Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

TOPIC 1 : An Overview of
Project Formulation
Putting the puzzles together in your brain
What is a research Project?
Expectation from the Student
Elements of an academic project

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Putting the puzzles together in your

brain
The 6Ps of Research
Purpose reason, topic of interest, why is it
important or useful to study this, specific research
questions, objectives
Products outcomes of research, significance,
contribution of knowledge in your subject area
Process sequence of activities undertaken in any
research project (e.g. establishing conceptual
framework, research strategy and data generation
methods, data analysis, drawing conclusions)

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Putting the puzzles together in your

brain (cont)
Participants those whom you directly involved in your
research project (e.g. clients, users, stakeholders)
Paradigm a pattern or model or shared way of
thinking

Computing paradigm - (e.g. a group of languages that shared the

same characteristics -programming language paradigm (Object
Oriented approach), UML notations
Philosophical paradigm ( e.g. specific communities/ academicians
have similar views about specific concept, ideas and the process on
how we should investigate it (e.g. quantitative vs. qualitative
research approach)

Presentation how the research is disseminated and

explained to others (e.g. computer based product is
demonstrated, thesis writing)

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

What is a Research Project?

The project is as an
investigative learning
activity, which demonstrates
the student ability
technically and socially
encompassing the
knowledge gained
throughout the programme.

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

The good researcher is not

one who knows the right
answers but one who is
struggling to find out what
the right questions might
be.
Philips and Pugh

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Definition of
Research

Research is defined as

An original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and

understanding Higher Education Funding Council for England

The systematic investigation into the study of materials, sources, etc

in order to establish facts and reach new conclusion Oxford
Dictionary

An endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc. by the scientific

study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation - Oxford
Dictionary

Research is a procedure by which we attempt to find systematically

and with the support of a demonstrable fact, the answer to a question
or the resolution of a problem - Leedy (1989)

Research is a systematic of methodological way of producing new

knowledge, processes, products and services MOSTI

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

What is a Research Project?

Researchisisaasystematic,
systematic,intensive
intensivestudy
studytowards
towardsaafuller
fullerscientific
scientific
Research
knowledgeof
ofthe
thesubject
subjectstudied
studied
knowledge
USNational
NationalScience
ScienceFoundation
Foundation
US
Motivation for doing research:
Generally to:
increase knowledge or understanding
More particularly to:
discover, describe, explain, predict ,
question, interpret, improve
Often inspired by:
wondering why
wondering if.
thinking there must be a better way
wanting to know more about
wanting to compare
wanting to make a difference..

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

What is a Research Project?

Reasons for Doing Research:To add to the body of knowledge
To solve a problem
To find out what happens
Tp find the evidence to inform practice
To develop a greater understanding of people and their world
To predict, plan and control
To contribute to other peoples well-being
To contribute to personal needs
To test or disprove a theory
To come up with a better way
To understand another persons point of view
To create more interest in the researcher

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

What is a Research Project? (cont)

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Originality of
Research

Originality doing something or producing something that has not

been done before
How to be original?

Doing something someone has done before but using a different

technique or approach or

Producing or developing something that has not been done before

Originality from the perspectives of the result

Original outcomes might include

A new product

A new theory

A new method

Outcomes not achieved or by-products still represent originality

An understanding why a particular experiment fail or why a

technique did not work

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Wisdom
is the ability
to put
knowledge
Knowledge
into practiceis your
higher understanding of
things. Why?
Information represents data that
have been processed to provide
insight into their meaning. What?
Data are factual elements that describe objects or
events. They represent raw text gathered in
investigations.

Knowledge
Work

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Intelligence Gathering
vs. Research
What questions:
What is happening to the
world?
What dont we know?
What can we find out?

Why questions:
Why do things happen the way
they do?
Why is the situation the way it
is?

Must make contributions to knowledge.

Looks for explanations, relationships, comparisons,
predictions, generalisations, and theories.

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Summary of Research
Seeking through methodological
processes to add to ones own body of
knowledge and hopefully, to that of
others, by the discovery of non-trivial
facts and insights.
Research is a considered activity
which aims to make an original contribution to
knowledge.

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Possible Products the Outcomes

of Research
What types of knowledge can be created?

