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Engineering Research

Methodology

Assessment Plan Research Proposal - 2500 words max : 20% (week 4)

Topic and brief synopsis

Presentation #1 (brief)- 5 mins : 10% (week 5)

Progress report - 1000 words : 10% (week 7)

Presentation #2 (progress)– 10 mins : 10% (week 8)

Presentation #3 (final)- 15 mins : 20% (week 12)

Final proposal – 3000-5000 words : 25% (end of week 12)

Participation : 5%

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Content

Research concepts Writing a research proposal Defining a research question/hypothesis Methodology in research Writing a literature review Writing an abstract Ethics in research Supervision and differences in approach

Formulating Research

First step (probably the most important) It tells the supervisor/readers Be specific and clear Considerable and useful thoughts Financial? Time? Expertise? Own capability? Resources?

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Research Proposal: in general An introduction (including a brief literature review) Theoretical framework Objectives (or research questions) Hypotheses to be tested/proved Study design/setting & time frame Instruments/equipment to be used Sampling Ethical issues? Data-processing/analysis Expected/unexpected x factors? Proposed chapters Conferences/seminars? Submission?

Experimental Procedures

Research Proposal:

Typical general content Introduction Statement of objectives A list of hypothesis Proposed study design Setting Equipment, software, etc to use Info on sample size & sampling design Data processing Outline of the proposed chapters/sections Problems & limitations Timeframe (Gantt Chart)

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Gantt Chart

Research

Originality

Contribution

Significance

Technical soundness

Critical assessment of existing work

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Agenda

Research Basics

What research is and is not

Where research comes from

Research deliverables

Methodologies

Research process

Quantitative versus qualitative research

Questions

Research Basics

What research is and isn’t

Research characteristics

Research projects and pitfalls

Sources of research projects

Elements of research proposals

Literature reviews

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What Research Is Not

Research is NOT information gathering:

Gathering information from resources such books or magazines is NOT research.

No contribution to new knowledge.

Research is NOT the transportation of facts:

Merely transporting facts from one resource to another does NOT constitute research.

No contribution to new knowledge although this might make existing knowledge more accessible.

What Research Is

Research is:

“…the systematic process of collecting and

analyzing information (data) in order to increase

our understanding of the phenomenon about

which we are concerned or interested.”1

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why do research?

truth about the physical world inherently interesting

new knowledge eventually yields practical benefits

important to learn from experience, especially failure

want to improve human welfare especially use of scarce resources

Research Characteristics

Originates with a question or problem.

Follows a specific plan or procedure.

Often divides main problem into subproblems.

Guided by specific problem, question, or hypothesis.

Accepts certain critical assumptions.

Requires collection and interpretation of data.

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Research Projects

Research begins with a problem.

This problem need not be Earth-shaking.

Identifying this problem can actually be the hardest part of research.

In general, good research projects should:

Address an important question.

Advance knowledge.

Research Project Pitfalls

The following kinds of projects usually do NOT make for good research:

Comparing data sets.

Correlating data sets.

Problems with yes / no answers.

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High-Quality Research(1 of 2)

Good research requires:

The scope and limitations of the work to be clearly defined.

The process to be clearly explained so that it can be reproduced and verified by other researchers.

A thoroughly planned design that is as objective as possible.

High-Quality Research(2 of 2)

Good research requires:

Highly ethical standards be applied.

All limitations be documented.

Data be adequately analyzed and explained.

All findings be presented unambiguously and all conclusions be justified by sufficient evidence.

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Research Proposals

Research proposals are documents that describe the intended research including:

Problem and subproblems.

Hypotheses.

Delimitations.

Definitions.

Assumptions.

Importance.

Literature review.

Literature Review

A literature review is a necessity. Without this step, you will NOT know if your problem

has been solved or what related research is already underway.

When performing the review: Start searching professional journals (peer reviewed).

Begin with the most recent articles you can find.

Keep track of relevant articles in a bibliography.

Don’t be discouraged if work on the topic is already underway.

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Literature Survey

• Recognizing new problems

• Important to read outside the area

• Books, journal and conference papers

• IEEE Internet Explore

Literature Review Pitfalls(1 of 2)

Be very careful to check your sources when doing your literature review.

Many trade magazines are not peer reviewed.

Professional conferences and journals often have each article reviewed by multiple people before it is even recommended for publication.

The IEEE and ACM digital libraries are good places to start looking for legitimate research.

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Literature Review Pitfalls(2 of 2)

The Internet can be a good source of information. But it is also full of pseudo-science and poor research.

Make sure you verify the claims of any documentation that has NOT been peer reviewed by other professionals in the computing industry.