Student Technical Symposium & Exhibition 2023

CONDUCTING A RESEARCH
AND A WRITING Technical
Paper
Engr. Sylvester Okotie (Ph.D)
MSPE, MNSE, MREP, CORENReg

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Contents
 Steps and stages of conducting research
 Quality of a report or paper
 How to write a report
 How to select achievable project topic
 How to review relevant literature to your chosen topic
 How to write problem statement, aim & objectives
 How to select the right methodology
 Presentation of results & discussion, conclusion and recommendation
 How to write a winning abstract
 How to correct grammatical errors on your project to ease supervisor work

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Steps to Conduct Research

Refine your
topic if need be
Write,
Evaluate
organize
Develop Do a and Give credit
Identify a Get and
an preliminary analyze when due
Problem relevant communic
Achievabl search for your (cite
or Need materials ate your
e Topic information informatio sources)
informatio
n
n

Develop research
questions
Identify keywords

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Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)
Stages of Research Process

Conceptualization Realization

Utilization Investigation

Interpretation

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

What You Need

Quality of a good researcher

Open Minded
Humble
Honest
Simplicity
Naturalness: Student of Nature Study
Diligent
Observant
Motivated
Innovative/Creative
Prayerful and Alert

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Quality of a Report/Paper
Logical
Professional
Complete

Original
Concise

Depends on:
Quality of report

Important Appropriate

Timely
Readable
Understandable

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Report Writing Process

Language
Steps involved in writing
 Establish the mindset
 Make an outline
 Write first draft (start anywhere)
 Revise draft Quality
 Conform to format
 Edit Report
 Proofread

Forma
Logic
t

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Report Writing Process
Step Activity
1 Planning
2 Researching
3 Organizing
4 Write the first draft
5 Quality assurance
6 Submit final draft for
approval
Action
Information needed
Data collection
Data collation
Thinking (80%)
Data analysis (leads to findings)
Data interpretation (leads to
conclusion)
Data verification
Structure (of report)
Sequence (of report)
Spacing (position of tables,
figures etc)
Inking (20%)
By you
You and your supervisor
To your supervisor
Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)
How to Select Achieve Project Topic
Areas to look at:

Experiment (Laboratory work) Understanding of the following:

 Current research needs (available gap to

Use of commercial applications close)
 Supervisors current research area(s)
Model development  Your strength
(Mathematical or computer)  Time frame
 Access to information:
Literature review  Data,
 Laboratory
 Software,
 Equipment etc

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

How to Review Relevant Literature
 Understand the background to the study (knowledge of your topic)

 Pick out all the key variables leading to understanding of the project scope

 It should:
 Introduce the topic
 Establish the significance of the study  Conceptual review
 Provide overview of the relevant literature  Theoretical framework
 Empirical review
 Identify knowledge gaps
 Illustrate how the study will advance knowledge on the topic

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 How to Review Relevant Literature
1. Collect, Evaluate and Select Literature

 Use keywords related to the background to the study and questions

 Explore some database to search for journals
 Evaluate the selected journals (sources)
Ask yourselves this question
5
1 2 3 4 6 7
• What are
the results,
• What • What are • Does it use conclusion • How does • What are
question or • What is the key established s and it the
problem is the theories, framework or recommen contribute strength
the author purpose models an innovative dation of to your and
addressing of the and approach? the study understand weakness
? research? methods? ing of your of the
topic research?

 What evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradictory or too limited?

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

How to Review Relevant Literature
2. Find Connections

 You need to organize your reviewed literature (identify relationship)

 Trends and patterns in theory, method and results
 What concept appear across the literature?
 Is there a disagreement in sources?
 What concept change the direction of your study?
 What gap did you identify from the literature

3. Plan the Structure of your Literature Review

 Conceptual review
 Theoretical framework
 Empirical review

4. Write your Literature Review

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Statement of the Problem
 The entire course of the investigation depends on the statement of problem.

 It provides the context of the research and the questions which the research hope to
answer.

