go down the path of designing experiments and interpreting the results, one has to mentally knit the storyline of the research. Then its about writing and presentation, which is a technical skillset. Bottomline is, interest and a clear though process are the keys to a great story.

In problem solving oriented fields, original research directions may look like rough sketches of promising approaches to solving research problems. In deciding how to tackle a problem, approach ideas playfully but systematically. Start with the simplest imaginable candidate solution. Try not to fall in love with ideas but engage with them to assess why they wouldn't work with light research like ballpark estimation and literature review (if they are good, maybe someone has tried them). Talk to your colleagues. Pinning down the problems of early ideas is not a failure but part of the fun. You end up with more mature ideas that have a higher chance of solving the problem or failing in an insightful way with implications for the next attempt.

This is highly subjective based on the nature of research and to some degree, individual personality. While there are research areas which are highly streamlined (you do this, get this, write this), top notch research is most often similar to groping in the dark. One has no clue what method to use, what tools to use and what they would get out of it. In my perspective, designing the method is about trying something, see whether it answers the question, and if not, try something else until the method really answers the question asked. In this regard, personal experience or supervisor's wisdom is really helpful in saving precious time.

- nowadays a blend of many research methodologies enables better support towards the research hypothesis. This way, research can be validated from various different angles even if one specific research method has weaker convincing power.

I think researchers should know and differentiate what you need to communicate, either methods or socio-political new ideas.s

The best research methods are application (X) or problem (X) specific. As I mentioned earlier, if you have this problem you want to research or an application you plan to build, the right research methods are going to be thoughtfully composed with ink or graphite on paper as follows: ☐ First, you will write what am I going to do about X. ☐ Second, you will write why you decided to do what about X. ☐ Third, you will write how you will do what about X, successfully. Certainly, there's more finesse and talent that goes into it. The AI hasn't taken all of your jobs yet Mr. Musk. I personally, as an Epi, believe we as practitioners are only as good as the methods we devise to solve real public health problems. That training takes seasoning.

In biological research projects, it is not possible to design an accurate research design before the execution phase. The research plan can be changed as the project progress.

- For studies with more collaborative environment, research design can also be agile with continuous testing and improvements.

- Most importantly, replicability of the findings is key to the quality of research. Standards can be further supplemented with improved quality and hidden failures.

To help bring expand your mind and discover potential new knowledge, I find it useful to use a mixed methods approach, using some more traditional qualitative and quantitative methods and then throwing in a more experimental and creative method to give your research some edge. This allows for triangulation and potential innovation to coexist.

It is important to learn as much as you can from your data. I have found in my field of work that good and bad data both give me surprising insight into the systems or samples that I am investigating. This has often led me to come up with areas for future research. Scientific rigor is critical, and can be achieved using statistics.

- Data analysis also requires unbiased data selection. Outliers should be reported to better formulate the possibilities of uncommon output.

When it comes to analyzing data, don't be like a goat. You see, they also are constantly analyzing data and making the wrong decision. Just the other day, the data was hay, and I put six bales on one side of the barn and two on the other side. Where did the goats go to eat first? Exactly, the side where I had just placed the two bales. Why, that's counterfactual you say? It's true, that the goats will abandon the six bales to eat the two every time because the two bales are newly placed, and so they end up trading more of the same hay for less. To avoid my goat's plight, before you analyze the data, decide ahead of time, whichever side has more hay, that's where we'll go -- because there's more. Thus ends the lesson🐐

Effective scientific communication is increasingly vital in today's research landscape. Beyond traditional dissemination through papers and presentations, there's a growing acknowledgment of the need to engage a broader audience to bridge the science-society gap, fostering scientific literacy and public involvement. By connecting with this broader audience, researchers can share discoveries, inspire discussions, and advocate for evidence-based policies. I think communicating your research becomes an opportunity, not just a responsibility. It translates complex science into actionable insights, dispels misinformation, and aids decision-making, extending scientific influence beyond the lab and creating a lasting societal impact.

Who needs to know and what is the best way to engage with them? Who else should know? How do you reach them? Why should they use their precious time listening to you?

For an innovative research design: 1. Clarify & Challenge: Define your research question, identifying gaps and audacious angles. 2. Measure & Innovate: Choose precise methods but incorporate new techniques. 3. Control & Synergy: Handle confounding factors while integrating diverse variables. 4. Scale & Algorithmic Depth: Match methods to phenomenon scale, adding unique algorithms for analysis. 5. Qualitative & Ethical Ingenuity: Include subjective elements and think creatively about ethics. 6. Interdisciplinary & Surprise: Consult experts from various fields and throw in an unexpected twist. 7. Ethics & Peer Review: Maintain ethical standards and invite critiques from diverse experts. And if it clicks, tip your hat to Wigner.

Doing good research is like cooking a new recipe. You need a clear idea (or question) of what you want to make, a plan (or design) of how to make it, the right ingredients (or data), and a method to make sure you did it right (or validate the results). You've got to be creative - maybe trying new flavors or ingredients. But you also have to follow the cooking (or research) basics to make sure it turns out well. In the end, it’s important to share your recipe (or findings) with others in a way they can understand and maybe even try to cook (or research) themselves. So, good research is a mix of trying new things but also sticking to tried-and-true methods, ensuring the findings are fun, interesting, and reliable.