Navigating the Realm of Research in Architecture

Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
Navigating the Realm of
Research in Architecture
T H E F U T U R E S T A R T S H E R E
F a l l 2 0 2 3

Contact
Information
Name: Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
Address:
Phone number:
Email:
Website:
Profile:
Room N339A, Galala University, Galala City, Suez, Egypt
+201003259984
ymahgoub@gu.edu.eg
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yassermahgoub/
https://www.gu.edu.eg/personnel/yasser-mahgoub/

Navigating the Realm of
Research in Architecture
• Summary:
• In the dynamic field of architecture and planning, the role of research is
paramount in shaping innovative and sustainable built environments.
• This talk aims to inspire and guide postgraduate students in their research
journey, providing a compass to navigate the complex landscape of
architectural research.
• The lecture will shed light on:
– framing a research question,
– formulating research objectives and a
– brief overview of varied research methods.

What is your aim from doing Research?

Why do you want to Research?
• Desire to get a research degree along with its
consequential benefits
• Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved
problems
• Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative
work
• Desire to be of service to society
• Desire to get respectability
(You can choose more than one.)
https://strawpoll.com/40ZmqNmMAZa

What is your aim from doing research?
• PhD Thesis
• Master’s Thesis
• Paper Publication
• Conference Paper
• Class Paper
• Personal Interest
• Other
(Please write your first name)
https://strawpoll.com/Q0ZpRNYrEnM

Definition of Research
• re·search
• noun.
• 1.diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to disco
ver or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.: recent research in medicine.
• 2.a particular instance or piece of research.
• verb (used without object)
• 3. to make researches; investigate carefully.
• verb (used with object)
• 4.to make an extensive investigation into: to research a matter thoroughly.
• Origin:
1570–80; (v.) < Middle French recercher to seek, Old French, equivalent to re- re-
+ cercher to search;(noun) < Middle French recerche
•
Synonyms
1. scrutiny, study.
• 2. study, inquire, examine, scrutinize.

Image of an Architect!
10
Research Methods in Architecture - Dr. Yasser Mahgoub

Image of Researcher!
11

Image of Research
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How can Research serve Architecture?
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Navigating the Realm of Research in Architecture

7 Reasons Why Research Is
Important
Source: LEANN ZARAH, https://owlcation.com/academia/Why-
Research-is-Important-Within-and-Beyond-the-Academe

7 Reasons Why Research Is Important
The main purpose of research is to inform action, to prove a
theory, and contribute to developing knowledge in a field or
study.
1. A Tool for Building Knowledge and for Facilitating Learning
2. Means to Understand Various Issues and Increase Public
Awareness
3. An Aid to Business Success (R&D)
4. A Way to Prove Lies and to Support Truths
5. Means to Find, Gauge, and Seize Opportunities
6. A Seed to Love Reading, Writing, Analyzing, and Sharing
Valuable Information
7. Nourishment and Exercise for the Mind

Knowledge
No
Research
Yes
New
New
M

Research and Design
• Architectural research tends to mix with
practice.
– Some argue that design and research are
intertwined—that architects are conducting
research as their design process leads them to
better understand the site and other peculiarities
of the project.
• In this regard, all design is a form of research!
• While design may be considered as a form of
research, not all research is a form of design!

Research and Design
• In the last decade, we have seen an increase
in practices that are integrating research into
their design processes and services.
• The current technological innovation and
complexity of design processes are requiring
more research and integration between
specialists.

Research and Design
• Recent technological innovations have given
rise to a number of specializations within
architecture firms:
– computational design specialists,
– material consultants, and
– sustainability experts.
– These are all jobs that largely didn’t exist 20 or 30
years ago.
– These experts don't have an established body of
knowledge to work from. Instead, they are
developing the knowledge as it's required.

Research and Design
Architecture
Design
Research

End Products
1. Design (topic [related to research], site
[related to topic], program [related to site and
topic], theory/philosophy/vision, concepts,
project, present)
2. Research (topic [related to project],
theory/hypothesis, method, paper [what? 5
items], publish [where? journal])

Research and Design Products
Design Research
Project Paper

What is Research Design?
• A research design is a step-by-step approach
used by a researcher to conduct a scientific
study.
• It includes various methods and techniques to
conduct research so that a research problem
can be handled efficiently.

