Day 22, Fall of 506 AV
Morning
MCL4
Morning
MCL4
"Research, student Eridanus, is the bedrock to all progress in science and magic!" Wejerx declared. The stout and eccentric professor had been expounding on various theories of Magecraft to his apprentice-mentee-student in the comfortable confines of what seemed like their second home - the Magecraft Laboratory Complex in what was affectionately called the Toadstool Ring.
This declaration somehow brought yet another passionate spark into the teacher's eyes, and he stared at his student feverishly for several moments, before his jawline tightened as he reached an internal decision.
"Exactly!" He announced, declaring more to himself than to the student. Eridanus, of course, was used to these strange moments where the professor conversed with himself half the time in silence and half the time aloud, and he simply waited for the inevitable conclusion and explanation.
"Of course! Student Eridanus, today I shall impart upon you the proper methods of 'Research'! Only with this-" He began to grab a chalk and to scribble a list of words upon the board, "-only with this, will you be able to transit properly into a respectable Magecrafter. We are not hocus pocus emotional namby-pambies like other disciplines-"
Eridanus could only think of Reimancy to which Wejerx had often referred to as 'unstable' and 'unscientific'.
"-oh no we don't. We are a science, and this is where we take our pride in! Solid, predictable, calculator results. The only fault in any failed operation is yours! Because of missing data, because of missing understanding."
Speaking more to himself now than to his perplexed apprentice, the magecrafter continued as he jotted down words, the chalk scratching frantically upon the black canvass.
"All of our magecraft theories are gathered by Research, and thus you must know and understand the proper steps! Where's your notebook?" Wejerx stopped momentarily as he demanded.
As if woken up from a confused stupor, Eridanus jolted slightly as the attention brought him to attention, and he withdrew a worn looking handbook from his robes, his hands patting the nearby table in a blind manner until he found the quill and ink accessories he expected to find lying about in a haphazard manner.
"Yes prof," The vantha reported dutifully, his quill positioned above his opened notebook as he prepared to take notes.
"Research, as you must know, is a science developed by scientists. That's right, not those sorcerors always talking about controlling your emotions and feelings. No, research was developed by the logical mind, by gadgeteers, by architects, by alchemists and by magecrafters. Over the years it has been refined beautifully to an optimal structure, and by following this structure only then can your work be complete, and for it to be considered reliable and dependable for other scientists who may require your research results to continue their own."
Wejerx then underlined the first word in the list after his initial preamble.
"First you want to identify the problem. What are you trying to find? Whether Magecraft can harness the effects of Hypnotism?"
"Sir, Riles & Marley in 495 - rather recently, in fact - already attempted to-" Eridanus interrupted.
"Oh gosh! I know I know. It's more Riles than Marley anyway, and god knows how many times Riles tried to get me to Reminisce while in the midst of an expensive operation," Wejerx harrumphed impatiently, his mouth curling up in distaste as he recalled that particular memory. "In any case, I was just using an example. You want to find out something, which is why you want to conduct Research! So that's your first step."
[Steps to Conduct Research in a Structurally Sound Manner
1) Identification of Research Question]
The vantha's quill scratched busily even as the professor spoke.
"After that, you want to obviously find out if anyone has already answered that question! It would seem silly to embark on everything and realize that the answer's already out there, isn't it? Now using our very same example," Wejerx sneaked a glance at the student who was focusing on writing and hid a crafty smile, "Using our very same example, we would then realize that Riles & Marley had already done so! So BAM there goes your research question. Problem solved. Now, on the other hand, say if your research problem builds up on something similar but not quite the same, Riles & Marley's research would then come in useful for you to analyze in order to figure out a proper plan and approach. And the similarity in topic will help you to assume useful assumptions already proven in their paper to let you progress reasonably without being held back by constraints or problems unrelated to your main research problem."
[2) Literature Review of Existing Works]
"Next, you'd want to answer WHY? So what if the sky is blue? So what if the third harmonic chamber of a resounding clatter degrades on a quadratic basis between each consecutive step? You must figure out why you want the research done. The University is not rich enough to fund research based on pure curiosity. There needs to be some sort of practical application or relation to our field and work - that is, to further our technology and understanding of Magecraft. At the very least, you must convince us that your research is worth something. So in the latter, we want to find out why because-"
"Because in 330 AV, Nogare decided that the quadratic degradation proved to be the bottleneck in determining the maximum step capacity of a to-be-enchanted item in Resonant Harmonics, and by investigating the phenomenon we can hopefully discover a method to which the degradation can be arrested such that Resonant Harmonics would be on par with pre-Valterrian magecraft methods," Eridanus chanted, the knowledge gained from numerous late nights at the library pouring over musty texts.
"Very good, student Eridanus. That is the purpose of your third step. To find out the purpose of your Research."
[3) Justifying Research Purpose and Potential Applications]
"Now that we have our basic premise, it's time to go deep into the real meat of the issue. With your problem that you needed answering, with all the associated works of others that you can build upon, and with your WHY outlined and figured out, you should be able to go into the details of what you need to be solved. Surely by now you should have a hypothesis - an answer that you suspect may be able to answer your question. It may be right, it may be wrong, it doesn't matter because your research will support or invalidate it. But you need this hypothesis, because it will help you to formulate smaller questions that when combined can help you solve your main question."
