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Research Methodology

Research Methodology. Professor Ahmed H. Elkholy, P.Eng Mechanical Engineering Department, Kuwait University. What is Research?. Research: Should be about some problem that encourages enthusiasm (for you) and interest (for others)

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Research Methodology

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  1. Research Methodology Professor Ahmed H. Elkholy, P.Eng Mechanical Engineering Department, Kuwait University

  2. What is Research? • Research: • Should be about some problem that encourages enthusiasm (for you) and interest (for others) • Is often generated from the thought “what we’ve got now and how we can do better…” • Consists of work that leads to a meaningful contribution • Generates, in some way, a better solution to the problem

  3. What Is Research? (2) • “A combination of investigation of past work and effort in the present that will help others in the future” • A set of opposites • Fun and frustration • Small steps and large achievements • Building on others’ work and contributing your own work • Finding or developing something new that changes the world….

  4. What Isn’t Research? • Playing with technology (adding chemicals to create colors) • Book report • Computer Programming project • Doing what others have already done • However, each of these can be done as part of research

  5. Who Does Research? • Individuals • Teams ------------------------------------------- • Teams always make the process easier • Division of labor • Feedback from team members • Each member can work to own strengths

  6. Research Process (Methodology) • Initial Idea • Background survey • Refinement of Idea • Core Work • Investigation and Development of idea • Documentation • Prototype (if appropriate) • Evaluation • Identification of Future Work • Presentation (report and oral)

  7. 1. Initial Idea • Ask Questions • “Is something missing here?” • “Can this be done in a better way?” • “Is there a need for a new approach?”

  8. 2. Background Survey • Given an idea, need to determine: • Has this work been done previously? • What similar work has been done leading up to this point? • How doesany previous work differ from what I’m planning to do? • What will be the impact of my research? • Tools • Literature Review using library resources (books and popular magazines) • WWW search

  9. 3. Refinement of Idea • Based on background investigation, need to refine idea • Issues: • Focus on identifying: • Problem • Possible solutions • What’s an essential part of this work? (fence in) • What’s not an essential part of this work (fence out)

  10. 4. Core Work, a) Investigation and Development • Provide yourself with infrastructure • equipment / software • additional knowledge • Do the work • Experimentation • Develop opinions • Look for better ways of solving problem • Discuss, brainstorm • Look for improvements, changes to your original ideas, if necessary. • Work regularly

  11. 4. Core Work, b) Documentation • Need to document as you go to prevent loss of information (use paper or electronic) • Periodically Summarize work, accomplishments and problems • At end, write up a summary document

  12. 4. Core Work, c) Prototype • Helps demonstrate the merit of your ideas

  13. 5. Evaluation • What improvements exist over currently available alternatives? • What are the benefits of my solution?

  14. 6. Identification of Future Work • Helps you organize any future efforts • Helps others build on your work • Sources: • What you excluded in your idea refinement • New problems that have surfaced during your work

  15. 7. Presentation • It’s not a contribution to the field if no one knows about it or can use it • Power point or slide show

  16. Example • my “Solid Waste Management (SWM)” project • an example for each team • choose a SWM subject you’re interested in • think of a problem or issue you see in that area • refine your interest to a possible project that involves one or more ways of solving that problem • outline the steps you’d take to do the project work and test your ideas • what is your main conclusion? • how would you evaluate the quality of your solution?

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