1. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Research Methodology
Dr. Ayat Ismail, PhD
Urban design & planning dept.
Ain Shams University
ayat.ismail@eng.asu.edu.eg
Planning to draft – How to write an
introduction - How to write a conclusion
2. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Topics
• Components of a research report
• Planning to draft a research report
• Components of the body of research
• Components of an introduction
• Component of a conclusion
• Final steps - revising
3. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Component of a research report
An Introduction
A Conclusion
Bodyof
research
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
…….
1
2
3
4. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Planning to draft a research report
An Introduction
A Conclusion
Bodyof
research
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
…….
3
1
2
5. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Planning to draft a research report
• The last step in the research process is writing the research report
• The first step in planning a draft is to develop an outline
(‘chapterisation’). This means deciding how you are going to divide
your report into different chapters and planning what will be
written in each one
• Chapters are most likely divided by the sub-objectives of your study
or the major significant themes that emerged from your analysis
• Depending upon the importance of a theme or a sub-objective,
either devote a complete chapter to it or combine it with related
themes as subsections in one chapter.
6. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Regardless of the theme, in the body of research, you
• Review the literature (situate your research in the field of
knowledge)
• Present your methodology and how it is contributing to achieving
the objectives/ or solving the research problem, and you also;
• Justify your selection of data types, data collection methods, data
analysis method, and acknowledge the limitations of the chosen
methodology
• State the findings of the empirical research (stating means no
discussion of findings as this part belongs to the conclusions)
1
9. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
In the body of research, you communicate evidence
visually whenever possible
visual presentation has an ethical dimension. Tables, charts, and graphs
always seem objective, and so they can fool inexperienced readers. But they
will make experienced readers suspicious if you seem to distort the image to
serve your story.
1
10. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
Components of a conclusion
• Reminder of the Main Point (objective/problem)
• In order to reach the objective/solve the problem; the research
reviewed……, investigated...., analyzed….., [Summary of Chapter]
• Discussion of findings, stress on significance, contribution to the field,
and implications/recommendations if applicable
• Acknowledge limitations and constrains
• Introduce suggestions for future research
• Closing words, preferably echo or response to the opening words
2
11. MSc
Integrated urbanism
& Sustainable Design
(IUSD)
• The introduction is very similar to the research proposal. However, it
is updated to add/remove the deviations from the original proposal
• Introduction consists of 3 main components
• Background: to contextualize your research
• Problem: why I am doing this research
• Response to problem: this includes approach, methodology,
expected findings… etc.
• How do you mention expected outcomes in the introduction?
• Promise a solution
• A gist (teaser) of a solution
Components of an introduction3
