GENERATING THE RESEARCH

IDEA AND EVALUATING THE

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Heru Susanto, ST, MM,
MT
Membrane Research Center (MeR-C)
FT-Universitas Diponegoro

RESEARCH TOPIC
A range of techniques can be used to find and select a topic.
More frequently used techniques are:
Rational thinking
- Examining your own strengths and interest
- Looking at past project titles, e.g. Master theses
- Discussions: with friends and tutors are good sources
- Searching the literature: jurnals, reports, books
Creative thinking
- Keeping a notebook of ideas
- Exploring personal preferences using past project
- Relevance trees: Map of issues and questions under the area
of interest
- Brainstorming: problem-solving: List issues, problems and
questions
Using both techniques is recommended

SCAMPER TOOL

Substitute.
Combine.
Adapt.
Modify.
Put to another use.
Eliminate.
Reverse.
You use the tool by asking questions about existing
products, using each of the seven prompts above. These
questions help you come up with creative ideas for
developing new products, and for improving current
ones.

http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Substitute
What materials or resources can you substitute
or swap to improve the product?
What other product or process could you use?
What rules could you substitute?
Can you use this product somewhere else, or as
a substitute for something else?
What will happen if you change your feelings or
attitude toward this product?

http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Combine
What would happen if you combined this
product with another, to create
something new?
What if you combined purposes or
objectives?
What could you combine to maximize the
uses of this product?
How could you combine talent and
resources
to create a new approach to
http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Adapt
How could you adapt or readjust this
product to serve another purpose or use?
What else is the product like?
Who or what could you emulate to adapt
this product?
What else is like your product?
What other context could you put your
product into?
What other products or ideas could you
use for inspiration?
http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Modify
How could you change the shape, look, or
feel of your product?
What could you add to modify this
product?
What could you emphasize or highlight to
create more value?
What element of this product could you
strengthen to create something new?
http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Put to Another Use
Can you use this product somewhere else,
perhaps in another industry?
Who else could use this product?
How would this product behave differently
in another setting?
Could you recycle the waste from this
product to make something new?

http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Eliminate
How could you streamline or simplify this
product?
What features, parts, or rules could you
eliminate?
What could you understate or tone down?
How could you make it smaller, faster,
lighter, or more fun?
What would happen if you took away part
of this product? What would you have in
http://www.mindtools.com

SCAMPER TOOL
Reverse
What would happen if you reversed this
process or sequenced things differently?
What if you try to do the exact opposite of
what you're trying to do now?
What components could you substitute to
change the order of this product?
What roles could you reverse or swap?
How could you reorganize this product?
http://www.mindtools.com

RESEARCH (PROPOSAL)
EVALUATION
Adapt from goal evaluation
S
M
A
R
T

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Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

http://www.goal-setting-guide.com

SMART TOOL
Specific
Research goals should be straightforward and
emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help
us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we
are going to do.
Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART
model.
WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as
direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.
WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want
to ultimately accomplish?
HOW are you going to do it? (By)

Ensure the goals you set is very specific, clear and

easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be
healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your
waistline or http://www.goal-setting-guide.com
to walk 5 miles at an aerobically

SMART TOOL
Measurable
If you cant measure it, you cant manage it.In the
broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure
for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the is a
success. However, there are usually several short-term or
small measurements that can be built into the goal.
Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see
the change occur. How will you see when you reach your
goal? Be specific! I want to read 3 chapter books of 100
pages on my own before my birthday shows the specific
target to be measure. I want to be a good reader is not
as measurable.
Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward
the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure
your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates,
and experience the exhilaration of achievement that
http://www.goal-setting-guide.com
spurs you on to
continued effort required to reach your

SMART TOOL
Attainable
When you identify goals that are most important to you, you
begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You
develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to
reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked
opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of
your goals.
Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably
wont commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of
intentions, the knowledge that its too much for you means
your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will
stop you from even giving it your best.
A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it
and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if
you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isnt
achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when youve
achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it
achievable for http://www.goal-setting-guide.com
you.
The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain

SMART TOOL
Realistic
This is not a synonym for easy.Realistic, in this case,
means do-able.It means that the learning curve is not a
vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are
available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and
goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills
and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldnt
break them.
Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal
realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you
are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes,
crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who
really enjoys these foods.
For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a
piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then
choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products
gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.
Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too
http://www.goal-setting-guide.com
difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the

SMART TOOL
Timely
Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three
months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your
goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
If you dont set a time, the commitment is too vague.
It tends not to happen because you feel you can
start at any time. Without a time limit, theres no
urgency to start taking action now.
Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

http://www.goal-setting-guide.com