How can you innovate in network research?

1 Identify a problem or a gap

One of the first steps to innovate in network research is to identify a problem or a gap in the existing knowledge or practice of network systems and applications. You can do this by reading relevant literature, attending conferences and workshops, talking to experts and peers, and observing real-world scenarios. You should look for problems or gaps that are significant, relevant, feasible, and original. For example, you might find a problem that affects the performance or security of a network protocol, a gap that limits the functionality or usability of a network service, or an opportunity to create a new network application or paradigm.

2 Review the state-of-the-art

Once you have identified a problem or a gap, you need to review the state-of-the-art solutions and approaches that address or relate to it. You should familiarize yourself with the existing theories, models, algorithms, protocols, tools, and systems that are relevant to your problem or gap. You should also analyze their strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and assumptions. This will help you understand the current challenges and opportunities in your research area, as well as the gaps and limitations of the existing solutions and approaches.

3 Develop a research question or a hypothesis

Based on your problem or gap and your review of the state-of-the-art, you should develop a research question or a hypothesis that guides your network research. A research question is a specific and focused question that you want to answer with your research. A hypothesis is a tentative and testable statement that you want to prove or disprove with your research. Your research question or hypothesis should be clear, concise, and relevant. It should also be original, novel, and significant. For example, you might ask how to improve the scalability or security of a network protocol, or how to design a new network service or application that meets a certain user need or demand.

4 Choose a research method or a framework

To answer your research question or test your hypothesis, you need to choose a research method or a framework that suits your network research. A research method is a systematic and rigorous way of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. A research framework is a conceptual and logical structure that organizes your research objectives, questions, methods, results, and conclusions. Depending on your research topic and goal, you might choose a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method, or a combination of different methods. You might also use a specific framework, such as the design science research framework, the network science research framework, or the network innovation research framework.

5 Conduct your research and evaluate your results

After choosing your research method or framework, you need to conduct your research and evaluate your results. You should follow the ethical and professional standards of network research, such as respecting the privacy and security of your data sources, obtaining informed consent from your participants, and acknowledging your sources and references. You should also document your research process, data, and findings, and use appropriate tools and techniques to analyze and interpret your data. You should evaluate your results based on your research question or hypothesis, and compare them with the state-of-the-art solutions and approaches. You should also discuss the implications, limitations, and contributions of your research.

6 Communicate and disseminate your research

The final step to innovate in network research is to communicate and disseminate your research to your target audience and stakeholders. You should present your research in a clear, concise, and engaging way, using different formats and media, such as papers, reports, posters, slides, videos, podcasts, blogs, or social media. You should also choose the appropriate venues and platforms to publish or share your research, such as journals, conferences, workshops, repositories, or online communities. You should also seek feedback and collaboration from other network researchers, practitioners, and users, and use it to improve your research and generate new ideas.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?