Research Based Curriculum

1. Research Based Curriculum Kudang B. Seminar

2. What is thesis? • A thesis (literally: 'position' from the Greek θέσις) is an intellectual proposition. ----In academia, a thesis or dissertation is a document that presents the author's research and findings and is submitted in support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification. • A thesis is the particular proposition, or argument, relating to the topic that you advance in a paper. • A thesis is a statement of interpretation, as opposed to observation. The thesis is the heart of any critical paper.

3. Attitude Towards Scientific Writing • Eagerly & honestly seeking for truth • Hardthinking • Hardworking • Continuing (No give up) • Relevant to expertise • Open to critics & opinions

4. Definitions of Research • Exploration of knowledge • Problem solving • Observing facts/phenomena • Investigating causes • Proving hypothesis

5. Characteristics of Research • Having a clear & explicit goal • Stating the rationale, importance, & relevance of research • Using a scientific approach & methodology • Based on scientific, relevant, & valid references • Providing a time frame (duration) of research • Providing a reasonable budgeting for conducting research • Providing teamwork organization • Providing conclusions & recommendations • Providing a list of references/bibliography

6. Types of Research • Basic research • Theoretical research • Applied research

7. Basic Research • Focusing on basic sciences: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics • Findings of new organisms, formulas, substances, materials, composites • Finding new characteristics (attributes & behaviors) of existing organisms, formulas, substances, materials, composites

8. Theoretical Research • Focusing on theoretical aspects of objects, processes, tools, methods • Formulating a new set of theories • Stating the strengths & weaknesses of theories • Comparative analysis of theories

9. Applied Research • Focusing on application & implementation aspects of objects, processes, tools, methods. • Inventing/proposing new applications of theories, objects, processes, tools, methods. • Providing implementation results & recommendations • Producing prototypes

10. Quality of Research • Originality • Significant contribution • Methods & tools • Relevance to the current/popular issues • Availability of authentic data & info • Availability of relevant & valid references • Style & readability of research writing • Research team qualifications & assignments • Publishable

11. Conceptualizing • Concept: a generalized idea about a class of objects, attributes, occurrences, or processes that has been given a name

12. A Ladder Of Abstraction For Concepts Vegetation Fruit Increasingly more abstract Banana Reality

13. Scientific Business Researchers Operate at Two Levels • Abstract level • concepts • propositions • Empirical level • variables • hypotheses

14. Definitions • Abstract level -In theory development, the level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object. • Empirical level -Level of knowledge reflecting that which is verifiable by experience or observation.

15. Theory Building A Process Of Increasing Abstraction Theories Propositions Increasingly more abstract Concepts Observation of objects and events (reality )

16. Concepts are Abstractions of Reality CONCEPTS Abstract Level Empirical Level OBSERVATION OF OBJECTS AND EVENTS (REALITY)

17. Scientific Method The use of a set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about events and for predicting events yet unknown.

18. A hypothesis is a proposition that is empirically testable. It is an empirical statement concerned with the relationship among variables. • A variable is anything that may assume different numerical values.

19. Theory and Song A fact without a theory Is like a ship without a sail, Is like a boat without a rudder, Is like a kite without a tail. A fact without a figure is a tragic final act, But one thing worse in this universe Is a theory without a fact.

20. Deductive Reasoning • The logical process of deriving a conclusion from a known premise or something known to be true. • We know that all managers are human beings. • If we also know that John Smith is a manager, • then we can deduce that John Smith is a human being.

21. Inductive Reasoning • The logical process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts. • All managers that have ever been seen are human beings; • therefore all managers are human beings.

22. The Scientific Method: An Overview Assess relevant existing knowledge Formulate concepts & Propositions Statement of Hypotheses Design research Analyze & evaluate data Provide explanation- state new problem Acquire empirical data

23. Why learn scientific writing? • You will have to write a master thesis • You may want to write a scientific article • You will be judged by what you write and what you present • Content • Structure • Style

24. Writing is learned by writing • Practice, practice, practice • Choose good role models • Study good examples • But there are also techniques and rules to learn

25. How well you communicate affects your career Survey (Richard M. Davis) Successful engineers spent 25% of work week writing Survey (Wisconsin) Professional engineers found writing their most useful subject in college Survey (Virginia Tech) Recruiters claim that engineers need more work on their writing

26. Space Shuttle Challenger (January 28, 1986) How well you communicate affects the well-being of others Explosion was caused by failure of O-rings in the solid rocket boosters Engineers knew of O-ring problems well before fatal launch Engineers failed to communicate seriousness of problem [Report, 1986]

27. specific technical audiences general technical audiences non-technical audiences Scientists and engineers are called upon to communicate in many different situations Conferences Lectures Meetings Posters Reports Articles Proposals Web Pages

28. Writing Constraints audience occasion purpose Purpose of Writing Writing Style To inform To persuade [Peterson, 1987] Scientific writing differs from other kinds of writing Subject Matter [Franklin, 1952]

