1 Successfully Conducting Your Undergraduate Research Project By D. Darshi De Saram

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Successfully Conducting Your Successfully Conducting Your Undergraduate Research ProjectUndergraduate Research Project

ByBy

D. Darshi De SaramD. Darshi De Saram

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StructureStructurePreparing yourselfPreparing yourselfConceptualisingConceptualising

Selecting the topicSelecting the topicScope of workScope of workResearch methodologyResearch methodology

Mobilising resourcesMobilising resourcesLiterature searchLiterature searchData collectingData collectingAnalysisAnalysisWritingWritingOral Exam and PresentationOral Exam and Presentation

PerfectingPerfecting

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Preparing YourselfPreparing Yourself

for the newfor the new type of task type of task

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The New Type of TaskThe New Type of Task

Creating somethingCreating something

Something publishableSomething publishable

Once published, it would remain in your nameOnce published, it would remain in your name

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ConceptualisingConceptualising

Selecting the topicSelecting the topic

Scope of workScope of work

Research methodologyResearch methodology

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Selecting a TopicSelecting a Topic

Topic that interests youTopic that interests you

Related to your work (if you study part-time)Related to your work (if you study part-time)

A supervisor who will matchA supervisor who will match

MentorMentor

FriendFriend

Match your ways of workingMatch your ways of working

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Scope of WorkScope of Work

Research must be focused and dig deepResearch must be focused and dig deep

The width is not very importantThe width is not very important

If you go for width, you will not have enough If you go for width, you will not have enough resources to go deepresources to go deep

Examiners will only reward you for the depthExaminers will only reward you for the depth

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Scope of Work – What shall I do?Scope of Work – What shall I do?

The Body of Knowledge

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Scope of WorkScope of WorkThe objectives of this study are:The objectives of this study are:

a)a) To study and critically analyse how the quality is To study and critically analyse how the quality is managed in the Construction Industries of Sri managed in the Construction Industries of Sri Lanka and overseas (specially in the Southeast Lanka and overseas (specially in the Southeast Asia region).Asia region).

b)b) Assess inputs/steps required today by the Assess inputs/steps required today by the Construction Industry in Sri Lanka to improve the Construction Industry in Sri Lanka to improve the management of quality.management of quality.

c)c) Propose how an improved Quality Management Propose how an improved Quality Management System could be implemented and maintained in System could be implemented and maintained in the construction industry of Sri Lanka and the construction industry of Sri Lanka and highlight the benefits that can be derived.highlight the benefits that can be derived.

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Scope of WorkScope of WorkObjective – best to be given in one sentence.Objective – best to be given in one sentence.

Do not bite what you cannot chewDo not bite what you cannot chew

E.g.:E.g.:

Develop “Quality Measurement Matrices” for the Develop “Quality Measurement Matrices” for the construction coordination processes given in Table 2construction coordination processes given in Table 2

The objectives of this research are to test the two The objectives of this research are to test the two hypotheses H1 and H2.hypotheses H1 and H2.

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Research MethodologyResearch MethodologyQuantitativeQuantitative

Difficult to go deepDifficult to go deepEasier to conduct surveysEasier to conduct surveysEasier to handle and Easier to handle and analyse dataanalyse dataYou have less controlYou have less controlEasier to arrive at a wrong Easier to arrive at a wrong conclusionconclusion

QualitativeQualitativeEasy to go deepEasy to go deepDifficult to conduct surveysDifficult to conduct surveysDifficult to handle and Difficult to handle and analyse dataanalyse dataYou have lots of controlYou have lots of controlEasier to arrive at a good Easier to arrive at a good conclusionconclusion

Mix the two methodsMix the two methodsFirst do a small, qualitative surveyFirst do a small, qualitative survey

Follow with an extensive quantitative surveyFollow with an extensive quantitative survey

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Mobilising ResourcesMobilising Resources

