Module 2

Literature Review and Technical

Reading

Syllabus

Literature Review and Technical Reading, New and Existing Knowledge, Analysis and
Synthesis of Prior Art, Bibliographic Databases: Web of Science, Google and Google
Scholar, Effective Search: The Way Forward, Introduction to Technical Reading, Concep-
tualizing Research, Critical and Creative Reading, Taking Notes While Reading, Reading
Mathematics and Algorithms, Reading a Datasheet. Attributions and Citations: Giving
Credit Wherever Due, Citations: Functions and Attributes, Impact of Title and Keywords
on Citations, Knowledge Flow through Citation, Citing Datasets, Styles for Citations, Ac-
knowledgments and Attributions, What Should Be Acknowledged, Acknowledgments in
Books Dissertations, Dedication or Acknowledgments.
Textbook :
Dipankar Deb , Rajeeb Dey, Valentina E. Balas
“Engineering Research Methodology”, ISSN 1868-4394 ISSN 1868-4408 (electronic),
Intelligent Systems Reference Library, ISBN 978-981-13-2946-3 ISBN 978-981-13-2947-0
(eBook), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2947-0
Reference Book:
David V. Thiel “Research Methods for Engineers” Cambridge University Press, 978-1-
107-03488-4

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2.1 Significance of Literature Review and Technical
Reading :

The term “literature” is commonly used to refer to the body of written works on a
particular subject or within a specific field of study. A literature review, is a systematic
and critical analysis of existing scholarly works, literature, and research relevant to a
specific research topic.
The primary goals of literature review are :

Identification of Vaguely Known Problem: To know the use of content, ideas,

or approaches in the literature to correctly identify the problem that is not clearly
known before delving into existing research.

Advocating a Specific Approach: The literature review enables researchers to

advocate for a specific approach or methodology in understanding and addressing
the identified problem.

Assessing Methods Used:Researchers evaluate and assess the methods used in

the literature to address similar problems.

Ensuring Contribution of Something New and Innovative:The literature

review helps researchers in clearly understanding that their proposed research(the
research to be undertaken) will contribute something novel and innovative.

Evaluating the Quality of a Literature Review: The quality of such a review

can be determined by evaluating whether it includes the appropriate breadth and
depth of the area under study, clarity, rigor, consistency, and effective analysis.

2.2 New and Existing Knowledge

New knowledge in research can only be interpreted within the context of what is already
known, and cannot exist without the foundation of existing knowledge.

Foundation of Existing Knowledge: New knowledge is built upon the foundation

of existing knowledge. Understanding what is already known is is essential or very impor-
tant in the context of academic writing or research and to support and understand new
findings.

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Constructing the Foundation:
Constructing a strong foundation involves reading and surveying literature, both histor-
ical and recent. Existing knowledge provides context, significance, originality, and tools
necessary for new research.

Sources of Existing Knowledge:

Where does this existing knowledge come from? Normally, one finds this knowledge by
reading and surveying the literature in the field that was established long ago, as well as
more recent knowledge, which is always changing.

(i) Textbooks: Literature survey involves reading textbooks on one’s topic for estab-
lished knowledge. Textbooks serve as a starting point for understanding basics.
Reading a textbook is not too difficult because it is written as a teaching instru-
ment. The author of the textbook normally starts from the basics and takes the
reader through everything needed to understand that topic.

(ii) Research Papers: Research papers contain newer work but assume prior knowl-
edge. Normally, the goal of a research paper is to present a small piece of new
knowledge. A research paper contributes newer work but assumes a certain level of
prior knowledge in the field from the reader.

Review Process:

The Literature review process explains how a research item builds on existing work,
providing a clear and detailed explanation or clarification of the technical develop-
ment. A good literature survey provides a convincing answer to why the research is
undertaken.

An effective review of the literature ensures a firm foundation for advancing knowl-
edge, facilitates theoretical growth, and identifies gaps for future work.

An efficient literature review focuses on concepts rather than authors.

Generally, a good literature survey is the first expectation of a supervisor from the
research student, and when done well can create a good impression that the state
of art in the chosen field is well understood.

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Steps for a Literature Survey:
A good literature survey is typically a two-step process as given below:
(1) Identification: Identify major topics, subtopics, or concepts relevant to the research
subject under consideration.
(2) Categorization: Organize the topics by placing citations of relevant sources(article/website/data,
etc.) in the correct category of concepts.

Effective Reading and Note-Taking:

In the process, Highlight important sections and then write about them without copy-
ing. Writing about highlighted parts helps shape and integrate the knowledge into the
researcher’s foundation. It helps the stay focused on key points and enhances your un-
derstanding of the material.

Continuous Learning and Writing :

To build a strong understanding of a subject, continuous reading and learning are essen-
tial. When reading, marking key sections with an asterisk, highlighting or underlining is
a form of active engagement. Beyond marking, expressing one’s understanding in writ-
ing or taking notes in the margins or in a separate notebook solidifies your understanding.

Comprehensive Literature Survey:

The literature survey serves as the foundation for your research by providing a compre-
hensive overview which involves a thorough analysis and synthesis of existing scholarly
work. This includes articles, books, conference papers, and other archived materials rel-
evant to the chosen topic. By reviewing existing methodologies used in previous studies,
the literature survey aids in the identification of suitable research methodologies for your
own investigation, provides a firm foundation for a topic of interest, and demonstrates
that the proposed work would make a novel contribution to the overall field of research.

2.3 Analysis and Synthesis of Prior Art

After collecting the sources, usually articles, intended to be used in the literature review,
the researcher is ready to break down each article and identify the useful content in it,
and then synthesize the collection of articles. Breaking Down Each Article:
A researcher should analyze the relevant information
(i) Understanding the Hypothesis : Clearly comprehend the main hypothesis or
research question addressed in each article. (ii)Understanding Models and Experi-

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 Table 2.1: Literature Survey Grid
TOPIC\Source Source 1 Source 2 ··· Source M
Topic 1 ✓
Topic 2 ✓ ✓
.
. ✓
Topic N ✓ ✓

mental Conditions: Gain insight into the models and experimental setups used in each
study. (iii)Making Connections: Identify commonalities, patterns, or trends across
the articles.
(iv) Comparing and Contrasting: Highlight similarities and differences among the
articles.
(v) Finding Strong Points and Loopholes: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses
of each article, acknowledging areas of robust evidence and potential limitations.

Critical Analysis :
(i) Being Suspicious of Claims: Approach the information with a critical mindset,
especially when encountering bold claims.
(ii) Avoiding Blind Acceptance: Resist accepting information at face value; critically
analyze and question the data.
Literature Survey Goal:
(i) Identifying Unsolved Issues: Recognize gaps or unresolved issues in the existing
literature.
(ii) Determining Problems in Models or Designs: Evaluate flaws or limitations in
current models and experimental designs.
(ii)Presenting Novel Ideas and Recommendations: Aim to contribute something
new by suggesting innovative ideas or proposing recommendations.
Critical Evaluation of Information:Here are a few criteria that could help the re-
searcher in the evaluation of the information under study.
Authority: Assess the author’s credentials and affiliation, as well as the publisher of the
information.
Accuracy: Verify the credibility of the information based on existing knowledge and the
presence of citations to support claims.
Scope: Determine if the source is at an appropriate comprehension or research level.
Additional Criteria:
Currency: Ensure the information is up-to-date.
Objectivity: Assess the neutrality and impartiality of the information.

