NHS 2021

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING UITM SHAH ALAM

MEM797 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

ASSESSMENT 1: PLEASE REFER TO RUBRICS OF ASSESSMENT / SECTION

This is an individual assessment, which contains FOUR (4) tasks and covers FOUR (4) Course
Outcomes:
Task Course Outcome % of
Assessment
1. Principles and Explain the principles and processes involved in 10
Processes Involved in research design [PO1, SS1](C3) [ / 10]
Research Design [ / 100]

2. Professional Conduct Apply Professional Conduct and Research 10

and Research Ethics Ethics [PO6, SS4](A5) [ / 10]
[ / 100]
3. Problem Statement Formulate problem statement and research gap 25
generation and via literature review [PO3, SS1](C5) [ / 25]
Literature Review [ / 100]
4. Research Apply the main techniques used for data 20
Methodologies for Data collection, analysis and [ / 20]
Collection and verification [PO2, SS1](C3) [ / 100]
Verification

PLAGIARISM STATEMENT
I certify that this assessment is my own work, based on my personal study / research and that I have acknowledged all
material and sources used in its preparation, whether those are books, articles, reports, lecture notes, and any other kind
of document, electronic or personal communication. I also certify that this report has not previously been submitted for
assessment in any other unit, except where specific permission has been granted from all unit coordinators involved, or at
any other time in this unit, and that I have not copied in part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of other students
and/or persons.

Name Student ID No. Signature

Date start: 15 October 2022 Due Date: 3 January 2023

Lecturer’s signature: Total Marks:
Date: [ / 65]
Note: Please respond to the Assessment 1 paper by filling in the highlighted green column

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#TASK 1: PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES INVOLVED IN RESEARCH DESIGN
Assessment Objective:
o To systematically establish students understanding about the important aspects in good
research proposals
o To train students in establishing framework of research proposal
o To determine industrial project research topic and be able to connect with overall research
processes and research design

# Tentative Project Title [2 marks]:

Rubric of Assessment : Tentative Project Title

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5

Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[0.4] [0.8] [1.2] [1.6] [2.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Project Good Project Title; Very good Project Clear and excellent
Project Title; it does Title; it does not it does reflect the Title; it does reflect Project Title; it
not reflect the fully reflect the Problem statement, the Problem reflects the Problem
Problem statement, Problem statement, hypotheses and statement, statement,
hypotheses and hypotheses and research objective hypotheses and hypotheses and
research objective research objective (Task 3) and overall research objective research objective
research design (Task 3) and overall (Task 3) and overall
(Task 3) and overall (Task 3) and overall
(some missing research design research design
research design research design connection) (still some room for
improvement)

Mark for the section/ comment:

# Variables – Parameters Being Studied [2 marks]:

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Rubric of Assessment: Variables – Parameters Being Studied

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[0.4] [0.8] [1.2] [1.6] [2.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good variables/ Very good Clear and excellent
variables/ variables/ parameters to variables/ variables/
parameters, does parameters, but reflect on research parameters to parameters to
not reflect on does not fully type and research reflect on research reflect on research
research type and reflect on research design type and research type and research
research design type and research design design. It covers
(some missing Independent and
design
connection with (still some room for Dependent,
overall research improvement) extraneous and
design) other variables
Mark for the section/ comment:

# Executive Summary [400 words, 6 marks]:

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Rubric of Assessment: Executive Summary

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[1.2] [2.4] [3.6] [4.8] [6.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Executive Executive Executive Summary
Executive Executive Summary, some Summary is Very is Clear and
Summary, many Summary, quite missing points and good, but still some excellently written;
missing points and many missing connection to relate room for Has all the following
connection to relate points and to overall research improvement for all items
to overall research connection to relate design points to be -Introduction/
background
design and good to overall research connected properly.
-Problem Statement
executive summary; design and good -Research Objective
does not clear, executive summary; -expected
expected research does not really Methodology to
work to be done & clear, expected conduct research
output of research work to be done and achieve
objective, collect
and analyse data
-Expected result and
significance of work;
and all points are
connected properly

Mark for the section/ comment:

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#TASK 2: PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Assessment Objective:
o To ensure students are aware on professional conduct and ethics when conducting research,
writing and publishing the research work

# State FIVE (5) DOs and FIVE (5) DON’Ts related to ‘research ethics and publication’. For each
statement, give a brief explanation. Support your answer with examples and good references related
to research ethics and ethics in publications. At least TWO (2) references are required. Please cite
properly your statement, either by using IEEE or APA type of citation/ referencing approach.
[10 marks]:

5 DOs [4 marks]
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5 DON’Ts [4 marks]
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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List of References (at least 2 references; use appropriate method of referencing)

[2 marks]

