10/03/2015

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
Experimental
Instruments/equipment to be used
Procedures
Sampling
Ethical issues?
Data-processing/analysis
Expected/unexpected x factors?
Proposed chapters
Conferences/seminars?
Submission?

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 isnt
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.
Dont 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.

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