Researchers have ideas and concepts that they want to explore but cannot under any institution. Therefore going for that independently sounds like a good idea but what stops people from doing that is their lack of planning and motivation. Independent research sounds appealing because there is lesser interference of external forces. Here you are the only one in command, you have all the ideas and you are the one working on those by yourself. But, you may face a few hurdles too, such as improper time management, insufficient funding, difficulty in getting approval from the review board etc. You can find call for papers about this issue on various websites. Here is a proper guide to build your research. Let us discuss a few ways by which you can cross the hurdles of independent research more efficiently.
- Brainstorming – You should never jump into anything without having it fully planned in your head especially when it comes to research. It is natural for researchers to keep getting ideas but you need to see which of these ideas can actually be materialized. A few failed attempts are okay but make sure they don’t take too much of your valuable time. Once you come up with a good idea that can be worked with you will find yourself motivated enough to take the next steps carefully and rationally.
- Secure Your Own Research Funding – One of the most challenging things for a researcher is securing the funding for their work. When you are going solo, money can be a huge issue. As you are not working under any particular person or institution, there is no one to provide but yourself. To move steadily without any financial strain, do talk to your fellow researchers and seniors who have independently received grants. Get all your doubts clarified and develop an effective strategy to secure your research funding.
- Networking – When you are working alone, you have no big names linked with your research therefore no publishers are waiting to publish your paper. When you have no one to support you, what do you do? You build connections. Attend seminars, webinars or any academic gatherings, be it as a speaker or just as a listener. Make yourself a known face. Pitch your paper once in a while to catch people’s attention. This is nothing but marketing yourself. Any creator, in any field, needs to make his name familiar. Who knows, probably in one of these places you will find a sponsor willing to publish your research.
- Time Management – You should never take time in a casual way just because you are working independently. The archenemy of any independent project is procrastination. If you don’t defeat this foe there is a high chance that your research will never get to see the light of the publishing world. Know how much time you spend on what. Once you get a topic for your research, start finding the funders. Do not take much time on anything. If you face a lack of information, materials or references on the internet, try other sources. Do not forget for a second that the clock is ticking.
- Access to Information – In independent research gathering information can be a tricky thing. But as you are working around the clock, you cannot spend much time on one thing. Therefore when the internet does not see enough, when you cannot find the needed references, check other places like libraries, open sources, articles, journals etc. There are even topic-specific academic journals with just the kind of detailed and up to date research you need for your own project. You have everything right in front of you if you know exactly how to find them.
To become a successful researcher you need to be a good planner first. Plan every step carefully and work strategically instead of working hard. Everyone works hard when it comes to their goals but what stands one out is their ability to strategize. Use your time well. It is more important than money.
