“RESEARCH
METHODS FOR ENGINEERS
ASSIGNMENT
TASK
This course has a total of three assignments. Each assignment corresponds with the other
assignments in that each succeeding assignment builds upon the completion of
the preceding assignments. In other words, the research design of Assignment 1
forms the construct upon which the research methodology of Assignment 2 can be
based, which in turn forms the context and content upon which the research
verification and validation of Assignment 3 can be based to achieve the
essential continuity, conclusion and completion of the selected research topic.

Each assignment will be primarily assessed on the students proficiency in
describing and explaining the skills required for each of the relevant stages
of the scientific research process.
Each assignment
contributes in part to a total understanding of the scientific research
process, from initial definition of the research problem, generation of
research questions and hypotheses, to
verification of the
research hypotheses and
validation of the
research results for
final conclusion(s) and completion of the selected research
topic.Consequently, the overall
objective of these assignments is simply for the student
to give a comprehensive, well structured, and methodical approach, with
adequate supporting literature
references, on how the particular
selected research topic needs
to be researched,
with specific reference
to the research
problem, research questions, research
hypotheses, research methodology
and validation, including theoretical and empirical examples
throughout all the stages of the scientific research process.
ASSIGNMENT 2 TASK: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Report Due Date:
17h00 PM, SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
Length of Report:
3000 4000 words (6 8 pages, excluding reference list)

Assignment 2 relates
to the Literature Reviewand Research Methodologystages of the
scientific research process and includes course learning material introduced in
Weeks 4 to 9, covering topics such as:

Literature Review

Research methodology.

Scope of quantitative and/or
qualitative research.

Research data collection

Experimentation and
experimental design (if applicable).

Data collection using survey
instruments (if applicable)

Case study comparative
research (if applicable).

Write a report
describing the literature supporting your research questions (background to the
problem, debates, critical success factors, what actually the literature says
in the context of the research questions you have proposed. You will also need
to write describing in detail howyour
particular selected research questions need to be answered (and/or how your
hypotheses need to be tested), including appropriate theoretical and
empirical examples explaining what, how and whyyou are adopting particular
approaches to implementing your research methodology, especially in regard to;
a deductive/inductive approach with quantitative/ qualitative research methods;
your need to seek further data/information related to theory in a your
literature study; your related methods of data collection justifying required
analysis; and a detailed discussion of your data collection method and the
advantages/ disadvantages of such data collection.

Proposed Structure

INTRODUCTION:
Introduce your
research questions, and hypotheses (if applicable).
If you have found that you need to slightly
reviseyour research questions/hypotheses, give your revision here. Also,
BRIEFLYconfirm your research
methodology and research methods, which you will discuss in detail later on in
the assignment.
Scope:

Give a BRIEF summary of your research methodology, especially in regard
to; a deductive/inductive approach with quantitative/qualitative research
methods; your need to seek further data/information related to theory in a full
literature study; your related methods of data collection and required
analysis.

Research
Methodology:
Literature
Review:
Critically present what the literature reports on
your selected topic, focusing on the rationale for choosing the topic, and
posing your research questions. Discuss WHAT, HOW, and WHY,you sought further
data/information related to theory in a full literature study.
Discuss in
GENERAL the WHAT, HOW, and WHY,of selected methods of
data collection related to your deductive/inductive approach, and your choice
of the typical required analyses to answer your research questions and/or test
your various hypotheses.
Primary
Data Collection:
Data
Collection Method:
Discuss in DETAIL the WHAT, HOW, and WHY,of your primary data
collection method to test your hypotheses. You must include an example template
of either your experimental design, or survey questionnaire design, or
comparative case study design, depending on which primary data collection
method you have selected.
Advantages/Disadvantages
of Data Collection Method:
Discuss in DETAIL the WHAT, HOW, and WHY,of the
advantages/disadvantages of your primary data collection method to answer your
research questions or test your hypotheses.
Conclusion:

Give a summary of the REASONSfor your selected method(s) of
data collection related to your particular deductive/inductive approach, and REASONSfor choosing a primary data
collection method to answer your research questions or
test your hypotheses.RESEARCH
METHODS FOR ENGINEERSASSIGNMENT
TASKThis course has
a total of three assignments. Each assignment corresponds with the other
assignments in that each succeeding assignment builds upon the completion of
the preceding assignments. In other words, the research design of Assignment 1
forms the construct upon which the research methodology of Assignment 2 can be
based, which in turn forms the context and content upon which the research
verification and validation of Assignment 3 can be based to achieve the
essential continuity, conclusion and completion of the selected research topic.
Each assignment will be primarily assessed on the students proficiency in
describing and explaining the skills required for each of the relevant stages
of the scientific research process.Each assignment
contributes in part to a total understanding of the scientific research
process, from initial definition of the research problem, generation of
research questions and hypotheses, to
verification of the
research hypotheses and
validation of the
research results for
final conclusion(s) and completion of the selected research
topic.Consequently, the overall
objective of these assignments is simply for the student
to give a comprehensive, well structured, and methodical approach, with
adequate supporting literature
references, on how the particular
selected research topic needs
to be researched,
with specific reference
to the research
problem, research questions, research
hypotheses, research methodology
and validation, including theoretical and empirical examples
throughout all the stages of the scientific research process.ASSIGNMENT 2 TASK: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYReport Due Date:
17h00 PM, SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBERLength of Report:
3000 4000 words (6 8 pages, excluding reference list)Assignment 2 relates
to the Literature Reviewand Research Methodologystages of the
scientific research process and includes course learning material introduced in
Weeks 4 to 9, covering topics such as:
Literature Review
Research methodology.
Scope of quantitative and/or
qualitative research.
Research data collection
Experimentation and
experimental design (if applicable).
Data collection using survey
instruments (if applicable)
Case study comparative
research (if applicable).Write a report
describing the literature supporting your research questions (background to the
problem, debates, critical success factors, what actually the literature says
in the context of the research questions you have proposed. You will also need
to write describing in detail howyour
particular selected research questions need to be answered (and/or how your
hypotheses need to be tested), including appropriate theoretical and
empirical examples explaining what, how and whyyou are adopting particular
approaches to implementing your research methodology, especially in regard to;
a deductive/inductive approach with quantitative/ qualitative research methods;
your need to seek further data/information related to theory in a your
literature study; your related methods of data collection justifying required
analysis; and a detailed discussion of your data collection method and the
advantages/ disadvantages of such data collection. Proposed StructureINTRODUCTION:Introduce your
research questions, and hypotheses (if applicable).
If you have found that you need to slightly
reviseyour research questions/hypotheses, give your revision here. Also,
BRIEFLYconfirm your research
methodology and research methods, which you will discuss in detail later on in
the assignment.Scope:
Give a BRIEF summary of your research methodology, especially in regard
to; a deductive/inductive approach with quantitative/qualitative research
methods; your need to seek further data/information related to theory in a full
literature study; your related methods of data collection and required
analysis. Research
Methodology:Literature
Review:Critically present what the literature reports on
your selected topic, focusing on the rationale for choosing the topic, and
posing your research questions. Discuss WHAT, HOW, and WHY,you sought further
data/information related to theory in a full literature study. Discuss in
GENERAL the WHAT, HOW, and WHY,of selected methods of
data collection related to your deductive/inductive approach, and your choice
of the typical required analyses to answer your research questions and/or test
your various hypotheses.Primary
Data Collection:Data
Collection Method:Discuss in DETAIL the WHAT, HOW, and WHY,of your primary data
collection method to test your hypotheses. You must include an example template
of either your experimental design, or survey questionnaire design, or
comparative case study design, depending on which primary data collection
method you have selected. Advantages/Disadvantages
of Data Collection Method:Discuss in DETAIL the WHAT, HOW, and WHY,of the
advantages/disadvantages of your primary data collection method to answer your
research questions or test your hypotheses. Conclusion:
Give a summary of the REASONSfor your selected method(s) of
data collection related to your particular deductive/inductive approach, and REASONSfor choosing a primary data
collection method to answer your research questions or
test your hypotheses.”