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Purpose: Understand the goal or intention behind the information.
Avoiding Extremes: It is important to ensure that the search question is neither too
narrow nor too broad, striking a balance for effective exploration.

2.4 Bibliographic Databases

Bibliographic databases are referred to as “abstracting and indexing services.” Pur-

pose: They play a crucial role in collecting citation-related information and abstracts
of research articles from scholarly literature. Accessibility: The gathered information
is made available through search functionalities, aiding researchers in retrieving relevant
literature efficiently.
Example Databases: IEEE Xplore, Engineering Village, Scopus etc.

Advantages of Simultaneous Searches:

Diversification: Simultaneous searches across large databases help avoid excessive de-
pendence on any individual database.
Limitation Mitigation: This approach helps researchers to overcome or bypass the
inherent limitations or shortcomings associated with a specific database, thereby signifi-
cantly enhancing the overall quality of their research.

Criteria for Database Selection

Swift Identification: Researchers should be capable of quickly identifying databases
relevant to their research.
Tailored Selection: The selection of databases should be based on the specific ideas or
problems the researcher intends to explore.

2.4.1 Web of Science

Web of Science (formerly known as ISI or Thomson Reuters) includes multiple databases,
as well as specialized tools. It is a good search tool for scholarly materials requiring
institutional license and allows the researcher to search in a particular topic of interest.
Search criteria include the fields that are available in drop down menu such as such as
title, topic, author, address, etc. The tool also allows sorting by number of citations
(highest to lowest), publication date etc.

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Effective Searching Techniques :

Use quotes around phrases for precise search.

Add more keywords to refine results.

Utilize the ”Refine Results” panel on the left for advanced filtering.

Explore options such as peer-reviewed journals, date, language, etc.

Broaden the search outcomes by taking into account alternative word forms, vari-
ations in word endings, and incorporating alternate search terms related to the
research topic and connecting them with OR.

Example: ( for a structured approach) :

Research Topic: Graph Theory and Network Analysis.

Search Criteria: Title, Topic, Author.

Keywords: Graph theory, network analysis, connectivity, algorithms.

Refine Results: Select peer-reviewed journal articles, published within the last 3
years.

Cited Reference Search :

“Cited Reference Search” option enables a researcher to trace articles which have
cited a formerly published paper.

Using this element, it is possible to find how a familiar idea has been applied,
improved, or extended subsequently.

Example : Discover how a particular concept has evolved over time.

Example: (for Cited Reference Search)

**Research Focus:** Influential papers in Graph Theory.

**Search:** Cited references for a classic paper in Graph Theory.

**Outcome:** Identify newer papers citing the classic work, exploring advancements
or applications.

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Structured Search for Optimal Results

Structured searches enable narrowing and refining of results. Based on the re-
searcher’s need the search result can be broadened or narrowed down using the built-
in fields provided in the web of science website.

This method is effective and ensures relevance and well-utilized time.

When clicked on any of the search results, this website provides the title of the
paper, authors, the type of journal, volume, issue number and year of publication,
abstract, keywords, etc., so that the researcher has enough information to decide if
it is worthwhile to acquire the full version of the paper.

Example: (for Structured Search) :

Objective: Recent developments in network connectivity algorithms.

Structured Search: Use drop-down menus for precise selection (e.g., Topic: Network
Analysis, Sorting: Citations - Highest to Lowest).

Outcome: Access a list of highly-cited articles on recent developments in network

connectivity algorithms.

2.4.2 Google and Google Scholar

Google is a starting point for research. It is useful for finding freely available information
from various sources such as reports from governments, organizations, companies, and so
on However, there are limitations:

(i) It is a ”Black box” of information, It searches everything on the Internet, with no

quality control -one does not know where results are coming from.

(ii) There are limited search functionality and refinement options.

Google Scholar Focuses one’s search to scholarly literature . However, there are limita-
tions:

(i) Some of the results are not actually scholarly. An article may look scholarly at first
glance, but is not a good source upon further inspection.

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 (ii) Not comprehensive as some publishers do not make their content available to Google
Scholar.

(iii) There is limited search functionality and refinement options.

Search Operators in Google and Google ScholarThere are search operators in

Google and Google Scholar that can be used to help narrow down the results. These
help one find more relevant and useful sources of information. Here are some basic search
operators:

(i) OR- Broadens search by capturing synonyms or variant spellings of a concept.

Example: Synchronous OR asynchronous will find results that have either term
present.

(ii) Brackets/Parentheses ( ) - Gathers OR’d synonyms together, while combining

them with another concept.
Example: RAM (synchronous OR asynchronous).

(iii) Quotation marks “ ”- Narrows the search by finding words together as a phrase
instead of separately.
Example: RAM (synchronous OR asynchronous) “Texas Instruments”.

(iv) Site - limits the search to results from a specific domain or website. This operator
is helpful when searching specific websites such as the BC government.
Example: RAM(synchronous OR asynchronous) “Texas Instruments” site: http://ieeexplore.ieee

(v) Filetype- Limits the search to results with a specific file extension. One could look
for pdf’s, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, and so on.
Example: RAM (synchronous OR asynchronous) “Texas Instruments” site: http://
ieeexplore.ieee.org, filetype: pdf.

Search Tools and Other Options The Search Tools button at the top of the Google results
gives you a variety of other options, such as limiting the results by date. There are other
operators and tools that one can use in Google and Google Scholar. Google is just one
among many available search tools. Researchers are advised to consider other options
beyond Google, for comprehensive research.

Challenges and Considerations:

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 It can be hard to carefully examine (Sift ) through numerous results in Google or
Google Scholar, especially when seeking scholarly resources within a specific subject
area.

To find the best resources on a topic, one should search in academic databases,
in addition to Google. Databases provide access to journal articles and conference
proceedings, as well as other scholarly resources.

One should choose databases based on subject area, date coverage, and publica-
tion type. Interfaces vary between databases, but the search techniques remain
essentially the same.

2.5 Effective Search : The Way Forward

Scholarly and popular publications play distinct roles in sharing information in the field
of engineering. A thorough understanding of their unique characteristics and knowing
where to locate relevant information is essential for conducting research effectively.

Scholarly Publications:
Scholarly publications are authored by researchers in a specific field of skill. Such work
cites all source contents used and is generally peer-reviewed for accuracy and validity
before publication. The audience for such works is fellow experts and students in the
field. The content is typically more complex and advanced than those found in general
magazines.

