Keeping ideas private seems like a kludge forced by a a social problem.
In effect, you’re describing the brainstorming stage of idea creation. Experienced facilitators know that a successful brainstorm does not censor; Breakthroughs are often had when someone suggests an apparently silly avenue.
That self-serving professor is toxic for a research lab. It’s sad, most fields are full of people that don’t know to avoid in-depth criticism for new projects and ideas.
This post sounds more like rationalization than explanation. Sure, you may prefer to work alone and in silence. But your appeal to some psychological principles is a stretch.
Presumably, the same psychological principles would apply to me. But I always work in a noisy environment – I have the radio on, the TV on, maybe a YouTube video playing. And while working alone works for me in some cases – coding, for example, my genuinely _creative_ moments only occur when I’m in front of an audience of some sort trying to explain why I think the way I think.
What happens to me is the exact opposite of the principles you describe: I am more inclined to stick to a position _until_ I have to write it down, present it, or explain it. And my ideas are their strongest early on, and the criticism of experts is more likely to be placed on ‘hold’ until I’ve had the chance to work through the idea in detail.
I agree with you, it was the same with me. Commenters asked repeatedly why I don’t write about my own research, or if I do, it’s a summary of a paper I just put out. The reason is as you say. If I’m still thinking about something, I don’t want to commit to it before I’ve made up my mind. And if I’ve made up my mind, I’ll publish it.
That is not to say I don’t talk to anybody. I talk to colleagues or friends of whom I know they are supportive rather than disruptive to my thought processes. It just isn’t a public process, and the last thing I want is “feedback” from anonymous guys on my blog.
Hello Daniel, I have been lurking on your blog for a couple months and I value your perspective as a professional academic. I wanted to introduce myself and share my perspective.
I consider myself to be a “research blogger”, or, one who publicly shares their shaky new ideas. Every time I write an entry on my blog, I feel a twinge of fear that a bigger and stronger scientist might come and quash my ideas before they’ve really bloomed. But somehow, I am able to continue blogging. I suspect it’s because I have little to lose. For me, my research is a hobby whose continuation does not depend on previous success.
How many pictures of yourself do you have on your web site? 😉 It is cute (in a good way). I can reassure you: you can be a mom and a great researcher at the same time!
I think that research, like any other “serious” occupation is emotional. A lot of money and recognition is at stake.
In 2002, I presented a rather benign paper at some mathematical conference. My paper and my presentation were rather boring, I think… but I had people yell at me… I had people all red out of rage. Yet, all I did was to present theorems, and plot functions. I did not even try to upset people. My tone was never out of line. I was perfectly rigorous.
Reading your blog, I can see that you go through various emotions with respect to your research. I think that all graduate students (or prospective graduate students) go through very intense emotions regarding their research. But it does not stop there: the competition for professorship is fierce. Fighting for tenure is hard. Fighting for research grant can be very hard.
There is no denying that emotions play a very important role in research productivity. Do you pick a daring research topic, or do you stick with a boring but safe research topic? These are highly emotional questions… even when you have job security.
Stephaniesays:
Ha, ha — I get a lot of comments about my snapshot roll. Maybe it’s my way of showing that I’m having fun, too, while researching! As you say, emotions are an important part of research.
What’s your opinion of, say, the Google approach to research?
Sebsays:
A few of the best researchers I’ve been in contact with in my career liberally share hypotheses, conjectures, and tentative thoughts. Somehow they seem oblivious to the pressure you are referring to.
Examples would be helpful. (Beyond Stephen Downes!)
As for your avatar, just create an account at gravatar.com.
Seb Paquetsays:
Well, Gilles Brassard and Alain Tapp come to mind. Note that they share thoughts verbally. I should also add that they spent long hours alone in silence in front of a desk. Best of both worlds?
As for sharing research ideas in writing, nobody that I’ve met except for Stephen Downes. Edsger W. Dijkstra might be an example, though his EWD manuscripts contained complete lines of thought (most of the time). They were often bite-sized insights, though.
Keeping ideas private seems like a kludge forced by a a social problem.
In effect, you’re describing the brainstorming stage of idea creation. Experienced facilitators know that a successful brainstorm does not censor; Breakthroughs are often had when someone suggests an apparently silly avenue.
