Faculty of Engineering, UM KXGX 6101: Research Methodology

Tentative Course Schedule* Session 2012-2013, Semester 1

Date

Time

Lecture / Discussion

Class room activities/Submission/Presentation

Instructor

Venue

13 Octobar 2012 (Saturday)

10:00-12:00 hr

12:00-13:00 hr

14:00-15:00 hr 15:00-16:00 hr 16:00-17:00 hr 20 Octobar 2012 (Saturday) 10:00-11:00 hr 11:00-13:00 hr 14:00-16:00 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. Introduction (1h) 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 (1h) Research proposal writing (1h) Main purposes, contents, length, format. Funding application and research proposal. IPS format for proposal. IPPP proposal format. 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.

Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Raman

DK 3, Block U

- Group discussion on traits of a successful graduate researcher and your motivation - Formation of peer groups - Exercise on the use of the linear model to write a descriptive essay in English [SUBMISSION 1] Critically analyse research proposal of one of your colleagues and submit a one-page report [SUBMISSION 2]

A. S. M. A. Haseeb

DK 3, Block U

A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb Group 1: Hazli Mokhlis Group 2: Nor Azizi Group 3: A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb

DK 3, Block U DK 3, Block U DK 3, Block U DK 3, Block U Group 1: BK103 Group 2: BK104 Group 3: BK105

16:00-17:00 hr 27 Octobar 2012 (Saturday) 10:00-12:00 hr 12:00-13:00 hr

Group discussion on research proposal Critically analyse a thesis related to your research topic (to work in the class) Continue to work on the critical analysis of a thesis related to your topic (to work in the class)

Group 1: Hazli Mokhlis Group 2: Nor Azizi Group 3: A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb Group 1: Hazli Mokhlis Group 2: Nor Azizi Group 3: A. S. M. A. Haseeb Shamsuddin Ahmed Group 1: Hazli Mokhlis Group 2: Nor Azizi Group 3: A. S. M. A. Haseeb Group 1: BK103 Group 2: BK104 Group 3: BK105 DK 3, Block U Group 1: BK103 Group 2: BK104 Group 3: BK105

14:00-16:00 hr 16:00-17:00 hr

Statistical methods in research (2 h) Design of experiment, confidence level, regression of data. Sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy, and repeatability/precision of measurement.

Date

Time

Lecture / Discussion

Class room activities/Submission/Presentation Submit a report on the critical analysis of a thesis closely related to your research [SUBMISSION 3] Critically analyze a poor and a very good paper in area closely related to your research (to work in the class)

Instructor

Venue

01 December 2012 (Saturday)

10:00-12:00 hr

12:00-13:00 hr

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.

A. S. M. A. Haseeb

DK 3, Block U

Group 1: Hazli Mokhlis Group 2: Nor Azizi Group 3: A. S. M. A. Haseeb A. S. M. A. Haseeb

Group 1: BK103 Group 2: BK104 Group 3: BK105 DK 3, Block U

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.

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 Experience sharing session

Group 1: Hazli Mokhlis Group 2: Nor Azizi Group 3: A. S. M. A. Haseeb

Group 1: BK103 Group 2: BK104 Group 3: BK105

08 December 2012 (Saturday)

10:00-12:00 hr

Paper writing II (2 h) More on paper writing Attending conferences (1 h) Selection of conference. Things to do before, during, and after the conference. Networking. Maximizing benefit from conference. Poster presentation.

Saad Mekhilef, Hazli Mokhlis, Nor Azizi, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Raman Saad Mekhilef, Hazli Mokhlis, Nor Azizi, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Raman A. S. M. A. Haseeb To be appointed by Faculty Respective supervisors

DK 3, Block U

12:00-13:00 hr 16:00-17:00 hr 22 December 2012 (Saturday) 10:00-13:00 hr 14:00-17:00 hr

Discussion on literature review, thesis writing, paper writing etc. Final presentation: Oral presentation of your research proposal - Submit your updated research proposal [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 [SUBMISSION 5] - Submission of your literature survey (as per IPS format and using relevant software) [SUBMISSION 6]

DK 3, Block U DK 3, Block U DK 3, Block U DK 3, Block U

28 December 2012 (Saturday)

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

To be appointed by Faculty

DK 3, Block U

Respective supervisors

DK 3, Block U

Schedule to be announced by the Faculty *Subject to changes

Training on essential softwares: Turnitin, Endnotes etc. (2 h)

To be appointed by Faculty

DK 3, Block U

Faculty of Engineering, UM

KXGX 6101: Research Methodology

Course Information
Session 2012-2013, Semester 1

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
___________________________

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

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