Scholarly publications contribute to the academic knowledge base and are often a result
of original research or in-depth analysis. They adhere to a formal structure, including
abstracts, methodologies, results, and conclusions.
Example:

Title: ”Advancements in Robotics: A Comprehensive Review”

Authors: Dr. Engineer, Prof. Researcher

Published in: Journal of Robotics

Popular Publications :
Popular publications are informal and aim to reach a large number of readers, including
experts and enthusiasts. They focus on news and trends, making them suitable for general

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reading.
Popular publications serve as a bridge between experts and the general public, providing
accessible information on current developments in the field. They may include interviews,
case studies, and discussions that make the content more approachable.
Example:

Title: ”The Future of Sustainable Energy”

Author: Science Enthusiast

Published in: Engineering Today Magazine

Search Strategies :
Conducting a comprehensive search is essential for researchers. No single source provides
all information needed, so various search tools should be utilized. Information may not
be solely online. Researchers should consider the type of information needed and its
availability, including print resources. Remember to explore various sources and iterate
through different methods to get comprehensive results in your research.

Iterative Searching Process:

Searching is an iterative process involving experimenting with keywords and operators.
evaluating results, and modifying searches. Once results are generated, carefully evaluate
and assess them, utilizing filters to refine the relevant information. If the initial search
doesn’t yield the desired outcomes, be ready to modify your search terms based on ini-
tial results. Additionally, explore citations and references in relevant articles for further
sources.

Critical Reading:
Following the initial search, engaging in critical reading becomes a crucial step in the
literature review process. Through this critical reading, researchers are able to make
careful observations of salient points within the selected sources. The next steps involve
summarizing the key findings extracted from the literature and conducting a detailed
comparison and contrast of these findings. This iterative process of observation, summa-
rization, and comparison enhances the depth of understanding and provides a foundation
for synthesizing information from various sources. After the search, critical reading is
crucial. Observations, summarization, and comparison of findings are part of this process.

Continuous and Cyclical Process :

Conducting a literature survey is not a one-time event but rather an ongoing process that

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evolves with the expanding body of knowledge. It is a continuous and cyclical process,
involving multiple iterations and a thorough understanding of the problem.

Skill Development:
Parsing math-heavy articles, especially those laden with complex equations and algebra,
may not be an inherent skill for everyone at the beginning of their research journey.
Successful researchers cultivate this skill over time through a combination of extensive
reading, seeking assistance when needed, and engaging in relevant coursework. it is cru-
cial to dedicate sufficient time to digest the content and develop one’s ideas based on a
thorough understanding of the literature. A caution is issued against losing focus of the
purpose during an extensive search, underscoring the importance of active reading and
the development of ideas.

Ph.D. Research Stage :

Ph.D. scholars are required to undertake the preparation of a synopsis and a compre-
hensive literature survey as integral components of their research journey. Specifically,
during the synopsis stage, scholars are required to undertake an extensive literature sur-
vey, using archived journals and bibliographies as primary sources. Acknowledging the
iterative nature of the research process, scholars are encouraged to engage in a continuous
back-and-forth exploration until the completion of the project.

2.6 Introduction to Technical Reading

Technical reading is a vital skill for researchers, allowing them to remain well-informed
and efficient in exploring research literature.

Significance of Technical Reading in Research:

For any active researcher, staying abreast(up-to-date) with the latest research findings
in their field is now absolutely necessary. However, locating the right work to read can
be challenging due to the vast and fragmented nature of the literature, with knowledge
scattered across various sources. This highlights the need for systematic approaches to
gather, synthesize, and comprehend dispersed information effectively. Knowing where to
read is crucial, and relying on refereed journals and books from reputable publishers is
preferred over easily accessible but potentially less reliable web articles. When reading an
engineering research paper, the primary goal is to understand the technical contributions
made by the authors.

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Efficient Reading Strategies:
Given the abundance of journal articles, adopting a purposeful and efficient reading ap-
proach is crucial. Technical reading requires multiple readings, it is not the same as
reading a newspaper. It often requires spending many hours on a single paper, needing
multiple readings for a thorough understanding. Determine the worthiness of a paper
through an initial Skimming to decide whether it is worth careful reading. A simple,
efficient, and logical approach is described in the next section for identifying articles and
reading them suitably for effective research.

Time investment through Initial Skimming:

Determining how much time to invest in reading a paper begins with an initial skimming
process. During this process, one typically glances through Title and Keywords, subhead-
ings, introductory and concluding paragraphs, and any highlighted or emphasized text.
The goal of initial skimming is to quickly assess the document’s structure, main points,
and relevance without delving into the details. It helps readers decide whether the paper
merits a more in-depth and careful reading.

Effective Skimming Techniques:

When initiating the skimming process, begin with the title and keywords, as these ele-
ments are initial attention grabbers. If, upon reading these, it does not seem sufficiently
interesting, it is better to stop reading and look for something else to read. One should
then read the abstract to get an overview of the paper in minimum time. Again, if it
does not seem sufficiently important to the field of study, one should stop reading further.
If the abstract is of interest, one should skip most of the paper and go straight to the
conclusions to find if the paper is relevant to the intended purpose. If found relevant,
focus on reading the figures, tables, and captions, providing a broad understanding of the
paper’s content.

Effective Research Paper Reading Strategy for Students:

If the paper has continued to be of interest, delve into the Introduction section to grasp
the background information about the work and understand why the authors conducted
that particular study and how it contributes to the field. The next sections to read are
the Results and Discussion sections which is really the heart of the paper. One should
really read further sections like the Experimental Setup/Modeling, etc., only if one is
really interested and wishes to understand exactly what was done to better understand
the meaning of the data and its interpretation.

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Continuous Search for Relevant Literature : Balancing Content and Author
Reputation :
While working through the literature in this way, it is essential not only to consider the
knowledge that is written down but also to take into account the reputation of the au-
thors who contributed to that knowledge. As a researcher, staying updated with relevant
literature is an ongoing necessity. For smaller projects, advisors might guide the reading
process by assigning a single important paper to read. But larger projects often require
independent literature searches. For this, developing a reading strategy for effective re-
search is absolutely necessary for researchers.

2.7 Conceptualizing Research

In formulating research objectives, the focus lies in its ability to centralize new knowledge,
gaining acceptance and recognition within the research community. However, the journey
begins with the conceptualization of the research itself. Besides being original and sig-
nificant, a good research problem should also be solvable or achievable. This necessitates
consideration of the methods and tools that can be used to obtain that new knowledge
effectively. Significance, originality, and the theoretical framework, along with the meth-
ods and tools required to address a problem, usually come from the existing documented
literature and knowledge in the field.

Complexities of Formulating Research Objectives :

Coming up with a good research objective, conceptualizing the research that meets all
of these requirements is a tough thing to do. It means that one must already be aware
of what is in the literature.Achieving this demands a thorough understanding of existing
literature. A well-defined research objective indicates an advanced level of expertise, par-
ticularly at the cutting edge of knowledge. For those engaged in Ph.D. level research or
beyond, the task of conceptualizing the research becomes a personal responsibility. This
step is particularly challenging as it demands an extensive knowledge of the literature in
the field.

