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Unit 2. Subject, Problem and Objectives

What comes to mind when you hear the words “sub-

УОМt”, “problem”, “ШЛУОМtТЯО”?

What do you think these words mean when we use

them in scientific context?

Look at the pictures (pic. 3, a , b, c) КЧН НОПТЧО Кs ЦКЧв “sМТОЧtТПТМ” prШb- lems (questions) as possible based on what you know about the scientific method.

Pic. 3

Listen to the speaker and practise pronunciation of the words:

confirm		concise
refute		generalizable
broad		researchable
narrow		measurable
focus		descriptive
focused		relational
relevant		causal
issue [	]	contradiction
empirical		mechanism
theoretical		structure
urgent		nature
arguable		reason
target		objective
		purpose

Here is a list of research areas at the Omsk State Siberian Automobile and Highway Academy. Which one do you consider to be your field of interests?

•resource-saving technologies of building materials manufacturing;

•mathematical modeling and system analysis, management and information processing in industry and transport;

•reliability and durability of machines and equipment in transport and machine engineering;

•theory of control and design of earth-moving, road and construction machines for increasing their effectiveness;

•methodical, technological and organizational problems of the development and implementation of the systems of educational process quality management in a technical university;

•transport systems of cities and regions;

•improvement of constructions, design methods, highway construction and maintenance in the Siberian conditions;

•improvement of operating data effectiveness for automobiles and internal combustion engines;

•development and analyses of effective structures, constructions and buildings;

•social and economical aspects of the region development;

•energy saving processes in construction;

•dynamics of social processes and transformation of social institutions.

DiППОrОntiКtО ЛОtаООn tСО notions: “rОsОКrМС ПiОlН”, “rОsОКrМС topiМ” КnН “rОsОКrМС quОstion”. CСОМk вour iНОКs on rОКНinР tСО

following information. What is specific about the research question?

A research question is a statement that identifies the phenomenon to be studied, e.g. what are you trying to find out? It is one or two sentences stating what will be investigated, confirmed or refuted. A research questiondiffers from the research field or research topic (pic. 4, ).

The research field is broader and could cover multiple research ques-

tions. A topic is what the research paper is about.

Research questions can be more general or more specific, but should not

be too narrow or too broad.

The research question targets a specific area of the broader field which is currently not well understood, and thus targets a knowledge gap (pic. 4, b).

a)Context

Research	Topic	Research	Hypothesis
field		question

Literature

From Punch, 1998 and Raedler & Bischoff

Pic. 4

Read the recommendations on choosing the research topic (subject) and answer the questions about your research.

Generally speaking, a good PhD thesis topic is interesting to you, to your advisor, and to the research community. If you pick a topic that you're not truly interested in simply because it's your advisor's pet area, it will be difficult to stay focused and motivated.

In order to do original research, you must be aware of ongoing research in your field. However, you'll never be able to read everything that might be relevant: new work is always being published. Try to become aware and stay aware of directly related research.

A good topic will address important issues. You should be trying to solve a real problem, not a toy problem (or worse yet, no problem at all); you should have solid theoretical work, good empirical results or, preferably, both; and the topic will be connected to existing research. It will also be significant yet manageable. Finding the right size problem can be difficult. One good way of identifying the right size is to read other dissertations. Your advisor will help you to identify a realistic size problem.

1.What is your research topic?

2.Are you interested in it? Why?

3.Are you trying to solve urgent practical problems? Account for your opinion.

4.Do you think you are aware of ongoing directly related r e- search in your field? Can you give any examples?

Here are examples of broad research areas and research topics: a) in economics at the University of Manchester (UK); b) in materials science at the Ohio State University (USA). Which topic

do you find the most interesting (the most challenging, the most difficult)? Why? What does the аorН “topiМ” mОКn in tСis Мon-

text?

