Today, I am dedicating today to the works of preparing for application for PhD.
1. Post-Graduate Application Form.
2. Certified Copies of Degrees & Transcripts.
3. Write Translation of B.Tech.Ed.(Hons) Transcript.
4. Photo shoot (passport size).
5. PhD Proposal write-up
Waiting for:
Referee Forms.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Busy for the last one week plus
This one week plus...I have been busy.
Last Saturday was the convo....8 Aug 2009 (Saturday).
Must wake up early tomorrow morning...and get ready my PhD proposal.
12/8/2009
(actual time 13/8/2009 0017)
Last Saturday was the convo....8 Aug 2009 (Saturday).
Must wake up early tomorrow morning...and get ready my PhD proposal.
12/8/2009
(actual time 13/8/2009 0017)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Aug 5 - research_guide.pdf e-book
Aug 5 - Read the research_guide.pdf e-book. This is the one of the 2 e-books emailed by Supervisor.
Researchers get their research questions from many different places.
- Observation of the world.
- Theory.
- Previous research.
- Practical concerns.
- Personal interest.
Define the Research Question clearly.
- Explicit definitions for all concepts used in the research question.
- Specify the limits of the study in a way that makes it clear what is, and is not, to be studied
Exploration means finding out as much as possible about the research question.
Literature Search and Reading
Critical Thinking
Debate
Computers and the Internet
Record Keeping
Find suitable references by:
Speaking to your advisor/supervisor (if you have one).
Speaking to other researchers working in the same or related fields.
Speaking to researchers from other disciplines who can give you interesting perspectives which might not be available within your own discipline.
Searching the journals that relate to your topic.
Using subject indexes and abstracts.
Looking closely at the reference sections of key books and articles relating to your topic.
Spending time searching library shelves and talking to
librarians.
Searching the Internet for relevant information.
Searchable in Internet are:
Online library catalogues
Working papers
Journals
Bibliographies
Contact details for other researchers
Newspapers and newspaper archives
Databases and research-related information
Research Proposal
A description of the research problem.
An argument as to why that problem is important.
A review of literature relevant to the research problem.
A description of the proposed research methodology.
A description of how the research findings will be used and/or disseminated.
Tips for Describing a Research Problem
Where does this research question come from?
Clarify or quantify any concepts which may not be clear.
Tips for Why the Research is Important
Convince other people that the project is worth supporting.
Show that you plan to make some useful contribution to your discipline or society.
Describe how the results will be used.
Think about how your research …
… may resolve theoretical questions in your area,
… may develop better theoretical models in your area,
… may influence public policy,
… may change the way people do their jobs in a particular field, or,
… may change the way people live.
Literature Review
Conceptual framework for research question and methodology.
Breadth and diversity of literature that relates to the research question.
Integrated overview of your field of study.
Question pertaining to Literature Review
What are the broad bodies of literature that have relevance for your research topic (local and international)?
What methods and results have previous researchers in your field produced? What is the history of your area of study?
What theoretical model, or models, relate to your research topic? Describe these in detail.
What different methodologies have been used by other researchers in your area? Try to identify the key methodological issues that must be addressed, since these will etermine your own choice of methodology.
What are the most recent research findings in your area of study?
What gaps and contradictions exist among these findings? What new research questions do these findings suggest?
What structure suits my literature review best?
What should I leave out?
What quotations should I include?
Tips for Methodology
Empirical Research Methodology
Hypotheses
Research Design
Sampling
Measurement instruments
Data collection procedures
Data analysis
Emergent Research Methodology
Exploratory Phase
Development of Research Methodology
Literature-Based Research
Sources
Analysis procedures
Researchers get their research questions from many different places.
- Observation of the world.
- Theory.
- Previous research.
- Practical concerns.
- Personal interest.
Define the Research Question clearly.
- Explicit definitions for all concepts used in the research question.
