Syllabus - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & IPR
Module 1 -Introduction
Meaning and significance of research, Skills, habits and attitudes for research, Types of
research, Characteristics of good research, Research process. Motivation for research:
Motivational talks on research: "You and Your Research"- Richard Hamming. Thinking
skills: Levels and styles of thinking, common sense and scientific thinking, examples, logical
thinking, division into sub-problems, verbalization and awareness of scale. Creativity: Some
definitions, illustrations from day to day life, intelligence versus creativity, creative process,
requirements for creativity
Module 2 -Literature survey and Problem definition
Information gathering – reading, searching and documentation, types of literature.
Integration of research literature and identification of research gaps. Attributes and sources of
research problems, problem formulation, Research question, multiple approaches to a
problem. Problem solving strategies – reformulation or rephrasing, techniques of
representation, Importance of graphical representation, examples. Analytical and analogical
reasoning, examples, Creative problem solving using Triz, Prescriptions for developing
creativity and problem solving.
Module 3-Experimental and modelling skills.
Scientific method, role of hypothesis in experiment, units and dimensions, dependent and
independent variables, control in experiment precision and accuracy, need for precision,
definition, detection, estimation and reduction of random errors, statistical treatment of data,
definition, detection and elimination of systematic errors, Design of experiments,
experimental logic, documentation. Types of models, stages in modelling, curve fitting, the
role of approximations, problem representation, logical reasoning, mathematical skills.
Continuum/meso/micro scale approaches for numerical simulation, two case studies
illustrating experimental and modelling skills.
Module 4- Effective communication - oral and written
Examples illustrating the importance of effective communication, stages and dimensions of a
communication process. Oral communication –verbal and non-verbal, casual, formal and
informal communication, interactive communication, listening, form, content and delivery,
various contexts for speaking- conference, seminar etc. Guidelines for preparation of good
presentation slides. Written communication – Rules of scientific writing, form, content and
language, layout, typography and illustrations, nomenclature, reference and citation styles,
contexts for writing – paper, thesis, reports etc. Tools for document Preparation-LaTeX.
Common errors in typing and documentation
Module 5- Publication and Patents
Relative importance of various forms of publication, Choice of journal and reviewing
process, Stages in the realization of a paper. Research Metrics-Journal level, Article level and
Author level, Plagiarism and research ethics. Introduction to IPR, Concepts of IPR, Types of
IPR. Common rules of IPR practices, Types and Features of IPR Agreement, Trademark.
Patents- Concept, Objectives and benefits, features, Patent process – steps and procedures