Crafting Expertise in Ph.D. Research :

When working at the Ph.D. level, one needs to be prepared to cultivate expertise. Under-
taking research at the Ph.D. level requires a readiness to cultivate expertise. It involves
a continuous engagement with literature so as to bring together the three parts:

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(i) identifying a significant problem,
(ii) acquiring the knowledge to address it and
(iii) a possible way to generate that new knowledge.
The convergence of these three aspects varies uniquely for each researcher and across
different fields. However, the only way to become an expert is by continuously reading
literature and knowing about what already exists in the field.

Expert Guidance in Literature review:

When tackling a research project of a smaller scope, such as a master’s thesis, the task
of conceptualizing the research is possibly too tough to do, particularly when time is a
limiting factor. Achieving expertise in a limited timeframe may not be feasible. In these
cases, seeking guidance becomes essential. The supervisor, typically an expert and active
researcher in the field, can guide on defining a meaningful research objective.

The Essence of Research as Knowledge Creation in Engineering :

While engineers enjoy building things, the fundamental goal of research lies in the creation
of knowledge. When research involves building something, a critical inquiry is necessary
to determine if it is indeed contributing to the formation of new knowledge. When engag-
ing in research endeavors, it is important to prioritize uniqueness. Even if a researcher
building something new, there’s a risk of the work being labeled obvious and rejected as
insufficient for the label of genuine research.
Example: If the research involves building a new device, ensure it contributes novel
insights beyond what is obvious to experienced engineers.

2.8 Critical and Creative Reading

Reading a research paper is a critical process. The reader should not be under the as-
sumption that reported results or arguments are correct. Rather, being suspicious and
asking appropriate questions is in fact a good thing.

Asking the Right Questions:

The reader should ask the following questions during research paper analysis:

(i) Problem Solving: Have the authors attempted to solve the right problem?

(ii) Consideration of Alternatives: Are there simpler solutions that have not been
considered?

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(iii) Limitations: What are the limitations (both stated and ignored) of the solution?

(iv) Missing Links: Are there any missing links or gaps in the presented work?

(v) Reasonable Assumptions: Are the assumptions made by the authors reasonable?

(vi) Logical Flow: Is there a logical flow to the paper, or are there flaws in the reason-
ing?

These questions need to be ascertained apart from assessing the relevance and importance
of the work, through careful reading.

Judgmental Approach:
Use of judgemental approach and boldness to make judgments is needed while reading.
Flexibility to discard previous erroneous judgments is also critical for unbiased analysis.
Correctness of Data: Ascertain whether the data presented in the paper is accurate
and supports the argument.
Gathering and Interpretation:Ascertain whether the data was gathered and inter-
preted in a correct manner.
Alternative Datasets: Decipher whether an alternative dataset would have been more
compelling.

Critical Reading vs. Creative Reading:

Critical reading is relatively easier, focusing on finding mistakes, whereas creative reading
is more challenging and requires a positive approach in search. In creative reading, the
idea is to :
Search for Other Applications: Actively look for other applications beyond the stated
scope.
Generalizations and Extensions: Explore interesting generalizations or extended work
that authors might have missed.
Practical Challenges: Identify plausible modifications that may present important
practical challenges.
Research Considerations : Determine if the paper suggests areas for extended research
and and what should be the immediate next aspect to focus upon.

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2.9 Taking Notes While Reading

Effective reading is essential for good writing in research. The process of taking notes
during and after reading serves as a bridge between reading and writing.

Importance of Note-Taking and methods:

Building Knowledge: Notes aid in building on acquired knowledge.
Memory Aid: There is a well-known saying that the faintest writing is better than the
best memory, and this holds true for researchers who need to read and build on acquired
knowledge.Marginal Notes: Many researchers take notes on the margins of their copies
of papers or even digitally(annotate) on an article.
Contents to Highlight:In each research paper, there are a lot of things that one might
like to highlight for later use such as Definitions, explanations, key concepts, questions,
and criticisms.
Long-Term Benefits : Efforts in note-taking become particularly significant when re-
visiting and rereading the material after a long time.

Concluding a Thorough Reading:

summary: On completing a thorough reading, a good technical reading should end with
a summary of the paper in a few sentences describing the paper’s contributions
Elucidating Technical Merit: Elucidate on the importance of understanding the tech-
nical merit by comparing the paper with existing works in the same area.
Evaluation of Innovation: Assess whether the paper introduces new ideas or imple-
ments existing ones in innovative ways. Novel Framework: Evaluate if the paper
introduces new ideas, or implements existing ideas through experiments or in a new ap-
plication ones in new ways, or consolidates different ideas under a novel framework.
Determining Contribution through Comparative Analysis : The true contribution
of a paper is better understood by considering other papers in the same area. Research
students should thoroughly analyze how the paper stands out when compared to existing
works in the field.

2.10 Reading Mathematics and Algorithms

Mathematics serves as the foundation for new advances in engineering research, for evo-
lution and development of engineering research and practice.

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Importance of Meticulous Reading:
Engineering researchers often encounter mathematical derivations and proofs as integral
components of their research work. Mathematical derivations and proofs form the heart
of any technical paper. Therefore, one should avoid skimming them. After identifying
the relevance of the paper, by meticulous reading of the proofs or algorithms, one can
develop a sound understanding of the problem that the authors have attempted to solve.

Selective Skimming in Technical Sections:

While engaging with technical sections, a balanced approach involves selective skimming
based on familiarity, relevance, and practical considerations. However, there are excep-
tions to this approach. Some instances where skimming is acceptable include:

(i) Known Concepts or Advanced Material: It’s acceptable to skim a technical

section if it explains something already known or if it is too advanced for the research
at the present moment and needs additional reading to be understandable

(ii) Specialized Content Consideration: Sections too specialized and seemingly un-
necessary for the current research may be skipped temporarily and revisited later if
needed.

Example: A researcher studying a novel optimization algorithm may meticulously read

the mathematical proofs to understand the underlying principles. However, if a section
delves into advanced mathematical concepts beyond the current scope, they may choose
to skim it and revisit it later.

Algorithm Implementation:

(i) Error-Prone Algorithm Implementation: Implementing intricate algorithms in

programming languages like C, C++, or Java is error-prone, even if the researcher
is confident. Quick coding may be necessary to verify functionality.

(ii) Practical Testing of Algorithms: Despite the researcher’s confidence in the

paper and belief in the algorithm’s functionality, there’s a fair chance it may not
work. Quick coding becomes essential to promptly verify its actual functionality.

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2.11 Reading a Datasheet

Researchers in various engineering fields encounter different types of documents essential

to their work. For instance, mechanical and civil engineers may need to read drawings,
while those in the field of electronics often need to read datasheets. Datasheets, in partic-
ular, serve as instructional manuals for electronic components, offering insights into their
functions and applications. Each discipline requires specific reading skills. On occasions,
researchers in other fields may also need to incorporate a certain electronic part in which
case careful reading of the datasheet is imperative for a thorough understanding of the
component’s specifications and applications.

In this context, the importance of mastering the art of reading such documents, beyond
traditional technical papers or books, becomes evident.

Navigating Datasheets: A Guide for Engineers:

1. Importance of Datasheets: Datasheets serve as instruction manuals for elec-

tronic components, providing details on the component’s functionality and usage.
Datasheets enable a researcher (or a working professional) to design a circuit or
debug any given circuit with that component.

2. First Page Overview: The initial page of a datasheet typically summarizes the
part’s function, features, and basic specifications. It often includes a functional
block diagram illustrating the internal functions of the component.

3. Initial Skimming: Apply principles of initial skimming to datasheets to determine

the need for further careful reading.

4. Datasheet Components: Datasheets typically include information on function,

features, specifications, functional block diagrams, pinouts, performance graphs,
safe operating regions, truth tables, timing diagrams, and package dimensions.

5. Significance of Pinout: A pinout provides the physical location of a part’s pins,

with special mark for pin 1 so that the part can be correctly plugged into the circuit.

6. Performance Graphs and Safe Regions: Some parts also provide graphs show-
ing performance versus various criteria (supply voltage, temperature, etc.), and safe
region for reliable operation which should be carefully read and noted by the re-
searcher.

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 7. Truth Tables and Timing Diagrams: Lookout for truth tables which describe
what sort of inputs provide what types of outputs, and also timing diagrams which
lay out how and at what speed data is sent and received from the part(data trans-
mission).

8. Package Dimensions for PCB Layout: Datasheets end with with accurate
dimensions of the packages a part is available in, essential for PCB(printed circuit
board) layout.

9. Importance of Datasheet Reading: When working with a new part or selecting

components, carefully reading the datasheet is recommended that may potentially
save many hours later on.
Example:When undertaking an electronic project, a researcher needs to select a mi-
crocontroller. This involves a meticulous reading of the microcontroller’s datasheet
to comprehend its features, pin configuration, and operating conditions.

10. Beyond Datasheets - Diverse Reading Materials:While utilizing datasheets

as an illustrative example, the authors’ objective is to emphasize the importance of
mastering the art of reading various documents. Researchers need to broaden their
document literacy beyond technical papers and books, recognizing the diverse range
of materials integral to their field.

2.12 Attributions and Citations: Giving Credit Wher-

ever Due :

Academic writing, by definition, must follow certain rules and conventions. Among the
most important of these are the rules and conventions about citing, referencing, attribut-
ing, and acknowledging the works of others. That means giving proper credit wherever
due.

Citing: Citing is the practice of quoting from, referring to other authors’ works and
ideas in the text of our work in such a way that the context is clear to the reader.

Referencing: Referencing is the listing of the full publication details of a published

work that is cited so as to give background information to the readers.

Attribution: Properly crediting the contributors for their contributions.

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 Acknowledgment: Acknowledgment in research publications indicates contribu-
tions to scientific work.

However, acknowledgment, attributions, and citations differ in the manner of their appli-
cation. Acknowledgment is arguably more personal, singular, and simply an expression
of appreciations and contribution.
In the upcoming sections, we will delve into the various challenges and considerations
associated with attributions and citations in academic writing.

2.13 Citations: Functions and Attributes

Role of Citations (References):

Citations credit others for their work, providing readers the means to trace the source
publication if necessary. In any new document, any borrowed portion of someone else’s
work or ideas, be it in papers, patents, or presentations, must be clearly cited to avoid
plagiarism. This rule applies to all written sources, encompassing texts, images, sounds,
etc. and failure to do may be considered plagiarism. One should avoid distress and em-
barrassment by learning exactly what to cite. Depending on the exact type of material,
the researcher must appropriately credit the creator of the original source.

Knowledge Growth and Proper Acknowledgment in Research :

The Growth of Knowledge : The growth of knowledge in any field, especially in
technological fields, is incremental. Researchers build upon prior information as they
contribute to the field’s development and must ensure proper acknowledgment of existing
knowledge.
Dissemination of Knowledge : Established means of preventing and spreading knowl-
edge include patent publications, conference papers, peer-reviewed journal papers, arti-
cles, textbooks, and classroom education.
Leveraging Prior Art: While researchers need to leverage existing knowledge in their
research areas for further development, it is equally important to ensure proper acknowl-
edgment and credit for that pre-existing knowledge.

Citations as Connectors: Establishing Credit and Ethical Responsibility

Establishing Connections through Citations: When a researcher includes a bibli-
ography of previously published patents or papers in their new works, it establishes a
connection between the new and previous work.

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Providing Due Credit: In relevance to the context, researchers give due credit through
citations. Citations allow readers to verify the quality and importance of the new work,
and justification of the findings.
Ethical Responsibility: Citations serve as a way to inform readers that certain ma-
terial in the researcher’s present work is sourced from another, and as an ethical respon-
sibility, appropriate credit has been given to the original author or writer.
Types of Citable Materials: Materials that can be cited include journal papers, con-
ference proceedings, books, theses, newspaper articles, websites, other online resources,
and personal communication.
Placement of Citations: Ideally, citations should be provided at the end of a sentence
or paragraph. Each citation must contain sufficient details for readers to easily locate the
referenced material.

Dual Citation Practice: In-Text and References:

Dual Citation Requirement: A researcher is required to cite each source twice:
(i) In-Text Citation: Within the text of the article, precisely where the source is quoted
or paraphrased.
(ii) References: A second time, typically at the end of the chapter, book, or research
article.

Consistency in Citation Styles:

While most citation styles share similar elements, they differ in the order of elements
and layout. Unless otherwise specifically required by a particular journal or a book, re-
searchers can choose any style as long as consistency is maintained.

Differences in Citation Elements:

The citation elements differ and so what is to be recorded can differ from one source to
another, and it is crucial to adhere to the specific requirements of each source.

Inclusion of Publication Date:

It is important to include the publication date of the source. For web content, the re-
searcher may also need to mention the specific date it was accessed by him.

LaTeX: Efficient Document Preparation in Engineering Research :

LaTeX as a Document Preparation System: LaTeX, a document preparation sys-
tem frequently employed by engineering researchers, is highly efficient in automatically
formatting documents according to standard requirements. It proves effective in tracking

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and updating citations.
Learning Curve and Technical Writing: LaTeX comes with a steep learning curve
but is extensively utilized in this book to address various issues related to technical writ-
ing, which is intricately linked with research for engineers.

Functions of Citation :
Citations serve three main functions: verification, acknowledgment, and documentation.

(i) Verification Function: Authors can identify intentional or unintentional distortion

of research or misleading statements through citation. Citation offers the readers
Citation allows readers to ascertain if the original source is justified in the present
work.

(ii) Acknowledgment Function: Researchers receive credit for their work through
citations, which plays a crucial role in the promotion of individual researchers and
their continued employment. Many Reputed organizations and institutes often pro-
vide research funding based on the reputations of the researchers. Citations help
all researchers to enhance their reputation and provide detailed background of their
research work.

(iii) Documentation Function: Citations are used to document scientific concepts and
the historical progress of any particular technology over the years.

Citations: Currency of Credit and Intellectual Acknowledgment :

Citations as Currency of Credit: Citations serve as the currency that authors would
wish to accumulate, gives them credit for these contributions. When other authors make
citations, they honor those who initiated the ideas.
Demonstration of Comprehension Skills: Authors demonstrate their comprehen-
sion skills by identifying, estimating, and incorporating other’s research work and then cre-
ate and express their own ideas precisely while acknowledging ownership of ideas through
citation.