Literature searchLiterature search

Data collectingData collecting

AnalysisAnalysis

WritingWriting

Oral Exam and PresentationOral Exam and Presentation

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Make a programmeMake a programme

in the form of a barchartin the form of a barchart

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Literature SearchLiterature Search

Regular workRegular workRegular contact with the supervisorRegular contact with the supervisor

Research students/staffResearch students/staff

Reinventing the cartwheelReinventing the cartwheel

New publicationsNew publications

A few interviews with industry personnelA few interviews with industry personnel

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Data CollectingData CollectingReality:Reality:

Questionnaires – lucky if 10% returnsQuestionnaires – lucky if 10% returns

Whom to contact? Difficult to get interviews quickly.Whom to contact? Difficult to get interviews quickly.


Part-time students:Part-time students:UndergraduateUndergraduate

MSc and other postgraduateMSc and other postgraduate

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AnalysisAnalysisBoth a science and an artBoth a science and an art

Only practise can improveOnly practise can improve

Cognitive competencies (ability to identify)Cognitive competencies (ability to identify)

Discuss with the supervisorDiscuss with the supervisor

Present the data as you keep receivingPresent the data as you keep receiving

Explicitly ask for opinion/advice on analysisExplicitly ask for opinion/advice on analysis


Ask them to critique your workAsk them to critique your work

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WritingWritingStart earlyStart early

Make a structure, because you need a mapMake a structure, because you need a mapChapter 1: Proposed titleChapter 1: Proposed title

1.1 Section title (proposed)1.1 Section title (proposed)


Chapter 2: Proposed titleChapter 2: Proposed title2.1 Section title (proposed)2.1 Section title (proposed)

– 2.1.2 Subsection title (proposed)2.1.2 Subsection title (proposed)


Chapter 3: Proposed titleChapter 3: Proposed title

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WritingWritingWrite only what you really need to achieve the Write only what you really need to achieve the objectiveobjective

You may least expect somethings they really want to seeYou may least expect somethings they really want to see

Show the structure to the supervisorShow the structure to the supervisor

Explicitly ask for adviceExplicitly ask for advice

Regular output to the supervisor chapter-by-chapterRegular output to the supervisor chapter-by-chapter

Make use of CILL, English ClubMake use of CILL, English Club

Never wait till the last momentNever wait till the last moment

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Oral ExamOral ExamRead the dissertation wellRead the dissertation well

You can convince others, only if yourself is convincedYou can convince others, only if yourself is convinced

List your weaknesses and answers you will giveList your weaknesses and answers you will give

WeaknessWeakness Defence/Escape RouteDefence/Escape Route

Keep calmKeep calmRemember that you have studied in depthRemember that you have studied in depth

It is a discussion between well informed professionalsIt is a discussion between well informed professionals

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PresentationPresentationYou need to tell 3 times:You need to tell 3 times:

Tell them what you are going to sayTell them what you are going to say

Tell them what you need to sayTell them what you need to say

Summarise what you told themSummarise what you told them

Take command and be confidentTake command and be confident

Do not put too much information on any slideDo not put too much information on any slide

Do not exceed the timeDo not exceed the time

Practise your presentation many timesPractise your presentation many times

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Possible when time is on your sidePossible when time is on your side

Getting proofread by a native English speakerGetting proofread by a native English speaker

Writing a publicationWriting a publication

International JournalInternational Journal

International ConferenceInternational Conference

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SummarySummary

Preparing yourselfPreparing yourself

ConceptualisingConceptualising

Mobilising resourcesMobilising resources


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SummarySummary

Bite what you can chewBite what you can chew

Research must be focused and dig deepResearch must be focused and dig deep

Use all the resourcesUse all the resources

Have a mapHave a map

Have a programme and be on top of timeHave a programme and be on top of time

You can convince others, only if yourself is You can convince others, only if yourself is convincedconvinced

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Thank you!Thank you!

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1 Successfully Conducting Your Undergraduate Research Project By D. Darshi De Saram