Research is always top of mind here. Princeton is a research university. Princeton faculty are engaged in research. Princeton students complete independent research to graduate. These are just some of the ways that we collectively understand what research is as Princeton. Yet, the images that can come to mind when thinking about “research” are quite limited. The idea of research conjures up images of bubbling chemicals and expensive technical equipment. That picture of grueling lab work is illustrative of some disciplines, but it’s largely immaterial to the work of many researchers. This can lead to a misunderstanding of what skills are necessary to succeed in research environments. Getting involved with research is daunting enough without confusion about the skill set required. This past summer, when I worked in public health research, I identified core skills that are critical, no matter what your research experience looks like.
The first of these skills is a willingness to communicate. The research process is all about asking questions, and that extends to each person working on a project. It’s critical to get clarification about confusing systems and complex processes. This can strengthen your understanding of your work while also enabling you to play a more active role as a team member. This summer, I found myself constantly asking for explanations on how the database worked and how to manage enrollment data. Had I not done this, I never would have been able to correct a series of errors in the project’s mailing list. While asking questions that seem obvious might feel silly, it saves time and energy in the end. Jumping onto a project involves an incredible learning curve and communication is one of the most important ways of rounding it.
Staying organized throughout the research experience is just as critical. The idea of staying organized isn’t just limited to keeping up with the data you collect. It also involves keeping track of what you’ve worked on during the project. I found this out during my public health research, when I had to piece together when I had interviewed different participants weeks after the calls. Of course this type of organization doesn’t necessarily mean writing down every second, but the idea is that in a month, or even a year, there is something tangible there that can be referenced. This can be useful for the project as a whole in a variety of ways. It can make it easier to track where procedural errors might have emerged, or what aspects of the project deserve clearer focus.
Above all, the most important skill that research of any kind requires is patience. At some point during the research process, something will go wrong. And probably, more than a little wrong. An article that was recently published will appear halfway through the writing process that invalidates a core argument. A participant will become hard to reach, jeopardizing crucial target points. Or, any number of things can and perhaps will happen. In those situations, it’s important to retain composure and prepare to adapt in responsive and creative ways. These situations are undeniable tests of patience, but they can be navigated by communicating with team members and utilizing an established organizational structure.
While these are just a few skills I was able to recognize during my public health research, I am confident they can be applied to all types of inquiry. Whether the goal is a detailed literary analysis or a complex investigation into social structures, these core skills are crucial to develop. While every niche of research will undoubtedly require specific information and practices, all good research can be bolstered by these transferable skills.
— Stanley Stoutamire Jr., Social Sciences Correspondent