 It includes the research gap you hope to close

 it should be reasonably brief and clear

 It offers direction to the rest of the project; signifying and highlighting the major
variables of concern to the researcher as well as the exact relationship that exist
between them.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Statement of the Problem
it is typically related to some of the following issues:

 A missing link

 A need

 One-sidedness
Write the statement of problem for
this topic:
 An unanswered question.
Refurbishment of lecture hall 1 for
 An unsatisfactory state of arrangements
effective learning

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Example - Statement of the Problems

Low flow rates resulting from the

high viscosity of the crude

 High water cut

Obstacles to efficient recovery
 Closely spaced wells

Selection and culturing of the right Can they survive the reservoir
microbes conditions such as high
temperature and high pressure
(HTHP), high salinity, pH, etc ?
What is the best nutrient to aid Can they produce the right
the growth, biosurfactant and metabolite?
biopolymer production?

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Aim and Objectives of the Study
 The objectives of the study is strongly connected to
the research problem. Use declarative statement or
action verbs, such as: To
 The general objective describes the overall aim of a
research project whereas the specific objective is i. Determine
concerned with the comprehensive list of intentions
ii. Reduce
concerning what the research stands to accomplish at
the end of the project. iii. Characterize
iv. Compare
 It systematically address the various research
v. Verify
questions
vi. Establish
 Be simple, straight forward and avoid ambiguous vii. Isolate
statements

 SMART
Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)
Example - Aim & Objectives
Aim
To develop an environmental friendly method of enhancing the recovery of
Nigerian heavy oil.

Objectives
The Objectives of this study are to:

Isolate the right microorganisms Characterize the microorganisms

that will produce the required to determine if they can grow
metabolites to effectively recover and when they will die
the heavy oil

Evaluate the performance of the Reduce the heavy oil viscosity

microbes in the MEOR process

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Significance/Benefit of the Research

 Significance/Benefit of Research

 It is anticipated that every research project must have something new to contribute
to knowledge in that research field, no matter how small.

 No research should take place if it will not contribute anything to knowledge; as

this represents the major feature of all research endeavours.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Significance of the study - Examples

 Reviving of sick or less productive oil wells and putting them back to business. Hence,
increases production.

 The process is environmentally friendly, cheap and easy to operate in the field.
 
 It is attractive in terms of economy for mature oil fields before abandonment.

 The technique can be incorporated into the existing water injection facilities with little or
no modifications.
 
 The injected microbes alongside with their nutrient broth grow at exponential rates with
time. While in EOR technologies, the efficiency of the additives such as polymers,
alkaline, surfactants tend to decrease with time and distance from the injector

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

How to Select the Right Methodology
Selection of the right methodology begins with your literature review and end with your
project objectives.

Steps
1 2 3 4

• Define the aim • Review • Find out the • Write down the
and objectives literatures time, resources entire research
and possibly related to your and capabilities methodological
the research study to identify you have to approach in
questions the most enable you detail and
commonly used carry out the review (a flow
approach or research design chart is best)
technique to better than
data collection. others

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Methodology - Example

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Methodology - Example
Start

Microbiological Studies Core Flooding Experiment

Sample Collection

Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil Heavy Crude Core Sample

Soil Sample Preparation
Characterization Sample Preparation
Isolation of Hydrocarbon
Degrading Bacteria Pre-processing of Data

Screening of the Isolated Bacteria Experimental Runs

for Biosurfactant Production
Data Recording/Analysis
Biochemical Tests Modelling of the Outcome of
the Experimental Result
Sensitivity Analysis

Microbial Culturing

Single/Pure Culture Mixed culture Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Results & Discussions

 Also referred to as “Data presentation and Analysis”

 Presentation of figures, tables and equations

 State what you found and how you manipulated data.

 Discuss your results. All tables and figures must be discussed.

 Relate your work with that of others.

Parameter Bacillus sp Pseudomonas Klebsiella sp
sp
 Show how your work can be applied. pH 7 – 8 (7) 7 – 8 (8) 6 – 7 (7)
Temperature 25 – 35 (30) 25 – 40 (30) 25 – 35 (30)
 Model/Results must be validated (0C)
Salinity (%) 0.5 – 5 (0.5) 0.5 – 9 (0.5) 0.5 – 5 (0.5)
Nitrogen source Peptone Peptone Peptone
Carbon source Glucose Glycerol Glycerol

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Conclusion & Recommendations
 From the results of the research, conclusions are made.
i. Careful and concise statements of what you have found.
ii. State systems where conclusions apply.
iii. State doubtful cases.
iv. Give correct information in an interesting manner

 Recommendation looks at the limitations and applications of the findings

 Suggestions for improvement for other researchers with similar interest.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Example - Conclusion & Recommendations
Conclusion
 The result shows that these bacteria can produce biosurfactants and biopolymers for MEOR
application but are affected by salinity, temperature, pH, nutrient sources and inoculum
concentration.

