Page 49 - IJSA, Vol. 4, No 2, 2021

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2021
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Interdisciplinary Integrated Tools to Problem
Solving: How to Apply to Writing a Thesis and
Planning a Research

Espona M. J. 1

1 Argentina Information Quality, Argentina

Received: 02.11.2021; Accepted: 30.11.2021; Published: 25.12.2021

Keywords: problem-solving course, methodology, research, thesis
Copyright: © 2021 Espona M. J. Published by Archives of International Journal of Science
Annals

DOI and UDC DOI https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2021.2.5 UDC 303.823.2/4

Conflict of interests: The author declares that there is no conflict of interests

Peer review: Double-blind review

Source of support: This study did not receive any outside funding or support

Information about Espona Maria Jose – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0719-0148;
the author: [email protected]; Doctor in Criminology, Professor, Director,
Argentina Information Quality (ArgIQ), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Dear Editor,
Writing a thesis or a research proposal poses enormous This course has been presented several times at
challenges specially in these times of information universities and other places in Argentina and also in
superabundance. And the positive side is that we have a Peru, with interesting and relevant results.
lot of information to use during our research. We consider that the first situation to address is how we
The other phenomenon to take into consideration is the see the world, and its problems. To do it, we present a
misinformation and how it could affect our research. lecture on mental models and discuss the different
Again, we can overcome this difficulty by applying perspectives we all have when approaching any given
structured research methods. subject. The students enjoy a lot this lecture since it
The methodology proposed here starts with allows them to see how different we all are but see this
understanding the research problem applying the as something positive that helps to build and understand
systemic thinking; then looing for information with the world, not destroy it.
mapping studies; evaluating the publications obtained Then, they are ready to focus on their specific problems
with information quality tools; testing multiple and start to understand and work on them.
hypothesis at the same time; and finally, if needed The second lecture is on the systemic thinking, this
preparing a Gantt chart to plan the research. method helps them to conceptualize the research
All these methodologies when together highlight the problem.
positive side of the synergies while minimize the impact In summary, the key assumptions of this theory
of the cognitive bias. developed by Von Bertalanffy (1968) are:
The aim of the study. To describe the importance of 1. Systems exist within systems.
having a structured tool to write a thesis or setting up a 2. The systems are open.
research project. 3. The functions of a system depend on its structure.
The proposal presented here is a problem-solving course According to Von Bertalanffy (1968), the system
that includes five methodologies: systems theory, functioning includes inputs and outputs, processes and
mapping studies, information quality, and competing the components involved. In some cases, the output
hypothesis, plus the Gantt chart. When they are used in becomes the input of the system (feedback).
sequence, it is possible to obtain outstanding results and This first step is the one that takes longer since
also the process is auditable in its whole extension. understanding the problem is the most difficult phase.
The identification of the process and its components is
critical to the next steps of this sequence.

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