RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

(ME 184728/ME 185201)

Department of Marine Engineering

ITS Surabaya
Academic Writing
 Introduction
 The writing process
 The writing challenge
 Comprehensive and presentable writing
 Introduction
Research
proposal

Journal
paper

Thesis/
Dissertation

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 Introduction
 Why a research proposal?
 Research  search for new facts through the application of
scientific procedures
 Why a thesis/dissertation?
 Thesis/dissertation  a formal document as proof of
contribution (worthy of the award)
 Why a journal paper?
  Network with other scholars  Work into the circulation
 Refine researches & ideas

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 Introduction
 Thesis growth

Research
Research ideas Thesis
proposal

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 Introduction
 Theses contents

Ok..
So what??

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 The Writing Process
 Highlights
 Structuring chapter framework
 Developing chapter contents
 Linking contents and chapters
 Generating abstract
 Common mistakes

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 The Writing Process
 Structuring chapter framework
 Chapter 1 Introduction
 Chapter 2 Literature Review
 Chapter 3 Research Methodology
 Chapter 4 Results and Discussions
 Chapter 5 Conclusion

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 The Writing Process
 Structuring chapter framework
Introduction Literature Research Results and Conclusion

Chapter 2

Chapter 3
Chapter 1

Chapter 4

Chapter 5
Review Methodology Discussions

Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Summary of

Research
Research [Concept/ [Task/ [Result & Conclusion
Background Theory 1] Activity 1] Discussion of
Activity 1] Recommen-
Problem [Concept/ [Task/ dation for
Statement Theory 2] Activity 2] [Result & Future
Discussion of Research
Research [Concept/ [Task/ Activity 2]
Objective Theory 3] Activity …]
[Result &
Scope of [Task/ Discussion of
Research Activity n] Activity 3 to
n]
…

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Research Background
1.3 Problem Statement
1.4 Research Objective
1.5 Scope of Research
1.6 Significance of Research
1.7 Organisation of Thesis

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 2 Literature Review*
2.1 Introduction
2.2 [Key Concept/Theory 1]
2.2.1 …
2.2.2 …
2.3 [Key Concept/Theory 2]
3.2.1 …
3.2.2 …
2.4 [Key Concept/Theory 3]

* Based on the theoretical framework

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 3 Research Methodology*
3.1 Introduction

3.2 3.3

… 3.4

*Based on methodology flowchart  sequence of tasks

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 3 Research Methodology
3.2
3.3
3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4

3.4
3.4.1

3.4.2 3.4.3 3.4.4

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 4 Results and Discussions
✓ Results = something tangible

Numbers, layouts, designs
 Noun
Tables, graphics

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 4 Results and Discussions
1 Submarine
Simulation
Model

The FMC 2
Control System
4.1 Introduction
4.2 …
4…. Submarine Simulation
Model
Validity of 3 4…. The FMC Control System
Simulation Result 4…. Validity of Simulation
Result
Performance of the 4 4…. Performance of the FMC
FMC Control System Control System

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 The Writing Process
 Developing chapter contents
 Chapter 5 Conclusion
5.1 Summary of Research
▪ Intention of research
▪ Activities have been done
5.2 Conclusion
▪ Achievement of research objectives
▪ Final deduction from results/findings
5.3 Recommendation for Further Research
▪ Limitation  improvement
▪ Gaps  extension

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents

Thesis

Wholly
unified
storyline

Chapters Sections

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
Introduction Literature Research Results and Conclusion

Chapter 2

Chapter 3
Chapter 1

Chapter 4

Chapter 5
Review Methodology Discussions

Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Summary of

Research
Research [Concept/ [Task/ [Result & Conclusion
Background Theory 1] Activity 1] Discussion of
Activity 1] Recommen-
Problem [Concept/ [Task/ dation for
Statement Theory 2] Activity 2] [Result & Future
Discussion of Research
Research [Concept/ [Task/ Activity 2]
Objective Theory 3] Activity …] Wholly
[Result & unified
Scope of [Task/ Discussion of storyline
Research Activity n] Activity 3 to
n]
…

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Chapter linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 1 : Overview of research or highlights of Chapter 2

✓ Chapter 2 : Highlights of Chapter 1 or Chapter 3

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Chapter linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 3 : Highlights of Chapter 2 or Chapter 4

✓ Chapter 4 : Highlights of Chapter 3 or Chapter 5

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Chapter linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 5 : Summary of research or highlights of overall chapters

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 1
1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5 1.6

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 2

2.2

2.3
2.4

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 3

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 4

4.2 4.3
4.4

4.6 4.5

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage in section ‘Introduction’
✓ Chapter 5

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage in section ‘Concluding Remarks’