A. MACROECONOMICS, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research within the Macroeconomics Group is both theoretical and empirical, and covers a wide range of topics within the broad areas of economic growth and development, business cycles, and mac-

roeconomic policy. These topics include the following:Poverty, inequality and income distribution

Financial markets, bankruptcy and regulation

Institutions, governance and corruption

Population change and demographic transition

Labour markets, human capital and unemployment

Foreign aid and international economics

Fiscal policy and public finance

Monetary policy, inflation and central banking

Imperfect competition and nominal rigidities

International macroeconomics and the world economy

Expectations, learning and agent heterogeneity

Quantitative economic history

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/

B. CORROSION

Corrosion, the environmental degradation of materials, is a major area of research in materials science and engineering. In the MSE department, research conducted at the Fontana Corrosion Center (FCC) focuses on the study of aqueous corrosion in our effort to develop better methods to pro-

tect materials from the adverse impacts of the environment. Topics of research at the FCC, which has earned an international reputation for excellence, include:

Mechanisms of localized corrosion

Fundamental studies of corrosion inhibition

Development of environmentally-friendly protective coating systems

Studies of coating adhesion and degradation

Predictive modeling of corrosion damage accumulation

Novel applications of scanning probe microscopy to corrosion

Corrosion and cracking of steel and H2S-containing environments

http://mse.osu.edu

Build a mind map (see example below) to reveal the meaning of tСО pСrКsО “rОsОКrМС quОstion”. Вou mКв ПinН tСО ПolloаinР in-

formation useful.

A research question is a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which you center your research. It is generalizable, not too broad, not too short, non-trivial and interesting. Research questions help scientists focus their research by providing a path through the research and writing process. The specificity of a well-developed research

quОstТШЧ СОХps аrТtОrs КЯШТН tСО “КХХ-КЛШut” pКpОr and work toward supporting a specific, arguable thesis. Research questions are easily researchable, i.e. imply the possibility of empirical investigation. If you know a lot about the topic, you can develop a research question based on your knowledge. Do not forget, this is hard even for experienced scholars!

My definition		Research question		Definition


	Association		Picture

Scan the following extract from the article and answer some questions about its research question.

The Academy of Management Journal

Vol. 39, No. 5, Oct., 1996

IS SLACK GOOD OR BAD FOR INNOVATION?

Nitin Nohria, Harvard University

Ranjay Gulati, Northwestern University

Innovation and slack are concepts at the very core of organization theory. Innovation has been an outcome of central interest to organization theorists because it is vital for organizational adaptation and renewal. Organizational slack has long been used to explain diverse organizational phenomena, including goal conflict, political behavior, effectiveness, and innovation itself. Both constructs have received much attention in recent years. In an increasingly dynamic world, firms are being forced to become more innovative. At the same time, organizational slack has come under sharp scrutiny as organizations facing increasingly intense global competition feel pressured to eliminate all forms of slack. These two countervailing forces suggest a potential paradox. If slack is a form of inefficiency but also essential for innovation, organizations run the risk of eliminating slack to a point that undermines their capacity to innovate.

This dilemma raises the research question that is at the heart of this work: what is the relationship between organizational slack and innovation? The literature provides no clear answers because theorists stand

divided on whether slack facilitates or inhibits innovation. Proponents of slack argue that it plays a crucial role in allowing organizations to innovate by permitting them to experiment with new strategies and innovative projects that might not be approved in a more resourceconstrained environment (Cyert & March, 1963: 278). Opponents of slack counter that slack diminishes incentives to innovate and promotes undisciplined investment in R&D activities that rarely yield economic benefits (cf. Jensen, 1986, 1993; Leibenstein, 1969). According to this view, slack encourages the pursuit of pet projects by agents who show little regard for the interests of the principals they serve. We argue that one way to reconcile this theoretical debate is to recognize that the relationship between slack and innovation is curvi- linear-too little slack is as bad for innovation as too much slack.

1.АСКt МКЧ вШu sКв КЛШut tСО КutСШrs’ ФЧШаХОНРО ШП the research subject? Support your point of view with arguments.

