Notes on Conducting Research

Dr. Adham Naji

Adham.naji@bue.edu.eg Ext. 1454 | Room A-304

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Research methodologies Scientific writing Appropriate referencing of other peoples work + copy rights Plagiarism Electronic resources The web: what is reliable and what is not? Publishing Thesis/dissertation/report structures.

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Research Methodologies and the Scientific Method
A number of methods often exist to solve a problem.
(problems explored/defined solutions/theories proposed then tested empirically)

The scientific method.

(systematic observation, measurement, and experiment + formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses)[1]

Ibn-AlHaytham (9651039) [3]

Nullius in Verba (Take nobodys word for it!) The power of theory and the power of experiment. The help offered by computers and numerical calculations. The usual path of verification today.
[1] Oxford English Dictionary - entry for scientific. [2] http://www.nmm.ac.uk/mag/pages/mnuExplore/ViewLargeImage.cfm?ID=BHC2700 [3] http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Iraqi_Dinar_1982_Ibn_alHaitham.jpg&action=edit&redlink=1 [4] http://royalsociety.org/about-us/history/ Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) [2]

Nullius in Verba (Take nobodys word for it) [4] Royal Societys motto.

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Research Methodologies and the Scientific Method

Claude Bernards great sayings:

Put off your imagination, as you put off your overcoat, when you enter the laboratory. Put it on again, as you put on your overcoat, when you leave. It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning. Observation is a passive science. Experimentation is an active science.

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Scientific Writing
Objectiveness (removal of emotions, personal opinions, etc.) The mode of speaking (examples): often uses passive voice (most formal)
may also use we often uses simple present tense formal language use standard (SI) units, and write letters in the correct case use punctuation marks correctly avoid long sentences avoid starting sentences with And and the likes avoid using remarks like Obviously (if it is obvious, why mention it?) dont use shortened words like: doesnt, hasnt, etc. Write them complete as: does not, has not, etc. note difference between American/British English. Be consistent. dont capitalise without reason

Doing lots of reading will improve your writing!

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Appropriate Referencing of Other Peoples Work + Copy Rights
- You must acknowledge others work. Not doing so amounts to plagiarism or immoral use of literature/data. Also distinguish between references and bibliography. - Acknowledging other sources can be done in a number of ways: Simple citation of references [whenever you take information (of any kind) from these references and rephrase/redraw it using your own words/figures]: Notes System: [1] [2] Parenthetical System or Harvard style: (Haykin, 2003) Simple citation of references + adding quotation marks [whenever you take information (sentences/data/etc) from these references as-is (verbatim)] and preferably highlight what you have taken using some font effect (e.g., italics): Notes System: [1] [2] Parenthetical System or Harvard style: (Haykin, 2003) quotation marks the E-field forms a vortex around the H-field (Collin 2002). Simple citation after acquiring permission from author/publisher of the relevant reference [when taking data/pictures/graphs/etc from the original work as-is, copying-pasting or scanning]: Notes System: [1] [2] Parenthetical System or Harvard style: (Haykin, 2003) Acquired permission mentioned.

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is immoral! It can cost you your career!

http://lib.guides.umd.edu/content.php?pid=142092&sid=3109436 http://www.bradfordvts.co.uk/mrcgp/plagiarism/

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Electronic Resources, the web and reliability of sources
Electronic databases (journals, letters, conferences) in general. For Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Computer Science:
IEEE standards and papers (ieeeXplore: Journals and Transactions / Letters / Proceedings and Conferences) [very important] IET (Electronic Letters/ Journals / Proceedings and Conferences) Springer (Books / journals) Science Direct (Books / Journals / Letters / etc.)

They say Google is your friend! Is that always true? It is not always so in scientific research. Some results are not reliable at all. It may also affect your way of thinking/learning: (read this article by Nicholas Carr: Is Google Making Us Stupid?) Wikipedia is not a reliable source to use in academia (but it may be useful for quick introductions and listings of references for you).

Dr. A. Naji, October 2012, Electrical Engineering, BUE

Notes on Conducting Research

Publishing and Thesis/Dissertation Structures

Publishing, Peer-Reviewing and Impact Factors. Good for your career (but try to stay original). Aim for the best (For example: IEEE journals or transactions, then letters, then conferences) Thesis/Dissertation Structures Usually follow a logical sequence (TOC, introduction, overview/background,
theory, case study or problem, proposed solution/study, analysis, simulation, testing, verification, conclusions, appendices, etc.) The particular structure should reflect the nature of the study There isnt only one way to do it.

Writing Up Style and Graphics