Significance of Citing Sources: Enhancing Understanding and Avoiding In-

fringement :
Significance of Citing Sources:
Authors should cite sources to indicate the significance of the work to the reader. Rele-
vant citations assist authors in developing an easily understandable argument, avoiding
the need for readers to navigate through irrelevant work outside their areas of interest.
Infringement on Researcher’s Rights: Failure to cite appropriately infringes on the

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rights of the researcher who conducted the original work.

Inappropriate Citations: Types and Consequences :

In certain instances, references fail to fulfill the intended goals of citations and acknowledg-
ments, resulting in a lack of benefit to the reader. Various types of ineffective references
exist, each with its own implications. This section investigates various types of inap-
propriate citations, examining instances where references may not effectively serve their
intended purpose.

1. Spurious Citations:
Spurious Citations: In certain cases, when a citation is not required or an appropriate
one is not found, including one anyway is considered a spurious citation. These citations
lack value for the reader in terms of properly understanding the paper.
Impact: Such actions result in the loss of the reader’s or reviewer’s time, searching for a
cited paper that is otherwise not relevant. Just as due credit should be given to a paper
through citation, inappropriate credit must be avoided to maintain the credibility of a
research work or the journal/conference proceedings where the paper is published.

2. Biased Citations:
Biased Citations: When authors cite the work of their friends or colleagues without
a significant connection between the two works, or when they deliberately avoid citing
work of genuine significance to withhold credit from certain individuals, these actions are
classified as biased citations.
Impact: Bias extends to neglecting citations to prior work whose conclusions or data
contradict the current work.

3. Self-Citations:
Self-Citations: Citing one’s prior work is acceptable if the citation is genuinely relevant.
Self-citation of previous papers is natural, especially when the latest paper is part of an
ongoing research project. It can benefit the reader by consolidating related works of the
same author in one paper, reducing the reader’s effort in finding the full versions of those
papers. However, it is helpful and ethical only if all the cited papers are genuinely relevant
to the present work.
Impact: However, inappropriate and irrelevant self-citations can have a negative impact
on both the journal and individual researchers. In such cases, self-citations may be con-
sidered spurious, biased, or both. Editors of journals who overlook such types of citations
and allow them, either due to negligence or other reasons, to be included in published

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materials may directly or indirectly alter the impact factor of those publications.

4. Coercive Citations:
Coercive citations: Despite their shortcomings, impact factors remain a primary method
of quantifying research. One side effect is the creation of an incentive for editors to en-
gage in coercion, pressuring authors to add citations to the editor’s journal. Even if not
explicitly stated, the implied message is that the author could either add citations or risk
rejection. Such coercive demands consequently diminish the reputation of the journal.
Impact: Diminishes the reputation of the journal.
From the above discussions, it is clear that the author(s) must maintain a balance between
too few and too many citations. At the same time, author(s) must give credit whenever
due even if it is their own work.

2.14 Impact of Title and Keywords on Citations

The citation rate of a research paper is influenced by various factors, including journal
significance, publication types, research area, and the importance of the published work.
Additionally, factors such as title length, type, and selected keywords impact citation
count.

Significance of Research Paper Titles:

The title is the most important attribute of any research paper. It is the main indica-
tion of the research area or subject and is used by researcher as a source of information
during literature survey. Title plays important role in marketing and makes research pa-
pers traceable. A good title is informative, effectively represents the paper to readers,
and gains their attention. While some titles may be informative, they might not engage
readers, and some titles might be attractive but not informative or related to the readers’
research area. The download count and citation of a research paper can be influenced by
its title. There are three different aspects which provide a particular behavior to the title:
(i) types of the title,
(ii) length of the title, and
(iii) presence of specific markers. The title is a crucial attribute of any research paper,
influencing its traceability and attention from readers.

Studies on Title Characteristics :

Research by Stremersch et al. analyzed papers published between 1990 and 2002, in the

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area of research and studied relationship between title characteristics and citation, which
concluded that title length positively affects the number of citations.
In another study, Sagi and Yechiam, found that highly amusing titles have fewer citations
and pleasant titles have no significant relation to citation counts.
Another study by Jacques and Sebire, observed a strong association between title length
and citation rates, with highly cited articles having more than twice as many words in
the title compared to lower cited papers.

Jamali and Nikzad analyzed several open access papers and found that articles with
question-type titles are downloaded more but cited less compared to the descriptive or
declarative titles.

Analysis by Habibzadeh and Yadollahie [14] also indicated a strong association between
longer titles and higher citation rates. Longer titles mainly include the study methodol-
ogy and/or results in more detail, and so attracts more attention and citations.

General Observations :
In general, titles containing a question mark, colon, or reference to a specific geographical
region tend to be associated with lower citation rates. Titles that describe results typi-
cally receive more citations than those describing methods. Additionally, review articles
and original articles usually receive more citations than short communication articles.
Including at least two keywords in the title can increase the chance of finding and reading
the article as well as get more citations.

Significance of Keywords in Research Articles :

Keywords represent essential information as well as main content of the article, which are
relevant to the area of research. Search engines, journal, digital libraries, and indexing
services use keywords for categorization of the research topic and to direct the work to
the relevant audience. Keywords are important to ensure that readers are aware about
research articles and their content. If maximum number of allowable keywords are used,
then the chance of the article being found increases and so does the probability of citation
count of the article. Usage of new keywords should be minimal as such keywords may not
be well known to the research community and so may lead to low visibility of the article.

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2.15 Knowledge Flow Through Citation

Knowledge flows through various channels such as verbal communications, books, docu-
ments, video, audio, and images. In the research community, this flow is instrumental in
generating new knowledge.

Forms of Knowledge Flow:

Verbal communications, books, documents, video, audio, and images. This plays a pow-
erful role in research community in promoting the formulation of new knowledge.

Knowledge Flow in Engineering Research:

In engineering research, Knowledge flow occurs through books, thesis, articles, patents,
and reports. Citing a source is important for transmission of knowledge from previous
work to an innovation.

Production of Knowledge:
Production of knowledge can be related to the citation network. Knowledge flow hap-
pens between co-authors during research collaboration, among other researchers through
their paper citation network, and also between institutions, departments, research fields
or topics, and elements of research.

Illustrative Relationship:
The following figure shows the relationship between citations, knowledge flow, and ele-
ments such as researchers, papers, journal publications or conferences, and institutions.
If paper A is cited by paper B, then knowledge flows through citation networks across
institutions.

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Interdisciplinary Nature of Research :
The complex interdisciplinary nature of research encourages scholars to cooperate with
each other to grab more advantages through collaboration, thereby improving quality
of the research. Soorya Moorthy, examined the citation impact of the South African
publications among different collaboration types, discipline and sectors, and observed
that co-authored publications had more citations than single author paper and there was
a positive co-relation between number of authors and the number of citations. Following
figure shows a relationship between co-authorship and different types of citations.

