The 2nd Lecture of Spring Semester 2026: Scientific Thinking and Research Design
Apr 18, 2026
The second lecture was held on April 18, 2026, at Koganei Campus of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) and focused on practical, essential approaches to scientific thinking and research design, both of which are crucial to doctoral research.
In the morning class, Prof. Misawa (TUAT) delivered lectures titled “Essentials of Scientific Thinking – Concepts and Tools” and “Scientific Thinking – Introduction to Literature Review.”
During his lecture, he emphasized the importance of “abduction” (hypothetical reasoning), alongside deduction and induction, as a crucial logical process for generating new ideas and hypotheses. He also discussed the methodological differences between the natural sciences, which seek to generalize laws and principles, and the social sciences, which focus more on context-dependent and interpretive approaches.
In the afternoon, an interdisciplinary seminar tutorial session was conducted for D1 students to build their research foundations. The session focused on problem setting and literature review, guiding students on how to effectively employ these essential elements to demonstrate the value of their research. Prof. Ito (TUAT) and Prof. Yasumura (TUAT) explained the key criteria for a strong research topic—significance, viability, and interest—as well as the technique of “strategic mapping” to clarify a study’s relevance and contribution.
Prof. Hashiyama (UEC), Prof. Nakayama (TUFS) and Prof. Sato (TUFS) also participated as tutors to support the students through discussions.
They strongly emphasized that a literature review should not be treated merely as a summary of previous studies, but rather as a logical framework for establishing the positioning, originality, and necessity of one’s own research.
One of the greatest strengths of JDPSR is the close relationship between students and faculty members, which allows students to discuss their research comfortably and receive supportive advice.