19-03-2013

TIPS for Writing Simple Research Paper

This document contains some tips for writing a UG level Term Paper which can be submitted to Student

Conference. It takes “Application of Convergence Technology for improving Rural Education in India” as

an example.

1.0 Nature of Research Paper

It is important to appreciate the difference between Research Paper and other types of Write-Ups or

Presentations like Tutorials, Seminars or Articles. In the latter types, the focus is more on describing a

concept or set of facts in readable and comprehensive way. Generally, organizing the different facts in a

coherent manner and presenting also comes under the same category (exceptions are there). But, the

Keyword in Research is Originality. There should be something new which was not obvious till you

published. Generally so called Original work fall into one of (but not limited to) following type of

activities.

1. Collection of New Facts: You Observe and Record Methodically certain Parameters. It should be

noted that just some random collection would not do. It should be purposeful and scientifically

planned

2. Comparative Analysis: You will chose one or methods published in Literature for solving a

problem (or class of problems) and give merits and de-merits vis-a-vis each other. You can

think a Survey Paper as an extended concept of this. Though this appears simple, generally, it

requires a kind of maturity and experience in the subject.

3. Application: Application of a Published Result to a Problem Domain. Problem that is chosen

should be relevant to immediate context of time and place. It should be proven that application

of this technology results in significant advantages.

4. Theoretical Insight: Here new Insight into the Theoretical Knowledge is presented. It may

connect up disparate facts. Solve some of the inconsistencies or unknown in the field of study.

Application of Insight gained in one field can be applied to advancement in another field also. (It

may be argued that this is part of Point no 3., ok anything is fine. But I prefer to categorize

research which solves practical problems into category 3).

You can chose whatever way you want, based on your likings, aspirations and temperament. As a

general thumb-rule I would recommend point no. 3, which is Application. This is also termed as “Applied

Research”, at-least in initial stages.

You should remember that you should not dwell too much time/writing on Technology or Problem when

you write your paper. A minimal overview which will enable a literate reader about the field get grasp of

the problem should be given and references to be provided. For example, if we are talking about

“application of Multi-Media Technology in Remote Surgery” and go on talking about Multi-Media it will

irritate everyone. A brief description and pointers in bibliography should be the way to go.

We should focus on our IDEAS. In this case,

1. What are the key problems faced in Problem Domain (again briefly)

2. How the Technology Should be Applied to Solve It?

3. How much Advantage will be gained? Can we Quantify it? If not, how we can describe it?

4. Are there any experimental evidences to prove the claims?

Well, I guess I talked too much violating my own rule I guess. Let us see at more concrete things now.

The Sections of the Paper 1. Abstract – Small paragraph containing gist or summary of the paper. Basically tells what type of

paper (case study, survey or research etc.,)

2. Introduction - Introduction to the paper (not subject). This is elaboration of the Abstract

explaining in a little bit detail what the paper is about. It starts with the theme of the Paper,

why this paper is necessary etc., It will also contain brief comments on each sections following

the paper (section 3 gives an over-view of the convergence technology etc.

3. Overview of the problem : You will give an overview of the problem you are trying to solve. Bas

e. You will be covering the reading you have done before proceeding to main step (this is also

called literature survey)

4. YOUR CONTRIBUTION ( Your original thinking, your idea, solution etc.,)

5. Comparison with other works (How your solution is superior to others)

6. Conclusion and Further Work { Your overall comments on the study/problem and some tips for

carrying forward the work. You may mention that I am planning to do these as the next steps.

7. Acknowledgements [if any]

8. References.

BRIEF SKETCH

Application of Technology Convergence for Indian Rural Education:

A Study.

TOC

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. Overview of Convergence Technologies

1. Meaning of Convergence

2. Convergences of different information - Digital Technology converged Audio

3. Computation, Information and Communication Convergence

4. Convergence of Communication with Mobility – Mobile Phone with Projector -

Mobile Applications

5. Convergence of different Disciplines Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths

6. Convergence of Physical and Digital Worlds

7.

4. Rural Education in India

a. Vision 2020

b. Knowledge Society

c. Get Statistics about Literacy rate and Primary Schools at Village, Mandal , District and

City levels, for Primary, Secondary and Higher Education

d. The main problems : Low literacy rates, learning

i. Poverty : Cannot afford full time study of children

ii. Insecurity: Education means deserting the Village. A kind of localized Brain Drain

iii. Lack of Collaboration and Cooperation

iv. Lack of Infrastructure : Schools and Teachers and Study Materials

v. Relevance to daily life is very less

5. Applying Convergence to Rural Education

a. Professor Jhun-Jhunwala’s efforts (search in the net).

b. The most fundamental change. Literacy is separated from Learning. Literacy is no longer

compulsory requirement for gaining knowledge!!! Interactive Audio Visual Media

enables a person to learn in absence of Literacy skills

c. Flexible Learning:: Learn whatever, whenever, wherever and as much you want (only)

d. No longer restricted to your own village student community. Can be part of broader

community

e. It is much cheaper infrastructure to have few mobiles with 3G capacity and probably

one Desktop, than permanent school building, Library etc., Literally entire world’s

knowledge is at your fingertips.

f. Participation of Volunteers : Lot of CBT material can be prepared and other social

networking facilities can built allowing much more people to participate than earlier.

g. Now, full-time teachers are not absolute necessary. A kind of centrally placed Teacher

can cover a group of villages. If frequently visit the members , it is more than necessary.

h. Evaluation/Correction Mechanisms. Allows students to know whether it is correct.

i. Relevance : Uniform Curriculum no longer needed. Lot of electives (required by the

consumers i.e., industry-academia-arts ) , can be offered easily with specific job

guarantees which makes learning more interesting and serious at the same time.

j. Though Digital-Physical convergence is too new and too costly (physical is always costly

), advances in it like advanced embedded systems, smart materials etc., can make

education more effective.

6. Conclusions

a. This study finds that convergence of different technologies ideas has immense

potentials for solving one of the fundamental social problems of India, i.e., Rural

Education. It promised to solve most of the root causes of blocker of Education like

Resources, Relevance, etc.,

b. But, the most fundamental paradigm-shift it causes is to make Literacy irrelevant. In a

way, it takes back us (advances to??) to Pre-Press Era. Literacy was a very minute

fraction of tool required to exchange information, knowledge. However, it empowers

the really interested people to learn as much one wants.

c. As with any Technology, Convergence is just one part of bigger solution. If it needs to be

to exploited to the fullest extent, extensive work needs to be done right from content

creation to flexible certification models which can only be possible through immense

community participation. Interestingly Participative development is another thing

technology convergence enables .

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_convergence

2. http://www.internetevolution.com/tutorial-digital-physical-convergence.asp

3. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writ8/index.php/perspectives/convergence-technology

4. http://www.abdulkalam.com/kalam/jsp/display_hints.jsp?menuid=23&menuname=Vision%202

020%20Missions&starts=0&ends=0

5. http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6821/Multimedia-in-Education.html

6. Envisioning an Empowered Nation :

7. India Vision 2020 Report :