Why, what, how

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How to do a good Research?

• Why, what, how?
• Research methodology and evaluation
• Training of research students
• How to write a research paper?

Dr. Li Han-Xiong Department of Manufacturing Eng
Eng Management City University of Hong
Kong Hong Kong, China
Dr. Li H.X.
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Why Research?

• Generating new knowledge
• Producing future talents
• Maintaining academic freedom
• university origin of democracy
• place for justice

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What are Research?
to discover and create new thing

• Difference in Academic and Industry
• Focus why/how?
• Background mathematics/physics
• Solution long term/ short term
• Value intangible/tangible
• Staff best/ suitable

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Different Innovation
RD in industry - product
Physics
Mathematics
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Relationship
Physics
Industry
Product
Applied research
Fundamental research
Mathematics
Academics
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Example Control of Magnetic Table
Magnetic xy-motion table
Control
Applied research
Fundamental research
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How to start a Research ?

• Problem
• Problem
• Problem

• 3 key elements

Unique, significant, useful

• Literature survey
• Experimental analysis

Math/tech ? physics ? philosophy ? religion?
life (appearance) (science)
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Research Methodology - I

• Top-down approach (pure)
• Define a problem,
• Method/theory development,
• Application to a well-selected case

method
High-level theoretical development
Low-level technical realization
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Research Methodology - II

• Bottom-up approach (applied)
• Given an actual case study and understand it
• Formulate it into a theoretical problem
• Methodology development for the theoretical
  problem
• Approximate application to the given case

formulation
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Example Control of laminar cooling
1) Industrial case - Technical appearance
2) Problem definition Functional appearance
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Example Control of laminar cooling
3) Methodology development
4) Application results
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How to evaluate Research ?

• 3P -- paper, patent, proposal

Influence impact Quantity Quality scope, impact
factor, citation Applied nature
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Research Students

• Success is a habit

3 key elements for students

• Diligence persistence with best effort
• Intelligence
• Knowledge background - Mathematics

2 requirements for work

• difficult content
• Difficult to be challenged

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Research Training 3 phases

• Basic/technical level
• Find the solution for a given problem
• Research level
• Identify problems in a given field
• Professor level
• Able to explore new research area

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How to write a research paper?

• Realize its importance
• 3 key elements
• Originality/significance/contribution
• Others
• Technical content correct/solid/length
• Readership wide interest
• Presentation easy to read (structure/figure/text
  )
• References complete survey

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How to write a research paper?for foreign
English writer
First and the important is Logic Every paper
has its theme, each section has its idea, so does
each paragraph
Figure/table can speak
Well organized structure
Use simple English sentences
For beginners, first long ? then short
Simplicity is beauty Math is to rely less on
math.
A good paper is an art
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• Thank you !