Justifying a Problem Academically or Ethically .

Is the problem that you have identified really worth solving Is the problem that you have identified really worth solving? There are three standards or pathways to answering this question. 1) Is there a large volume of evidence supporting my claim that this is in fact a problem and it is worth solving? 2) Would solving this problem help people? 3) Can I prove that there would be a market for a product that solves this problem?

Two Pathways to Justification Justifying Problem Selection Two Pathways to Justification Academically or Ethically Market Research Both are valid. Both are important. However, in almost all disciplines of engineering you will find the organization that governs that body is dedicated to the public interest and the moral responsibility of engineers. It is our hope that engineers want to make the world a better place.

Academically / Ethically Justifying Problem Selection Academically / Ethically In this course, projects that can be justified ethically through academic research represent the highest order of achievement. This should be the starting point for all groups.

Some problems worth solving have no research to draw on. Justifying Problem Selection Market Research Some problems worth solving have no research to draw on. Once you have documented your search of the academic pathway, you might find that a better justification could be showing that there is a market for your product. We will discuss this option in the next steps of the process.

Where are we in the research phase? Presentation Name Engineering Design and Development Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name Where are we in the research phase? Step 5 Step 1 (individual) – Areas of Interest Step 2 (individual) – Large problems within area(s) of interest Step 3 (individual/team) – Manageable problem(s) within area of interest Step 4 (team) – Preliminary research Step 5 (team) – Justify the problem Step 6 (team) – Concise problem statement. You problem statement will continue to evolve as you become an expert.

1. Define and Justify a Problem Why EDD? Engineering Design and Development Lesson 1.1 Overview and Expectations An Engineering Design Process - Research 1. Define and Justify a Problem Brainstorm possible project problems. Research and select a valid problem. Become an expert on the problem. Justify the problem through research. Academic Market Write a problem statement. Document and analyze prior solutions. Identify design requirements. Create a Project Proposal.

Who in fact says your problem is a “problem” that needs to be solved. Presentation Name Engineering Design and Development Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name Justifying Problem Selection Academically / Ethically Getting Started Who in fact says your problem is a “problem” that needs to be solved. Provide varied sources and different arguments for the problem. “I Feel” or “I Think” has no place in engineering design and development. Remove the “language of affection”. Use the “language of report”. Assume no one believes you. Prove every point with the facts.

From this point forward, it is critical to always capture two things. Presentation Name Engineering Design and Development Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name Justifying Problem Selection Academically / Ethically Getting Started From this point forward, it is critical to always capture two things. What was said? (Information) Who said it? (APA Citation) Where should you look to find the best justifications for your project?

Printed Electronic Databases Microfiche General Reference Presentation Name Engineering Design and Development Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name Justifying Problem Selection Academically / Ethically Types of Justification Periodicals & Academic Journals Printed Electronic Databases Microfiche Books Refereed Articles General Reference Documented Communication Expert Interviews Surveys Newspapers Multimedia (video, audio) Commercial Internet Sites Peer Reviewed Editor Reviewed Credentialed Expert Note the order in which these types of justification are listed. Can you see which represents the BEST academic justification? Why?

Justification Problem Statement Strategies for Brainstorming Revisited Five Common Attack Paths to Justifying a Problem Economics Lack of a solution to this problem costs… Health & Safety People are hurt or killed by… Justification Problem Statement Legal Issues People are suing because… Earlier some students might have used these attack paths to Find a Problem. Now we will use them to Justify the Problem. From how many different attack paths can you justify your problem? Technical Problems People a complaining about… Educational Education programs exist to prevent… 11

Quantity and Quality of Sources Presentation Name Engineering Design and Development Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name Justifying Problem Selection Academically / Ethically Quantity and Quality of Sources A diverse spread of acceptable sources makes for a better case of justification. An argument is best made by presenting sound, multiple, and documented sources. 5 Good sources is usually enough Using 3 different attack paths 4 GREAT sources will do Providing 4 different attack paths Justification Your instructor will decide the quality and amount of documentation required to justify your problem. Remember, some problems will be a challenge to meet this standard of justification. Make sure you document your search well before moving to Market Research for justification.

A Systematic Approach to Research Presentation Name Engineering Design and Development Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name Justifying Problem Selection Academically / Ethically A Systematic Approach to Research You instructor will introduce you to the research tools available to you at your school. Some common places to start are Google Scholar Databases such as; Academic Search Premier ERIC Statistical Abstract of the United States http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Image Resources Microsoft, Inc. (n. d. ). Clip art Image Resources Microsoft, Inc. (n.d.). Clip art. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx iStockphoto. Retrieved from http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php Dimension Printing. Retrieved from www.dimensionprinting.com