23 Research Things in 2023 – how could we not?! We very much enjoyed bringing you new content, and working with so many expert colleagues across the University.  Our contributors this year have excelled in introducing ways to work smarter, not harder. Some Things included not just an expert post, but also “bonus content” in the form of an interview: by …

Not all metrics are equal, and numbers don’t always reflect the true impact of research. Thing 23, written by Kristijan Causovski, outlines the frameworks that underpin the ethical use of research metrics and why it’s so important to take an ethical approach. What are publishing metrics?  Researchers across all disciplines produce a wide variety of research outputs. These include:  Traditional Research Outputs e.g., …

What are research metrics and how do you measure them? This Thing is brought to you by Samuel Rowland (Manager, Scholarly Communications).  What are bibliometrics… Bibliometrics are quantitative measures that indicate influence or interest in academic research – think citations, author metrics, journal impact factors, rankings, views, downloads, and so on. They can be used to quantify engagement with research and are …

Notetaking, or note making, refers to the process of noting something down to remember or use in the future. Turning a dense and complex reading or lengthy lecture into a manageable and memorable short text is no easy feat. This post, written by Academic Skills Advisor Steven Thurlow, looks at what might work best and what special challenges this area …

In this Thing, Sally Tape takes us through how to use Melbourne Figshare to share and/or publish data, creative research outputs, and other supplementary research materials. Additionally, an interview with Associate Professor Kate Coleman gives us an idea of how University of Melbourne researchers are using Melbourne Figshare to not only make their research more accessible, but think about it …

In today's digital age, research data is increasingly born digital. As a researcher, you spend countless hours collecting, analysing, and interpreting data for your work. But have you considered what happens to that data once your research is complete? Digital preservation is the active management of digital content to ensure its long-term usability, accessibility, and authenticity. It is critical to maintaining …

Thinking about using social media to share your research, but not sure where to start? This Thing written by Lucy Napthali and Andy Hurt outlines how to build a social media profile, pick the right platform, and manage any risks. Plus, read an interview with TikTok sensation Mary McGillivray, aka @theiconoclass, about how she uses social media to share her …

Research with human participants can have huge benefits but also comes with risks. Reviews and approvals help to mitigate risks, although navigating these processes can feel onerous, it doesn’t have to be. Shift your point of view – viewing your research through the experience of your participants can shift the focus to the information relevant to these approvals and highlight …

In the world of research, the pursuit of knowledge and breakthrough discoveries requires not only the brilliance of researchers but also the guidance and support of research management professionals. Research management professionals play a vital role in facilitating and enhancing the research process, as discussed in this Thing by Anne Coco. Overview of Research Management: Enabling and Supporting Research Research management encompasses …

‘Research impact’ is used all over the University of Melbourne in conversations – as well as in other universities in Australia and around the world. But what does it mean? How can we plan for it? What does the University do to support it? Find out more in this Thing, written by Professor Jenny Lewis. A research impact festival was held …

The University of Melbourne holds large and diverse Archives and Special Collections (ASC), which are accessible for all to use. But what are Archives and Special Collections, and why use them in your research? You will be enriching your own understanding of a topic and working with unique materials that connect you directly to the experiences and perspectives of the …

Visualising information with colour can help our target audience make sense of research data or information. Colour can draw attention to key details and encode dimensions of the data. The great thing about using visual channels to communicate research is that we can reach diverse audiences, especially when designed to cross language or vocabulary barriers - Amanda Belton and Usha …

Keen to master the art of balancing multiple tasks and commitments? Carla Stewart from Academic Skills takes you through some tips and tools on how to manage your time effectively. This Thing also features an interview with planning addict, Daniel De Oliveira Vasconcelos (PhD candidate from the Melbourne School of Design), who shares his time management secrets. In 1997, I started …

Why and how researchers need to take copyright and IP into consideration throughout the research process, written by Wil Villareal. Copyright and your research Research doesn’t occur in a vacuum. We rely on pre-existing ideas in order to generate novel insights in our own field of study. Research outputs are protected by copyright and other intellectual property (IP) rights because they have …

When it comes to Open Access (OA), things are more complex than ever.  There are different kinds of OA publishing agreements, wildly variable OA publishing fees, and near-constant scandals involving profit-driven publishers’ OA models. The OA repository landscape is complex, too, with different kinds of repositories, publisher embargo requirements, and the emergence of “rights retention” strategies.  Meanwhile, research funders are adopting …

Research is long and life is short. The emergence of generative AI (GAI) tools promises to help organise and synthesise the mountains of information with which researchers are faced. These tools claim to scan databases, extract relevant research, summarise articles and polish prose with the press of a button. It sounds incredible (and maybe a little unsettling). This post, written by …

Do you have concerns regarding the management of sensitive data? Are you unsure how to comply with mandates imposed by various regulations? Have you considered if your data about research participants are adequately protected following the recent national data breaches? Do you know if the systems you are using are aligned with recommended cybersecurity standards?  This article by Kimberley D’Costa will …

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…  Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities  Charles Dickens may have been describing a period of great upheaval and change in European history, but the quote could equally be applied to Graduate Research (GR) candidature. For both supervisor and graduate researcher, the journey through candidature is a serious undertaking, where …

For most academics, research means working with multiple teams to get things done. Ranging from grants and industry engagement to most types of research projects, nearly all academic research activities require academics to build and manage their research teams. In this post, Niharika Garud and Victor Sojo showcase some key tools to make things easier for academic leaders to build …

When projects are managed well, it helps ensure that the target objective can be delivered on time and within allocated resources. Eleanor Colla describes how each phase of the project management can help you to successfully complete your research projects. What is project management? While we all manage projects (life!) all the time, there are instances where taking a more formalised approach …

Managing your references for a research project or thesis can be time-consuming and confusing. Reference management software can make things much quicker and simpler.  Using reference management software can help  Organise your research into topic areas, chapter groups, or by paper theme to make it easier to keep track of what you are working on Store and annotate PDFs Keep notes …

Do you want to learn to code in Python, R, or MATLAB? Are the prohibitive costs of learning research software like NVivo a barrier to entry? Are you interested in 3D printing and data, but don’t know where to start? Have you thought about using a tool like LaTeX to make it easier to type your thesis or publish an …

Did you know that there are literature review families? Thing 2 is all about choosing the right review for your research question. Lindy Cochrane and Tania Celeste from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) and Faculty of Science library teams take you through the different types of reviews, and what to consider when selecting a review type.   Literature …

Is your research accessible and inclusive to research participants? Are your research outputs accessible to those with disability? Disability is a broad term including people who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, have mobility impairments, have cognitive or learning disabilities, or have mental health barriers. Dr Sheelagh Daniels-Mayes and Andrew Normand bring us this post …

If there was ever a time to bring back the 23 Research Things, surely it had to be 2023.  Now in its fourth iteration, 23 Research Things features 23 blog posts that this year are under the overarching theme of managing your research: working smarter not harder.  Written by topic experts from across the University of Melbourne, the 800-word posts highlight topics, …