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What does research mean?

Research is learning about something to gain new knowledge or understanding. This can mean trying to find the answer to an open-ended question (for example how can I improve the quality of the topsoil on my farm?), testing a theory you already have (I think that seal populations on Scilly are in decline), or anything in between.

 

Research does not necessarily mean fixing problems. It is better thought of as providing the knowledge and understanding to support trying to fix problems. For example, research alone cannot run a year round bus service. But research could investigate the economics of a year-round bus service to understand what it would take to make it financially viable.

 

Since research is about discovery, it can also be unsuccessful. For example, consider the research question: “Can we develop a high quality potting compost using only materials produced on the islands?” After reading up on the existing knowledge about compost formulation and experimenting with a wide range of different materials available on Scilly, we might discover that we can make a great potting compost. Or we might find that we can’t because there’s some essential ingredient that we just can’t replicate with Scilly’s natural resources. This element of the unknown is what makes research challenging, but also what makes it important. Because we are seeking new knowledge, we don't know what we'll find until we try.

How is the balance managed between sharing of research and people's privacy?

 

Sharing results from research is essential to make sure we all learn from what we discover. However, some research projects may require anonymity during the process of collecting and sharing results. Of course, this might not be as much of a concern if, for example, if the research topic is something such as: ‘Is the population of lesser white-toothed shrews increasing or decreasing?’ With research like this, there is less of a necessity for confidentiality in comparison to a research topic that is more personal and/or has more involvement from individuals. When planning, carrying out and sharing the results of research projects, we will always ensure that projects consider the privacy implications of what they are investigating, and make sure that the privacy of everyone involved is respected.

 

What is the process of deciding what research projects you will take on? 


We’re still figuring out a suitable process for making decisions - for now, it’s mostly about looking into how much support and resources a project will need and how much interest already surrounds it (or potential interest) to gain a better idea of what that particular project requires. Generally, a research project doesn’t need much help in the beginning, but further down the line more support will be needed and part of the process is identifying how much support that is. Some projects will require very little and others may require a lot. As we are still unsure of the exact nature of the ideas that will be suggested, and how big they might be, it’s less about deciding what projects will be chosen and more about finding out what level of support those ideas need to succeed.

CONTACT US

Isles of Scilly Community Venture C.I.C.

Registered number: 10836250.

Porthmellon Enterprise Centre, Porthmellon
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
TR21 0JY

Tel: 01720 575 301

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© 2023-2024 Isles of Scilly Community Venture CIC & Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.

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