[4) Formulate Research Hypothesis and Identify Sub-Problems]
"After you know what you're going to do, you actually do it. You will need data. Empirical data. That can only be gained through conducting Experimental Research. Of course, those artsy pansies over at the other wing will say that not all data has to be empirical. But for us science, it is a must. If you're not solving your problems at Step 2 and realized it only at this step then you're doing somnething wrong," Wejerx shook his head derisively.
"You conduct operations, you take data. At this point it's not your job to judge or to make conclusions. Impartial collection of data is the most important, regardless if it supports of invalidates your hypothesis. Plan your operations, and collect as much data as possible. From all that I've taught you about the various observation tools in this Lab, and together with your proficiency in Auristics, you should already know how to."
[5) Data Collection Through Empirical Foray]
"Now, after you've collected your data, you sit down and you sift through everything. Organize, classify, categorize. Try to find patterns, try to find anything relating to your hypothesis. Maybe you might find another phenomena you didn't plan to encounter. Quite a few accidental discoveries and inventions were made this way - by stumbling into seemingly random blocks of data. This is easily one of the most important steps. This is where you put your inferential, analytical and logical skills to use."
[6) Analysis and Interpretation of Data]
"Finally, if you managed to discover something, you write it all down in a report - which I'm sure you should be familiar with by now - and outline the the entire process of your research in a proper, dependable and understandable manner. And you're done! In years to come someone may even cite you in their own research!"
[7) Consolidate and Finalize Research]
"Professor, what happens if you don't get anything substantial?" Eridanus questioned innocently.
"Why then, do you want to show the board who just funded your research inconclusive results?" Wejerx countered.
The vantha shook his head slowly.
"There is a difference between insubstantial results, inconclusive results and negative results. One is a fault of the researcher due to a lack of meticulousness, one is the lack of any conceivable pattern, and one is the existence of an opposite effect. Remember, anything is better than uncertainty. In fact, certainty over uncertainty would be acceptable as well. Always strive for predictability, even if it's predictability of unpredictability."
"So if I'm unsatisfied, I go back to Step 5 and conduct more experiments?"
"No, you go back to Step 4 because it means that your subproblems are skewed wrongly. Think about how you can solve it and redefine and reclarify your subproblems, THEN you conduct your experiments with respect to your new hypothesis or sub problems."
[Strive for predictability, re-do from Step 4 if results are unsatisfactory.]
"That reminds me, the University should be expecting deliverables around this time as well. Which brings me to your research question..." Wejerx rubbed his hands energetically.
Eridanus groaned.
More late nights at the library and lab was in order.
This declaration somehow brought yet another passionate spark into the teacher's eyes, and he stared at his student feverishly for several moments, before his jawline tightened as he reached an internal decision.
"Exactly!" He announced, declaring more to himself than to the student. Eridanus, of course, was used to these strange moments where the professor conversed with himself half the time in silence and half the time aloud, and he simply waited for the inevitable conclusion and explanation.
"Of course! Student Eridanus, today I shall impart upon you the proper methods of 'Research'! Only with this-" He began to grab a chalk and to scribble a list of words upon the board, "-only with this, will you be able to transit properly into a respectable Magecrafter. We are not hocus pocus emotional namby-pambies like other disciplines-"
Eridanus could only think of Reimancy to which Wejerx had often referred to as 'unstable' and 'unscientific'.
"-oh no we don't. We are a science, and this is where we take our pride in! Solid, predictable, calculator results. The only fault in any failed operation is yours! Because of missing data, because of missing understanding."
Speaking more to himself now than to his perplexed apprentice, the magecrafter continued as he jotted down words, the chalk scratching frantically upon the black canvass.
"All of our magecraft theories are gathered by Research, and thus you must know and understand the proper steps! Where's your notebook?" Wejerx stopped momentarily as he demanded.
As if woken up from a confused stupor, Eridanus jolted slightly as the attention brought him to attention, and he withdrew a worn looking handbook from his robes, his hands patting the nearby table in a blind manner until he found the quill and ink accessories he expected to find lying about in a haphazard manner.
"Yes prof," The vantha reported dutifully, his quill positioned above his opened notebook as he prepared to take notes.
"Research, as you must know, is a science developed by scientists. That's right, not those sorcerors always talking about controlling your emotions and feelings. No, research was developed by the logical mind, by gadgeteers, by architects, by alchemists and by magecrafters. Over the years it has been refined beautifully to an optimal structure, and by following this structure only then can your work be complete, and for it to be considered reliable and dependable for other scientists who may require your research results to continue their own."
Wejerx then underlined the first word in the list after his initial preamble.
"First you want to identify the problem. What are you trying to find? Whether Magecraft can harness the effects of Hypnotism?"
"Sir, Riles & Marley in 495 - rather recently, in fact - already attempted to-" Eridanus interrupted.