Research Design
• How does research and design work and
benefit each other?
– Reading: Socially responsive research-based design in an architecture
studio
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263518300037)
– Reading: The Future of Evidence-Based Design
(https://www.iida.org/content.cfm/the-future-of-evidence-based-design)
– Site: Three Top Firms That are Pursuing Design Research
(https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/three-top-firms-that-
are-pursuing-design-research_o)
– Site: Architectural Research and Design
(http://www.architecturalresearch.de/)
– Site: How architects use research – case studies from practice
(https://www.architecture.com/-/media/gathercontent/how-architects-
use-research/additional-
documents/howarchitectsuseresearch2014pdf.pdf)

Frequently asked questions
• Frequently asked questions: Writing a
research paper

Discussion (5 Minutes)
• Think about a topic that you are interested in.
• Share on the chat box.

Useful Videos
• The Research Process From Start to End |
First Steps Beginner Guide (14:23)
• How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | The
Research Process Beginners Guide (18:34)
• How To Write A Research
Question/Hypothesis & Template | The
Research Process Beginners Guide (12:32)

Research Topic Levels
Urban Planning
City Planning
Urban Design
Landscape Design
Architectural Design
Interior Design
Furniture Design
Object Design

Research Projects
• Research projects begin with a good
definition of the research problem:
– What do you know about the problem?
– What do you want to know about the
problem?
– What do you want to do with the results?

Research Problem Statement
• A research problem may be defined as:
– an area of concern,
– a gap in the existing knowledge, or
– a deviation in the norm or standard that points to
the need for further understanding and
investigation.
• The ultimate goal of a statement of the problem is to
transform a generalized problem (something that
bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-
defined problem; one that can be resolved through
focused research and careful decision-making.

Research Problem/Project Statement
• Writing a statement of the problem should help you clearly
identify the purpose of the research project you will propose.
• The basis for the introductory section of your final proposal,
directing your reader’s attention quickly to the issues that your
proposed project will address and providing the reader with a
concise statement of the proposed project itself.
• A statement of problem need not be long and elaborate: one
page is more than enough for a good statement of problem.

A good research problem should have the following
characteristics:
• address a gap in knowledge.
• significant enough to contribute to the existing body of
research
• lead to further research
• render itself to investigation through collection of data
• of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time,
and resources
• The approach towards solving the problem should be
ethical.

How to write a problem statement
• After you have identified a research problem for your project,
the next step is to write a problem statement.
• An effective problem statement is concise and concrete.
• It should:
– Put the problem in context (what do we already know?)
– Describe the precise issue that the research will address
(what do we need to know?)
– Show the relevance of the problem (why do we need to
know it?)
– Set the objectives of the research (what will you do to find
out?)

• In academic research, writing a problem statement
can help you contextualize and understand the
significance of your research problem.
• A problem statement can be several paragraphs long
and serve as the basis for your research proposal, or
it can be condensed into just a few sentences in the
introduction of your paper or thesis.

• In businesses and other organizations, writing a
problem statement is an important step in
improvement projects.
• A clearly defined and well-understood problem is
crucial to finding and implementing effective
solutions. In this case, the problem statement is
usually a stand-alone document.

Step 1: Contextualize the problem
• The problem statement should frame your research
problem in its particular context and give some
background on what is already known about it.

Step 2: Show why it matters
• The problem statement should also address the
relevance of the research: why is it important that
the problem is solved?
• This doesn’t mean you have to do something
groundbreaking or world-changing.
• It’s more important that the problem is researchable,
feasible, and clearly addresses a relevant issue in
your field.

Step 3: Set your aims and objectives
• The problem statement should frame how you
intend to address the problem.
• Your goal should not be to find a conclusive solution,
but to seek out the reasons behind the problem and
propose more effective approaches to tackling or
understanding it.

