MF2045 Engineering research
methodology (9cr)
Course-PM
Autumn 2011/Spring 2012/Autumn 2012
Version 2011-08-15
Course webpage:
http://www.kth.se/itm/inst/mmk/edu/inst_kurser/md/MF2045/
Background
The course gives an overview of contemporary scientific and industrial development trends
within the areas of engineering design and industrial design. Scientific methods of working
including both research ethics and research methodology are treated both on a general level
and on the level of specific research directions. Scientific writing, reviewing and presentation
are highlighted and trained. Making use of research for the benefit of industry and soceity, in
particular innovation aspects are introduced.
Aim
After graduation from the course the student should be capable to:
1. Summarize and on an overview level discuss important issues and trends within the
actual research area.
2. Write a scientific article, in English or Swedish, within a limited topic but with a quality
such that the article could be accepted for presentation at an engineering research
workshop.
3. Review and give constructive critisism and feedback on a scientific article written by a
fellow student.
4. Create a scientifically sound and from an egineering point of view reasonable and well
documented plan for a Master thesis project of excellent quality.
5. Describe a number of qualitative and quantitative research methods and their
applications.
6. Describe the main similarities and differences between scientific and industrial research.
7. Describe and discuss how research can be conducted in an industrial context.
8. Discuss and argue on ethical aspects and issues in engeering practice and research.
Course components
The course is given in the form of seminars presented by internal and external research staff,
industrial professionals, and by all the students. The seminars mirror the course goals as stated
above. Each student writes and presents a scientific arcticle, reviews and gives constructive
feedback on two or three of his/her colleague's articles.
Final grading
Final grading is Pass/Fail and the requiremenst for Pass are:
1. Compulsory attendance at lecture 1-6 in smester 1, or alternative an individual
assignment.
2. Compulsory presence at seminars and workshops, or alternatively extra assignments at
the end of the semester (semester 1 and 2)
3. Written, presented and approved scientific article (semester 3)
4. Review and feedback on articles written by fellow students (semester 3)
Prerequisites
The course is at an advanced level, and prerequisites are the basic courses Design and Product
Realization (DoP) B, Product Realization for M, or Product Realization for T, and either one
of the Project Courses in Machine Design/Integrated Product Development, or alternatively
the course Model-based Product Development.
Course literature
Hand-outs and material published on the course homepage.
Course coordinators
Ulf Sellgren (Engineering Design)
Brinellvägen 85
Room C418
Phone: +46 - (0)8 – 7907387
E-mail:
[email protected]
Scheme, autumn 2011 (semester 1) – introductory & faculty theme
Semester 1 Time Location Lecture (L)/ Workshop (W)/ Seminar (S)/Examination (E)
W35 Monday 29 aug 8-12 B232
(Brinellvägen 85, floor 3)
W1: Introduction to Engineering design and the Machine
design track
W36 Monday 5 sep 15-17 FR4 L1: The rule of the game – studying a master at KTH (Ulf
Sellgren),
KTHs ethic policy (KTH Ethics Committee) w37 Wednesday 14 sept 15-16
16-17
FR4 L2: Science of engineering (Ulf Sellgren)
Innovation engineering (Mats Magnusson) w38 Wednesday 21 sept 15-16
16-17
M1 L3: ECO-design (Conrad Luttropp)
Integrated product development (Margaretha Norell Bergendahl)
W39 Monday 26 sept 15-16 16-17
FR4 L4: Machine elements (Sergei Glavatskikh)
Product and service design (Sara Ilstedt-Hjelm) W40 Thursday 6 oct 15-16
16-17
M1 L5: Mechatronics (Jan Wikander)
Embedded systems (Jad El-Khoury) W41 Monday 10 oct 15-16
16-17
FR4 L6: Tribology (Ulf Olofsson)
Internal combustion engines (Hans-Erik Ångström)
W43 Thursday 27 oct 23:59 E1a: Individual examination (short report). E-mail to
W44 Tuesday 1 nov 15-17 M1 L7: Professional and engineering ethics (Ulf Sellgren)
W45 W46
W47 Thursday 24 nov 15-17 M1 S1a: Litterature seminar on engineering ethics - group 1 - group 2 - group 3
W48 Thursday 1 dec 15-17 M1 S1b: Litterature seminar on engineering ethics - group 4 - group 5 - group 6
W49 Tuesday 6 dec 15-17 M1 S1c: Litterature seminar on engineering ethics - group 7 - group 8 - group 9
Scheme, spring 2012 (semester 2)
– theory of science and research
methodology theme
Semester 2 Time Location Lecture (L)/ (self-organized) workshop (W)/ seminar (S) W3 Tuesday 18 Jan 15-17 M1 L9: Science of engineering and the theory of science
W4
W5 Tuesday 1 Feb 15-17 M1 L10: Epistomology – theory of science, scientific
knowledge (Deductive, Inductive, …) - Guest W6 Tuesday 8 Feb 15-17 M1 L11: Epistomology – theory of science, scientific
knowledge (Deductive, Inductive, …) - Guest W7 Tuesday 15 Feb 15-17 M37/M38/M21 S2: Seminar on theory of science
W8 Tuesday 22 Feb 15-17 M21/M22/M23 S2: Seminar on theory of science
W9
W10 Tuesday 8 Mar 15-17 M1 L12: Qualitative research
W12 Tuesday 22 Mar 15-17 M1 W2: Workshop on qualitative research
W13 Tuesday 29 Mar 15-17 M21/M22/M23 S3: Seminar on qualitative research
W14 Tuesday 5 April 15-17 M21/M22/M24 S3: Seminar on qualitative research W15 Tuesday 12 April 15-17 Q1 L13: Quantitative research
W17 Tuesday 26 April 15-17 M1 W3: Workshop on quantitative research
W18 Tuesday 3 May 15-17 M21/M22/M23 S4: Seminar on quantitative research
W19 Tuesday 10 May 15-17 M21/M22/M23 S4: Seminar on quantitative research
W20 Tuesday 17 May 15-17 M1 L14: Semester 2 & semester 3
W21 Thursday 26 May 23:59 E2: Examination (extra assignment) for those who have
not met the semester 2 requirements. E-mail to [email protected]
Scheme, autumn 2012 (semester 3)
– preparations for an excellent
master´s thesis
Semester 3 (to be scheduled)
Time Location Lecture (L)/ Excercise (E)/ Seminar (S)/ Project (P)
W36 10-12 Mxx L16: Doing a Master thesis at Machine Design, KTH
W37 10-12 Mxx L17: Scientific writing W38 10-12 Mxx S5: Writing supervision w39 10-12 Mxx Pending W40 10-12 Mxx S6: Writing supervision W41 10-12 Mxx Pending W42 10-12 Mxx S7: Writing supervision W43 10-12 Mxx Pending W44 10-12 Mxx S8: Writing supervision W45 10-12 Mxx Pending W46 10-12 Mxx S9: Writing supervision
W47 10-12 Mxx L18: Opposition and ptrersentation techniques
W48 10-12 Mxx S10: Writing supervision
W49 10-12 Mxx Pending
