1. EPH7112 Research Methodology
K-Chart Construction
EPH7112 Research Methodology

2. CONTENTS The K-Chart Layers Constructing the General Title
Defining the System under Study
Construction the Scope Layer
Constructing the Methodology Layer
Constructing the Results Layer
Conclusion

3. THE K-CHART LAYERS GENERAL TITLE SCOPE OF ISSUES LAYERS
RESULTS LAYERS
GENERAL TITLE
SCOPE OF ISSUES LAYERS
METHODOLOGY LAYERS
TIMELINES

4. STEP 1: CONSTRUCTING THE GENERAL TITLE
A title should indicate:
The systems you are working on
The problems you are solving
Your achievements
Your methodology
For general title: No achievements (obviously..)
Less general for Project Title
Specific for Paper Title

5. DEFINING THE SYSTEM UNDER STUDY
It is very important to understand your SYSTEM under STUDY (SuS)
Everything that exhibits character/behavior is a SYSTEM
It can be hardware, software, a group of people etc.
A SYSTEM is made up of SUB-SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
A SYSTEM’s performance (i.e. behavior) is influenced by
1. external INPUTS, and
2. properties of the ELEMENTS

6. IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM UNDER STUDY
It helps to identify
The General Title
The Scope of Issues
The Performance Parameter (PP)
The Design Parameter (DP)
Essentially, SuS summarizes the whole
study

7. Modeling Systems Under Study
System under Study (SuS)
Element 1
OUTPUTS
INPUTS
Element 2
Element N

8. SAMPLE SYSTEMS AND ELEMENTS
Bil
SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
SUB-ELEMENTS 1.
Car
Body; Engine; Tire
Body: Hood, Bonnet, Chassis
Engine: Piston, Shafts, 2.
Computer
Software; Casing; Electronics;
Software: Operating Systems, Applications 3.
Human
Physical body, Mind; Soul
Physical: Head, Limbs, Torso etc 4.
School
Buildings; Teachers; Students; Administrators; Rules; Curriculum;
Buildings: Admin., Classrooms, Halls 5.
Tourism Industry
Tourists; Hotels; Transportations; Rules
Tourists: Local, Foreign

9. SAMPLE GENERAL TITLES Optical sensors for oil and gas pipes
SYSTEM
PROBLEMS TO SOLVE
METHODOLOGY
Optical sensors for oil and gas pipes
Unclear; has to do with oil and gas in pipes
Unclear
Development of a smart condition monitoring system
Smart Condition monitoring system
Smartness
Monitoring fatigue conditions in civil structures
Fatigue monitoring
Solar based automatic temperature control system for vehicles
Solar powered
Factors influencing the performance of motor vehicles
Motor Vehicles
performance

10. STEP 2: CONSTRUCTING SCOPE LAYERS
Scope Layers consist of two parts:
System level issues 2. Sub-system or Element level issues
SYSTEM Level Issues
Begin the 1st layer with the SYSTEM
For the next layers, identify the types or applications of the SYSTEM
Continue Step 2 until you exhaust the types/applications of the SYSTEM
SUB-SYSTEM OR ELEMENT Level Issues
4. At the next layer after the last layer of SYSTEM level issues, identify the next SUB-SYSTEMS/ELEMENTS of the SYSTEM
5. For the next layers, identify the types or applications of the SUB-SYSTEM
6. Continue Step 5 until you exhaust the types/applications of the SUB-SYSTEM

11. Factors Influencing the Performance of Motor Vehicles
The SCOPE Layers
Sub Issues 2: Types
Sub Issues 3: Types
SUB-SYSTEMS or ELEMENTS of Sedan Cars
Sub Issues 1: Applications
Vehicles
Land
Sea
Motorcycles
Air
Cars
Trucks
Mini
Sedan
Wagon
Vans
Engine
Body
Tire
Factors Influencing the Performance of Motor Vehicles
General Topic
The SYSTEM

12. Notice!
The more detail the layers, the less the assumption, the better
Every time there is a jump between the layers, an assumption is made (thus, a justification is required as to the validity of the assumption)
One can choose any way he/she likes to arrange the sequence of layers
However, Issues of the same theme should be in the same layer (apply the layering checking mechanism)
Perform extensive literature reviews

13. HOW TO CHOOSE AN OPTION Availability of Expertise
Availability of Facility
Required Cost
Level of Novelty
Required Time

14. Step 3: The METHODOLOGY Layers
7. For the 1st Methodology Layer, identify and choose the General Methods to use i.e Theory, Simulation, Experiment, Survey
8. For the subsequent layers, identify and choose the test environments, the level of prototypes, and the techniques to use
Methodologies
Simulation
Experiment
Theory
Survey
Lab. Tests
Field Tests
Lab Prototype
Eng. Prototype
Commercial Prototype
Measurement Techn.1
Measurement Techn.2
Measurement Techn.3

15. Step 4: The RESULTS Layers
The RESULTS Layers consist of Performance Parameters (PP) followed by Design Parameters (DP).
9. Identify PPs. PPs are associated with the Outputs
10. Identify DPs under the corresponding PPs. DPs are associated with the Inputs, and with the properties of the Elements/Sub-elements
11. Identify the ones with higher priorities (dotted lines)
Results: Performance Parameters
Pressure
Speed
Design Parameters
Acceleration
Tire Width
Tire Height
Fuel consumption
Tire Pressure

16. TIMELINES Results: Performance Parameters Pressure Speed
Design Parameters
Acceleration
Tire Width
Tire Height
Fuel consumption P A%
JAN 20
MAR 40
MAY
100 30
JUL 50
SEP 80
NOV

17. Factors Influencing the Performance of Motor Vehicles
GENERAL TITLE
SYSTEM
Vehicles
Sub Issues 1: App. based
Air
Land
Sea
Sub Issues 2: Types based
Motorcycles
Cars
Trucks
Vans
Sub Issues 3: Types based
Mini
Sedan
Wagon
ELEMENTS
Engine
Body
Tire
METHODOLOGIES
Theory
Experiment
Simulation
Survey
Lab. Tests
Field Tests
Lab. prototype
Eng. prototype
Commercial prototype
Meas. Techn.1
Meas. Techn.2
Meas. Techn.3
RESULTS: Performance Parameters
Acceleration
Fuel consumption
Speed
Design Parameters
Pressure
Tire Height
Tire Width
Tire Pressure
Tire Width

18. CONCLUSION
A K-Chart is constructed based on Tree Diagram concept; focus and expand
Understanding the System under Study is very important
Literature Reviews are required along the process
It is important to reduce ambiguity by detailing the layers