Final Year Project Thesis

How to start a degree-level research?

Beginning semester 7
How to consistently continue?
Beginning semester 8
How to complete it?
Middle of semester 8

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start a degree-level research?
• The research connection
1. Problem statement • The MODEL 5. Discussion
•New creation?
6. Conclusions •Should answer
•Improvement idea / & summary research
innovation? objectives
•Should answer
•Problem to solve? the problem •Contribution to
•Add to knowledge / statement knowledge
practice •Further work

2. Literature review 3. Objectives & scopes 4. Methodology

•Have others did it? •Can it be solved? •How to solve it?

•Any similar works? •Basic guidelines •Tools to solve

it?

( a) Project topic / title (b) Details

•It is better to name it •How to elaborate
•Differentiate from others the objectives?
•Relevant to problem •How to elaborate
the methodology?
 How to start?
Contribution to knowledge or practice
• Any creative idea?
• Anything to improve or to innovate
• Any problem?
• Any issue (environment, safety, health,
etc.)?
• Where?
– At workplace
– Area of study
– In your nation
– Or even in the world
turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes
 How to start?

Start thinking!
• Identify a project you are interested in.
• To enhance your knowledge or expertise
• To improve your work environment
• Even to improve the world. On environment,
safety, etc., that are relevant to your area of
study
• It is actually your golden opportunity to
demonstrate your intelligence and capabilities
turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes
 How to start?
Any topic of interest?
Examples:
• I want to know how CAD or CAE or
CAM system can be automated (PDE
/ TND)
• I want to enhance my skill in 5-axis
CNC machining (TND)

• I want to try my capability in doing

engineering survey related to how
frequent a CNC machine breaks down
(EBM)
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 How to start?
Focus on a topic
• Just get one or two! Don’t worry whether
it is OK (okay) or NG (no good).
• Topic can be improved along the way
• Examples:
– Programming method to compare machining
project and machine availability (PDE /
TND)
– Study on machining quality between 3 and 5-
axes machines (EBM)

• Identify the lecturer/s related to the topic

• Discuss with the lecturer/s
turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes
 How to start?

Focus on a topic
• You ponder now!
• Write down the few topics you can think of,
after more than two years in IPROM!
• You are given 15 minutes

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?

Focus on a topic
• Or browse through topics available from
IPROM office
• Filter the few you are interested in
• Discuss with the project’s lecturer / leader

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 How to start?

Build up the problem statement

• What is the appropriate problem
statement for the topic
• Topic example: Programming method to
compare machining project and machine
availability (PDE / TND)
• Problem statement: “How to automate
the selection of a list of machines based
on a given project?”

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?

Build up the problem statement

• Topic example: Study on machining
quality between 3 and 5-axes
machines (EBM)
• Problem statement: “How to decide
on the best possible machine
between three- and five-axis
machine to machine a product of a
project, considering the quality, cost
and time factors?”
 How to start?

Build up the problem statement

• Again, you ponder now!
• Write down the possible problem
statements!
• You form a group to discuss or do it on
your own
• You are given another 15 minutes

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?

Literature review
• Have others did it?
• Any similar works?
• Find books, journals and magazines
relevant to your research work
• Note / highlight / mark important
statements or sentences
• Mark with “*” according to the
importance level (e.g. “*”=less important;
“***”=very important)

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Literature review
• Note the writer & title
• E.g. Kren, L.A., Test for the best,
Metalforming Magazine, July 2006.

***

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Build up research objectives
• List the objectives
• Normally the statement starts with “To...”
• Based on the topic and problem statement
– Topic example: Programming method to
compare machining project and machine
availability (PDE / TND)
– Problem statement: “How to automate the
selection of a list of machines based on a given
project?”

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Build up research objectives
• Research objectives, examples:
– To identify the programming language
– To identify machining projects
– To identify machines
– To build up machine database
– To design and develop the programming
logic
– To test, troubleshoot and commission the
project

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Research scopes
• Answer the four “W”s & one “H”
Item Examples
What? Project title
Who will do it? YOU!
Where? At IPROM / industry
When? Starting August 2007
How long? Seven months
Is it achievable? Within the timeframe
Is it manageable? Within the timeframe
 How to start?
Research methodology
• Which methods?
Research Methodology
• Two major methods
– Non-experimental
Experimental Non-experimental
– Experimental
Cause & Quantitative
effect study
Qualitative
Proving an
hypothesis Correlation
Content Researchable
study
Research Project-
Area Questions Design based Longitudinal
study
Measurement Sampling Data
Methods Collection Cross-sectional
study
Statistical Report
Analysis
? Writing Meta analysis

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 How to start?

Methodology: Non-experimental Mode Median

• Quantitative research:
– Collects numeric data, e.g. rating, frequency of repetition etc. Mean
• Qualitative research:
– Collect non-numeric data: pictures, words, statements etc.
• Correlation study:
– Determine the degree of correlation between two variables.
– Third variable problem: The two variables under study may not
have a causal relationship, but a link due to a third variable.
• Longitudinal study:
– Measures a given characteristic over a period of time.
• Cross-sectional study:
– A study conducted by taking a sample on a cross-section of a
population.
• Meta analysis:
– Integrates and analyses information from a number of studies

(Christensen, 2004)
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 How to start?

