Horst Holstein (PhD) Department of Computer Science University of Wales Aberystwyth Moderator’s...

Horst Holstein (PhD) Horst Holstein (PhD) Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Science

University of WalesUniversity of Wales Aberystwyth Aberystwyth

Moderator’s visit to BHC

December 2004 (Revised January 2005)

Map by Roderick I Murchison, 1792-1871, (accessed 19 Jan 05) Map by Roderick I Murchison, 1792-1871, (accessed 19 Jan 05) http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps4854.html

Where we areWhere we are

University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK

The Final Year Project The Final Year Project BIS306BIS306

Scientific report organization BibiliographyOriginality

ContentsContents Scientific Report Format General Organisation Title Introduction Methods Results Discussion & Conclusion Critical Evaluation

Writing an Abstract Student Examples Bibliography Dissertation Guidelines

Bibliography Originality Advice General

End

Scientific report formatScientific report format Reference:– http//seg.org/publications/geophysics/writing.shtml

– (date of access: 19 Jan 2005)

A scientific report shares many of the characteristics of a scientific paper. The above reference is adapted here for report writing

Scientific report formatScientific report format

Although the following is aimed at good practice for report writing, you may regard this also as a Guide for

Reading a scientific paper Writing a scientific paper

GeneralGeneral

Write to inform,

not to impress

GeneralGeneral

Make clear your thesis

It must be evident to the reader that there is a point of view to defend – this is why your report was written, and that is why a reader might be interested to read it.

OrganizationOrganization

TitleAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionConclusion

The sections The sections may have other may have other labels, but these labels, but these sections should sections should be identifyable be identifyable and follow in and follow in orderorder..


How do we approach the reading of a report/paper?

Generally we want to first establish whether it is relevant, and then, whether we want to read it in depth.

Good organisation on the part of the author helps the reader quickly to establish relevance to the reader.


The reader will probably assess the relevance of the work by looking at– Abstract– Conclusion– Introduction

As an author, ensure these sections convey the necessary information

TitleTitle

The Title is a label, not a sentence.

Implementing a rapid web application development using the example of a digital rent-a-car business

Web-based car rental

Abstract Abstract (most read!)(most read!)

The Abstract in published works is often quoted out of context in abstracting journals. Next to the title, it is the most widely read part of the work.

The Abstract must give a stand-alone summary of the work.


200-300 words

The abstract must not simply list the

topics covered in the paper, but should

1. state the scope and principal objectives of the research,

2. describe the methods used,

3. summarize the results, and

4. state the principal conclusions.


The abstract should not reflect intentions, but should state what has been done, and indicate limitations, e.g.

system designed but not implemented; software implemented but not tested; survey not verified by data survey data collected, but found to lack

statistical significance

Introduction Introduction (setting the scene)(setting the scene)

Tell readers why they should want to read what follows. (viewpoint!)

Provide sufficient background information for readers to understand and evaluate the results. – Do not rederive established results or

indulge in other needless repetition.

IntroductionIntroduction

The introduction should present the nature and scope of the

problem review the pertinent literature, within

reason describe the method of investigationdescribe the principal results (and

limitations!) of the investigation.

IntroductionIntroduction

You must spoil the fun, and reveal now (summarise) what the nature of methods, and conclusions, are.

WHAT WHAT methods??methods??

WHAT WHAT consclusions??consclusions??

Avoid the comic strip approach: – “Read on, dear reader, to see what happens in

this exciting story”.

Avoid statements like– Chapter 3 discusses the methods– Chapter 6 gives the conclusions

Methods Methods (how)(how)

The methodology employed should be in sufficient detail to allow duplication of results.

More detailed items (e.g., heavy maths, critical code) are often best placed in appendices.

Include a table of symbols (acronyms, etc.) Place all code, executables and test results in

an appended CD– Not part of the assessed work, but might be referenced in

case of doubt, or future development

ResultsResults

Contains applications of the methodology described above.

Present results of experiments (logical, physical or computational) as tables or figures and analyses.

ResultsResults

When possible, include an example of data to illustrate the technology or concept being proposed.

ResultsResults

Selective presentation of results is important.

Redundancy should be avoided, The Results section may well be

the short in relation to other sections.

Discussion and conclusionsDiscussion and conclusions(was my thesis upheld?)(was my thesis upheld?)

Often, scientists hesitate to impose their interpretations and conclusions on the reader, especially those that pertain to the significance of the results.

However, without such interpretations and conclusions, readers can only wonder why they read the paper.


1. Principles, relationships, and generalizations inferred from the results (but not a repetition of the results)

2. Any exceptions to or problems with these principles, relationships, and generalizations, as indicated by the results


3. Agreements or disagreements with previously published work

4. Theoretical implications and possible practical applications of the work

5. Conclusions drawn (especially regarding significance), with a summary of the evidence for each conclusion.

Critical EvaluationCritical Evaluation(how well did I meet my targets?)(how well did I meet my targets?)

o The aim of your work should have been stated in the Introduction, and possibly elsewhere (e.g. requirements section)

o Your achievement should be stated in the Results section.

o The Critical Evaluation compares the two.o could in be a subsection of Discussion and

Conclusions, or a section in its own right.

Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract

This takes experience.