- Specify the limits of the study in a way that makes it clear what is, and is not, to be studied
Exploration means finding out as much as possible about the research question.
Literature Search and Reading
Critical Thinking
Debate
Computers and the Internet
Record Keeping
Find suitable references by:
Speaking to your advisor/supervisor (if you have one).
Speaking to other researchers working in the same or related fields.
Speaking to researchers from other disciplines who can give you interesting perspectives which might not be available within your own discipline.
Searching the journals that relate to your topic.
Using subject indexes and abstracts.
Looking closely at the reference sections of key books and articles relating to your topic.
Spending time searching library shelves and talking to
librarians.
Searching the Internet for relevant information.
Searchable in Internet are:
Online library catalogues
Working papers
Journals
Bibliographies
Contact details for other researchers
Newspapers and newspaper archives
Databases and research-related information
Research Proposal
A description of the research problem.
An argument as to why that problem is important.
A review of literature relevant to the research problem.
A description of the proposed research methodology.
A description of how the research findings will be used and/or disseminated.
Tips for Describing a Research Problem
Where does this research question come from?
Clarify or quantify any concepts which may not be clear.
Tips for Why the Research is Important
Convince other people that the project is worth supporting.
Show that you plan to make some useful contribution to your discipline or society.
Describe how the results will be used.
Think about how your research …
… may resolve theoretical questions in your area,
… may develop better theoretical models in your area,
… may influence public policy,
… may change the way people do their jobs in a particular field, or,
… may change the way people live.
Literature Review
Conceptual framework for research question and methodology.
Breadth and diversity of literature that relates to the research question.
Integrated overview of your field of study.
Question pertaining to Literature Review
What are the broad bodies of literature that have relevance for your research topic (local and international)?
What methods and results have previous researchers in your field produced? What is the history of your area of study?
What theoretical model, or models, relate to your research topic? Describe these in detail.
What different methodologies have been used by other researchers in your area? Try to identify the key methodological issues that must be addressed, since these will etermine your own choice of methodology.
What are the most recent research findings in your area of study?
What gaps and contradictions exist among these findings? What new research questions do these findings suggest?
What structure suits my literature review best?
What should I leave out?
What quotations should I include?
Tips for Methodology
Empirical Research Methodology
Hypotheses
Research Design
Sampling
Measurement instruments
Data collection procedures
Data analysis
Emergent Research Methodology
Exploratory Phase
Development of Research Methodology
Literature-Based Research
Sources
Analysis procedures
Aug 4 - Intro to Research & Research Methods
Supervisor emailed 2 e-books to me.
Late night of Aug 4 - Read this e-book.
Introduction to Research & Research Methods. Bradford University, School of Management.
I learned several key points.
1) Common purpose of research.
Review or synthesize existing knowledge
Investigate existing situations or problems
Provide solutions to problems
Explore and analyse more general issues
Construct or create new procedures or systems
Explain new phenomenon
Generate new knowledge
…or a combination of any of the above!
2) Types of Research.
Exploratory, Descriptive, Analytical, Predictive.
3) Research Approaches.
Quantitative/Qualitative
Applied/Basic
Deductive/Inductive.
4) Research Philosophies.
Positivistic - ‘Quantitative’, ‘Objectivist’, ‘Scientific’, ‘Experimentalist’ or ‘Traditionalist’
Phenomenological - ‘Qualitative’, ‘Subjectivist’, ‘Humanistic’ or ‘Interpretative’
5) Methodology.
Why you collected certain data
What data you collected
Where you collected it
How you collected it
How you analysed it
6) Research Method.
A research method refers only to the various specific tools or ways data can be collected
and analysed, e.g. a questionnaire; interview checklist; data analysis software etc.).
7) Methodologies for Positivinistic.
• Surveys
• Experimental Studies
• Longitudinal Studies
• Cross-sectional Studies
8) Methodologies for Phenomenological.
