Engineering Research

The purpose of this course is to cultivate foundational research literacy and academic thinking skills required for engineering students before engaging in advanced research writing and the use of specialised research tools. The course aims to develop students’ ability to critically engage with existing research, formulate coherent and feasible research proposals, and participate in scholarly dialogue through constructive peer review. By the end of the course, students are expected to approach research as an iterative and collaborative process rather than as a one-time assignment.

This module is taught entirely in English and serves as a preparatory course for “Usage of Research Tools and Research Writing.” In this course, students learn how to design an academic study that follows established best practices in engineering-related research, with a particular focus on Engineering Education as a research field. Students engage with selected journal articles and conference papers, through which they learn how research papers are structured, how academic referencing is conducted in international publications, and how the peer-review process functions in academic research. A distinctive feature of this course is the integration of regular in-class peer review activities. Through these activities, students critically and constructively evaluate each other’s research ideas, literature analyses, hypotheses, and research designs. This process enables students to experience peer review as an essential and iterative component of academic research rather than as a one-time evaluative event. Building on this foundation, students critically analyse a set of selected studies and evaluate their methodologies, arguments, and contributions. They then develop their own research proposal that builds on, extends, or reframes existing research. As part of this process, students produce structured literature review outputs, including annotated analyses of prior studies, practise appropriate citation and referencing, and learn how to critically condense and synthesise existing research. In the final stage of the course, students transform their research proposal into an academic presentation format (e.g. PowerPoint) and present their proposal to peers in a simulated academic environment, receiving structured peer and instructor feedback.

1. Students can explain and apply foundational research principles used in engineering-related research.
2. Students can critically evaluate, synthesise, and appropriately reference scholarly literature.
3. Students can design coherent and feasible research proposals based on prior research.
4. Students can engage in constructive peer review by providing and responding to structured academic feedback.
5. Students can present and defend their research proposals in a simulated academic setting.

In order to pass this course, students need to earn at least 60% of the total course score; attendance alone does not guarantee a passing grade.
The final grade is calculated as follows:
1. Assignments and participation in class-activities: 40%
2. Midterm Examination: 30%
3. Final Examination: 30%
Regular attendance, active participation, timely submission of assignments, and satisfactory performance in both examinations are required to achieve a passing grade.

English

Books recommended:
Flick, U. (2020). Introducing Research Methodology: Thinking Your Way Through Your Research Project. SAGE Publications Ltd
Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.

Please note that this course is designed for those whose English language proficiency is between CEFR B2 and C2 levels.

• Office hours: Friday between 12:30 and 13:20 in the lecturer’s office ＆ by appointment
• Contact e-mail address: zam08580@shibaura-it.ac.jp

Non-regionally-oriented course

• Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge

Most classes are interactive

• 4.QUALITY EDUCATION
• 16.PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
• 17.PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS