🧵 Untitled Thread
Anonymous at Sun, 16 Mar 2025 11:52:50 UTC No. 16620661
What do I do when I get stuck in the problem in research?
Currently the weapons in my armoury are
>identify assumptions that can be tested
>take a step back and look at the whole picture
>break the problem into subproblems
>find similar problems and see if the techniques apply
>define inputs / outputs and expected outcomes more clearly
>work on other problems and see if there's any insight to adapt to the original problem
>explain to someone else and seek feedback
>find evidence this problem is unsolvable
Is there anything else I'm not aware of?
Anonymous at Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:11:50 UTC No. 16620670
>>16620661
>>explain to someone
>think of how you would explain the problem to a lay person
>followed by explaining to a child
>cant use ANY technical language whatsoever, they likely have never studied whatever it is youre researching, and youll lose them as soon as you try using technical langauge/jargon particular to your field of interest/expertise
>in the latter case of child, youre extremely limited in what you can say in order to be understood, which forces you to reduce the problem down to its barebones essence without any of the fluff
>you may have to think of analogies in terms of what a child knows
>if you cant do this easily, then you dont actually understand what youre working with in any real depth
>this technique helps you see things for what they actually are, without clutter and unnecessary details
Otherwise
>drop acid
>take a long walk
>perhaps at the same time, perhaps not
Anonymous at Sun, 16 Mar 2025 17:24:43 UTC No. 16620955
>>16620661
>expecting phd level answers in /sci/
Anonymous at Sun, 16 Mar 2025 17:34:12 UTC No. 16620960
>>16620661
Redefine failure: you can operate the metaphorical slot machine correctly without getting a payout.
Anonymous at Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:05:49 UTC No. 16622538
>>16620670
If you can't explain it to a foetus you don't understand it.
Anonymous at Wed, 19 Mar 2025 21:27:26 UTC No. 16623904
>>16620661
Do coke and fuck prostitutes until you lose all interest in the research, then wait for the inevitable epiphany in the shower when you least expect it.