• Case Studies
• Action Research
• Ethnography (participant observation)
• Participative Enquiry
• Feminist Perspectives
• Grounded Theory
Late night of Aug 4 - Read this e-book.
Introduction to Research & Research Methods. Bradford University, School of Management.
I learned several key points.
1) Common purpose of research.
Review or synthesize existing knowledge
Investigate existing situations or problems
Provide solutions to problems
Explore and analyse more general issues
Construct or create new procedures or systems
Explain new phenomenon
Generate new knowledge
…or a combination of any of the above!
2) Types of Research.
Exploratory, Descriptive, Analytical, Predictive.
3) Research Approaches.
Quantitative/Qualitative
Applied/Basic
Deductive/Inductive.
4) Research Philosophies.
Positivistic - ‘Quantitative’, ‘Objectivist’, ‘Scientific’, ‘Experimentalist’ or ‘Traditionalist’
Phenomenological - ‘Qualitative’, ‘Subjectivist’, ‘Humanistic’ or ‘Interpretative’
5) Methodology.
Why you collected certain data
What data you collected
Where you collected it
How you collected it
How you analysed it
6) Research Method.
A research method refers only to the various specific tools or ways data can be collected
and analysed, e.g. a questionnaire; interview checklist; data analysis software etc.).
7) Methodologies for Positivinistic.
• Surveys
• Experimental Studies
• Longitudinal Studies
• Cross-sectional Studies
8) Methodologies for Phenomenological.
• Case Studies
• Action Research
• Ethnography (participant observation)
• Participative Enquiry
• Feminist Perspectives
• Grounded Theory
Monday, August 3, 2009
July 31 - First Meeting with Supervisor
July 31, 2009 was my first F2F meeting with PhD Supervisor, Dr KAC.
Research Title: Usability Evaluation Tool for Mobile Learning Applications.
Area of Research: Mobile Learning, e-Learning.
I had earlier emailed her some pieces of info forming part of the PhD Proposal.
- Schematic diagram.
- Research Questions, Contribution to Knowledge, Objectives & Deliverables.
- Research Planning (process flowchart showing timeline and activities).
- Gantt Chart showing the research planning.
By email earlier, she had suggested about...Developing an "instrument" for usability.
- Initially, my Research Title was "Usability Inspection Criteria for Mobile Learning Applications."
- In my heart, I agreed to her suggestion, as I love to design and develop. It would be develop to develop an instructment / a tool / a method which could be used.
- Hence, my new Research Title was changed to "Usability Inspection Tool for Mobile Learning Applications."
She had given me some input.
- Structured Equation Modeling - a popular statistical method. She personally used this for her PhD research.
- For PhD proposal.....Literature Review...write down in Outline first => Supervisor check => Write in detail.
- Problem statement......important that there is a research Gap to be fulfilled.
- Descriptive Statistics alone is often deemed to be insufficient. Also need to use Inferential Statistics.
- Important to use the correct & suitable Statistical Method to answer the Research Question, rather than follow the popular method (e.g. ANOVA).
Supervisor said she would like to have Dr HSH to be the Co-Supervisor as they could easily work along. (Of course, that's great. He taught me before.)
Research Title: Usability Evaluation Tool for Mobile Learning Applications.
Area of Research: Mobile Learning, e-Learning.
I had earlier emailed her some pieces of info forming part of the PhD Proposal.
- Schematic diagram.
- Research Questions, Contribution to Knowledge, Objectives & Deliverables.
- Research Planning (process flowchart showing timeline and activities).
- Gantt Chart showing the research planning.
By email earlier, she had suggested about...Developing an "instrument" for usability.
- Initially, my Research Title was "Usability Inspection Criteria for Mobile Learning Applications."
- In my heart, I agreed to her suggestion, as I love to design and develop. It would be develop to develop an instructment / a tool / a method which could be used.
- Hence, my new Research Title was changed to "Usability Inspection Tool for Mobile Learning Applications."
She had given me some input.
