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Research Methods

1. Question
2. General topic.
3. Keywords:
Specific words
Synonyms
Related terms
Combination of words, phrases

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4. Overview of the topic (encyclopedia)

It should answer the questions; "who", "what", "when" and
"where", and only briefly some of the "why" and "how"
questions.
Getting an overview will help you
get a general understanding of your topic.
begin to know what kinds of subtopics are within the
general topic.
begin to ask some questions that you will answer later in
the research process.
begin to focus your topic into one you can handle in your
project.

5. Make source cards for whatever sources you will

use for information.
Use index cards to make your source cards, or keep a few
notebook pages reserved for this information, or make a word
processing or database file for them. If you use index cards,
use only one card per source.
6. Focus on the question
7. Return
8. Literature Review
Did I find an answer for the question?

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Question

General Topic

Keywords

Overview

Source Card

Focus

Did you answer the question????

NO

Design of Experiments
Is a test or series of tests in which purposeful
changes are made to the input variables of a
process or system so that we may observe and
identify the reasons for changes that may be
observed in the output response.

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THE ENGINEERING METHOD AND STATISTICAL

THINKING
An engineer is someone who solves problems of
interest to society by the efficient application
of scientific principles. Engineers accomplish
this by either refining an existing product or
process or by designing a new product or
process that meets customers needs. The
engineering, or scientific, method is the
approach to formulating and solving these
problems. The steps in the engineering
method are as follows:

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THE ENGINEERING METHOD AND STATISTICAL THINKING

1. Develop a clear and concise description of the problem.
2. Identify, at least tentatively, the important factors that affect this
problem or that may play a role in its solution.
3. Propose a model for the problem, using scientific or engineering
knowledge of the phenomenon being studied. State any limitations
or assumptions of the model.
4. Conduct appropriate experiments and collect data to test or validate
the tentative model or conclusions made in steps 2 and 3.
5. Refine the model on the basis of the observed data.
6. Manipulate the model to assist in developing a solution to the
problem.
7. Conduct an appropriate experiment to confirm that the proposed
solution to the problem is both effective and efficient.
8. Draw conclusions or make recommendations based on the problem
solution.

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The field of statistics deals with the collection, presentation,

analysis, and use of data to make decisions, solve problems,
and design products and processes.

A manufacturer of paper used for making grocery bags is

interested in improving the tensile strength of the
product. Product engineering thinks that tensile
strength is a function of the hardwood concentration in
the pulp and that the range of hardwood
concentrations of practical interest is between 5 and
20%. A team of engineers responsible for the study
decides to investigate four levels of hardwood
concentration: 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. They decide to
make up six test specimens at each concentration level,
using a pilot plant. All 24 specimens are tested on a
laboratory tensile tester, in random order.

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This is an example of a completely randomized single-factor

experiment with four levels of the factor. The levels of the
factor are sometimes called treatments, and each treatment
has six observations or replicates.

By randomizing the order of the 24 runs, the effect of any

nuisance variable that may influence the observed tensile
strength is approximately balanced out.

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