"Oh gosh! I know I know. It's more Riles than Marley anyway, and god knows how many times Riles tried to get me to Reminisce while in the midst of an expensive operation," Wejerx harrumphed impatiently, his mouth curling up in distaste as he recalled that particular memory. "In any case, I was just using an example. You want to find out something, which is why you want to conduct Research! So that's your first step."
[Steps to Conduct Research in a Structurally Sound Manner
1) Identification of Research Question]
The vantha's quill scratched busily even as the professor spoke.
"After that, you want to obviously find out if anyone has already answered that question! It would seem silly to embark on everything and realize that the answer's already out there, isn't it? Now using our very same example," Wejerx sneaked a glance at the student who was focusing on writing and hid a crafty smile, "Using our very same example, we would then realize that Riles & Marley had already done so! So BAM there goes your research question. Problem solved. Now, on the other hand, say if your research problem builds up on something similar but not quite the same, Riles & Marley's research would then come in useful for you to analyze in order to figure out a proper plan and approach. And the similarity in topic will help you to assume useful assumptions already proven in their paper to let you progress reasonably without being held back by constraints or problems unrelated to your main research problem."
[2) Literature Review of Existing Works]
"Next, you'd want to answer WHY? So what if the sky is blue? So what if the third harmonic chamber of a resounding clatter degrades on a quadratic basis between each consecutive step? You must figure out why you want the research done. The University is not rich enough to fund research based on pure curiosity. There needs to be some sort of practical application or relation to our field and work - that is, to further our technology and understanding of Magecraft. At the very least, you must convince us that your research is worth something. So in the latter, we want to find out why because-"
"Because in 330 AV, Nogare decided that the quadratic degradation proved to be the bottleneck in determining the maximum step capacity of a to-be-enchanted item in Resonant Harmonics, and by investigating the phenomenon we can hopefully discover a method to which the degradation can be arrested such that Resonant Harmonics would be on par with pre-Valterrian magecraft methods," Eridanus chanted, the knowledge gained from numerous late nights at the library pouring over musty texts.
"Very good, student Eridanus. That is the purpose of your third step. To find out the purpose of your Research."
[3) Justifying Research Purpose and Potential Applications]
"Now that we have our basic premise, it's time to go deep into the real meat of the issue. With your problem that you needed answering, with all the associated works of others that you can build upon, and with your WHY outlined and figured out, you should be able to go into the details of what you need to be solved. Surely by now you should have a hypothesis - an answer that you suspect may be able to answer your question. It may be right, it may be wrong, it doesn't matter because your research will support or invalidate it. But you need this hypothesis, because it will help you to formulate smaller questions that when combined can help you solve your main question."
[4) Formulate Research Hypothesis and Identify Sub-Problems]
"After you know what you're going to do, you actually do it. You will need data. Empirical data. That can only be gained through conducting Experimental Research. Of course, those artsy pansies over at the other wing will say that not all data has to be empirical. But for us science, it is a must. If you're not solving your problems at Step 2 and realized it only at this step then you're doing somnething wrong," Wejerx shook his head derisively.
"You conduct operations, you take data. At this point it's not your job to judge or to make conclusions. Impartial collection of data is the most important, regardless if it supports of invalidates your hypothesis. Plan your operations, and collect as much data as possible. From all that I've taught you about the various observation tools in this Lab, and together with your proficiency in Auristics, you should already know how to."
[5) Data Collection Through Empirical Foray]
"Now, after you've collected your data, you sit down and you sift through everything. Organize, classify, categorize. Try to find patterns, try to find anything relating to your hypothesis. Maybe you might find another phenomena you didn't plan to encounter. Quite a few accidental discoveries and inventions were made this way - by stumbling into seemingly random blocks of data. This is easily one of the most important steps. This is where you put your inferential, analytical and logical skills to use."
[6) Analysis and Interpretation of Data]
"Finally, if you managed to discover something, you write it all down in a report - which I'm sure you should be familiar with by now - and outline the the entire process of your research in a proper, dependable and understandable manner. And you're done! In years to come someone may even cite you in their own research!"
[7) Consolidate and Finalize Research]
"Professor, what happens if you don't get anything substantial?" Eridanus questioned innocently.
"Why then, do you want to show the board who just funded your research inconclusive results?" Wejerx countered.
The vantha shook his head slowly.
"There is a difference between insubstantial results, inconclusive results and negative results. One is a fault of the researcher due to a lack of meticulousness, one is the lack of any conceivable pattern, and one is the existence of an opposite effect. Remember, anything is better than uncertainty. In fact, certainty over uncertainty would be acceptable as well. Always strive for predictability, even if it's predictability of unpredictability."
"So if I'm unsatisfied, I go back to Step 5 and conduct more experiments?"
"No, you go back to Step 4 because it means that your subproblems are skewed wrongly. Think about how you can solve it and redefine and reclarify your subproblems, THEN you conduct your experiments with respect to your new hypothesis or sub problems."
[Strive for predictability, re-do from Step 4 if results are unsatisfactory.]
"That reminds me, the University should be expecting deliverables around this time as well. Which brings me to your research question..." Wejerx rubbed his hands energetically.
Eridanus groaned.
More late nights at the library and lab was in order.
