PENG6023 RESEARCH METHODS (3 Credits)

PENG6023 RESEARCH METHODS (3 Credits)
Syllabus: Introduction to research methods. Research process

from conceptualisation to analysis and conclusions. Types of
research, defining a research topic, originality and thinking of
research, identifying issues and objectives for research,
developing research methodology, literature review, finding
research material, data collection, referencing and citation,
executing the research, hypothesis testing, data analysis, reporting
the findings of the research, dealing with supervisors.
Class Times & Days: Tuesday Afternoons (4:15 – 6:00 pm)

Duration: 1st 6 weeks of Semester 2
Class Room: Eng 7
Definition
Systematic investigative process employed to increase or
revise current knowledge by discovering new facts. It is
divided into two general categories:
(1) Basic research is inquiry aimed at increasing scientific

knowledge, and
(2) (2) Applied research is effort aimed at using basic
research for solving problems or developing new
processes, products, or techniques.
Read more:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/research.htm
l#ixzz2JHZv7nYu
Exploratory research‐This type of research may generate any novel idea in the
domain of knowledge. It is primarily done for the purpose of finding anything
new in any subject arena and always tries to shed some light in the unknown
domain of knowledge. This kind of research also help us to generate new
discipline in sciences and help us to identify problems of those particular
research areas.
Constructive research‐ This is mainly done by many technological corporates in

order to find new/alternative solutions to any particular crisis or problems. For
example‐renewable energy research or development of the capacity of optical
fiber may fall into this category of research.
Empirical research‐This is very impressive observational type of research, where

one observes or test on real‐life data or analysis the pattern of some specific
events in order to identify the nature or the class of trend that specific
phenomenon maintains. Based on the test result, researchers try to draw lines
in order to predict the result of that type of incidents with certain level of
confidence.
If you are to be sure of success, then, you must:
•be sure in the first place that you want to work

on the problem you have been given
•know what your project entails
•be prepared to commit to working on it with
enthusiasm and determination
•have a good support network (supervisor,
family, friends) who will motivate you to
continue.
Why is there a graduate individual research project? What
are the benefits to the students?
1. To study in some depth an aspect of their chosen subject

2. The development of skills to function more independently
3. The opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice
4. The identification of career interests
5. The building of mentor relationships between faculty and
students
6. The stimulation that comes with critical thinking
1. The opportunity to participate in new discoveries
2. The ability to better understand research methodologies
3. The stimulation of creativity
4. The increased likelihood of acceptance into graduate or
professional school
5. The ability to communicate to a wide audience
6. Recognition by one's peers
7. The sheer excitement created by intellectual activity
8. The opportunity to earn wages or academic credit
9. The enhanced ability grasp the philosophy of life-long
learning
Initial Planning
Find an appropriate title (don’t try to do some research and then try
to find a title that fits). Ask why this research is important. (If it
isn’t, find another topic). What will your research add to our
knowledge and progress? It is essential that very early on you
define your research area, chose your title and ask your main
research questions. Recognise also that your research is not just
an end in itself – a thing you have to do for your degree. It is
intended to initiate you into the practices of research.
•Supervision: Once you have decided on a project and
contacted your supervisor, you will be asked to meet to
formulate the early development of your work. If you are to get
the most out of your supervisor, you must begin to read widely to
check the viability of your project. You must develop a
timetable for completing the various stages of your work. It will
help if you draw up a table of contents that show the main areas
of your work, as this will help you discover gaps in your
knowledge that you will need to fill. Discuss with your
supervisor how you will obtain the data required (i.e., is the
project feasible) and that you know how to analyse it (do you
need to take more courses or obtain special software), and
whether your research questions are either inappropriate (wrong
discipline for that question), overly complex or unachievable (we
cannot do that with the resources we have here).
Students often have problems because:
They do not devote enough time to

the project – perhaps for personal
reasons (family crisis, love life, etc.)
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Citing and Literature Survey
4. Methodology
5. Results and Data analysis
6. Discussion
7. Conclusions
8. Recommendations
9. References
10.Appendix

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PENG6023 RESEARCH METHODS (3 Credits)

Syllabus: Introduction to research methods. Research process

Class Times & Days: Tuesday Afternoons (4:15 – 6:00 pm)

(1) Basic research is inquiry aimed at increasing scientific

Constructive research‐ This is mainly done by many technological corporates in

Empirical research‐This is very impressive observational type of research, where

•be sure in the first place that you want to work

1. To study in some depth an aspect of their chosen subject

They do not devote enough time to

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