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The course gives a broad overview of how to become and advance as a researcher. It covers a wide range of topics, from the historical development of scientific thought to research methodology, as well as the practicalities of publication, research funding, evaluation, and advancement in a researcher's career. It also emphasises the ethical dimensions of research. Although the course discusses scientific research in general, it focuses on the field of Information and Communication Science and Technology in particular.
The course is primarily aimed at students who are conducting research and new researchers. It may also be of interest to senior researchers in their roles as supervisors or mentors, as well as to anyone who is curious about how scientific research works. The following are the main topics covered in the course:
- Research, its historical development, and its role in society;
- Research methodology;
- The products of research: publications and artifacts;
- The professional researcher: roles and career progress;
- Research evaluation, from peer review to bibliometrics; - Research ethics.
Syllabus :
1. WEEK 1 - Research and its context
- Introduction to the course and to the first week
- What is science? What is scientific research?
- Scientific progress and the progress of society
- Research, innovation and public engagement
2. WEEK 2 - Research Methodology
- Introduction to research methodology
- The scientific method: a historical perspective
- Lesson learned from the history of science
- The logic of scientific discoveries
- The limits of discoveries
- Experimental validation of research results
3. WEEK 3 - The products of research: publications and beyond
- Introduction to research diffusion
- Writing a research paper
- The peer review process
- The publication world
- Other forms of diffusion
- Towards open access
4. WEEK 4 - The researcher's progress
- Introduction: am I fit for research?
- Researcher in formation
- Acquiring and mastering the necessary skills
- The indipendent researcher
5. WEEK 5 - Evaluating research
- Introduction to evaluation
- Evaluation of researchers in their career
- Quantitative research evaluation via bibliometrics
- Conclusion and recommendations
6. WEEK 6 - Research ethics
- Introduction and some general principles
- Additional general principles
- Research ethics pragmatics
- Topic specific ethical questions
