What is Research and Development ?
Classroom Exercises developed by Dr. Ron Eaglin
The purpose of this exercise is to have a professor led discussion on the tenets of research. Students will have some familiarity with this – though it is the professor who will need to lead the topics.
Step 1: Have students propose a question that they do not know the answer, nor know of anyone who readily has the answer. Students should be creative, they do NOT need to stay within fields they are familiar with.
Examples:
Why do people enjoy music ?
Why do different people like different types of music?
Is it possible to create real zombies?
Why do different places always lack sufficient parking?
Individually have each student come up with a question and write the question down. Do not limit the scope of the questions to engineering questions. Students can volunteer to propose their questions. The suitability of the questions as a research topic can be discussed. Students should learn how to focus questions. Broad questions can be tackled as a series of smaller questions and the instructor should lead a discussion of how to do this. Expertise needed and team formation necessary (how to build a research team) to tackle the question as a research topic should be reviewed and discussed.
Step 2: Each student should introduce a hypothesis for the solution of the problem. It is sometimes good to have other students develop the hypothesis.
Example:
Humans used music as a tool for sexual communication and mate selection.
Reanimation of dead tissue can be accomplished using external stimulation
Public policy and laws for requiring parking are not sufficient to ensure developers create sufficient parking.
Exercise:
Create small groups of 3-4 that will take the problems and develop a hypothesis for the solution of each problem. Review each hypothesis for appropriate scope and applicability to the problem.
Steps 3-5 are normally beyond the capability of a single class period and should be treated in future class periods. A good objective for a single class period is to create the question and hypothesis for multiple ideas.
Step 3: Review of Current Literature.
Example:
Search on Music/Natural Selection/Evolution/Origin of Music
Exercise:
Determine key searches for literature for the stated question. Where might this literature be found? What is the strategy to get the background? Write this out as a group for each question. Detailed discussion of the literature review process is contained in another exercise.
Step 4: Design a way to test the hypothesis
Example:
Develop a survey that measures perception of attractiveness based on musical proficiency. Administer the survey. Also utilize direct observation of habits.
Exercise:
Document possible experimentation to test the hypothesis given in Step 2. This is also an excellent classroom discussion exercise. Students should be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills throughout this discussion and evaluate experimental or other methods of testing hypotheses. Also discussed should be possible sources of funding for the research, and writing of grants.
Step 5: Development – Is it possible to utilize the information from the research to develop a product or strategy.
Example:
Develop a marketing strategy of a girls or boys band that uses the information to increase the sales potential of the group.
Exercise:
Develop a plan for a possible product to use the information.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.