Without due care, an Abstract fails to deliver on the essentials of background, methods, results and conclusions.

The importance of good abstract writing justifies this extra section.


Stress content, not intent.Avoid empty passive constructs such as:

– methods will be presented, discussed, developed;

– conclusions will be drawn

Use informative constructs such as:– A depth-first search is used …– It is concluded that the method is reliable

in the restricted circumstances of …


An Abstract is not a plan of work TO BE carried out,

It is a summary of work that HAS BEEN carried out


Keep it short


200-300 words

The abstract must not simply list the

topics covered in the paper, but should

1. state the scope and principal objectives of the research,

2. describe the methods used,

3. summarize the results, and

4. state the principal conclusions.

Student ExamplesStudent Examples

The following three examples of Title and Abstract are adapted from final year dissertations submitted to BHC. They are included here to stimulate discussion.

The originals are in the BHC Library. Author details are withheld. Note: The authors did not have access to

this lecture material.

Student Example 1Student Example 1Title and AbstractTitle and Abstract

“Implementing a rapid web application development using the example of a digital rent-a-car business

This thesis will present a technology mixture to implement Rapid Web Application and Development. This will be accomplished using a small but extensible example, a digital rent-a-car business.

Student Example 1Student Example 1

The mixture will include JAVA as front end, MICORSOFT ACCESS as aback end and JBOUILDER as the development environment.

The design will involve tasks such as:

user interface, transactions and the database.


To implement the 1st part, a web page will be designed and tested. To implement the 2nd, JAVASERVER PAGES (technical part) and JAVA BEANS (business part) will be recruited, to implement the 3rd, SQL statements will be designed and embedded into the Java source code with which the business logic will be transmitted to the Data Base to store information.


Finally, after module and integrated testing will take place locally on JBUILDER with successful results, an attempt for online testing will also be commented at the conclusions part.”


Exercise

To what extent does Example 1 fulfil the function of title and abstract?

Do you get an indication of the scope of work carried out?


“Application Development for a Library Office SQL/4GL Informix Package

This project is targeted at the library office of British Hellenic College. I am to handle all everyday operations of a library office. I will also provide a report that will analyse the development and the implementation of the program.


The structure of my report is as follows:

In Chapter 1 I deal with the theory of databases

In Chapter 2 I describe some major methods for designing software applications.

…

In Chapter 5 the final conclusion of my project is included. ”


Exercise




“Mobile Commerce and Applications The contemporary business environment,

under the special conditions that exist (Economical, political, Social and Technological) has become extremely competitive. Therefore new techniques are needed in order for the enterprises to promote and sell their products and services.


Within the present thesis I will try to stress the importance of M-Commerce in the beginning of the 21st century, in order to succeed the above goals. Our main scope is to demonstrate the use of M-Commerce by modern business through analysis of the basic elements that are considered.


We will try to prove the fact that the use of M-Commerce has matured as a strategic weapon rather than a simply support function. Our main goal is to provide evidence of the above and to come to possible conclusions of the future of M-Commerce field. ”


Exercise



BibliographyBibliography

Good scientific work is built on work done by others

Your work is enhanced by reference to other works

There is a formal way to cite references

Dissertation GuidelinesDissertation Guidelines

This material in the rest of this powerpoint slide show draws freely on the Guidelines available on the Computer Science Department (UWA) web pages for project guidelines

http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/Dept/Teaching/CourseNotes/current/CS39030/biblio_guidance.html(date of access: 19 Jan 2005)This site is password protected


Refer to BIS216 practice

Example (in text) However, Elben and Jelasity (2002)

point out that “[model] evaluation done on the test set and not in training set is not common practice … ”


Note the quotes “ ” for text quoted from another source,

Note the use of [ ] to indicate a modification of that source


Bibliography – a section at the end of the report text, giving the sources of cited works, using an accepted convention.

….

2002 Elben, A., Jelasity, M. A critical note on experimental research methodology in EC. In: IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation, Hawaii, USA, 582-587.

OriginalityOriginality

Good practiceBad practiceUnfair practice


Could another person say of any portion of the dissertation:

I recognise this as my own work. The current author is presenting it with a view to obtaining credit for it

Originality - PenaltiesOriginality - Penalties

Bad practice : (possibly due to carelessness) parts may be ignored for purposes of assessment

Unfair practice: (deception – deliberate or unintended) disciplinary action, including disqualification of degree.

Penalties!

Originality - PenaltiesOriginality - Penalties

Don’t put examiners in a situation where they have to decide between bad practice and unfair practice.


Give full references in bibliographySurround direct quotations in quotation

marks and give referenceTake care to give all web references

and date of access. Ensure references are current at time of submission.


A cut-and-paste dissertation, properly referenced, while satisfying “Good Practice”, must expect to obtain a very low assessment.

Ensure you always include sufficient evaluation of major quotations that you make (e.g. to support an argument of yours)


Your work is enhanced by reference to related works

AdviceAdvice

Start earlyGet someone else to read through your

work and comment on its clarity.Use “Good Practice”

AdviceAdvice

Write the report as if for scientific information dissemination

It will be assessed along these linesDo not write for an audience of

examiners from whom you wish to hide the defects of your work

GeneralGeneral

Write to inform,

not to impress

ENDEND

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