COURSE OUTLINE

Department & Faculty: Dept. of Architecture, Page : 1 of 3

Faculty of Built Environment

Course Code: SBA 4623 Topical Study Semester: I

Total Lecture Hours: 3 hours Academic Session: 2010/2011

Lecturer : Dr. Sharifah S. S. Mahdzar

Room No. : B05-211, Fakulti Alam Bina, UTM
Telephone No. : 07-5530737 / 012-7140985
E-mail : ssmahdzar@utm.my, ssmahdzar@yahoo.co.uk

Synopsis : This course continues from the prerequisite course of SBA 3122 Research
Methodology. At this stage, students are to undertake independent study of topic of
choice, to formulate appropriate research methodology before applying it as an
activity of critical inquiry in the field of interest. The inquiry on the specific topic to be
explored is done through direct observation, content analysis study or by generating
knowledge from primary, secondary or any sources. Eventually students are to write
up the architectural topic of analysis as a final report using the necessary skills they
gained from the earlier Research Methodology course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students should be able:

No. Course Learning Outcome Programme Learning Assessment Methods

Outcome(s)
Addressed

1. To demonstrate ability to organise an independent LO1 Di, Su

study of a convincing logical topic of a particular subject
relevant to architecture and its related fields

2. To design and apply methodology, modus operandi and LO2, LO4, LO6 Di, Su
operational technique for the deliberating the topic for
architecture discipline

3. LO1, LO2 Di, Su

To organise, plan and execute systematic research
activity appropriate to architectural research (Di-Dissertation; Su –
Summary)

TEACHING METHODOLOGY

Each student shall be under the supervision of an individual supervisor who is either an expert on the subject or
has adequate interest and association with it as approved by the department.

Each student is to undertake an independent, supervised study through content analysis or a limited field
observation pertaining to the specific topic of interest, and to present the findings in a final written report (10,000 –
12,000 words or about 50 pages).

Prepared by: Certified by: (Course Panel Head)

Name: Name:
Signature: Signature:
Date: Date:
 COURSE OUTLINE

Department & Faculty: Dept. of Architecture, Page : 2 of 3

Faculty of Built Environment

Course Code: Topical Study (SBA 4623) Semester: I

Total Lecture Hours: 3 hours Academic Session: 2010/2011

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Wk Course outline Date / Notes
1 I NTRODUCTION 13 – 07 -10
Assignment: Initiate work on the scope, method and work
schedule with supervisor
2 Assignment: Submit and present details of Topic Proposal, Time 20 – 07 -10
Frame and choice of Supervisor for department’s approval
3 Continue from Wk 2, Outline of Study and potential contents, to 27 - 07 -10
start thinking on modus operandi for data collection (note:
meeting with supervisor can only be done between 8-930 or after
class at 11am.
Assignment: Present plan and modus operandi on data collection
method with working schedule
4 Draft abstract and refining method of research 03 - 08 -10
Preparation of Content outline: (LAM Visit)
 Background of Study
 Problem statement, issues, hypothesis etc.
 Aims, Objective
 Significance of study
 Appropriate, timeline of study
 Scope and Methodology, etc.
Assignment: Research Poster presentation of the Individual’s
architectural research topic, approach, methodology,
theoretical/practical framework, preposition and conclusion
5 Research Poster presentation (Exhibition Room 1) 10 - 08 -10
6 Supervisor meeting, Preparation of Draft dissertation: 17 - 08 -10
Continuation to work on the main content and other main sections
of study
7 Supervisor meeting 24 - 08 -10
8 National Day Holiday (Public holiday) 31 - 08 -10
(draft to be endorsed by supervisor and to be submitted to Dr
Sharifah via email)
9 Eidul Fitri Holiday: Semester Break 07 - 09 -10
10 Supervisor meeting : Final preparation of Draft dissertation: 14 - 09 -10
Continuation of main content;
 Analysis, conclusion and references
11 Supervisor meeting : Final preparation of Draft dissertation, 21 - 09 -10
Preparation of Summary
12 Submit Draft dissertation (10,000 words maximum) to supervisor 28 - 09 -10
th
for evaluation, dateline 4 March 2010
13 Supervisor meeting Finalising dissertation 05 - 10 -10
14 Finalising dissertation (Pre-registration week) 12 - 10 -10
15 Submit Final Dissertation (bound, hard cover) + 1,000 word 19 - 10 -10
summary (Summary & Final Dissertation MUST be submitted
th
TOGETHER), dateline 19 October 2010, 2 copies to coordinator
16 Revision Week 26 - 10 -10
17 Examination Week 02 - 11 -10
18 Examination Week 09 - 11 -10
19 Examination Week 16 - 11 -10
20 Semester Holiday Begins: 9 weeks 23 - 11 -10
 COURSE OUTLINE

Department & Faculty: Dept. of Architecture, Page : 3 of 3

Faculty of Built Environment

Course Code: Topical Study (SBA 4623) Semester: I

Total Lecture Hours: 3 hours Academic Session: 2010/2011

GRADING
No. Assessment Quantity % each Dates
1 Attendance (includes endorsed
Determined
meeting appointment/s by
throughout the course 15 % Throughout
supervisor/s and active class
duration semester
participation)
2 (Weekly assignment as 13-07-10 until
As above 10 %
announced) 10 - 08 - 10
3 Research Poster (to submit in 07 – 01 – 10
1 15 %
week 5)
4 Summary and Draft of
dissertation (10,000 words (inclusive in the
28-09-10
maximum) – submit to supervisor weekly
1
for preliminary evaluation and assignment
submission to co-ordinator via margin)
emails
6 Final Dissertation submission ( 19 - 10 - 10
week 15 – coincides with Draft 1 60 %
thesis report submission)
Overall Total 100 %

Required Reading:
Rozakis, L. E. (2004) The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Research Methods, Alpha (Penguin Group) Inc., USA
Groat, L. and D. Wang (2002). Architectural Research Methods. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Zeisel, J. (2006). Inquiry by Design. New York, W.W. Norton & Company.
Kuhn, T. S. (1996). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

Recommended Reading
Bernard , H. Russell. 2000. Social Research Methods : Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications.
Creswell, John W. 2003. Research Design : Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches.
Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications.
Gerring, John. 2001. Social Science Methodology : A Criterial Framework. New York : Cambridge
University Press.
Guba E.G. and Lincoln Y.S. 1998. The Landscape of Qualitative Research. Edited by N.K Denzin and Y.S
Lincoln. Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications.
Hodder , I .1994. Handbook of Qualitative Research . Edited by Denzin N.K and Lincoln , Y.S. Thousand
Oaks: Sage Publications.
Walliman, Nicholas. S. R. 2006. Social Research Methods. London : Sage Publications.
Yin, Robert K .2003. Applications of Case Study Research. Thousand Oaks : Sage Publication
 COURSE OUTLINE

Department & Faculty: Dept. of Architecture, Page : 4 of 3

Faculty of Built Environment

Course Code: Topical Study (SBA 4623) Semester: I

Total Lecture Hours: 3 hours Academic Session: 2010/2011