We talk about others being a legend in their own mind, although we like to think we are “Masters of Our Domain”. When it comes to data and analysis, that domain may not be a physical space, but the information and intelligence one manages/controls. For example, my background has focused on ports, transportation, and freight movements, resulting in my domain knowledge regarding international trade.
But there is more than simply being the Master of One’s Domain to be a solid researcher. One has to know how domain knowledge can shape a research question.
Let’s look at this exchange from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail “, where the troll asks three questions. One of the questions is fairly complicated. The King asks for clarification, based on the domain knowledge gained earlier in the film from two soldiers who possess the specialized knowledge of swallows.
The question concerning the average airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow may only interest researchers examining the physics of avian flight (or Monty Python fans here and here). But having learned something about swallows earlier, the King knew enough about the domain to ask for clarification (in this case, to delay), by asking about another data attribute.
Regarding the query, the question of the average airspeed reflects a question concerning a specific data element, but the second question was based on another attribute, namely the type of swallow. For most researchers, knowing that extra bit of information may make the difference between good research or great research, or in this case, who lives or dies. So, there remains a benefit to being the domain master, as King Arthur reminded Bedevere as they cross the bridge, but only if one learns not only new data but how to apply that information.