- Structured Equation Modeling - a popular statistical method. She personally used this for her PhD research.
- For PhD proposal.....Literature Review...write down in Outline first => Supervisor check => Write in detail.
- Problem statement......important that there is a research Gap to be fulfilled.
- Descriptive Statistics alone is often deemed to be insufficient. Also need to use Inferential Statistics.
- Important to use the correct & suitable Statistical Method to answer the Research Question, rather than follow the popular method (e.g. ANOVA).
Supervisor said she would like to have Dr HSH to be the Co-Supervisor as they could easily work along. (Of course, that's great. He taught me before.)
Recalling history of my Masters...
July 2004 - Became the Club Secretary. DG of the year was Phillip Ooi.
Jan 2005 - Enrolled into MMU for Master of Multimedia (e-Learning Technologies).
Supposed to be 4 trimesters coursework, 2 trimesters project dissertation. Completion within 2 years (i.e. 6 trimesters).
March 2005 - Elected as Club President for fiscal year of 2005/2006. (Not long after that JC started a backstabbing campaign on me.)
July 2005 - Started as the President of Lions Club of Serdang. DG of the year was Woon Fong Piew. Started my club e-bulletin; I was the first to start e-bulletin in LCI District 308-B2. My passion in Lionism started to grow more.
Dec 2005 - Completed all my coursework ahead of time (by 1 trimester).
Jan 2006 - Started my project dissertation with Tengku Putri Norishah as supervisor. (JC's backstabbing campaign was still on.) Business was seeing starting to decline.
Feb 2006 - Got to know KKW as he came to campaign. KKW has known RP for some time; so discussed campaign strategy till late night together with RP.
Mar 2006 - OCS told me that I would be the future Leader of the Lions movement.
Mar-May 2006 - Business decline was obvious. I lost my 2 most important clients. Ramlan put restriction on training. My staff...Azhar, Naza and Lina, resigned one after another. Felt very depressed. My interest in MeL Project dissertation became distracted.
Mar 2006 - Hot issue was bidding of convention organising; I (and many other Selangor Lions was behind PC's bid.)
April 2006 - At the convention in Singapore, KKW won as VDG Elect and PC won the bid to be the COCC for convention 2007 at Sunway.
Jun 2006 - AP joined....She, a jovious girl, has been able to make me smile (and remain positive) despite the declining business.
July 2006 - I started as the Zone Chairperson, my first time in Cabinet. DG of the year was Khoo Kay Huat. Got to know CKL when he brought AP and I to duck drumstick wantan mee. CKL was very nice to us.
July/Aug 2006 - COCC was started. PC was looking for Secretary; JC volunteered to be Secretary; RP recommended me to PC as Secretary. Eventually, PC appointed me as Secretary. (mmm...another sore point for JC.)
Sep/Nov 2006 - Passion in Lionism grew to high state; had secretly desired to become the DG in the future. I think I had become totally distracted; I more or less forgot my MeL Project dissertation.
Dec 2006 - Started to really want to go to the Apex. Started to attend Lions functions outside of Selangor. Often went together with CKL; friendship with CKL also grew.
Feb 2007 - Started to campaign for KS. On KKW's instruction, I went to negotiate with PC and BO to avoid 3-corner fight...indirectly, giving way to AL and KS to have a 2-corner contest. BO started to dislike me...and teamed up with JC.
Apr 2007 - Alan Soo withdrew as Banquet Chairperson. This also increased BO's anger with my Club (and included me).
Apr 2007 - At the Convention, every COC member was busy; tempers flared. AP was upset because somebody scolded her.
May 2007 - KKW offered me to RC....but..Selangor had 2 RC, Perak had 2 RC, Penang had 3 RC, Kedah & Perlis 1 RC.
end May 2007 - AP resigned. After AP left, CKL became cold with me. CKL had been very nice to AP. It was double blow to me, losing a good staff and a good friend.
