<p>I noticed that people have done independent research without help from any help from professors, instructors, etc. What exactly are the steps to conducting independent research? Do you just choose a topic you like and do research on it? Do you have to create a hypothesis or outline of what you are going to do? What exactly do you do while researching? Take notes? Publish a paper?</p>
<p>*What exactly are the steps to conducting independent research? * Sorry if I'm overwhelming you with too many questions, but I'd really appreciate input from those of you who have done research by themselves or know the necessary steps.</p>
<p>I am wondering this too. :)</p>
<p>Eh, I wouldn't bother with independent research if you're not doing anything engineering/math related. Anything that requires a lab... well, it requires a lab, and usually labs are hand in hand with mentors.</p>
<p>My independent projects (I've done 1 so far, working on another for Siemens/Intel atm) usually go something like this:
1. I get bored or interested
2. I research (scholar.google.com is beast) on whatever the algorithm is
3. Modify/make up algorithm (lots of paper + pencil + mathematica here)
4. Write my code
5. Wonder why my code doesn't work
6. Go back to step 3.</p>
<p>For non-CS related projects the process would be the same... only instead of coding you would be wiring, rebuilding parts, etc. </p>
<p>Mind you, I do have a "mentor" that signs my papers and such. I just don't talk to him before then.</p>
<p>My D has attended a summer math camp the past several years and as part of the camp they are divided into small groups and given a mentor and work on a research project. Then they finish up the project and enter it into the Siemen's competition. That has been a good experience. My D has otherwise been pretty unsuccessful at finding mentors and doing proejcts since her school doesn't participate in any science fairs or competitions.</p>