Analysis of research ideas: Combining metaphors for research

• Author(s): Morais, Ricardo ; Martins, Carlos ; Kansikas, Juha
• Date: 2009
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/2896
• Origin: Veritati - Repositório Institucional da Universidade Católica Portuguesa
• Subject(s): Analysis of research ideas; Research planning; Research metaphors; Research decisions; Scientific method
• Document Type: Other
• Language: English

Description

This paper presents a framework – idea puzzle – for scientific analysis of research ideas. Analysis of research ideas is included in research planning ahead of research implementation and reporting. Research planning is traditionally based on the project metaphor for research which specifies linear tasks, deliverables and deadlines. Such a metaphor does not make explicit, however, decisions which are implicit in research tasks. This gap is fulfilled by the jigsaw puzzle metaphor which specifies interdependent and iterative decisions instead. Idea puzzle framework illustrates the jigsaw puzzle metaphor since it is a synthesis of scientific method in twenty one decisions. Such decisions specify the theoretical, empirical, methodological, rhetoric, and authorial context of a research idea. The main benefits of idea puzzle framework are twofold. On the one hand, it facilitates the learning and teaching of scientific method. On the other hand, it accelerates the scientific generation, analysis, planning, and evaluation of research ideas.