July 2007 - I started as Region Chairperson. DG of the year was KKW.
July-Sep 2007 - I travelled extensively to participate in Installations. My interest in contesting for VDG had become obvious.
Aug-Sep 2007 - Other VDG aspirants were CKL, KHP, HH, and to a lesser extent, AN. AL expressed that he was not interested to enter the contest for 3rd time.
Oct/Nov 2007 - I was adviced by several to back down....JQ, Ahia L, DFWK's son, DJC. KS was backing me, KKW was backing CKL...as mentioned by PC. I offered CKL to give way to him, he being the elder brother.
Nov/Dec 2007 - I made the final decision...NOT to enter the VDG contest, and help my wife in political pre-campaign.
Feb 2008 - Big DOWN! My wife was not chosen as a Candidate. SCC nearing the election, said that this was not a bad thing. This was the start of my depression.
Mar 8, 2008 - the General Election. BN Candidates lost very significantly in WP and 5 States.
July 2008 - I started as DC Leadership Development. DG of the year was KS.
Aug 2008 - I attended the KMC Graduates Reunion Dinner. My interest in MeL and Project dissertation revived!
Aug 2008 - Met Prof Wood, Tengku Putri. Resumed my Project dissertation...on fast pace.
End Oct 2008 - Submitted my MeL Project dissertation to Tengku Putri...hoping I could graduate soon.
Jan 2009 - Checked. Results not out yet. Azira informed that my Project had been marked but not yet vetted by BOE. Next BOE was in Feb 2009...apparently would only graduate the following trimester.
Feb 2009 - I was encouraged to be 1VDG Candidate...by DFWK, KKW, TMT, etc. I approached President / Club for endorsement. I was declined. I became devastated.
Feb-Apr 2009 - Many Lions expressed their shock that I was not entering the 1VDG/2VDG contest. They had wanted me to go in.
May/June 2009 - Checked several times. Result was to be out in early July 2009.
July 2009 - Result was out: I had graduated. I score A (4 flat) for my 10-credit Project. My CGPA was 3.97.
July 22, 2009 - With encouragement from my beloved wife, I became interested to pursue for PhD.
July 24, 2009 - Confirmed that I really want to do PhD! I also confirmed to postpone any desire to run for 2VDG.
Aug 1/2, 2009 - DG Inauguration / 1st Cabinet Meeting. More Lions come to know of my intention not to go for 2VDG for the next 2 years.
Aug 3 - YES! I will seek Knowledge, instead offering myself to two thousand Lions as their Leader. PhD for my Self-Satisfaction, Sense of Achievement and Self-Realisation!
Jan 2005 - Enrolled into MMU for Master of Multimedia (e-Learning Technologies).
Supposed to be 4 trimesters coursework, 2 trimesters project dissertation. Completion within 2 years (i.e. 6 trimesters).
March 2005 - Elected as Club President for fiscal year of 2005/2006. (Not long after that JC started a backstabbing campaign on me.)
July 2005 - Started as the President of Lions Club of Serdang. DG of the year was Woon Fong Piew. Started my club e-bulletin; I was the first to start e-bulletin in LCI District 308-B2. My passion in Lionism started to grow more.
Dec 2005 - Completed all my coursework ahead of time (by 1 trimester).
Jan 2006 - Started my project dissertation with Tengku Putri Norishah as supervisor. (JC's backstabbing campaign was still on.) Business was seeing starting to decline.
Feb 2006 - Got to know KKW as he came to campaign. KKW has known RP for some time; so discussed campaign strategy till late night together with RP.
Mar 2006 - OCS told me that I would be the future Leader of the Lions movement.
Mar-May 2006 - Business decline was obvious. I lost my 2 most important clients. Ramlan put restriction on training. My staff...Azhar, Naza and Lina, resigned one after another. Felt very depressed. My interest in MeL Project dissertation became distracted.
