Jhansi Kokkiligadda

PMRF Research Scholar

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
IIT Madras, Chennai, TN

NPTEL Course: Introduction to Research

Role: Conduct Problem Solving Sessions

Course offered: By Prof. Edamana Prasad, Prof. Prathap Haridoss | IIT Madras

COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1 : A group discussion on what is research; Overview of research;

Week 2 : Literature survey , Experimental skills;
Week 3 : Data analysis, Modelling skills;
Week 4 : Technical writing; Technical Presentations; Creativity in Research
Week 5 : Creativity in Research; Group discussion on Ethics in Research
Week 6 : Design of Experiments
Week 7 : Intellectual Property
Week 8 : Department specific research discussions

Week 4 : Assignment 4

1. The title of a paper is ‘Battery design and its impact’. This title
a. Identifies the area of research clearly
b. Indicates what is unique about the research
c. Does not identify the area of the research clearly
d. Does not indicate what is unique about the research

Accepted answers: c,d

Explanation: The title should reflect the content and result of the work presented in the paper.
The title should be interesting, no doubt, but has to also reflect the exact contents in the paper.
The title of a paper should indicate the area of work as well as what is unique about the work.
The title Battery design and its impact neither identify the area of the research clearly nor
indicate what is unique about the research.

2. “The furnace demonstrated low heating rate and uniform temperature. This is good for
making cookies” Use of the word ‘this’ in the previous sentence is:

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a. Ambiguous
b. Unambiguous
c. Arrogant
d. Illegal

Accepted answers: a

Explanation: First and second sentences are describing about different things. So the word this
should not be used here to connect the given sentences. So it is ambiguous.

3. In images
a. High magnification implies high resolution
b. High magnification does not necessarily imply high resolution
c. Low magnification implies high resolution
d. High resolution implies low magnification

Accepted answers: b

Explanation: Magnification is the ability to make small objects seem larger, such as making a
microscopic organism visible. Resolution is the ability to distinguish two objects from each
other. So high magnification does not necessarily imply high resolution.

4. Abstract of a scientific document is aimed at

a. General public
b. An audience that has not yet read the paper
c. An audience that has read the paper
d. Enabling a short overview of the work

Accepted answers: b,d

Explanation: A good abstract can satisfy the information hunger of an audience and creates an
enthusiasm to read the paper. It is mainly aimed at an audience that has not yet read the paper
and it enables the short overview of the work.

5. Tables are preferred over graphs

a. Always
b. Never
c. Only when exact values need to be indicated
d. Only when trends in data need to be indicated

Accepted answers: c
Explanation: The importance of tables over graphs comes when exact values need to be
indicated.

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6. A reasonable pace for presentation is
a. 1 slide every 10 minutes
b. 1 slide a minute
c. 5 slides a minute
d. 10 slides a minute

Accepted answers: b

Reasonable pace depends on the content and context of presentation. Usually it is 1 slide a
minute.

7. In an article, the image of a car engine must

a. Show the level of detail required for the discussion in the article
b. Have a marker bar indicating scale
c. Be in colour and not in black and white
d. Be in black and white and not in colour

Accepted answers: a,b

Explanation: The image of a car engine can be in any colour as per the requirement and
acceptance of the journal. But the image must show the level of detail required for the discussion
in the article and have a marker bar indicating scale.

8. The length of sentences in an article should be such that:

a. Readers don’t have to read it twice to understand
b. Reader must read it twice to understand
c. Readers must not forget how it started by the time the readers reach the end of the sentence
d. Readers must forget how it started by the time the readers reach the end of the sentence

Accepted answers: a,c

9. The length of a document

a. Indicates how much you know
b. Indicates how little you know
c. Does not indicate anything about your knowledge
d. Does not indicate anything about the reader’s knowledge

Accepted answers: c,d

10. Strategies one can use in the middle of a document include

a. Chronological strategy

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b. Spatial strategy
c. Following a variable
d. Suspense strategy

Accepted answers: a,b,c

Explanation: Chronological order is a method of organization in which actions or events are

presented as they occur or occurred in time and can also be called time or linear order.

Spatial Strategy means the strategy developed and validated by the Panel of Experts and
approved by the Cabinet.

Following a variable: Mostly it is used to describe the missing data or the data yet to be
measured.

Suspense strategy is withholding information and raising key questions that stimulate readers'
curiosity. It might be acceptable in movies but not in the middle of a document.

