Question: How do you come up with ideas for new research?

Steven Brown answered on 18 Jun 2017:

It’s a mixture of what gaps are already there – like what other researchers have said is missing, and what comes to mind from paying attention to the world when I am out and about meeting people, travelling, letting my mind wander, etc. It’s like most ideas – you don’t know when and where they come from.

My PhD research was informed from noticing that all of my friends had different opinions on digital piracy / illegal downloading. Some thought it was a great thing, others that it was awful. They could not all be correct. I was interested in how people can reach the same conclusions based on the same facts, something that still fascinates me in other areas now.

People will never be as smart as they should be – this will always keep me busy with new ideas!