29. You should begin the writing process by analyzing your constraints Who they are What they know Why they will read How they will read Audience Format Formality Politics and ethics Process and deadline Occasion To inform To persuade Purpose

30. Three aspects of writing affect the way that readers assess your documents Content Style Form

31. [Peterson, 1987] words wordswords wordswordswords wordswordswordswords Illustration wordswordswords wordswordswords wordswordswords wordswordswords Structure Language Style is the way you communicate the content to the audience style

32. mechanics grammar usage punctuation spelling format typography layout Form embodies the format and mechanics of the writing

33. Writing the First Draft Getting in the Mood Revising, Revising, Revising Finishing We can split the writing process into stages

34. Cal-Tech Linus Pauling An excellent way to improve your writing is to choose good models AIP Maria Goeppert Mayer

35. Structure: the Strategy of Style If a man can group his ideas, then he is a writer.Robert Louis Stevenson Ending Middle Beginning

36. The organization of a scientific document can be viewed as a beginning, middle, and ending Conclusions Back Matter Ending Middle Sections Middle Title Summary Introduction Beginning

37. orients readers to document Title tells readers what happens in document Summary prepares readers for the middle Introduction Beginnings prepare readers for understanding the work

38. Effects of Humidity on the Growth of Electron Avalanches in Electrical Gas Discharges A strong title orients readers to your area of work Effects of Humidity on the Growth of Avalanches

39. Effects of Rhodamine-B on the Electrodeposition of Lead on Copper A strong title also separates your work from everyone else's work Studies on the Electrodeposition of Lead on Copper

40. Several names for summaries exist Summary Technical Abstract Informative Abstract Abstract Descriptive Abstract Executive Summary

41. This paper describes a new inertial navigation system that will increase the mapping accuracy of oil wells by a factor of ten. The new system uses three-axis navigation that protects sensors from high-spin rates. The system also processes its information by Kalman filtering (a statistical sampling technique) in an on-site computer. Test results show the three-dimensional location accuracy is within 0.1 meters for every 100 meters of well depth, an accuracy ten times greater than conventional systems. Informative Although several names exist for summaries, there are essentially two approaches This paper describes a new inertial navigation system for mapping oil and gas wells. In this paper, we will compare the mapping accuracy and speed for this new system against the accuracy and speed for conventional systems. Descriptive

42. A document's introduction prepares readers for the discussion Topic? Importance? Background? Arrangement? Introduction

43. Medical histories not considered Women may not experience the same effects Other effects, such as exercise, not considered The introduction defines the scopeand limitations of the work scope Proposed Study on Effects of Alcohol on Life Expectancy Ten-year study Three classes of drinkers: non-drinkers moderate drinkers heavy drinkers Men surveyed limitations

44. A strong introductiontells readers why the research is important This paper presents a design for a platinum catalytic igniter in hydrogen-air mixtures. This igniter has application in nuclear reactors. One danger at a nuclear reactor is a loss-of-coolant accident. Such an accident can produce large quantities of hydrogen gas when hot water and steam react with zirconium fuel rods. In a serious accident, the evolution of hydrogen may be so rapid that it produces an explosive hydrogen-air mixture in the reactor containment building. This mixture could breach the containment walls and allow radiation to escape. Our method to eliminate this danger is to intentionally ignite the hydrogen-air mixture at concentrations below those for which any serious damage might result. importance

45. [Sandia, 1985] In the middle of a report, you present your work Make sections and subsections Choose a logical strategy Heading Subheading Subheading Heading Subheading Subheading Subheading Heading

46. Chronological [Maizels, 2001] Spatial [Pratt & Whitney, 2000] Common strategies exist for the middles of scientific reports

47. Parallel Parts Flow Corel Corporation [Sandia, 1985] Common strategies exist for the middles of scientific reports

48. Parallel Descriptive Introduction Past Designs for Particle Beam Fusion New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Forming Line Pulse Generating Particle Beam Transporting Particle Beam Irradiating Deuterium-Tritium Pellets Results of New Design Conclusions and Recommendations Section headings should be descriptive and parallel Non-Parallel Non-Descriptive Introduction Background Marx Generators Line Pulse Beam Generation Transporting Beam Pellets Results Conclusions

49. When you divide a section into subsections, all the pieces should be of the same pie New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Generating Particle Beam Irradiating Deuterium-Tritium Pellets New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Generating Particle Beam Pellets

50. Organization is hidden when headings occur in a long list without secondary headings Performance of the Solar One Receiver Introduction Receiver’s Efficiency Steady State Efficiency Average Efficiency Receiver’s Operation Cycle Start-Up Time Operation Time Operation During Cloud Transients Receiver’s Mechanical Wear Panel Mechanical Supports Tube Leaks Conclusion Performance of the Solar One Receiver Introduction Steady State Efficiency Average Efficiency Start-Up Time Operation Time Operation During Cloud Transients Panel Mechanical Supports Tube Leaks Conclusion