1. A problem is a question, not a topic
What would be an answer?
What would you like to know when the research is over?
How would you know when you succeeded?
2. A good problem is one which
Someone cares about the answer
The present state-of-the-art makes research feasible
3. Where do problems come from
Real-world issues
Scientific literature
- Be familiar with it
- Remember that everyone else reads it to
- Avoid faddish research
4. Solving a problem
All reports are progress reports (so publish now. Not when all the research is completed
Every good problem leads to more problems ... never ending
5. Planning
Vagueness is inherent in research: Two items should be clear
- Clear criteria for what an answer will look like
- Have a plan for what to do tomorrow (that is, exactly what you plan to accomplish in the next 24 hours)