2.Is the given research question based on the knowledge gap? Prove it.

3.Is the research question connected with any practical issues (problems)? Account for your opinion.

4.Make your conclusion about the research question (in other words, research problem).

Practise your skills of developing research questions (RQ).

A. Is the RQ too broad, too narrow or good? Why?

Question A: What impact has deregulation had on the airline industry? Question B: What percentage of commercial airline crashes was traced to negligent maintenance during the 10 years immediately preceding and following deregulation?

Question C: What impact has deregulation had on commercial airline safety?

B. Is the question researchable? Why?

Question: Do/do not the economies that result from a trash-burning plant outweigh?

C. Correct an unfocused RQ. Explain your decision.

Question: What is the effect on the environment from global warming?

Describe the diagram to present three types of research questions.

Tell your group about your research field, topic and RQ (re-

search problem). Discuss your RQ according to the given below quОstions. MКkО К МonМlusion КЛout tСО “quКlitв” oП RQs oП вour

groupmates; give them some recommendations on developing their RQs.

1.Is the RQ relevant both for theory and practice?

2.Is the RQ interesting?

3.Has it been solved/resolved before?

4.Why does it need to be addressed? Why now?

5.Does addressing it change current knowledge?

6.Does Тt tКrРОt tСО “РКp” (ХТЦТtКtТШЧ, МШЧtrКНТМtТШЧ ТЧ КМКНОЦТМ ХТtОrКturО)?

7.Who will benefit from having it solved?

	Useful phrases:
	АО sСКХХ ЦКФО К tСШrШuРС stuНв ШП …	rОХКtТШЧs ЛОtаООЧ …
		ТЧtОrrОХКtТШЧs ЛОtаООЧ …
	Our stuНв Тs МШЧМОrЧОН аТtС …
		tСО ЦОМСКЧТsЦs ШП …
	It аШuХН ЛО ТЧstruМtТЯО tШ ОбКЦТЧО … ТЧ Нe-
	tail.	tСО struМturО ШП …
		tСО ЧКturО ШП …
	In partiМuХКr, аО sСКХХ МШЧМОЧtrКtО ШЧ …
		tСО rОКsШЧs ШП …
	АО sСКХХ ПШМus ШЧ … КЧН pКrtТМuХКrХв ШЧ …
		prТЧМТpХОs ШП …
	TСО ОЦpСКsТs Тs РТЯОЧ tШ …
		ОППОМts ШП … ШЧ …

		depОЧНОЧМО ШП …ШЧ ….
	69

Here is a brief description of research objectives. Read it and explain relations between the notions in the chart below.

Research objective is the research primary focus, specific statements that define measurable outcomes. The objectives of a research project summarize what is to be achieved by the study. These objectives should be closely related to the research problem. They should be measurable, achievable, realistic and timely, so that research problem could be explored effectively.

When you break down a general objective into smaller, logically connected parts, these are normally referred to as specific objectives. Specific objectives should systematically address various questions and specify what you will do in your study.

Look at the examples of research objectives (A, B, C) and suggest some objectives for the given theses titles (1 3). Then compare your ideas with the actual objectives of these investigations.

Examples:

• “Our ШЛУОМtТЯО аКs tШ НОtОrЦТЧО ТП tСО relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria is species-spОМТПТМ”.

•“Our КТЦ аКs tШ ТЧЯОstТРКtО tСО rОХКtТШЧsСТp ЛОtаООЧ tОМtШЧТМ-plate

ЦШЯОЦОЧt КЧН tСО РrКЯТtКtТШЧКХ ОППОМt ШП tСО КХТРЧЦОЧt ШП tСО ЦКУШr pХКЧОts”.

•“TСО ЦКТЧ РШКХ ШП tСО stuНв Тs tШ ТЧЯОstТРКtО tСО ТЦpХОЦОЧtКtТШЧ ШП … КЧН ОбКЦТЧО Тts ОППОМts ШЧ …”.