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 The Writing Process
 Linking chapters and contents
 Content linkage within a section
✓ A good paragraph
▪ Introduction sentence
▪ Body/main idea sentence
▪ Closing sentence Wholly
unified
✓ Paragraph coherence checking storyline

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 The Writing Process
 Generating abstract
 Thesis message
✓ Problems were solved
✓ Contributions were made
 Main components
✓ Research background
✓ Research objectives
✓ Research methods/techniques
✓ Results & findings
✓ Conclusion

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 The Writing Process
 Generating abstract
 Research background
✓ Reason as to why the study is carried out
✓ Importance of the study

 Research objectives
✓ Purpose of the study

 Research methods/techniques
✓ How the study was carried out
✓ What methods/techniques employed

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 The Writing Process
 Generating abstract
 Results & findings
✓ Results obtained from the research
✓ Other significance findings

 Conclusion
✓ Deduction and implications of the research

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 The Writing Process
 Common mistakes
 Starts later
 Incomplete sentences  unclear message
 Complex sentences  confusing
 Unorganised
✓ Contents
✓ Storyline
 Partial discussions

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 The Writing Process
Tips
 Start soonest from where you feel happiest
 Set a daily slot
 Draw a storyline  main ideas
 Write with thesis message in mind
 Write a simple yet convincing contents
 Assess literature for developing chapters

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 The Writing Process
Tips
 Adopt writing style from other researches
 Get inspired through the process
 Write in detail for a thorough comments
 Be discipline and stay organised
 Discover possible holes in the research
 Get feedback before you write too much

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 The Writing Challenge
 Thesis:
“A formal document as
proof of worthy contribution”

Solution of the problem

 Research is often judged by

the (ability to) report

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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing: ... Write … Think

NEVER been easy..

BUT..

 Ideas evolve as writing processes

✓ So.. any good start

✓ Undeveloped ideas  ‘planted in mind’ ideas

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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing as analysis

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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing as ‘conversation’

Written communication
 Knowledge and thought sharing
✓ The research and processes involved
✓ The results, findings and their implications
 Intellectual, mental and/or emotional engagement
✓ Clear, not confusing
✓ Satisfying, raise no inquiries
✓ Enjoyable

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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing as ‘conversation’

Punctuation
 Indication of the way to speak the text
✓ Commas  mark off one thing from another to prevent ambiguity
and misreading
✓ Semicolons  separate two points of equal significance
✓ Colons  precede a clause or phrase which explains or expands
what has just been said
✓ Brackets  set off something said in an undertone
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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing as reiterative process

Drafting & redrafting

✓ Spelling and grammatical errors
✓ Ideas/contents have changed/developed
✓ Arguments are unclear/confusing
✓ To fit better storyline
▪ Better understanding
▪ More entertaining

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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing as reiterative process
Writing
outline
• Regards as normal activities
Finish Drafting
✓ Start from anywhere at the
most convenient
✓ Come back and revise later
Final Submitting
checking &
resubmitting
for
comments “Get it works
is more important
Editing & Receiving than get it right”
redrafting feedbacks

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 The Writing Challenge
 Writing as reiterative process
 Revision does not mean a failure

“Practise makes perfect!”

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Main components of a research proposal
 Proposed title
 Research background
 Research problem Introduction
 Research objective
 Proposed methods
Methodology
 Expected outcomes
Results and Discussions
 Research schedule
 Supported references

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Introduction
 Introduce the issue studied
 Review relevant previous studies
 Highlight the research gap to be filled
 Formulate research problem/questions and hypotheses
 Signpost thesis structure

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Methodology
 Describe methods and techniques used to collect data and
generate results
 Justify methods and techniques employed
 Explain the process and analysis of data
 Present computation and raw/pre-processed data
 Verify and/or validate generation of results

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Results and discussions
 Present and analyse results and processed data
 Interpret results and other findings
 Highlight research findings
 Broaden discussion against previous/similar researches

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Conclusions
 Address research outcomes concerning:
✓ Research problem
✓ Hypotheses
✓ Research objectives
 Provide recommendations for further works:
✓ Refinement
✓ Extension

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Examiner checklists
Literature Review
 Is the literature reviewed relevant?
 Is the review critical or just descriptive?
 Is the review comprehensive?
 Does it summarize the essential aspects?
 Does it link to the methodology/discussion in the thesis?

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Examiner checklists
Methodology
 Is there a clear hypothesis?
 Are precautions taken against bias?
 Are the limitations identified?
 Is the data collected appropriately?
 Is the overall methodology justified?

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 Comprehensive and Presentable Writing
 Examiner checklists
Results and Discussions
 Have the hypotheses in fact been tested?
 Are the results shown to support the hypothesis?
 Are the results clearly presented?
 Are the results properly analysed?
 Are the speculations well grounded?
 Are links made to the literature?

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