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[Extracted and translated from discussions around fellow students using different languages]

Edited by Yuan An

• A Good methodology is a good beginning in research:
  • Have an overview of your research field. In other word, have a bird eye.
  • In order to get a bird eye, you have to systematically read related articles and papers in your field. When reading, try to get at the idea of the paper, summarize the gist in one sentence, and write it down. Organize and label the sentences by appropriate orders and titles.
  • After reading a substantial number of papers, write a special study report. Systematically summarize the work you have read. This is your understanding.
  • Analyze others' ideas. Every idea has its weakness. Try to improve the work by eliminating the weakness. It's your idea.
  • Set your steps on wider range from time to time. Expand the scope of your bird eye. Collect interesting papers outside your field. Walk around a little bit. You may borrow some ideas from outside to form a new idea.
• Research needs patience, persistence, and perseverance. You cannot achieve your goal at a night. Finding a topic is not so difficult. Read the most important papers in the field. Drill in it. Read it at least 15 times (no kidding!). When you find something is making you feel twist. You may say, "I can improve it in such and such way." Whatever how important the paper is, it only deals with one aspect, leaving many holes...
• Pursuing a Ph.D. does not mean to be of genius. Your paper does not have to be awarded. Some styles, however, have to be nurtured: patience, persistence, good communication ability, expressiveness, coherence.

[Personal encouragement]

• Persistence: A quality of ability to continue on course in the face of difficulties, obstacles, and discouragement, not quit.
• To develop persistence:
  • 1. Set a goal that demands your best;
  • 2. Set desire burning inside you drives you to achieve your goal;
  • 3. Keep your eye on your goal;
  • 4. Refuse to listen to negative criticism;
  • 5. Surround yourself with encouraging friends;
  • 6. In every defeat, look for a personal lesson;
  • 7. Practice self-control;
  • 8. Put your bad feelings behind, move on;
  • 9. Believe you can reach your goal;
  • 10. Rely upon God to enable you.
• The most persistent one is God himself.