Rubric of Assessment: Professional Conduct & Research Ethics

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5

Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[2] [4] [6] [8] [10]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good statement but Very good Clear and
statement in related statement but too insufficient number statement on 5 DOs excellently stated 5
to research ethics few number from 5 of 5 DOs and 5 and 5 DONTs in DOs and 5 DONTs
and publication. DOs and 5 DONTs DONTs in related to related to research statement in related
in related to research ethics and ethics and to research ethics
The explanation research ethics and publication. publication. and publication.
and example stated publication.
are not really Some improvement Some improvement Each statement is
relevant; More improvement required on required on supported with
required on explanation and explanation and explanation and
Insufficient explanation and example stated; example stated; example;
references and example stated;
inappropriate way At least 2 At least 2 At least 2
of citation and Insufficient references are references are references are
referencing references are provided, but provided with provided with
provided; further further appropriate way of appropriate way of
improvement on improvement on citation and citation and
citation and citation and referencing referencing
referencing are referencing are
required required

Mark for the section/ comment:

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#TASK 3: PROBLEM STATEMENT GENERATION AND LITERATURE REVIEW
Assessment Objective:
o To determine the problem statement of the industrial project research
o To generate hypothesis/ research in order to link to the research gap and problem statement
to be solved
o To establish research objective in closing the research gap and solving the problem
o To discuss on Scope of Work in relation to parameters, variables, tools, standard, equipment
and any theory being focused in achieving the objective of the research
o To systematically analyze the requirement of Literature Review and review the selected
articles on area of focused.

# Problem Statement [5 marks]:

Rubric of Assessment: Problem Statement

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5

Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good identification Very good Excellent
identification of identification of of Problem identification of identification of
Problem Problem Statement of the Problem Problem
Statement; it does Statement of the Industrial Project; Statement of the Statement of the
not reflect directly Industrial Project, some missing Industrial Project; Industrial Project/
on the subject but it does not fully connection on the slight selected research
matter of the reflect on the subject matter of improvement title; With clear
industrial subject matter of the industrial Is required for explanation on the
situations/ the industrial situations/ explanation on the subject matter of
background situations/ background subject matter of the industrial
background the industrial situations/
situations/ background; and
background supported with
data/ figure/ facts
(still some room for from existing/
improvement) previous situation

Mark for the section/ comment:

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# Hypothesis/ Research Question [3 marks]:

Rubric of Assessment: Hypothesis/ Research Question

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[0.6] [1.2] [1.8] [2.4] [3.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good hypothesis/ Very good Clear and excellent
hypothesis/ hypothesis/ research question; hypothesis/ hypothesis/
research question; research question; but some links to research question; research question
does not reflect on but does not reflect research gap and required slight in linking to
research gap and directly to research problem statement improvement in research gap and
problem statement gap and problem are missing and linking to research problem statement
statement unclear gap and problem
statement
(some missing
connection with (still some room for
overall research improvement)
problems)
Mark for the section/ comment:

# Research Objective [3 marks]:

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Rubric of Assessment: Research Objective

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[0.6] [1.2] [1.8] [2.4] [3.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good research Very good research Clear and excellent
research research objectives, objectives, research
objectives;, objectives, objectives; the
some missing some room for numbers directly
does not but does not fully connection for all improvement so reflect to the
measurable and reflect on the measurable that all objectives research question;
reflect on the research gap and objectives to cover are measurable and measurable
research gap and expected problem research gap and cover research gap research objective
expected problem to be solved expected problems and expected and covers the
to be solved to be solved problem to be research gap and
expected problem
solved
to be solved
Mark for the section/ comment:

# Research Scope [4 marks]:

Rubric of Assessment: Research Scope

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[0.8] [1.6] [2.4] [3.2] [4.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable scope Good scope Very good scope Clear and excellent
scope; does not but does not fully scope. Clearly
reflect on the reflect on the (some missing (still some room for linked to each of
research objective research objective connection to each improvement for research objective
of research clear scope to to be achieved for
in solving the in solving the
objective to be relate to each the research (by
problem statement problem statement
achieved) research objective) explaining what are
covered/ and not
covered)
Mark for the section/ comment:

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# Literature Review – Please state at least 5 focused area to be covered in your LR.
Choose 2 focused area and review at least 5 selected articles/ document for each of the
focused area; critically review and present the review in a journal/ dissertation format,
and appropriately provide citation and referencing [10 marks]:

5 Focused Area:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)

1st Selected Area & provide the review [Arial 11, 1000 words]
1st Selected Area:
Review:

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2nd Selected Area & provide the review [Arial 11, 1000 words]
2nd Selected Area:
Review:

List of References (at least 10)

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Rubric of Assessment: Literature Review
Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[2.0] [4.0] [6.0] [8.0] [10.0]
Unacceptable LR Acceptable LR; Good LR; Has the Very good LR, Excellent LR, has 5
following items: improvement is focused area, 10
Poor understanding Has the following • General overview required on the 5 references & proper
of topic, inadequate items: of the project focused area & 10 writing ;
research or very • General overview • Extensive review: references; Has the following
little research. No of the project concise, well- Has the following items:
external literature • Literature review is written and items: • General overview
research. concise, well- references cited • General overview of the project
written and correctly of the project • Extensive review
references cited • Literature review • Extensive review: with citation
correctly argues findings is concise, well- • Literature review is
• Literature review and/or methods written and concise, well-
argues findings from previous work references cited written and
and/or methods • Literature review correctly reference cited
from previous work led towards the • Literature review correctly
without suggesting formulation of the critically argues • Literature review
potential solution problem statement findings and/or critically argues
• Insufficient but in most cases methods from findings and/or
literature to tinged with previous work methods from
develop problem confusion • Literature review previous work and
statement • Summary of leads towards the suggesting
• Summary of literature review formulation of the potential solution
literature review But problem • Literature review
But • Writing is bad statement leads towards the
• Writing is bad • Points are not • Summary of formulation of the
• Points are not connected properly literature review problem
connected properly • Acceptable writing statement
But • Summary of
• Points are not literature review
connected • Well written
properly • Points are
connected
properly from one
paragraph to
another

