For the past few weeks, I have been struggling to understand something and answer a very specific research question. I asked my advisor the same question and he couldn't give me a satisfactory answer.
- Is it socially acceptable to bypass my advisor and ask a senior academic the same question?
- Does it reflect negatively on my advisor if I bother other academics with my research?
I am an Asian international student studying in the United States and not sure what is the most prudent way to do this. In my country, bypassing ones advisor to ask a senior academic reflects poorly on the advisor and group in general and is implicitly frowned upon.