Postgraduate Research

Overview

A special thanks to Dr Yunus Abdul Gaffar, The initial author of this initial guide.

For more resources pertaining to research in the EE Department at UCT, see Category:Research.

What is research

Research is a logical and systematic search for new and useful information on a particular topic. It is an investigation of finding solutions to problems through objective and systematic analysis.

What is design

Design is the process used to create something to solve a problem. Design involves the transformation of an initial user requirement to produce documentation instructions on how to realise the end product. In determining a solution, barriers must be overcome. A design assignment, there, is an engineering problem and involves sub-problems that must be addressed.

The design process typically consists of the following steps:

1. User requirements: client describes the problem and constraints (time, budget, using specific components) that the solution must fit within. Engage with client to understand who is going to use the product, where is it going to be used and how often, and for how long (lifespan) is it going to be used. Separate the core requirements from the ‘nice to have’ ones
2. Technical requirements: translate the user requirements into concise technical requirements that contain technical jargon.
3. Identify multiple solutions: synthesises a range of potential solutions to the problem or a range of approaches to developing a solution that is consistent with assumptions, premises, limitations and constraints
4. Evaluates the potential approaches against criteria. Examples of criteria include cost, efficiency, performance, reliability
5. Chooses a preferred approach and presents reasonable arguments to justify this decision
6. Develops the full design of the selected option. This can include developing a functional-flow block diagram for the proposed solution, and a block diagram showing the major sub-systems + interfaces between sub-systems: for each subsystem, identify multiple solutions and justify your choice based on the requirements and constraints of the system
7. Test each sub-system to ensure that it is functioning accurately as expected
8. Perform integration and testing: Build prototype and perform testing. Assess if system technical requirement are met
9. Develop improved prototype by iterating through steps 6 -> 7 -> 8 . The more iterations are done, the better the quality of the developed system.
10. Produces design documentation for implementation. A design document provides detailed information or the ‘blueprint’ to implement the proposed solution.

Postgraduate studies

Note: keeping a research journal throughout your postgraduate studies can be useful to document ideas, problems, notes and reminders. During measurement trials, this is especially useful and will help a lot in the write up phase. A journal can be a hardcover book, or a word document, a blog or a combination of these.

Masters Degree

A Masters degree is training to equip candidates with skills necessary for further independent research. The dissertation should demonstrate that a candidate has the ability to be adequately acquainted with the relevant literature, has mastered appropriate techniques and analytic methods, assess the significance of findings in a thorough and logically-coherent manner, shows evidence of critical and independent thought and the write-up of the dissertation is satisfactory in presentation and literature style. The dissertation does not need to involve original research or distinctly advance knowledge of the subject.

PhD Degree

A PhD degree shows that a candidate can work independently and make an original, significant and meaningful contribution that adds to the existing body of knowledge. Student must demonstrate that he/she is working at the cutting edge and at the academic forefront in the topic. Evidence of a ‘significant contribution’ includes publishing in accredited journals and writing a good quality, polished PhD thesis. The ideas relating to the original contribution of the PhD work should come directly from the PhD candidate and not from the supervisor. This shows that the PhD candidate can think creatively, which is one of the skills that it certified when a PhD degree is granted. Examples of an original contribution can include:

• Providing a new angle on a previously researched problem
• Providing a single new observation
• Bringing new evidence to an old issue or taking a particular technique and applying it to a new area
• Carrying out empirical work that has not been done before or making synthesis that has not been made before
• How to demonstrate Significant Contribution & Original Study in your PhD Thesis

Critical and creative thinking are two important outcomes of a PhD degree. Research what these are and how to further develop your critical and creative thinking skills.

A PhD degree is typically examined in the context of the scientific process, which is made up of the following steps

1. Research questions are stated
2. Background research is done
3. A clear, concise and achievable hypothesis is carefully phrased
4. The hypothesis is tested by doing an experiment
5. The data obtained from experiments is analysed and conclusions are drawn