That self-serving professor is toxic for a research lab. It’s sad, most fields are full of people that don’t know to avoid in-depth criticism for new projects and ideas.
@Haran
It is not an immediate colleague who cause this delay in my research project. It is someone from a different school.
@Downes
This post sounds more like rationalization than explanation.
Granted.
my genuinely _creative_ moments only occur when I’m in front of an audience of some sort trying to explain why I think the way I think
I submit to you that this is hardly typical in science.
This post sounds more like rationalization than explanation. Sure, you may prefer to work alone and in silence. But your appeal to some psychological principles is a stretch.
Presumably, the same psychological principles would apply to me. But I always work in a noisy environment – I have the radio on, the TV on, maybe a YouTube video playing. And while working alone works for me in some cases – coding, for example, my genuinely _creative_ moments only occur when I’m in front of an audience of some sort trying to explain why I think the way I think.
What happens to me is the exact opposite of the principles you describe: I am more inclined to stick to a position _until_ I have to write it down, present it, or explain it. And my ideas are their strongest early on, and the criticism of experts is more likely to be placed on ‘hold’ until I’ve had the chance to work through the idea in detail.
Hi Daniel,
I agree with you, it was the same with me. Commenters asked repeatedly why I don’t write about my own research, or if I do, it’s a summary of a paper I just put out. The reason is as you say. If I’m still thinking about something, I don’t want to commit to it before I’ve made up my mind. And if I’ve made up my mind, I’ll publish it.
That is not to say I don’t talk to anybody. I talk to colleagues or friends of whom I know they are supportive rather than disruptive to my thought processes. It just isn’t a public process, and the last thing I want is “feedback” from anonymous guys on my blog.
And thanks for the link 🙂
Best,
B.
Perhaps there is no one universal formula.
Hello Daniel, I have been lurking on your blog for a couple months and I value your perspective as a professional academic. I wanted to introduce myself and share my perspective.
I consider myself to be a “research blogger”, or, one who publicly shares their shaky new ideas. Every time I write an entry on my blog, I feel a twinge of fear that a bigger and stronger scientist might come and quash my ideas before they’ve really bloomed. But somehow, I am able to continue blogging. I suspect it’s because I have little to lose. For me, my research is a hobby whose continuation does not depend on previous success.
@Stephanie
How many pictures of yourself do you have on your web site? 😉 It is cute (in a good way). I can reassure you: you can be a mom and a great researcher at the same time!
I think that research, like any other “serious” occupation is emotional. A lot of money and recognition is at stake.
In 2002, I presented a rather benign paper at some mathematical conference. My paper and my presentation were rather boring, I think… but I had people yell at me… I had people all red out of rage. Yet, all I did was to present theorems, and plot functions. I did not even try to upset people. My tone was never out of line. I was perfectly rigorous.
Reading your blog, I can see that you go through various emotions with respect to your research. I think that all graduate students (or prospective graduate students) go through very intense emotions regarding their research. But it does not stop there: the competition for professorship is fierce. Fighting for tenure is hard. Fighting for research grant can be very hard.
There is no denying that emotions play a very important role in research productivity. Do you pick a daring research topic, or do you stick with a boring but safe research topic? These are highly emotional questions… even when you have job security.
Ha, ha — I get a lot of comments about my snapshot roll. Maybe it’s my way of showing that I’m having fun, too, while researching! As you say, emotions are an important part of research.
What’s your opinion of, say, the Google approach to research?
A few of the best researchers I’ve been in contact with in my career liberally share hypotheses, conjectures, and tentative thoughts. Somehow they seem oblivious to the pressure you are referring to.
How do I set my avatar pic?
@Seb
Examples would be helpful. (Beyond Stephen Downes!)
As for your avatar, just create an account at gravatar.com.
Well, Gilles Brassard and Alain Tapp come to mind. Note that they share thoughts verbally. I should also add that they spent long hours alone in silence in front of a desk. Best of both worlds?
As for sharing research ideas in writing, nobody that I’ve met except for Stephen Downes. Edsger W. Dijkstra might be an example, though his EWD manuscripts contained complete lines of thought (most of the time). They were often bite-sized insights, though.