Investigation via the Literature - ENN590-1

Engineering & Engineering Management Masters Project Students
ENN590-1
Research Topic - Investigation via the Literature
Assessment Item 1A
Submit: Electronically, via Blackboard Assessment Upload
Due date: End of week 7
Worth: 20% of unit total
Student Name: ________________________________________________________________
Student No.: n _________________________________________________________________
Research Topic Title: _____________________________________________________________
Project Supervisor: _____________________________________________________________
Assessment Tasks
 Draw a concept map of your research topic;
 Translate those key concepts into a search statement;
 Search for relevant managerial and engineering literature;
 Identify authoritative, reputable and reliable information sources on your research topic;
 Submit a summary analysis of three key references;
 Identity and categorize trends found in the literature;
 Explain what impact literature findings have had on the design of your project;
 Locate published authorities (acknowledged experts) in your field of research;
 Compile a reference list of the most useful literature on your topic.
This assessment item will be marked by your project supervisor.
On completion of this assessment you should have formed an information research strategy that
will allow you to discover evidence based scholarly, trade and professional literature that will
underpin your research project proposal.
Guidance is available from the QUT Library web site, including relevant library subject guides.
Advice is available from the HiQ service point (V block level 3), Online Help (Chat or email) or
consultation (by appointment) with an engineering librarian.
1. Concept Map
Draw a concept map that defines your topic
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Describe the objective and scope of your research topic.
The study aims to investigate the vibrational properties of defected graphene
nanoribbon
The objective includes:
 Conducting research on the various defects of graphene
 Investigating the features of graphene
 Evaluating the effects of defects on properties of graphene
 Evaluate the feature of defected graphene
Concept maps are diagrams that show relationships among concepts. They are graphical tools
that organize knowledge. Refer to the Blackboard site for guidance on how to draw a concept
map. Background reading will assist in this process.
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2. Developing a Search Statement
Planning a search strategy
Separately identify the key concepts you wish to search for:
1st Concept
AND
2nd Concept
AND
3rd Concept
Graphene Properties
Graphene Defects Effects of Defects on
Graphene on Properties
Now list any synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) that may also retrieve relevant
information. List here any spelling variations e.g., colour / color ; tire / tyre ; harbour / harbor.
OR
Synonyms
AND
Synonyms
AND
Synonyms
Graphene Features Graphene
Impuirities
Impacts of Defected
Graphene on Properties
OR
Where appropriate use the truncation symbol (the asterisk *) to truncate search keywords.
Record search words that could be truncated, e.g., spectr* will retrieve spectra, spectral,
spectrometry, spectroscopy, spectrum, spectrums etc.
Prop*, def*, vibra*
Structure your search statement using Boolean search logic operators (AND, OR, NOT).
Use parentheses ( ) so that you can order a keyword search. Enclose a literal text string in
inverted commas to force an exact key phrase search. For example:
(“manufacturing engineering” OR “production engineering”) AND (quality AND (control OR
assurance))
“Graphene Defects” OR “Defected Graphene Properties”
“Properties of Graphene” AND “Effects of defects on Graphene Properties”
3. Searching for Engineering Literature
Explore relevant engineering literature databases.
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