Difference between course based

learning and research

Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar

Department of Electrical Engineering
IIT Madras

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Learning Outcomes of the Entire
Introduction to Research Course

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 Learning Outcomes of the Entire
Introduction to Research Course

At the end of this course, you should be able to explain

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 Learning Outcomes of the Entire
Introduction to Research Course

At the end of this course, you should be able to explain

the difference between course based learning and research

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 Learning Outcomes of the Entire
Introduction to Research Course

At the end of this course, you should be able to explain

the difference between course based learning and research

the mindset, skills and methodology required for research

and how to develop these

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 Learning Outcomes of the Entire
Introduction to Research Course

At the end of this course, you should be able to explain

the difference between course based learning and research

the mindset, skills and methodology required for research

and how to develop these

centrality of truthfulness and originality in research

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Difference between course based
learning and research

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature
thinking

communication
management

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature
thinking

communication
management

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

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 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature
thinking

communication
management

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

publication pass a peer review 15
 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature(searching, collecting, reading, noting)
thinking

communication
management

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

publication pass a peer review 16
 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature(searching, collecting, reading, noting)
thinking (logical and analogical reasoning, analyzing, imagining,
designing, interpreting, reorganizing, comparing, evaluating..
communication
management

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

publication pass a peer review 17
 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature(searching, collecting, reading, noting)
thinking (logical and analogical reasoning, analyzing, imagining,
designing, interpreting, reorganizing, comparing, evaluating..
communication (oral, written)
management

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

publication pass a peer review 18
 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature(searching, collecting, reading, noting)
thinking (logical and analogical reasoning, analyzing, imagining,
designing, interpreting, reorganizing, comparing, evaluating..
communication (oral, written)
management (inter-personal relations, time, stress, resources)

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

publication pass a peer review 19
 What is Research ?
Research is the work done to find a question and its answer,
and publish these findings, it being necessary that the
question be relevant and significant
answer be original and useful
work demonstrate above-average skills in
surveying literature(searching, collecting, reading, noting)
thinking (logical and analogical reasoning, analyzing, imagining,
designing, interpreting, reorganizing, comparing, evaluating..
communication (oral, written)
management (inter-personal relations, time, stress, resources)

follow a sound methodology, e.g. scientific method

[observation, explanation (hypo-
publication pass a peer review thesis and theory), verification]
 What is Research ?

Get selected for PhD/MS Formulate hypothesis

/ Research question

Meet Guide / Advisor +

Fellow students + Staff Verify-1 Publish - 1

Choose research topic Verify-2, .. Publish 2, ..

Start with question(s) Write thesis

Survey, think, Defend thesis

discuss, present

Congrats Dr !
What Research is Not

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 What Research is Not
Research is not merely collection of information/data or
description of a topic

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 What Research is Not
Research is not merely collection of information/data or
description of a topic, but rather,
- a new explanation, analysis or interpretation,
- a new position that you wish to argue about or defend.
 What Research is Not
Research is not merely collection of information/data or
description of a topic, but rather,
- a new explanation, analysis or interpretation,
- a new position that you wish to argue about or defend.

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 What Research is Not
Research is not merely collection of information/data or
description of a topic, but rather,
- a new explanation, analysis or interpretation,
- a new position that you wish to argue about or defend.

Data lena hamara kam hai, interpretation

guide sahab karte hain, aap unse puchhiye

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 What Research is Not
Research is not merely collection of information/data or
description of a topic, but rather,
- a new explanation, analysis or interpretation,
- a new position that you wish to argue about or defend.

Data lena hamara kam hai, interpretation

guide sahab karte hain, aap unse puchhiye
(My job is data collection. Interpretation is
done by my guide; hence, kindly ask him)
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 What Research is Not
Research is not merely collection of information/data or
description of a topic, but rather,
- a new explanation, analysis or interpretation,
- a new position that you wish to argue about or defend.

Research is not assistantship under a guide, but a process

of becoming an independent thinker

Data lena hamara kam hai, interpretation

guide sahab karte hain, aap unse puchhiye
(My job is data collection. Interpretation is
done by my guide; hence, kindly ask him)
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Difference between Course based learning
and Research based learning

Objectives of degrees

Procedure

Evaluation criteria

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Objectives of degrees

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 Objectives of degrees

Bachelors: General education

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 Objectives of degrees

Bachelors: General education

Masters: Possession of advanced knowledge

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 Objectives of degrees

Bachelors: General education

Masters: Possession of advanced knowledge

Doctorate (PhD): License to teach and guide others

to become professionals

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 Objectives of degrees

Bachelors: General education

Masters: Possession of advanced knowledge

Doctorate (PhD): License to teach and guide others

to become professionals

MS: can be regarded as equivalent to 50% PhD

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 Objectives of degrees
Course
based

Bachelors: General education

Masters: Possession of advanced knowledge

Doctorate (PhD): License to teach and guide others

to become professionals

MS: can be regarded as equivalent to 50% PhD

research
based

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Teacher prescribes courses Student identifies courses

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Teacher prescribes courses Student identifies courses

Read text books / class notes Extensive reading of books

and papers (100s of pages)
beyond ones specialization

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Teacher prescribes courses Student identifies courses

Read text books / class notes Extensive reading of books

and papers (100s of pages)
beyond ones specialization
(includes reading about the
research process, as distinct
from discipline specific data,
concepts and theories)

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Teacher prescribes courses Student identifies courses