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Three articles (X, Y, and Z) and five references (X1, X2, X3, Y1, and Y2) of article X
and Y, respectively, are considered. A, B, and C are authors of article X, and D, E, F,
G, and also A are authors of article Y. Article Z has two authors H and E. References
X1, X2, X3, Y1, and Y2 have authors (A, P), (H, R), (D), (Q, B, F), and (R), respectively.

Based on co-authorship citation network, references X1 and Y1 are considered self-citation,

reference X3 is a level-1 co-author citation because author of articleYis direct collaborator
of author A, reference X2 is a level-1 co-author network because author A is collaborator
of E who collaborated with H. We conclude that papers which frequently cite collabo-
rators will also often cite collaborators of collaborators. Collaborations certainly impact
citation counts.

2.15.1 Citing Datasets

Engineering research relies heavily on data. Data citations credit dataset creators, ensur-
ing legal attribution and aiding in future retrieval.

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Ownership of Data :
Ascertaining the ownership of data can be a complicated issue especially with large
datasets, and issues of funding can also make it a difficult matter. A researcher should
obtain necessary permission for using data from a particular source.

Citation Information:
Citations related to datasets should include enough information so that a reader could
find the same dataset again in the future, even if the link provided no longer works. It is
proper to include a mixture of general and specific information to enable a reader to be
certain that the search result is the same dataset that was sought.

Examples

2.15.2 Styles for Citations :

Citation styles differ primarily in the order, and syntax of information about references,
depending on difference in priorities attributed to concision, readability, dates, authors,
and publications. Some of the most common styles for citation (as well as other aspects
of technical writing) used by engineers are as follows:

1. ASCE Style(American Society of Civil Engineers):

(a) Reference list:
This part is to be placed in the bibliography or references at the end of the article or
report. A template with example for the same is given below:
Template for books:
Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year). Title: Publisher, City, Pages Used.
Example: Wearstler, K., and Bogart, J. (2004). Modern glamour. Regan Books, NY.
Template for Websites :
Author Credentials and Company Name (Year). ’Title’. [Website URL (Accessed: Date)].
Example: Blade cleaning services (2015): [Website URL (Accessed: Oct. 29, 2016)].

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Template for Journal Publications :
Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year). ’Title’. Publication Title, Volume (issue),
Pages.
Example: Johnston, L. (2014). “Inconvenient Truth Expanded The Climate Change
Dialogue”. 1–160.

(b) In-text citation for journals or books:

The following part is to be placed right after the reference to the source of the citation
assignment:
Template :
(Author Surname/Website URL Year Published)
Examples:
i. Citation is a very important part of technical writing. (Deb 2016)
ii. Engineers create devices to monitormountains so that nearby inhabitants can bewarned
of impending eruptions. (Teachengineering.org 2014)

2. IEEE Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers):

IEEE style is standard for all IEEE journals and magazines, and is frequently used for
papers and articles in the fields of electrical engineering and computer science. The IEEE
style requires endnotes and that references be cited numerically in the text.
Those submitting to an IEEE publication should see guidelines for the specific journal or
magazine and may also refer to the complete IEEE editorial style manual. Some examples
of IEEE styles of citations for different types of sources are enumerated below:
Chapter in an edited book example:
[1] A. Rezi and M. Allam, “Techniques in array processing by means of transformations,”
in Control and Dynamic Systems, Vol. 69, Multidimensional Systems, C. T. Leondes, Ed.
San Diego: Academic Press, 1995, pp. 133-180.

3. ASME Style (The Association of Mechanical Engineers) Encloses references

numerically in brackets within the text.

2.16 Acknowledgments and Attributions

The acknowledgment section is a place to provide a brief appreciation of the contribution

of someone, an organization, or a funding body to the present work. If no particular
guideline is available for the intended publication, then it can be introduced at the end of

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the text or as a footnote. Acknowledgment is a common practice to recognize persons or
agencies for being responsible in some form or other for the completion of a publishable
research outcome.
Acknowledgment displays a relationship among people, agencies, institutions, and re-
search. In some cases, certain individuals may help in the research work but may not
deserve to be included as authors. As a sign of gratitude, such contributions should be
acknowledged. We can classify acknowledgment into six different categories like moral,
financial, editorial, institutional or technical, and conceptual support.

Categories of Acknowledgment :

1. Moral Support: Recognition of individuals or entities providing encouragement

or emotional support.

2. Financial Support: Acknowledging funding bodies or organizations that finan-

cially supported the research.

3. Editorial Support: Recognition for contributions in editing or reviewing the

manuscript.

4. Institutional or Technical Support: Acknowledgment of institutions or individ-

uals providing technical assistance.

5. Conceptual Support: Recognizing contributions to the conceptual development

of the research.

Importance of Acknowledgments in Publications :

Acknowledgments and attributions are crucial in the publications of journal or confer-
ence papers. Giving proper credit wherever it is due is very important, and even if the
contribution is minor, it should not be neglected. A researcher should always recognize
the proprietary interest of others. Whenever possible, the author shall give the names
of persons who may be responsible, even if nominally, for designs, inventions, writings,
or other accomplishments. Given the importance of work published, authorship is also
significant.

Engineering Research Acknowledgments:

In engineering research, acknowledgments are meant for participating technicians, stu-
dents, funding agencies, grant numbers, institutions, or anyone who provides scientific

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inputs, shares unpublished results, provides equipment, or participates in discussions.
Examples:

1. ”The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Smith for his invaluable
conceptual support during the initial phase of this research.”

2. ”This work was financially supported by the XYZ Foundation (Grant Number:
ABC123).”

3. ”We acknowledge the technical assistance provided by the engineering team at In-
stitution XYZ.”

2.16.1 What Should Be Acknowledged?

Every author should know what should and should not be acknowledged. Authors should
acknowledge quotations, ideas, facts, paraphrasing, funding organizations, oral discussions
or support, laboratory, and computer work.

1. Quotations : In technical writing such as in the field of engineering, quotes are

used very rarely. Quotations are of two types:

(a) Direct Quotations: Direct quotations are used when author use actual words
or sentences in the same order as the original one. Author should use quotation
marks for the words or sentences with proper acknowledgment.
(b) Indirect Quotations: Indirect quotation summarizes or paraphrases the ac-
tual quote. In such cases, it is important to acknowledge with proper name and
date.

2. Contributions : Authors should acknowledge people who give appropriate contri-

butions to their research work. Non-research work contributions are not generally
acknowledged in a scientific paper but may be in a thesis. Persons must be acknowl-
edged by authors who provided scientific or technical guidance, participated in dis-
cussions, or shared information. Authors should acknowledge assistants, students,
or technicians, who helped experimentally and theoretically during the research
work.

3. Funding Support : If the researcher received a grant from a funding agency, and if
those funds were used in the work reported in the publication, such support should
always be acknowledged by providing full details of the funding program and grant

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 number in the acknowledgment section.

Authors should gratefully acknowledge the use of services and facilities of any center
or organization with which they are not formally affiliated.
Example: An example of acknowledgment of grant received is as follows:

Acknowledgments: This research work was funded in part by the Extra-

Mural Research Funding 2014–17 (Individual Centric) of the Department
of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.

