- #1
MedievalMan
- 45
- 0
Ah, I'm considering getting a PHD in EE, probably in control systems. A tough decision to make; I have the next 4 months to decide. :)
Now that I'm in my final stages of my master's , it's not so bad: I'm finishing implementing an idea. Although I'm still reading a few papers, it's mostly those I'm already building my work on.
Now, PHD is the next level up, paper "reading" is even more important. "Reading" mean trying to glean useful information out of research paper to help you build your own ideas; unfortunately, I've yet to master this skill.
Why?
It's not my fault, entirely. I'm a somewhat bright guy; I can read and understand grad level textbooks, seminars, etc etc. A few papers I do actually learn a good chunk from.
However, most papers in my field, are, quite simply, horrendously written. After discussing with a couple fellow grad students (about to finish their PHD), this is an unfortunate fact of life.
Why? They tell me it's because if you try to make things too clear and understandable, your paper simply won't get published most of the time; and that's the point, getting papers published in "respectable" journals.
Also, in EE, a lot of the papers are written by people who's english is a 2nd language, and perhaps don't make enough effort to make their thoughts clear in english.
So, is this the "politics" of the academia? Seems pretty stupid to me. Then again, what politics aren't? :)
Now that I'm in my final stages of my master's , it's not so bad: I'm finishing implementing an idea. Although I'm still reading a few papers, it's mostly those I'm already building my work on.
Now, PHD is the next level up, paper "reading" is even more important. "Reading" mean trying to glean useful information out of research paper to help you build your own ideas; unfortunately, I've yet to master this skill.
Why?
It's not my fault, entirely. I'm a somewhat bright guy; I can read and understand grad level textbooks, seminars, etc etc. A few papers I do actually learn a good chunk from.
However, most papers in my field, are, quite simply, horrendously written. After discussing with a couple fellow grad students (about to finish their PHD), this is an unfortunate fact of life.
Why? They tell me it's because if you try to make things too clear and understandable, your paper simply won't get published most of the time; and that's the point, getting papers published in "respectable" journals.
Also, in EE, a lot of the papers are written by people who's english is a 2nd language, and perhaps don't make enough effort to make their thoughts clear in english.
So, is this the "politics" of the academia? Seems pretty stupid to me. Then again, what politics aren't? :)