Week 5: Sample Problems

Note : This assignment is only for practice purpose. The following questions may have more than one
correct answer.

SET – 1
11. According to Sternberg’s theories of intelligence practical intelligence relates to-

a) How one relates to the environment around them.

b) How street smart they are
c) How well they come up with new theories
d) How well they solve new problems

11) a,b

Explanation: Practical intelligence, as proposed by Sternberg, is sometimes compared to “street

smarts.” Being practical means you find solutions that work in your everyday life by applying
knowledge based on your experiences.

12. Ethical aspects govern which of the following areas

a) How research is funded

b) How research is carried out
c) How research is reported
d) How and what information is shared

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12) a,b,c,d

13. The followings can be attributed to a fully professional researcher-

a) They have some fundamentals concepts that their peers (international) might interested in
b) They have command over their area
c) They are aware of the situation where they can make significant contribution
d) They work without focusing on literature in the area

13) a,b,c

14. Few research scholars collaborated to work on some specific area. They generated some
data and analyzed the results. Some of them published the result independently since they
were the first to type it up. Is it ethical to do so?
a) Yes, because they have collaborated and know each other
b) No, all authors should know and agree with the publication
c) Yes, if the collaborators are junior to you
d) No, only if the authors are senior to you

14) b

15. We can work to the best of our potential when we are-

a) Hypo stressed
b) Eustressed
c) Hyper stressed
d) Distressed

15) b

Explanation: Eustress is a moderate or normal psychological stress which is considered as being

beneficial.

SET – 2

16. Creativity is seen in

a) Drama
b) Science fiction
c) Engineering
d) All of the above

16) d

17. The most important benefit that comes with a bachelor’s degree is

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a) You are specialist in one research area
b) You are a specialist in two research areas
c) You know more and more of less and less
d) You gain broad knowledge in an area

17) d

Explanation: During under graduation, students get the chance to gain broad knowledge in an
area.

18. The ultimate measure of a successful researcher is that the work of the researcher
should be recognized by peers at an international level
a) True
b) False

18) a

Explanation: The ultimate goal of a researcher should be to make meaningful discoveries and
share them with humanity. The ultimate measure of a work done by any successful researcher is
done by peers at an international level.

19. A PhD makes you a specialist in one narrow area

a) True
b) False

19) a

Expanation: Scholar is a specialist in a particular branch of study. With PhD one can become an
expert in the field of their research. So a PhD makes you a specialist in one narrow area.

20. The quality of the PhD work is seen by the speed with which it is done
True
False

20) b

Explanation: The quality of the PhD work is seen by in depth understanding of the context of
the own work but not by the speed with which it is done.

21. Good research is stand the test of time

True
False

21) a

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Explanation: STAND THE TEST OF TIME is a phrase which means continue to be successful
for long time

22. A good researcher is often well read in many areas

True
False

22) a

23. It is unethical to reveal data about patients without their consent

True
False

23) a

Explanation: It is mandatory to get the consent from the patients to reveal the data about them.

24. Any data used from another publication must have appropriate permission as well as
appropriate acknowledgement
True
False

24) a

25. Informed consent is very important in any medical trials

True
False

25) a

26. Eye protection must include shielding of the sides of the eyes
True
False
26) a

27. Gloves used for handling different chemicals can differ

True
False

27) a

28. Gloves are not necessary for handling containers having cryogenic liquids
True
False

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28) b

29. The presence of electricity in addition to water is a greater safety hazard than the
presence of either of them independently
True
False

29) a

30. Pressurized gas bottles must be secured in an adequate manner to prevent toppling
True
False

30) a

31. The location of a thermocouple is not an important parameter affecting the accuracy of
an experiment
True
False
31) b

32. It is sufficient to record the data displayed by the inbuilt instruments in any
experimental setup
True
False

32) b

Explanation: For example if we want to measure the sheet resistance of any thin film, this can be
done using four point probe.

Formula: V = IR

This instrument supplies a constant DC current and displays the measured output voltage. It is
also possible to check the resistance values using this instrument. Checking those resistance
values by directly using that instrument saves a lot of time instead of the manual calculation of
resistance using the current and voltage data points. So it is advisable to record all the relevant
and useful data instead of just recording the displayed data.

33. Independent verification of current and voltage measurements helps improve the
confidence in the data
True
False

33) a

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34. Acids and bases can be stored in proximity with each other
True
False

34) b

35. Chemical waste must not be flushed down the drain or poured down a sink
True
False

35) a