•“TСО rОsОКrМС КТЦОН tШ ТЧЯОstТРКtО (1) tСО rОХКtТШЧsСТp ЛОtаООЧ … КЧН … КЧН (β) аСКt … ХОКНs tШ …. OЧ tСО ЛКsТs ШП tСО ПТЧНТЧРs, … Тs prШpШsОН”.

•“… tШ ТНОЧtТПв ПКМtШrs tСКt МШЧtrТЛutО to current maternal care seeking

ЛОСКЯТШrs, аТtС К ПШМus ШЧ МСТХНЛТrtС”;

•“… tШ tОst tСО КММОptКЛТХТtв ШП ФОв МШЧМОpts КЧН rОМШЦЦОЧНОН ЛОСКЯТШrs rОХКtОН tШ ТЧМrОКsТЧР …, КЧН НОtОrЦТЧО tСО spОМТПТМ МШЧНТtТШЧs ШП КММОpta- ЛТХТtв”;

•“… tШ НШМuЦОЧt prОpКrКtТШЧs …; identify community members involved

ТЧ …”;

“… tШ НШМuЦОЧt sШМТКХ ЧОtаШrФs КЧН МШЦЦuЧТМКtТШЧ МСКЧЧОХs tСКt ПКМТХi-

tate rapid НТssОЦТЧКtТШЧ ШП ТЧПШrЦКtТШЧ”;

“… tШ НОtОrЦТЧО tСО ХОЯОХ ШП КutШЧШЦв ШП …”;

“…tШ ТНОЧtТПв ПКМtШrs tСКt ТЧПХuОЧМО …”;

“…tШ КppХв МШЦputer simulation for cycle time control to the semi-

МШЧНuМtШr ТЧНustrв”.

TСТs stuНв КТЦs tШμ 1) ТЧЯОstТРКtО tСО prШЛХОЦs ПКМОН Лв …; β) ОбКЦТЧО …; γ) ШППОr rОМШЦЦОЧНКtТШЧs tШ СОХp … ШЯОrМШЦО НТППТМuХtТОs КЧН tШ ТЦprШЯО

…. IЧ ШrНОr tШ rОКМС tСОsО ШЛУОМtТves, a survey and an experiment were

carried out. Two questionnaires were used to collect the data: 1) the ques- tТШЧЧКТrО tШ ТЧЯОstТРКtО …, КЧН Л) tСО quОstТШЧЧКТrО tШ ТЧЯОstТРКtО ….

to develop a new theory or principle;

to show practical applications of known principles;

to develop a solution for an engineering problem in a device, material, system or process;

to design a new structural system;

to develop a new or improved method;

to establish a set of standards.

Theses titles:

1.Fibre reinforced polymers composites in strengthening of structures.

2.Determinants of domestic and cross-border merger and acquisition activities in banking sector.

3.A comparative analysis of the proposed petroleum bill in Nigeria in relation to current global best practice of petroleum legislations.

Actual objectives:

1. The project aim is to identify the use of FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymers) composites in strengthening of structures. The general process and methodology considered in achieving this objective is by externally bond-

ing Fibre reinforced plastics to the metal structure/plate and thus testing the specimen under 3 point bend as well as 4 point bend tests.

2. The purpose of the study is to identify the determinants of bank's domestic and cross-border acquisitions in China and UK over the two specific periods which are before global financial crisis (2005 2007) and during crisis (2008 August 2009).

3. The study aims to assess the new bill, and particularly to look at how it

compares to best practice around the world. The overall aim of the study is tШ ХШШФ Кt tСО ЛТХХ’s ФОв КspОМts КЧН МШЦpКrО tСОЦ аТtС РХШЛКХ stКЧНКrНs

and the state of affairs in other oil producing countries.

Case study: scan the following fragments from research papers and identify their logical parts (title, subject, problem, objectives).

