Faculty of Engineering, UM KXGX 6101: Research Methodology

Tentative Course Schedule* Session 2011-2012, Semester 2

Date 17 March 2012 (Saturday)

Time 10:00-12:00 hr

Lecture / Discussion Introduction (2h) Research: definition, type, methodology, and outcome. History and philosophy of scientific research. Scientific research method. Characteristics of graduate research and graduate researchers Review of basic writing skills, and writing in English (2h)

Class room activities/Submission/Presentation

Instructor A. S. M. A. Haseeb

DK 2, Block U
12:00-13:00 hr 14:00-16:00 hr 16:00-17:00 hr 24 March 2012 10:00-11:00 hr

- Formation of peer groups - Group discussion on traits of a successful graduate researcher and your motivation - Exercise on the use of the linear model to write a descriptive essay in English [SUBMISSION 1]

A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb

DK 2, Block U
11:00-13:00 hr 14:00-16:00 hr

Research proposal writing (1h) Main purposes, contents, length, format. Funding application and research proposal. IPS format for proposal. Conducting graduate research (2h) Major steps: Identifying a research topic and research questions, proposal writing, literature study, carrying out research, thesis writing, seminar/defense. To be your own critic, planning and monitoring, maintaining log book, good research habits, networking, staying motivated, how to complete on time, best research practice. Thesis writing (2 h) Contents of a thesis, IPS format, revesion, language, examiners expectation. Practical tips on how to develop a draft efficiently. Statistical methods in research (2 h) Design of experiment, confidence level, regression of data. Sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy, and repeatability/precision of measurement.

Critically analyse research proposal of one of your colleagues and submit a one-page report [SUBMISSION 2]

A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb

16:00-17:00 hr 14 April 2012 10:00-12:00 hr

Group discussion on research proposal

A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb

DK 2, Block 2
12:00-13:00 hr 14:00-16:00 hr

Critically analyse a thesis related to your research topic (to work in the class)

A. S. M. A. Haseeb Shamsuddin Ahmed

16:00-17:00 hr 28 April 2012 10:00-12:00 hr

DK 2, Block U

Paper writing I (2 h) Essentials of research papers, the IMRaD format: Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Acknowledgements, References, Language, Submission to a journal, Dealing with reviewers, Ethical issues. ISI, journal category, impact factor etc.

Continue to work on the critical analysis of a thesis related to your topic (to work in the class) Submit a report on the critical analysis of a thesis closely related to your research [SUBMISSION 3]

A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb

12:00-13:00 hr

Critically analyze a poor and a very good paper in area closely related to your research (to work in the class)

A. S. M. A. Haseeb

14:00-15:00 hr

Oral communication (1 h) Preparation, analyzing of audience, structure, reharsal, slide preparation, delivery, effective communication through eye contact, gesture, voice etc. Avoiding nervousness, question and answer.

A. S. M. A. Haseeb

15:00-17:00 hr

- Submit your report on the critical analysis of the poor and the very good paper [SUBMISSION 4] - Group discussion on the characteristics of a good and a poor paper

A. S. M. A. Haseeb

*Subject to changes

Course schedule continued

Date 12 May 2012 Time 10:00-12:00 hr Lecture / Discussion Paper writing II (2 h) Experience sharing session on paper writing Class room activities/Submission/Presentation Instructor TM Indra Mahlia, Saad Mekhilef, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Raman Group discussion on literature review, thesis writing, paper writing etc. TM Indra Mahlia, Saad Mekhilef, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Raman, A. S. M. A. Haseeb Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Raman

DK 2, Block U
12:00-13:00 hr

14:00-16:00 hr

16:00-17:00 hr

02 Jun 2012

DK 2, Block U

10:00-13:00 hr 14:00-17:00 hr

University regulatioins and ethical issues (2h) University rules and regulation pertaining to postgraduate studies. Intellectual honesty, transparency in conflicts of interest, redundant publication, authorship disputes, duplicate publication, human welfare concerns, data fabrication/falsification, plagiarism, and conflicts of interest. Attending conferences (1 h) Choice of conference. Things to do before, during, and after the conference. Networking. Maximizing benefit from conference.

A. S. M. A. Haseeb

09 Jun 2012 10:00-13:00 hr 14:00-17:00 hr

- Submit your updated research proposal (as per IPS format) [SUBMISSION 5] Submission of your literature survey (as per IPS format and using relevant software) [SUBMISSION 6] Final presentation: Oral presentation of your research proposal - Submit your updated research proposal (as per IPS format) [SUBMISSION 5] - Submission of your literature survey (as per IPS format and using relevant software) [SUBMISSION 6] Final presentation: Oral presentation of your research proposal

Respective supervisors

To be appointed by Faculty Respective supervisors

DK 2, Block U

Schedule to be announced by the Faculty Training on essential softwares: Turnitin, Endnotes etc. (2 h)

To be appointed by Faculty To be appointed by Faculty

Faculty of Engineering, UM

KXGX 6101: Research Methodology

Course Information
Session 2011-2012, Semester 2

Documents to be collected IMMEDIATELY For this course, the following must be collected by each student immediately: 1) Your original research proposal 2) A copy of a good post graduate thesis (master/PhD as appropriate*) relevant to your research area 3) A copy of a poor and a very good journal paper relevant to your research topic

Class work Prepare yourself mentally to work seriously in the class and to take active part in discussions. Bring enough papers and stationary to work in the class and prepare assignment (A4 size papers, pen/pencil, stapler, etc. as necessary). Class attendence will be taken both in the morning and in the afternoon sessions. Make sure that you sign on the attendence sheets. Otherwise your status will be recorded as absent.

Assignments Assignment submission: The first page must contain information including the following: - course code and title - title of the assignment - student name(s) - student number(s) - date of submission Punctuality: every student must observe puntuality in attending the classes and in assignment submission. Hardcopy of all assignments must be submitted before the class on the due date. Late submission will not be accepted. Do not send a soft copy of any assignment. Each student must sign the assignment submission sheet only if he/she actually submitted the assignment. Plagiarism: A sin !

Evaluation Method Assessment will be based on: Attendence, participation in discussions, submission of assignments, presentation Critetia for passing the course: 1) Attendence 80% AND 2) Submission of all assignments AND 4) Final presentation of the research proposal

*it must be a PhD thesis for a PhD student, and a master or PhD thesis for a master student