Example Exam - Solutions
Transcript of Example Exam - Solutions
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
1/22
Example Exam Questions and
SolutionsResearch Methods
MAR8001
Richard BirminghamJanuary 2010
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
2/22
====================
Q1. Discuss the reasons that research isundertaken, presenting this graphically ifyou prefer. Explain what is meant by thespectrum of types of research activity,
and indicate who might be thebeneficiaries of the different types of
activity.
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
3/22
The Research Rational
A ProblemMoney
Research
New Knowledge
Esteem/Reputation
Higher degree
Personal satisfaction
etc.
Increased profitsImproved planning
etc.
Enhancedquality of life
etc.
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
4/22
The Research Spectrum
The extreme types of research are:
Blue sky - no obvious benefits, simplyexploring an area of interest to gain new
knowledge
Near market - immediate commercial benefitexpected
In practice research can be anywherebetween these two extremes
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
5/22
Research Beneficiaries
Who will benefit influences type ofresearch and partnership:
Benefit to researchers from scholarships,fellowships, research clubs
Benefits to society from blue sky research
Benefits to funding body from industrial R & D
Distinctions can be blurred
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
6/22
==================
Q2. Draw a diagram of the interactions betweenfunding bodies and research organisations,indicating how a research organisation responds
to a call for proposals. Describe how to plan forsubmitting a Research Proposal in response tosuch a call, and indicate what should beconsidered in preparing the document, and what
is likely to be discussed in negotiations aftersubmission.
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
7/22
Standard Interactions
Problem Identification
Call for Proposals Project Proposal
Evaluation Negotiation andContract Agreement
RESEARCH
Reports
Final ReportDeliverables
Project
Meetings
Acceptance
Exploitation Dissemination
FUNDERRESEARCHER
(stage payments)
(final payment)
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
8/22
Planning the Proposal
Write proposal for a specific sponsor
Obtain background information abouttargeted sponsors policy (from Annual
report, Handbooks or Web site)
Establish if there are deadlines to meet
Establish if there is a particular formatrequired, or a standard application form
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
9/22
Document Style
Be precise in obeying all instruction (dont
be disqualified from funding for trivialreasons)
Try to avoid using technical languagewhich a non-specialist not understand
Usually addressing two audiences:
Specialist academic referees
Non-specialists on the decision making panel
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
10/22
Contract Negotiations
Once the proposal is acceptednegotiations will be necessary
These will involve direct meetings withthe funders, and possibly aresubmission of the proposal
Details to agree will include:
Workpackage content and deliverables
Payment schedules
Progress meetings and reports
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
11/22
======================
Q3. Explain why careful monitoring of aresearch project is necessary. Meetingsare an important part of the monitoring
process. Describe the environment withinin which such meetings take place andhow the decisions are recorded. Discuss
the concept of an informal agenda atsuch meetings.
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
12/22
Objective of Monitoring
To review progress on the project:
demonstrating that the intended work isprogressing satisfactorily
or re-schedule and re-focus project whendifficulties have been encountered
(approval should be obtained BEFORE
changing work programme) To demonstrate that allocated funds are
being well spent
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
13/22
Environment of Reporting
Written Reports and Meetings are scheduled inProject Proposal, so maintain schedule
Normally representatives of funding body are welldisposed toward researchers
sympathetic to difficulties encountered need to justify expenditure to their superiors
Changing track without seeking approval createsdifficulties
Calls for further funding creates difficulties
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
14/22
Meeting Notes
Large projects, with many participants, willhave secretary taking minutes
Small projects: after meeting write upMeeting Notes and distribute to all
Notes outline the meeting, in particulardetailing:
agreed actions
changes to Project Plan
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
15/22
Informal Agenda
The meeting is an important opportunity to exploreideas that may not be included on the formal agenda,for example:
difficulties encountered (change of staff, internal
politics, other funders/researchers) warn of difficulties anticipated
discuss further research, and further funding?
related projects
Cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
16/22
=====================
Q4. How are the results of a researchproject normally delivered to the fundingbody? Describe other ways that the results
can be disseminated, detailing thedifferences between primary andsecondary dissemination routes.
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
17/22
Dissemination Routes
Required reports:
Final report for funders
Degree dissertations and theses
Publications:
Papers in Journals (academic or professional)
Conference Papers
Books
Articles in trade journals or newspapers TV or radio appearances
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
18/22
Primary Dissemination Routes
Journal Papers: Peer review ensures that these are high quality
and therefore regarded most highly, but in realityreadership may be very limited
Conference Papers: Easier to publish (organisers want delegates so
accept papers readily) so considered of lowervalue, but can target a specific audience
Books: in some disciplines (not engineering) booksare the accepted route
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
19/22
Secondary Routes
Primary routes have very small readership
Brief summaries of results can reach a much wideraudience through secondary routes
Advertise results to a larger audience, some maythen read the Journal paper:
trade journals reach practitioners
newspapers reach the general public
TV/Radio: huge audience for brief soundbite
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
20/22
===================
Q5 . What are the main limitations inapplication of ANN methodology?
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
21/22
Solution: Artificial neural networks, although very promising in many fields
and have advantageous in relation to traditional computingtechniques, suffer from certain limitations. These problems could beexternal to the network, for example limitation in hardwaretechnology or could be internal such as deficiencies in training
algorithms etc. Some of the most significant problems could be: Long training time. Quick convergence is not guaranteed in any
training algorithm. Generally there will be a quick drop in totaltraining error at the beginning of the training, but as the training goeson the error reduction rate will get smaller.
Network structure for new problems must be selected by trial and
error. Although many attempts have been done, there is no clearprescription on how to choose the network topology for a successfulgeneralisation or pattern classification.
-
7/31/2019 Example Exam - Solutions
22/22
Any prioriknowledge about the data cannot be transferred to thenetwork parameters. Although that knowledge may help in theselection of network structure.
In many engineering applications, network does not provide anyphysical sense of its finding in relationships. All the data, no matterwhat they are, are treated the same, however their influence on the
network output will inherently be taken into account. Functional relationship provided by a trained network by no means
is similar to the known and well-established mathematical models,such as regression techniques.
During training, the weights can be adjusted to very large values,causing the total input of a hidden or output unit to reach very high
positive or negative values. Sigmoidal activation function will eithersaturate to one or zero respectively, meaning that the neurone doesnot respond or sense any more changes, a situation callednetwork paralysis.