• Write a short problem statement.

Philosophy → Theory → Method
Philosophy Theory Strategy Tactics

How is Theory related to research Methodology?
Theory describes, explains, and predicts.
Research methodologies are:
1. Prescribed ways to test and prove or disprove those
descriptions, explanations, and predications.
2. Provide a means by which theoretical claims to
applicability beyond the particular case can be
affirmed, modified, or rejected.
Theories are more general, but research methodologies
are more specific.

Practical research problems
Practical research is directly relevant to a specific
problem that affects an organization, institution, social
group, or society more broadly.
Theoretical research problems
Sometimes theoretical issues have clear practical
consequences, but sometimes their relevance is less
immediately obvious.

• Work with the five W's: who, what, when, where and why. This
will help you frame your research problem statement.

• Answer the 5 W and H questions related to
your topic.

Research Problem Statement
• A brief no more than one page.
• The statement should include the following:
• Working title (temporary title).
• Name
• Problem definition:
• What is the problem that you are interested in?
• Research question (one) and sub-questions:
o Main question
o Max 3 sub-questions
– 5 keywords

Research Cyclical Process
• A research must be informed about existing literature.
• The outcome will expand that body of
literature.

Literature Review
• Literature Review (LR):
– A body of information existing in a wide variety of
stored formats
– Has conceptual relevance for a particular topic of
inquiry.
– Activities to use that body of information to
define and address a topic of inquiry.

Literature Review
• Important issues:
– Key Sources
– Key Theories
– Major issues and databases
– Main questions and problems

Literature Review
• Annotated Bibliography:
– Listing of references
obtained from searching
a field’s literature.
– Respond to each
reference cited with a
descriptive paragraph:
Goals, Theoretical stance,
Relevance for the
investigation.

3.1.2. Annotated Bibliography vs LR
• Annotated Bibliography:
– Listing of references obtained from searching a
field’s literature
– Respond to each reference cited with a descriptive
paragraph: Goals, Theoretical stance, Relevance
for the investigation.

Literature Review
• From Annotated Bibliography to Literature
Review
– Introductory statement
– Summary of the lines of existing research
(grouped)
– Observations on the state of literature: Expand –
Covered – Arguments - …

Basic Guidelines How to write a
Literature Review
• Organize the literature review around key topics of
concepts.
• Use headings or topic sentences to convey your
organizational principle.
• Tell a story about the research. This will assist you with
your organization.
• Be selective. Incorporate only studies that are pertinent to
your subject.
• Synthesize and evaluate.
• Use a summary to assist the reader to relate every section
to the wider topic and to clarify your argument's
movement. Where have we just been and where are we
heading to?

Don'ts of Writing a Literature Review
• Citing supportive sources only. It is crucial that
you also mention those studies that contradict
your stance and explain why they deviate from
your thinking.
• Using non-scholarly articles.
• Depending on direct quotations only. Even
though it's okay to include direct quotations,
don't depend on them too much.
• Composing a narrowly-focused literature review.

Literature Review
• To identify the research question:
– Emerge from analyzing, criticizing and suggesting
improvements to an existing work.
– Comparison of literature.
– Existing Theory
– Testing Theory
– Expansion of concept or Theory
• Mining the Literature to develop
a research question

Literature Review
• Research Creativity:
– Derive new implications from existing position
– Critique past stances from an awareness of
present positions
– Project future conditions based upon learned
premises.

Literature Review
• To Focus the topic of inquiry:
– Topic should not be:
• Too general
• Too broad
• Too restrictive
• To Understand the Makeup of the Research
Question
– Back-and-forth between Literature and Research
– Restate the topic several times

Literature Review
• To Understand an Idea’s Generic Roots
– Historical lineage
– Family tree
– Network
– Grow the tree

Literature Review
• To Understand the Current Conceptual
Landscape
– Contemporary context
– Current points of view
• Competing
• Opposing
• Nuanced (slight degree of difference)
– Intellectual agenda (buzz-words)
• Sustainability
• Deconstruction
• Transdisciplinary