Mark for the section/ comment:

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#TASK 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES FOR DATA COLLECTION AND

VERIFICATION
Assessment Objective:
o To describe the possible data collection methods on how to examine the parameters
being studied in Task 1 for the expected research output as outlined in ‘Executive
Summary’
o To portray overall research methodologies (research process flow) in achieving the
research objective as stated in Task 2 (scientific method to perform the research, to
collect data, and analyze data)
o To highlight expected data analysis methods in order to process/ analyze the collected
data, whether the data is accepted/ not accepted (may related to statistical analysis)
o To state and describe methods to validate the result and to link to the expected
achievement of research objective.

# Summary of scientific research methodologies (data collection methods, data

analyzing methods, and data validation methods) in examining parameters being
studied [5 marks]:

Parameters/ Parameters/ Possible data Description of Related figure/

Variables Variables to be Collection Data collection tool/ machine
being studied/ determined (in method method used
examined linking to
(theory/
research
Machine/
output)
Software/
standard/ tool/
equation)
Methods to
collect data??
Methods to
collect data??
Methods to
analyze
data??
Methods to
validate
data??

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Rubric of Assessment: Summary of scientific research methodologies

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5

Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[1.0] [2.0] [3.0] [4.0] [5.0]
Unacceptable data Acceptable data Good data Very good data Excellent and
collection collection collection collection clear data
methods, methods methods, but it methods/ methods methods, methods collection
for data analysis does not fully for data analysis for data analysis methods, methods
and methods for connect to and/ methods for and methods for for data analysis
data validation; methods for data data validation; data validation; and methods for
analysis and some data validation;
it does not reflect or methods for data improvements are Some
link directly to the validation; required on the improvements are it clearly link to
parameters/ required to link to
selected methods parameters/
variables being parameters/ parameters/ variables being
studied and variables being studied, and
variables being
determined Some studied and parameters/
studied and
improvements are determined, variables to be
determined are required to link to
and improvement not very clear determined
on supported tool parameters/ And/ some
is required variables being improvement on
and improvement The methods are
studied and supported tool is
on supported tool clearly described
determined, required
is required and supported by
appropriate tools
and improvement
on supported tool
is required

Mark for the section/ comment:

# Research Process Flow diagram [5 marks]:

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Rubric of Assessment: Research Process Flow diagram

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[1.0] [2.0] [3.0] [4.0] [5.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good construction Very good Clear and excellent
construction of the construction of the of the research construction of the construction of the
research process research process process flow research process research process
flow diagram to flow diagram to diagram to highlight flow diagram to flow diagram to
highlight on overall highlight on overall on overall research highlight on overall highlight on overall
research processes; research processes; processes, some research processes, research processes,
missing connection all research
the diagram does but some research all research
on the methods methodologies (to
not reflect on the methods do not fully used/ methodologies and link all data
methods planned to connected and link to research collection method,
be conducted clearly linked to Some missing objectives data analyzing
each other and to connection to the method and data
research objective research objectives (still some room for validation method),
improvement, all and link to research
methods to be objectives, and
clearly connected) briefly stated the
tools used
Mark for the section/ comment:

# Research Methodology – briefly explain all methodologies highlighted in research

process flow diagram, and connect it to research objective, parameters being studied
and tool used [Arial 11, 1500 words, 10 marks]:

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Rubric of Assessment: Research Methodology

Scale 1 Scale 2 Scale 3 Scale 4 Scale 5
Unacceptable Acceptable Good Very Good Excellent
[2.0] [4.0] [6.0] [8.0] [10.0]
Unacceptable Acceptable Good construction Very good Excellent
construction of construction of of detailed construction of construction of
detailed research detailed research research detailed research detailed research
methodologies; methodologies; methodologies to methodologies to methodologies to
does not reflect on relate with relate with relate with
overall process flow but does not fully research research research
reflect on the objectives/, objectives, objectives,
of the research
overall connection
methodology. parameters being parameters being parameters being
to relate with studied and tools
studied/ and tools studied and tools
research and machineries
and machineries and machineries
objectives, used
used used as
parameters being
highlighted in
studied and tools
process flow
and machineries (some missing (still some room for
diagram
used connection between improvement due to
methods, research missing connection)
objectives,
parameters studies
and tools used
Mark for the section/ comment:

Notes:

1. The files (PdF and Word) need to be submitted via uFuture and a google link:
uFuture : https://ufuture.uitm.edu.my/ (Go to ‘Assessment’ section)
Google link: https://bit.ly/MEM797_Assessment1_Submission

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