Department of Mechanical Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
ME50173 Research & design methods |
Credits: 6 |
Level: Masters |
Semester: 2 |
Assessment: CW 100% |
Requisites: |
Aims: To familiarise students with the methods and techniques used in engineering research and design projects.
Learning Outcomes: After taking this unit the student should be able to: * structure existing knowledge in their field, * derive theory from quantitative data, * develop testable hypotheses and targets, * understand the design of experimental, observational, design and development programmes, * analyse experimental and observational results from multiple sources, * write publishable accounts of their research, * compile cogent project proposals, * defend the philiosophy underlying their adopted and preferred techniques. Skills: Planning, problem solving, numeracy, finding information of a research product and experimental nature, written communication (taught and assessed), oral presentation (assessed), project scoping and planning, working independently. Content: * Philosophy of the research process. * Surveying prior research. * Analysing engineering products. * Collecting and analysing data. * Presenting research to others. * Planning research projects. * Stage gate and development processes. * Proposing creative projects. |