Methodology: Non-experimental
• Normally through survey:
– A widely used non-experiment research technique
– Questionnaire given to a representative sample of the population.
• Questionnaire construction:
– Open–ended question allow any answer
– Closed-ended questions give a set of choices
– Double-barrelled questions ask two things in one, should be avoided.
– Population: include all possible subjects or events
– Sample: subjects or events used in the survey.
– Haphazard sampling: based on convenience
– Random sampling: every member of the population has a equal chance
of being selected

(∑ X )2 (∑ X )2
∑ X2− ∑ X2−
σ = N
N
s= n −1
n

(Christensen, 2004)
turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes
 How to start?

Methodology: Non-experimental
• Machine utilisation in a UniKL IPROM
• Family perception of UniKL IPROM
graduates
• The applicability of CADCAECAM
software in UniKL IPROM to the
industry in the Klang Valley

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Methodology: Experimental
A Cause and Effect study
• Aims to discover the effect of some
presumed cause.
• Cause: the (input) reason for something else
(output) to exist, in a given context.
• Effect: the additional outcome (output) caused
by a given ‘cause’ (input).
– Many factors can cause the change
– The effect of one cause needs to be isolated.
– Causal relationship, is not always deterministic, but
probabilistic. (Stuart Mill,1874)
turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes
 How to start?

Methodology: Experimental
Proving an hypothesis alias: Rambo

• Challenge status quo

• Define methods and procedures
• Experimentation
• E.g. To prove that using a new material as
EDM electrodes or wire that will be
comparable to existing ones (PDE / TND)

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 How to start?

Methodology: Experimental
Project-based
• Physical object
• Experimentation
• Report on experiment
• E.g. Programming method to compare
machining project and machine availability (PDE
/ TND)

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 How to start?

Research tools
• Identify the tools
• The five “M”s
– Man
– Machine
– Material
– Money (budget)
– Management

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 How to start?

Research tools
Research Tools

Man Machine Material Money Management

•Yourself •CNC Milling •Plate: size •Material: •Liaison with
100 x 200 x RM100 industries
•Supervisor •Computer
50mm
•Survey: •Liaison with
•Technician •SPSS
•Survey RM200 government
•SolidWorks material: agencies
stamps,
•Logistics
envelops,
papers, etc. •Within
timeframe?
•Manageable?
•Achievable?

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Research model: model your idea
• To model your research
• Where your whole research idea is
pictured or modeled
• Include the five “M”s, again:
– Man
– Money
– Material
– Machine
– Management
 Research model (e.g.): Automated
machine selection
Customer Project info Output
info
Web
programming

SE
student

Java
Java
MySQL &
OODB if…
if… x=…
x=… else…
else…
 Research model (e.g.): Study on
machining quality between 3- & 5-axes
machines
Project
Input
5-axis Milling
Compare data

•Computer
•CADCAM
software
•Computer
•SWorks, 3-axis Milling
Inventor, •MS Excel &
MasterCAM •UniKL IPROM SPSS software
•Industry?
 How to start?

Conclusions
• Remember the Seven habits of
highly effective people (Covey,
S.R., 1989 & 2004, Free Press):
1. Be proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind
• The end or conclusion of your
research should be already in your
mind at the start of your work.
Otherwise, your are in trouble!

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Conclusions
• Problem statement must be answered
• Problem statement: “How to automate
the selection of a list of machines based
on a given project?”
• Conclusion: The research project has
managed to initiate the automatic
selection of machines based on a given
product or project

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Conclusions
• Problem statement: “How to decide
on the best possible machine between
three- and five-axis machine to
machine a product of a project,
considering the quality, cost and time
factors?”
• Conclusion: Based on survey done,
the research has established a basic
procedure to decide on the best
possible machine type to machine a
product or project that has considered
the quality, cost and time factors.
turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes
 How to start?
Have a logbook
• Notes on all you are going to do
– What, when, where, with whom
• Section your logbook
– Meeting with supervisor
– Notes on books / journals / magazines
– Short notes on your thesis
• Discussion points with supervisor
– Day (every week)
– Time
– Venue
• Short notes on references
– Writer, title, publisher, publication date
– Level of importance (* or ** or ***)

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Schedule yourself
• Weekly meeting with supervisor
• Almost all tasks need to be carried out simultaneously
• Set deadlines (E.g. as below)
Tasks Aug Sept Oct Nov

Meet supervisor
Day, time, venue. E.g. Every Wednesday, 1000hrs, Level 24)
Title Final
Problem
statement Final

Literature Final
review
Objectives Final
Scope Final
Methodology Final
Tools Final

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

 How to start?
Congratulations
• You are now ready for your Final Year Research
Project
• Enjoy your journey to success
• Only YOU can make it happen!
• We meet again in early semester 8
• ALL THE BEST!

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes

turning on a new leaf in Technopreneur Development Programmes