A new or improved product

Adopting new research approach to a particular context and see how

they prove useful (e.g. Kansei engineering technique in product design)

New or improved model or perspective

Computing-related process (e.g. improved method for developing a

particular kind of computer application)

New or improved research tool or technique

Product based type (e.g. computer application, functional specification

in multimedia or animation)

Look at something in a new way (e.g. systems thinking approach in IT

project management analysis)

A new theory

As new computing technology are invented

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Possible Products the Outcomes

of Research (cont)
In depth study of a particular situation/ context

A case study type of research

e.g. investigation of a companys website usability, its original condition and

outcomes of usability evaluation, a particular systems development
department that decides to move from its existing method to approach using
UML

Exploration of a topic, area or field

Literature based survey of the state of knowledge in a particular area (e.g.

e.g. comparing and contrasting different views)

Survey type of research (e.g. identifying areas of controversy or requiring

investigation)

A critical analysis
Unanticipated outcomes

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Elements of an academic
project
Key Concepts

Terminology/ Keywords
Key properties of
research (themes, areas,
context, method,
approach)
Establishing credibility

Types of Research
Design

Nature of Research

Academic
Inquiry

Why we do research
Attitudes and skills necessary
(programming language, time
management)
Research paradigms (qualitative,
quantitative)
Research
Data questions
analysis techniques
Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
Qualitative methods

Fixed design (specific

tool/technique)
Flexible design (mixed Data collection methods
approach) People-centred (survey, interview, observation)
Technology-centred (email, experiment, testing)
Secondary sources (news, magazines, web, documents)

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Elements of an academic project (cont)

Design Process
A project assigned to student normally goes through
six different stages.

Choosing a project and writing a proposal

Project planning
Literature searching and literature reviews
Doing the project
Presenting the project in written form
Presenting the project orally, poster or software
demonstration

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Elements of an academic project (cont)

Project Assessment
Assessed by the supervisor, examiner and
SIG.
The in-course assessment focuses on the
following key assessment factors:
Achievements of objectives
Ability to use the appropriate methodology
Quality of poster and oral presentation
Quality of written project report

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Elements of an academic project (cont)

Assessment Stages
The three stages are:
In-Progress Assessment
Project Report
Project Proposal
Final Project Report
Presentation (Oral, Poster, Demonstration)
Final Project Report
If a project student fails to participate in
any of the three assessment stages listed
above,
a FAIL grade will be given to the
project
student.

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

RESEARCH OR
DEVELOPMENT?
A new design:
implementing it to prove its feasibility is scholarly research
A similar system has been developed:
using a new programming language or tool set is a development
activity unless new environment sheds new insights on the research
researcher must take responsibility to highlight the contributions
showing why the new implementation has increased knowledge
Extending an existing model:
the extensions should be implemented as a proof of concept
the new model must perform significantly different form the previous
model
reading contribution to the literature is also part of research

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Expectations from the Student (cont)

Define research/project interest choose a topic (discuss
with potential supervisor, WWW, past FYP for ideas)
Learn how to read, search through and summarize other
research works (e.g. literature survey)
Develop an understanding of the research process (e.g.
research proposal preparation)
Prepare yourself to conduct research of your own
attitude (e.g. time management, regular meeting with the supervisor,
independent) and skills (e.g. writing, reading, analyzing,
programming, statistical)
Gantt Chart (e.g. tasks/milestones) keep track of work
deliverables/ completion
Report writing (proper template, grammar)
Presentation skills (orally, poster, software demo etc.)

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Expectation from the Student

(cont)
Upon completion of this subject, students
should be able to:

Write a project proposal and how to plan for

the project accomplishment.
Select and apply appropriate techniques and
principles to meet the specified requirements.
Present the project in the form of written,
poster and oral presentation.

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

WHAT NOT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR

SUPERVISOR?
Smiles :]

If draft chapters contain simple spelling mistakes

and typos
If there is no or little progress made or reported
Becoming unpaid editor or way-finder

Mind-reading skills :o

Motivation dipping
Absence = illness

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

DEFENDING YOUR
RESEARCH/PROJECT
Dont panic
Youre probably the worlds
expert on this topic by now!
Your examiners are human
Theyve sat in your seat
They will help you find what
changes (if any) are needed to
make this the required quality

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

The Thinking Stage

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Thinking about it Stage

Be inclusive with your thinking.
Build

on your ideas and see how many

different research projects you can identify .

26

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Thinking about it Stage

Write down your
ideas.

27

If you don't write your

ideas, they tend to be in a
continual state of change
and you will probably have
the feeling that you're not
going anywhere.

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Thinking about it Stage

Try not to be
overly influenced at this
time by what you feel
others expect from you.

28

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Thinking about it Stage

Don't begin your thinking by

assuming that your research will draw
international attention to you!!

29

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Thinking about it Stage

Be realistic about the time that

you're willing to commit to your research
project.

30

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

Thinking about it Stage

Know yourself.

31

Topic 1: An Overview of Project

Formulation

MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE FORM OF

PROJECT SUPERVISION
Submission is due in Week 2
MAF