Literature Review
• Facts and Ideas
– Fact: Agreement – Quantifiable and certifiable
– Idea: Inference or hypothesis (newspapers, letters,
material objects, historical studies, …)
• Primary and secondary Sources
– Primary: Original
– Secondary: A source can be primary or secondary
• Methodology by Theory and by Application
– Describe methodology
– Apply methodology

Literature Review
1. Knowing where the resources are
2. Having an organizing and retrieving system
3. Motivation and imagination

Literature Review
• Internet
• Library
• Archives
• Organizations
• Agencies
• Media

Literature Review
• Internet
– Search Engines
– Specialized Search Engines
– Full Text Services
• eJournals
• eBooks
– Library Databases
– Specific Websites

Literature Review
• Locating  → Borrowing
• Digest the gathered information
• Frame the research report
• Note taking
• Catalog
• Creative imagination

Literature Review
• Note taking
– Systematic way
– Index cards
– Notebook
– Laptop
– Record all of the bibliographic
Information of the source
– Order
– To be retrieved
– Note taking → Note organizing
– Creativity and Imagination

Journal Citation Ranking and Quartile
Scores (Q1-Q4)
• Based on Impact Factor (IF) data, the Journal Citation
Reports published by Thomson Reuters provides
yearly rankings of science and social science journals,
in the subject categories relevant for the journal.
• Quartile rankings are therefore derived for each
journal in each of its subject categories according to
which quartile of the IF distribution the journal
occupies for that subject category.
– Q1 denotes the top 25% of the IF distribution
– Q2 for middle-high position (between top 50% and top
25%),
– Q3 middle-low position (top 75% to top 50%), and
– Q4 the lowest position (bottom 25% of the IF distribution)

Journal Rankings on Architecture
• https://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php?
category=2216

Refereed Journals
• Design Studies:
• Scope
• Design Studies is a leading international academic journal focused on
developing understanding of design processes. It studies design activity
across all domains of application, including engineering and product
design, architectural and urban design, computer artefacts and systems
design. It therefore provides an interdisciplinary forum for the analysis,
development and discussion of fundamental aspects of design activity,
from cognition and methodology to values and philosophy.
• Design Studies publishes work that is concerned with the process of
designing, and is relevant to a broad audience of researchers, teachers
and practitioners. We welcome original, scientific and scholarly research
papers reporting studies concerned with the process of designing in all its
many fields, or furthering the development and application of new
knowledge relating to design process.
• Papers should be written to be intelligible and pertinent to a wide range of
readership across different design domains. To be relevant for this journal,
a paper has to offer something that gives new insight into or knowledge
about the design process, or assists new development of the processes of
designing.

Refereed Journals
• The Journal of Architecture
• Aims and scope
• The Journal of Architecture is published by Routledge, an imprint of
Taylor & Francis, for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
• Since its launch in 1996 The Journal of Architecture has become
widely recognised as one of the foremost peer-reviewed
architecture journals internationally. The Journal of Architecture is
now published eight times a year, comprising both guest-edited
special issues, as well as open issues.
• The Journal of Architecture has become renowned for publishing
texts in the architectural humanities. The editors also strongly
encourage submissions from all areas of architectural research,
including urbanism, research-by-design, practice-related research,
technology, sustainability, pedagogy, visual culture and artistic
practices.

Refereed Journals
• Archnet-IJAR
• Archnet-IJAR aims at establishing a bridge between theory and practice in these
fields. The journal acts as a platform that reports on the latest research findings for
examining buildings and urban environments and debates innovative approaches
for creating responsive environments. Archnet-IJAR is truly international and aims
at strengthening ties between scholars, academics, and practitioners from the
global north and the global south with contributors and readers reaching across
the boundaries of cultures and geographies.
Archnet-IJAR publishes articles in two broad areas that address a wide range of
topics and scales:
Architectural and Design Research: involves a range of topics that include
architectural pedagogy and design studio teaching practices; architectural and
sustainable design; design methods and architectural theories; architectural
criticism; design and project programming; environment-behaviour studies;
application of information technologies; post occupancy and facility performance
evaluation; and social and cultural factors in design.
Cities and Urban Research: involves a range of topics that include governance and
political factors contributing to the shaping of communities, cities and urban
regions; community planning; sustainable urban conservation; environmental
planning and eco development; housing policy; planning, and design; new
urbanism; everyday urbanism; sustainable development; urban design
assessment; and urban studies.

