Writing, thinking, collecting data, analyzing data [especially if using statistics] and interpreting findings are difficult and require considerable time and effort. Data collection, in particular, can be slow and boring. This is why it is so important to select a topic that you really care about. This will help you get through some of the inevitable dog work.
Unlike a course where the teacher sets deadlines and reminds you of them, self-discipline and your own time management skills are needed here. You may be able to go for a few months without anyone checking to see if you are on schedule. It is easy to put things off for another day or another week.
It is essential that you find a regular time and a regular place where you work on your research. Having a comfortable -- but not too comfortable -- research home will make a substantial difference in your productivity.
Consider weekly, monthly goals and place these on your calendar in a prominent place. Consider telling friends and your companion about these goals so they might encourage you to stay on track. Consider small personal rewards when you achieve a deadline.
While big blocks of time are best, don't wait for that "perfect" big block of time or you may never begin -- or finish. Small bits of time here and there can make a difference.
Research normally requires some of your "personal" time. This means that you will need to sacrifice family time or hobby time for the good of the research. The more obligations and responsibilities that you have, the more difficult this is.
Research requires some humility because you will need to ask for help from others. It is also likely that some one will want you to make changes that you would rather not make. Being the student writing a thesis or dissertation is in a somewhat subservient position. When submitting research articles for publication, some editors and referees will react negatively to your work. Articles may be rejected and you may be tempted to discard your article and sell towels at Sears instead. In a very real sense, the researcher is not in control of the final outcome.
You need to be confident in your ability to do quality research and stand by your decisions. At the same time, you cannot be too stubborn about the publication outlet or recommended revisions. Research inevitably involves a series of compromises between what you wish to do and what others want you to do.
While Murphy may not have known about your research project, his notion that what can go wrong will go wrong can certainly apply to research. Most research projects encounter snags of various kinds and inevitably the several stages take much more time and effort than anticipated. Be patient. Assume that you will encounter problems and also assume that you will overcome them.
Often, success in research goes not to the brightest, but to those who stay the course. Those with the Ph.D. degree may not have been as able as those who left with the ABD. However, those with the degree were able to manage their time and do what needed to be done. Success comes to those who:
