Techniques for Efficient Research

CONTENTS -

1. INTRODUCTION -

2. A METHOD OF SOLVING PROBLEMS -

3. CREATIVE THINKING -

4. TAKE ACTION-SELL RESULTS -

5. TRAINING THE RESEARCHER -

6. SELECTING THE PROBLEM -

7. SELECTING THE RESEARCHER -

8. THE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION -

9. MORALE AND MOTIVATION -

10. COMMUNICATIONS -

11. EQUIPMENT FOR RESEARCH -

12. CONCLUSION -

INDEX -

Preface -

The need for increased productivity in scientific research is

generally recognized. Mounting costs of research require constantly

greater output ""just to stay even,"" while at the same

time the potential leverage which research can give to profits

beckons toward even greater commitment to it. Many researchers,

old and young, have not learned to apply good techniques.

This book is seeks specific answers to the HOW questions:

How does one do what one ought to do?

How does one assemble facts?

How does one arrange them in an orderly fashion?

How can creativity be improved?

This is, in a sense, a ""do-it-yourself"" manual for self-improvement

in the selection of problems and in solving them. The

examples are largely taken from the chemical industry, but the

principles are broadly applicable to all types of problems. The

first part of the book is concerned primarily with the problem

of solving problems; the second part is directed to problems of

research management.