https://www.elsevier.com/open-access/open-access-journals

https://www.doaj.org/

https://oatd.org/

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access-journals-list.php

• Search for 3 recent references (papers and
books) related to this topic.
• Provide title and abstract and Web link

Research Approaches
• Diagnostic Studies
• Diagnostic studies help you deepen your
understanding of a setting.
• They provide suggestive evidence on a broad realm.
• They offer insight into the structure and dynamics of a
whole situation. For trustworthiness of findings,
diagnostic studies rely on the consistency, clarity, and
coherence of the insights they develop in the situation
being studied. Researchers who want more precise
measurements of particular attributes of a group or
situation may carry out a descriptive study based on
conceptual frameworks developed in diagnostic ones.
• Example: The Urban Villagers
Interview with Herb Gans, Author of The Urban Village (Minute 22)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzhPFPQ1jXE&ab_channel=TheWestEndMus
eumBoston%2CMA

Research Approaches
• Descriptive Studies
• Descriptive studies describe and measure as
precisely as possible one or more
characteristics and their relations in a
defined group.
• Developing clear concepts and translating
these into something that can be counted as
a manifestation of the concept are
particularly crucial problems in descriptive
research.
• This study provides the answer to “what”
and does not provide the answers to “how”,
“when”, and “why”.
• Example: Study of Fear Among Residents of
the Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project in St. Louis
Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpcs7tG
DD4&ab_channel=NinePBS

Research Approaches
• Theoretical Studies
• Theoretical studies set specific
hypotheses suggested by
experiences elsewhere or primarily
derived from more comprehensive
theory.
• Such studies tend to increase
general insights and to focus more
on the conceptual framework of a
problem than on the precise nature
of the group they are observing.
• Example: Social Pressures in
Informal groups

Research Design
• Case Study
• A case-study research design is used for the
in-depth and detailed study of a subject. This
technique is usually used to narrow down a
big problem into small discrete easily
researchable problems.
• The case study research design is useful to
test the applicability of specific theory or
model on the real-life phenomena.
• A case-study research design is useful in those
scenarios where there is not much
information is known or available about the
phenomena.

Research Design
• Action research
• In action research studies changes are
made and analyzed that have direct and
lasting consequences on people beyond
those in the research project.
• Comparative action research settings may
occur naturally or may be created
analytically by careful sampling.

Research Design
• Survey
• A survey design is useful when
investigators want to find out in detail
about a phenomenon, such as housing
satisfaction, or about a class of elements.
• Survey researchers who study large
populations often choose to gather data
that are easy to quantify and therefore
less time-consuming to analyze than
qualitative data.
• For this reason frequent research methods
used in surveys are mail questionnaires,
observing physical traces, observing
behavior, and interviews.

Research Design
• Cohort Research design
• A cohort study is generally conducted on
a certain population (have some
commonality or similarity) over a period
of time.
• A cohort study is usually applied in
medical sciences and social sciences.
• A cohort study makes note of statistical
occurrence with a specialized
subsection of the population, which is
unified by similar characteristics that are
relevant with the problem being
investigated, instead of studying
statistical occurrence with the general
population.

Research Design
• Causal design
• This type of research study is used to analyze the phenomena of
conditional statements like “if A, then B”.
• The purpose of using this type of research is to evaluate the impact of a
specific change on the existing standards and conventions.
• A causal explanation is required to test the hypothesis. Causality can be
determined by observing the variation in the variables which are assumed
to be causing a change in the other variables.

Research Design
• Longitudinal design
• Longitudinal research design makes repetitive experiments and makes
multiple observations.
• In this type of research design, the same group of people is interviewed
at regular intervals. In this way, the researcher tracks their behavior and
identify variables that have caused the change in their behaviors.