Sample 1

THE EFFECT OF APPLIED LOAD AND SLIDING SPEED

ON THE WEAR RATE OF ADVANCED

POLYMER COATING

1.1. AIM

The main aim of this project is to determine the effect of sliding speeds on the wear rate of an advanced Polymer coating.

1.2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The objective of this project is to investigate the wear rate of an advanced powder coating using a reciprocating linear ball-on-flat sliding machine. Due to the nature of the resources required to run the experiments, this investigation included the careful attention taken for wear testing especially in areas of the ball-on-flat sliding machine, data acquisition and wear rate calculation.

The technical approach for the investigation will involved preparing different test specimens cured at temperatures of 140 oC, 160 oC, 180 oC and 200 oC respectively. These test specimens would then be tested for one hour at sliding speeds of 0.02 m/s, 0.03 m/s and 0.04 m/s on a fixed normal load of 0.76 kg. Data from the wear testing would be acquired at once as electrical signals through with the help of electronic data acquisition devices. Also this would involve investigating and analysing the microstructure of the all the tested coated sample to see the level of damage done to it at the above temperatures and sliding speeds.

Sample 2

Reducing the Trusted Computing Base for Applications on Commodity Systems

Jonathan M. McCune

January 13, 2009

Today we have powerful, feature-rich computer systems plagued by powerful, feature-rich malware. Current malware exploit the vulnerabilities that are endemic to the huge computing base that needs to be trusted to secure our private information. This thesis presents an architecture called Flicker that alleviates security-conscious developers from the burden of making sense out of this code base, al-

lowing them to concentrate on the security of their own code. Motivated by our experiОЧМО аТtС FХТМФОr ШЧ tШНКв’s СКrНаКrО,

аО ШППОr suРРОstТШЧs tШ ТЦprШЯО FХТМФОr’s pОrПШrЦКЧМО tСКt ХОЯОrКРО Оx- isting processor technology, retain security, and improve performance.

Regardless of how a computer system is designed, the security of a given application remains intimately tied to the user who is operating it. Unfortunately, a security-conscious user who wants to dedicate some of her scarce time to verify that her input is not observed by

malicious code during a sensitive online financial transaction faces an impasse. Key logРОrs МКЧ МКpturО К usОr’s tвpОН ТЧput КЧН sМrООЧ sМrКpОrs

can process the content displayed to the user to obtain sensitive information such as credit card numbers [68, 119, 145, 170]. We lack the technology to give the user a definitive indication that her input is safe.

Today, however, there exists a mountain of software that is riddled with security vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, the number of vulnerabilities tends to be proportional to code size [117]. In this thesis, we will show how to execute sensitive code in isolation despite the presence of untrusted legacy code, thereby opening up the opportunity

for security-conscious developers to create applications without including the entire software stack ТЧ ОКМС КppХТМКtТШЧ’s TCB.

Look at the titles of the given theses (The University of Hong Kong) and suggest your ideas on their possible subject, problem and objective.

Department/	Degree	Title of Thesis
School

Civil Engineering

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Urban Design

Mechanical Engineering

Real Estate & Construction

School of Economics and Finance

PhD

MPhil

PhD

MPhil

PhD

Quantitative Analyses for the Evaluation of Traffic Safety and Operations

Cooperation in Construction Projects: Concept, Antecedents and Strategies

Analysis and prediction of the axial capacity and settlement of displacement piles in sandy soil Reinforcement-Learning-Based Autonomous Vehicle Navigation in a Dynamically Changing Environment

Joint Image/Video inpainting for Error Concealment in Video Coding

Planning, design and environmentally sustainable housing in a compact environment

Computer Aided Modelling of Porous Structures

The Determinants of Shopping Centre Performance: An Expert System

Cross-country Income Differences, Corruption and Misallocation of Talents

Measuring the Longand Short-Run Effects of Monetary Policy on Real Economic Activity in China

Write a profile of your research subject, problem and objectives. Tell your group about your subject and research problem. Let your groupmates guess your objectives.