Read text books / class notes Extensive reading of books

and papers (100s of pages)
beyond ones specialization

Ready acceptance of what is

Raise big important questions
taught; seek small clarifications

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Teacher prescribes courses Student identifies courses

Read text books / class notes Extensive reading of books

and papers (100s of pages)
beyond ones specialization

Ready acceptance of what is

Raise big important questions
taught; seek small clarifications
A research question guides
and centers your research

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Teacher prescribes courses Student identifies courses

Read text books / class notes Extensive reading of books

and papers (100s of pages)
beyond ones specialization

Ready acceptance of what is

Raise big important questions
taught; seek small clarifications

Arduous, persistent study for

Study for a few hrs at a stretch
a few yrs at a stretch

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Lab: collect and interpret data Collect and interpret data
to support established laws to verify new hypotheses

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Lab: collect and interpret data Collect and interpret data
to support established laws to verify new hypotheses

Solve problems Formulate problems

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Lab: collect and interpret data Collect and interpret data
to support established laws to verify new hypotheses

Solve problems Formulate problems

Write examinations Evaluate others work

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 Procedure
Course based learning Research based learning
Lab: collect and interpret data Collect and interpret data
to support established laws to verify new hypotheses

Solve problems Formulate problems

Write examinations Evaluate others work

Can do things all by oneself Work with guide and fellow

scholars

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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning Research based learning

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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning Research based learning
Time bound examinations Takes 3-6 years
(1 5 hours duration)

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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning Research based learning
Time bound examinations Takes 3-6 years
(1 5 hours duration) Problems are different
Problems are same for all for different students

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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning Research based learning
Time bound examinations Takes 3-6 years
(1 5 hours duration) Problems are different
Problems are same for all for different students
Solution Solution
- one correct solution to a - no one correct solution;
problem should be new / original

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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning
Time bound examinations
(1 5 hours duration)
Problems are same for all
Solution
- one correct solution to a
problem
- each takes upto 20 min and
4 sides of A4 size paper
Research based learning
Takes 3-6 years
Problems are different
for different students
Solution
- no one correct solution;
should be new / original
- may take > six months
and 100 200 sides of A4
size paper
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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning
Time bound examinations
(1 5 hours duration)
Problems are same for all
Solution
- one correct solution to a
problem
- each takes upto 20 min and
4 sides of A4 size paper
- submitted to the teacher
Research based learning
Takes 3-6 years
Problems are different
for different students
Solution
- no one correct solution;
should be new / original
- may take > six months
and 100 200 sides of A4
size paper
- submitted to international
journals / conferences
 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning Research based learning
Results declared in a few Review of a paper / thesis
days of the examination may take 6 months 1 yr

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 Evaluation Criteria
Course based learning Research based learning
Results declared in a few Review of a paper / thesis
days of the examination may take 6 months 1 yr

Pass marks > 35% Paper / thesis acceptance

based on
- newness / originality
- truth / accuracy
- scientific technique
- keen analysis
- quality of communication
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A body of literature dealing with the research
process and skills, as distinct from discipline
specific data, concepts and theories

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 Research process
Books

H. Churchill and T. Sanders, Getting your PhD A practical

insiders guide, Sage publications Ltd., 2007.

P. Dunleavy, Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write and

finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation, Palgrave Macmillan,
2003.

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 Research process
Books

E. M. Phillips and D. S. Pugh, How to get a PhD A handbook

for PhD students and their supervisors, Viva books Pvt. Ltd.,
1999.

P. J. Feibelman, A PhD is not enough a guide to survival

in science, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993.

P. Medawar, Advice to a young scientist, Harper Colophon

Books, New York, 1979.

[Suggested by Prof. M. V. Satyanarayana (Physics dept. IIT M)]

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 Research process
Articles available on internet

Richard Hamming, You and your research, Bell

Communications Research Colloquium Seminar, 7th Mar. 1986.

D. S. Bernstein, A students guide to research, IEEE Control

Systems Magazine, p. 102, Feb. 1999.

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 Scientific method
Books

S. S. Carey, A beginners guide to scientific method,

Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2011.

G. L. Squires, Practical physics, Cambridge University

Press, 2001.

Articles available on internet

P. S. Blackawton et. al., Blackawton bees, Biology Lett..

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.1056, published online on 22nd Dec.
2010.

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 Communication skills
Books

Handbook of Science Communication, compiled by Antony

Wilson, Jane Gregory, Steve Miller, Shirley Earl, Overseas
Press India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2005.

P. Dunleavy, Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write and finish

a doctoral thesis or dissertation, Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.

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 Communication skills
Youtube videos on effective speech

Overcoming nerves when giving a presentation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbDipVRt5aE

The importance of body language in presentations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqqiDw58NSE

The importance of vocal variety in presentations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdBNUDIOIP8

Great openings and closings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyE1Kz0e--0

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 Publishing

M. A. Fine and L. A. Kurdek, Reflections on Determining

Authorship Credit and Authorship Order on Faculty-
Student Collaborations, American Psychological
Association, vol. 48, no.11, pp. 1141-1147, Nov. 1993.

A. Dance, Authorship: Who's on first? Nature, vol. 489,

pp. 591-593, Sept. 2012.

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 Indian contributions in Mathematics

Evolution of Indian Mathematics (1 hour talk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDy0axJfzrY

Mathematics in India from Vedic period to modern times

(40 NPTEL lectures)
http://nptel.ac.in/courses/111101080/

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