If there are concerns that providing acknowledgment information may compromise

anonymity, authors may withhold this information until the submission of the final
accepted manuscript. Many technical journals explicitly discourage authors to thank
the reviewers in their article submissions. This could be construed as favoritism or
an attempt to encourage reviewers to accept their manuscript for reasons other than
scientific merit.

4. Acknowledging that results have been presented elsewhere: If the results

were presented as an abstract in a journal, then there should be a suitable citation.
If the results were presented as part of scientific meeting, symposium, or other
gathering, then some relevant information should be provided. At the very least,
the name of the gathering and year should be cited. Other helpful items include
the location of the gathering (city and state or country) and the full date of the
occasion.

By acknowledging all help received in one’s research work, the author(s) demonstrate
integrity as a researcher, encouraging continued collaboration from those who helped out
in different ways.

Acknowledgment is no longer simply a means of expressing gratitude. Funding agencies

often require acknowledgment and explicitly state the required information for publica-
tion resulting from the funded project. Failure to acknowledge funding may result in the
discontinuation of current funding and/or ineligibility to receive future funding.

Unless the information can be considered ”common knowledge,” proper attribution of an

idea, algorithm, computational methodology, or experimental design is required even if a
journal operates with double-blind review.

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2.16.2 Acknowledgments in Books/Dissertations

A page of acknowledgments is usually included at the beginning of a thesis/dissertation,

immediately following the table of contents. These acknowledgments are longer than the
one or two sentence statements in journal papers or articles in conference proceedings.
Detailed acknowledgments enable the researcher to thank all those who have contributed
to the completion of the research work. Careful thought needs to be given concerning
those whose inputs are to be acknowledged and in what order. Generally, one should
express appreciation in a concise manner and avoid emotive language. The following are
often acknowledged in these types of acknowledgments: main supervisor, second supervi-
sor, peers in the lab, other academic staff in the department, technical or support staff in
the department, colleagues from other departments, other institutions, or organizations,
former students, family, and friends.

Sample Acknowledgment in Thesis :

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my supervisor Prof. Gang Tao for the useful
comments, remarks, and encouragement throughout this thesis work. Furthermore, I wish
to express my thanks to Prof. Jacob Hammer for introducing me to the topic and for the
support along the way. Also, I would like to thank my peers in the Adaptive Control Lab
such as Yu Liu and Shanshan Li, who have shared their precious time during many lively
technical discussions. I would like to thank my family members who have supported me
throughout this journey in many different ways.

2.16.3 Dedication or Acknowledgments?

Dedication is almost never used in a journal paper, an article in a conference proceedings,

or a patent. It is used exclusively in larger documents like books, theses, or disserta-
tions. While acknowledgments are reserved for those who helped out with the document
in some way or another (editing, moral support, etc.), a dedication is to whomever the
author would like it to be dedicated to, whether it is the author’s mother, best friend,
pet dog, or Almighty God. It is possible to dedicate something to someone while also
mentioning them in the acknowledgments. For example, one may dedicate a book to one’s
spouse but acknowledge them for being the moral support and putting up with when one
got very stressed.

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The acknowledgments in technical books can sometimes be as brief as the ones in journal
articles. The acknowledgment section of a technical report may be a paragraph longer
than a journal paper but shorter than dissertations. Generally, the length of the acknowl-
edgment may have some correlation with the length of the document.

Question Bank

1. Describe the process of synthesizing knowledge from a variety of sources when per-
forming literature review. Discuss any difficulties you might have faced while syn-
thesizing the information.

2. Describe the process of analyzing and synthesizing prior art in a literature review

3. Explain the essential steps in analyzing and synthesizing prior art during literature
review

4. What is the role of bibliographic databases in academics and research? Provide

examples.

5. Describe your search strategy when using Web of Science or Google Scholar for
literature review.

6. Which are the steps to effectively search for a given topic in a bibliographic database.

7. What factors should be taken into account when taking notes while reading technical
documentation?

8. Explain the role of effective note-taking in the context of research literature, em-
phasizing its significance as a bridge between reading and writing.

9. Analyse and infer key points from a given mathmatical or algorithm-based scholarly
article.

10. Explain the steps involved in Reading Mathematics and Algorithms

11. Explain the key strategies and considerations involved in navigating datasheets ef-
fectively.

12. How does acknowledging and attributing work in the academic world affect the
knowledge flow?

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13. Examine the functions and attributes of citations in academic writing, emphasiz-
ing their significance in acknowledging sources, maintaining scholarly integrity, and
contributing to the credibility of a research work. Provide examples to illustrate
how proper citation practices enhance the quality of academic writing and uphold
ethical standards.

14. What are the effects of keywords and titles on paper citation? Discuss with exam-
ples.

15. Discuss the factors influencing the citation rate of a research paper, with a specific
focus on the impact of title characteristics (length and type) and the selection of
keywords.

16. Explain how styles for citations differ and how does it impact your work?

17. Examine the dynamics of knowledge flow through citation in the research commu-
nity.

18. Explore the dynamics of knowledge flow through citation, focusing specifically on
citing datasets and the various citation styles employed in academic writing.

19. Examine the different categories of acknowledgment in academic publications, dis-

cussing their significance in recognizing contributions, fostering collaboration, and
maintaining scholarly integrity.

20. What should be acknowledged in a research paper and why? Discuss with examples.

21. Explain the significance of technical reading for researchers and how it enhances
their ability to navigate research literature effectively.

22. How do citations contribute to the knowledge flow through different research papers?

23. Discuss the critical elements involved in conceptualizing research, with a focus on the
importance of formulating research objectives, ensuring the solvability of a research
problem, and the role of existing literature and knowledge in shaping the theoretical
framework and methods.

24. Compare the concepts of “Asking the Right Questions,” a “Judgmental Approach,”
and the distinction between “Critical Reading” and “Creative Reading” in the con-
text of research literature engagement.

25. Why is it important to acknowledge the sources of information in research and what
should be acknowledged?

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26. How can the impact of title and keywords on citations be determined?

27. What are the effects of citing datasets in research?

28. Discuss the integral relationship between existing and new knowledge in research,
exploring the construction of a strong foundation through literature review, the
influence of background and perception, and the challenges presented by diverse
sources such as textbooks and research papers.

29. Discuss the importance of a literature review in research. How does it contribute to
the understanding of existing knowledge and the formulation of new ideas? Explain
the role of technical reading in this process, highlighting key strategies for effective
technical reading.

30. Explore the challenges and strategies associated with reading mathematical content,
algorithms, and datasheets in technical literature. How do researchers navigate
complex technical information in these forms?

31. Examine the nuances of acknowledgments in academic writing, focusing on what

should be acknowledged, the specific considerations for acknowledgments in books
and dissertations, and the choice between dedication and acknowledgments.

32. Discuss the significance of acknowledgments in academic writing, outlining key ele-
ments that authors should acknowledge.

33. Examine the specific considerations and characteristics of acknowledgments in books

and dissertations.

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