1. AVOID FRUITLESS EXPERIMENTS 11 



5. Choose Initial Problem Wisely 



For the individual contemplating a scientific research career, the 

 choice of a first problem is a matter of extraordinary importance. This 

 first problem often determines the course of a life's work. If it is an 

 unfortunate choice, it may even result in the individual's turning to 

 other fields of endeavor, perhaps forsaking research entirely. 



All too often the selection of an initial problem represents the 

 culmination of a haphazard procedure. Not infrequently, the prob- 

 lem derives as a consequence from the choosing of a research pro- 

 fessor. Although this method has often worked out to the benefit of 

 the beginner, still it should not be accepted as a routine matter — the 

 percentage of failures is too great. Instead, a very real effort should 

 be made to appraise the relative merits of the various problems under 

 consideration on the basis of specific criteria. The final decision 

 should be deliberate on the part of the individual ; it should not be 

 made for him by default or otherwise. In addition to the thoughts 

 expressed under the various subdivisions of this chapter, many of 

 which have a bearing on the selection of a problem, a few comments 

 especially applicable to the beginner may be helpful. Apart from his 

 possible immaturity and lack of experience, a beginner usually suffers 

 also from time limitations. Therefore, a problem should be attractive 

 not only for its own sake but also for its prospect of completion within 

 a reasonable and rather definite length of time. 



The following excerpts from an article by Livingston (S3) are very 

 germane and cover some suggested criteria for judging a proposed 

 research problem for the beginner : 



"There are still those who maintain that any piece of scientific investiga- 

 tion carefully done and published must of necessity bear great fruit in future 

 years, but such views are usually met with in those who do not seriously at- 

 tempt to keep up with the progress of the current literature of their science. 



"The problem chosen should be circumscribed, definite and specific. 

 At the same time, it must be appreciated how this particular problem is re- 

 lated to other similar specific questions, the whole series covering some 

 broad and general field. It frequently happens that a problem which at- 

 tracts and fascinates a graduate student is far too broad to be rationally 

 attacked, sometimes the mere breadth constitutes an attractive feature and 

 throws a false glamour over the entire proposition. Such a question should 

 be separated into partial questions and these attacked singly. The attempt- 

 ing of too broad and, hence, too indefinite a problem in his earlier years of 

 research has worked lasting injury upon many a man of science. 