 The MEOR result produced an additional oil recovery of 24.5% with glucose broth and 21.9%
with peptone broth. The result of the post recovery analysis showed drastic transformation of
the heavy crude to light hydrocarbon components by an average of 20.33% with glucose and
97.27% with peptone.

Recommendation:
 Thermophilic and extremophilic biosurfactant and biopolymer producing bacteria should be
isolated and cultured for high temperature reservoirs.

 The core system should be optimized to minimize flood loss and also upgraded to simulate
and sustain different temperature conditions.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Abstract
 It is a brief statement that tells the ready everything you have done.

 It highlights key content areas, your research purpose, the relevance or importance of your
work, and the main outcomes.

 It helps readers to quickly decide whether it is relevant to their purposes and whether they
need to read the whole paper.

 It should contain the following:

 Brief introduction/Background
 Problem statement and aim
 The methodology employed
 The findings (results)
 Conclusion and recommendations.

 Thus, it should contain what was done, the method used, the results obtained and
conclusions.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Abstract
What You Need To Know

1 2
Select the major
Start writing your abstract after you objectives/hypotheses and
have finished writing your paper. conclusions from your Introduction
and conclusion sections.

3 4
Select key sentences and phrases Identify the major results from your
from your methods section. results section.

5
Now, arrange the sentences and phrases selected in steps 2, 3, and 4 into a
single paragraph in the following sequence: Introduction, Methods, Results,
and Conclusions.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Abstract
 What you need to know
 Finally, link your sentences to ensure that the information flows well, preferably in the
following order:

 Purpose of the study and the research problem(s) you investigated;

 Basic study design,
 Methodology and techniques used;
 Major findings or trends found as a result of your analysis;
 Summary of your interpretations, conclusions, and implications.

 Ask a colleague to review your abstract and check if the purpose, aim, methods, and
conclusions of the study are clearly stated.

 Check to see if the final abstract meets the guidelines of the target journal (word limit, type
of abstract, recommended subheadings, etc

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Abstract
 Features of an Abstract
 A good strategy to begin composing your abstract is to take whole sentences or key phrases from each
section of the paper and put them in a sequence that summarizes the contents.

 Usually in one paragraph with no indentations

 300 words or less

 Single line spacing

 Use the active voice when possible, but note that much of your abstract may require passive sentence
constructions.

 Regardless, write your abstract using concise, but complete, sentences.

 Get to the point quickly and always use the past tense because you are reporting on a study that has
been completed.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Abstract
 How do you know when you have enough information in your abstract?

• A simple rule-of-thumb is to imagine that you are another researcher doing a similar
study.

• Then ask yourself: if your abstract was the only part of the paper you could access,
would you be happy with the amount of information presented there?

• Does it tell the whole story about your study?

• If the answer is "no" then the abstract likely needs to be revised.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Abstract
 The abstract SHOULD NOT contain:
 
Make sure that this paragraph does not contain:

• New information that is not present in the paper

• Lengthy background or contextual information,

• Redundant phrases, unnecessary adverbs and adjectives, and repetitive information;

• Acronyms or undefined abbreviations,

• A discussion of previous literature or references to other literature [say something like,

"current research shows that..." or "studies have indicated..."],

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

 Abstract
 The abstract SHOULD NOT contain:
 
Make sure that this paragraph does not contain:

• Using ellipticals [i.e., ending with "..."] or incomplete sentences,

• Jargon or terms that may be confusing to the reader,

• Citations to other works, and

• Any sort of image, illustration, figure, or table, or references to them.

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)

Format to write a Journal or Paper

 Introduction: What was the question?

 Methods: How did you try to answer it?
 Results What did you find?
 Discussion What does it mean?
 Conclusion
 Others

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Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)
 Questions to Answer in Selection a Journal
 What categories of article does the journal publish?
 What is the maximum length of articles?
 What is the maximum length of abstracts?
 What sections should the article include? What are the guidelines for each?
 Does the journal have a template for articles? If so, how can it be accessed?
 What guidelines should be followed regarding writing style?
 How many figures and tables are allowed? What are the requirements for them?
 In what format should references appear?
 Does the journal post supplementary material online? If so, how should it be provided?
 In what electronic format should the paper be prepared?
 How should the paper be submitted?

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Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)
Thank You For Listening

Engr. Sylvester Okotie (PhD)