Research Design
• Experimental
• An experimental design is appropriate
when investigators want to measure the
effects that an action has in a particular
situation. In an experiment you want to be
able to focus observation on a small
number of attributes at one time. To do so,
you need control, so that you can be as
sure as possible that the effects you
observe result from experimental changes.
– Control group and Experiment group
– Before and After the action
Milgram's Obedience Experiment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBDkJ-Nc3Ig&ab_channel=PsychED

Research Design
• Historical design
• In this type of research data from the
past is collected, evaluated and the
hypothesis is defended based on the
outcomes.
• To make this type of research, a lot of
resources like logs, documents, notes,
diaries, reports, official records,
archives, and non textual data like
maps, images, drawings, audios are
used.
• This research is difficult to conduct
because documents should be
authentic and authorized.

Research Design
• Observational research
• This type of research design is used to draw results by
comparing subjects under research with a controlled group.
• An observational study can be of two types. In the first type,
your subjects know that you are observing them and in the
second type, you observe your subjects without letting them
know.

Research Design
• Parametric
Study
• Parametric research consists
of the systematic
manipulation of one variable
(Independent), and making
measurements on another
variable (Dependent) though
to be directly influenced by
the independent variable,
while keeping all other
conditions constant by means
of control variable

Research Design
• Multivariant Study
• In many situations, identifying one or
even a restricted set of variables is
difficult - especially in the case of
behavioral studies of building
environments where many physical
and personal factors are present.

Research Settings
• Natural Settings
• Natural settings offer researchers the
unique opportunity to observe people
in settings they choose to come to,
engaged in activities a contrived
setting could not re-create.
• Natural settings are particularly
appropriate for diagnostic studies in
which investigators want to find out
what is actually going on - what
elements, relationships, and dynamics
are salient.
• In natural settings you can also carry
out an experiment, by manipulating a
part of a physical environment, a
particular social behavior, or a policy.

Research Settings
• Contrived Settings
• Contrived settings are planned and controlled research
environments in which to observe people and gather data from them.
One such setting is the experimental laboratory, in which investigators
control the setting, choose participants randomly, effect controlled
changes, and measure some attribute of the subjects after those
changes.

Research Evaluation
• Validity
• The validity of a
measurement is concerned
with whether the property
being measured is what
should be measured - i.e.,
are we measuring the right
thing?

Research Evaluation
• Reliability
• Reliability refers
to whether other
researchers
performing
similar studies
obtain
equivalent
results.

Research Evaluation
• Neutrality
• The results collected in research should be
free from bias and neutral.
• Discuss and get evaluated your conclusion
with experienced multiple individuals and
consider those who agree with your research’s
results.

Research Evaluation
• Generalization
• Generalization is one of the most important
key characteristics of research design.
• The results obtained from the research should
be applicable to a population and not just to
a limited sample.

• Select an appropriate research method for
your topic and explain why did you select it.

How To Prepare A Research Proposal
• A research proposal is a document of usually
three to seven pages that informs others of a
proposed piece of research.
• This proposed research is usually a Masters or
Doctorate by thesis, but it can also be work for a
corporate purpose. University students usually
write research proposals for academics who
may eventually supervise the work based on the
proposal.

• A research proposal can be rejected as
unsuitable or poorly designed and on the basis
of this, a piece of research can be rejected. The
proposal is, therefore, an important document;
one that is worth spending some time on to get
right.
• Another reason to get the proposal right is that
this can save you time in the long run.
• If the proposal is well-designed, it can form an
outline of the thesis to follow, and ideally, can be
mapped onto various parts of the final thesis.

The following elements must be included in any proposal:
1. Introduction or background to the research problem or
issue, including an identification of the gap in the current
research
2. Research question and, if possible, a thesis statement
answering the question - Justification for the proposal
research, i.e., why the research is needed
3. Preliminary literature review covering what others have
already done in the area
4. Theoretical framework to be used in the proposed research
- Contribution of the research to the general area
5. Proposed research methodology and Tools
6. Research plan and Timetable
7. References used in preparing the proposal

1. Limitations of the research (what the research is not
intended to do i.e. the scope of the research)
2. Resources to be used in the research e.g. equipment
3. Statement of the means by which the research will be
evaluated or tested
4. Statement of where and how results of the research
will be disseminated
5. Background of the researcher and their suitability for
the task

• 1. Introduction
• The introduction should be as brief as possible (a
paragraph or two).
• You need to make this part of the proposal clear and
crisp.

• 2. The research question
• Note that the research question may not be a question
as such, but rather a statement of a problem to be
investigated.

• 3. Preliminary literature review
• This is where you provide more detail about what others
have done in the area, and what you propose to do. You
need to write around two pages in which you cover the
following:
– The major issues or schools of thought
– Gaps in the literature (in more detail than is provided
in the introduction)
– Research questions and/or hypotheses which are
connected carefully to the literature being reviewed
– Definitions of key terms, provided either when you
introduce each idea, or in a definition sub-section
– Questions arising from the gaps that can be the focus
of data collection or analysis

• 4. Theoretical framework
• The theoretical framework usually forms the final part of
the literature review section.
• It describes the model that you are using in the thesis to
demonstrate your point.
Classroom
Students
Time
Lighting
Color
Shape
…..
Satisfaction
Achievement
Comfort
Performance
QOL
…..

• Contribution of the research
• In this section, you outline how your research will make a
change to an area of study. The contribution section
explains how what you will do will lead to certain
outcomes.

• 5. Proposed research methodology tools
• This section should be about 1-2 pages. You do not have
to describe the methodology to be used in great detail,
but you should justify its use over other methodologies.

• 6. Research plan & timetable
• The research plan or outline can be discussed in
conjunction with a research timetable.
• The timetable should indicate the weighting of each part
of the proposed thesis in percentage terms, the topics
covered, approximate word limit and, importantly, the
approximate length of time it will take to complete them

Chapter Topic % Words Months
1 Introduction 5 3,500 3
2 Literature Review 30 21,000 6
3 Methodology 20 14,000 4
4 Data analysis 25 17,500 5
5 Conclusions and Implications 20 14,000 6
TOTAL 100 70,000 24

Chapter Topic % Words Weeks
1 Introduction 5 500 2
2 Literature Review 30 3000 4
3 Methodology & Tools 20 2000 2
4 Data Collections a& Analysis 25 2500 3
5 Conclusions and Implications 20 2000 3
TOTAL 100 10,000 14

• 7. List of references
• This must be provided in the usual scholarly fashion. It
helps to convince your reader that your proposal is worth
pursuing if you can identify literature in the field and
demonstrate that you understand it. It makes a very
strong impact if you can identify where there is a
research gap in the literature that your proposal hopes to
fill. This is your contribution to the scholarly
conversation.

Proposal Final Thesis
1. Introduction 1. Introduction
1.1 General area 1.1 General area
1.2 Specific topic 1.2 Specific topic
1.3 Gap 1.3 Gap
1.4 Research Question 1.4 Research Question
1.5 Thesis Statement 1.5 Thesis Statement
1.6 Contribution
1.7 Thesis outline/Limitations
2. Literature Review 2. Literature Review
3. Theoretical Framework
4. Methodology 3. Methodology
4. Data Analysis
5. Contribution 5. Conclusions and Implications
6. Research Plan and Timetable
7. References 6. References +
7. Appendices

Elements of a Research Paper
Abstract
Summarize your purpose and
design.
Use less than 300 words.
1. Introduction
& Literature
Review
State the problem. Review relevant literature.
2. Methods Discuss your study design
including any tools or
instruments you will be using.
Outline the strategy you
will use to analyze the data.
3. Results Restate your research question Describe your findings.
4. Discussion Discuss your findings in the
context of your overall question
as well as previous literature and
research.
Make suggestions for
future research projects on
the subject.
5. Conclusion Restate your thesis. Summarize the main
points.
References Min 10 “recent” papers/books 2024 → 2023→ 2022

Navigating the Realm of Research in Architecture

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