04-701   Research Methods in Engineering

Location: Africa

Units: 6

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring

Course description

The ability to write compelling scientific proposals is critical to developing impactful research, whether one works in academic institutions or pursues entrepreneurial activities. The goal of this course is to learn how to organize and implement a research project from conducting a literature review and selecting a research topic to formulating suitable hypotheses and articulating an effective narrative. Beyond proposal writing, students will learn how to read scientific articles, conduct scientometric analysis, and create publication-quality visuals for their manuscripts or presentations.

Learning objectives

  • Learn how to develop scientific research proposals
  • Use databases and resources available for conducting research
  • Understand the principles of hypothesis-driven research
  • Understand ethical considerations in using AI for proposals

Outcomes

After completing this course, students should be able to:

  • Conduct a literature review and scientometric analysis
  • Identify research questions and write problem statements
  • Use referencing and editing software for scientific writing
  • Create publication-quality visuals for manuscripts and presentations

Prerequisites

Students should have basic software development experience with proficiency in at least one modern programming language and modern programming concepts.

Faculty

Ismaila Dabo and Kwan Lee