RESEARCH METHODS FOR ENGINEERS DAVID V. THIELResearch Methods for Engineers David V. Thiel Griffith University, Austratia UNIVERSITY PRESSContents iction to engineering research a 141, Why engineering research? 2 1.2 Next step research 7 1.3 Research questions ® 41.6, Engineering ethics 2 1.5. What constitutes conclusive proof? 18 1.6 Why take on a research project? a 4.7. Chapter summary 23 Brercises 23 References 3 Literature search and review 2 24° Archival literature 28 2.2 Why should engineers be ethical? 20 23. Types of publications 34 2.4 Measures of research impact 57 2.5 Literature review 60 2.6 Keywords 64 2.1. Publication cost 65 2.8 Chapter summary 69 Exercises 70 References ncontents Developing a research plan 2A. Research proposals 3.2. Finding a suitable research question 3.3. The elements of a research proposal 3.4 Design for outcomes 3.5 The research tools 3.6. Chapter summary Exercises References Statistical analysis Introduction One-dimensional statistics 4.4 Two-dimensional statistics 4.5 Multi-dimenstonal statistics 4.6 Null hypothests testing 4.1. Chapter summary Exercises References Optimization techniques 5.1 Introduction 5.2. Two-parameter optimization methods 5.3 Multieparameter optimization methods 5.6 The cost function 5.5 Chapter summary Exercises References Survey research methods 6A. Why undertake a survey? 6.2, Ergonomics and human factors 6.3 Ethics approval 6.4 General survey guidelines 6.5. Survey statements B 15 7 101 110 a0 a2 116 15 uz 122 137 “5 150 182 153 156 187 162 183 186 189 190 192 193 200 203 205contents 6.6 Survey delivery 6.7_Respondent selection 6.8 Survey timelines 6.9. Statistical analysis 6.10 Reporting 6.11 Chapter summary Exercises References Research presentation 24_Introduction .2_Standard terms 7k: Standard research methods and expertniental technfuen 7.4_Paper ttle and keywords 7.5. Writing an abstract 7.6 Paper preparation and review 727 Conference presentations 7.8 Poster presentations ‘7.9 _Patents 7.40 Chapter summary Exercises References The path forward 1_Publication trends 8.2. Getting started in research 8.3. Quality assurance (QA) 4 Occupational health and safety 5A glimpse into the future of engineering research Exercises References Appendix A Matlab plot functions Appendix B Excel plot functions Index vi 216 27 220 222 224 228 230 235 239 2a 244 252 258 265 265 267 269 mn 205 279 2a 282 283 285,