Mar 2006 - Hot issue was bidding of convention organising; I (and many other Selangor Lions was behind PC's bid.)
April 2006 - At the convention in Singapore, KKW won as VDG Elect and PC won the bid to be the COCC for convention 2007 at Sunway.
Jun 2006 - AP joined....She, a jovious girl, has been able to make me smile (and remain positive) despite the declining business.
July 2006 - I started as the Zone Chairperson, my first time in Cabinet. DG of the year was Khoo Kay Huat. Got to know CKL when he brought AP and I to duck drumstick wantan mee. CKL was very nice to us.
July/Aug 2006 - COCC was started. PC was looking for Secretary; JC volunteered to be Secretary; RP recommended me to PC as Secretary. Eventually, PC appointed me as Secretary. (mmm...another sore point for JC.)
Sep/Nov 2006 - Passion in Lionism grew to high state; had secretly desired to become the DG in the future. I think I had become totally distracted; I more or less forgot my MeL Project dissertation.
Dec 2006 - Started to really want to go to the Apex. Started to attend Lions functions outside of Selangor. Often went together with CKL; friendship with CKL also grew.
Feb 2007 - Started to campaign for KS. On KKW's instruction, I went to negotiate with PC and BO to avoid 3-corner fight...indirectly, giving way to AL and KS to have a 2-corner contest. BO started to dislike me...and teamed up with JC.
Apr 2007 - Alan Soo withdrew as Banquet Chairperson. This also increased BO's anger with my Club (and included me).
Apr 2007 - At the Convention, every COC member was busy; tempers flared. AP was upset because somebody scolded her.
May 2007 - KKW offered me to RC....but..Selangor had 2 RC, Perak had 2 RC, Penang had 3 RC, Kedah & Perlis 1 RC.
end May 2007 - AP resigned. After AP left, CKL became cold with me. CKL had been very nice to AP. It was double blow to me, losing a good staff and a good friend.
July 2007 - I started as Region Chairperson. DG of the year was KKW.
July-Sep 2007 - I travelled extensively to participate in Installations. My interest in contesting for VDG had become obvious.
Aug-Sep 2007 - Other VDG aspirants were CKL, KHP, HH, and to a lesser extent, AN. AL expressed that he was not interested to enter the contest for 3rd time.
Oct/Nov 2007 - I was adviced by several to back down....JQ, Ahia L, DFWK's son, DJC. KS was backing me, KKW was backing CKL...as mentioned by PC. I offered CKL to give way to him, he being the elder brother.
Nov/Dec 2007 - I made the final decision...NOT to enter the VDG contest, and help my wife in political pre-campaign.
Feb 2008 - Big DOWN! My wife was not chosen as a Candidate. SCC nearing the election, said that this was not a bad thing. This was the start of my depression.
Mar 8, 2008 - the General Election. BN Candidates lost very significantly in WP and 5 States.
July 2008 - I started as DC Leadership Development. DG of the year was KS.
Aug 2008 - I attended the KMC Graduates Reunion Dinner. My interest in MeL and Project dissertation revived!
Aug 2008 - Met Prof Wood, Tengku Putri. Resumed my Project dissertation...on fast pace.
End Oct 2008 - Submitted my MeL Project dissertation to Tengku Putri...hoping I could graduate soon.
Jan 2009 - Checked. Results not out yet. Azira informed that my Project had been marked but not yet vetted by BOE. Next BOE was in Feb 2009...apparently would only graduate the following trimester.
Feb 2009 - I was encouraged to be 1VDG Candidate...by DFWK, KKW, TMT, etc. I approached President / Club for endorsement. I was declined. I became devastated.
Feb-Apr 2009 - Many Lions expressed their shock that I was not entering the 1VDG/2VDG contest. They had wanted me to go in.
May/June 2009 - Checked several times. Result was to be out in early July 2009.
July 2009 - Result was out: I had graduated. I score A (4 flat) for my 10-credit Project. My CGPA was 3.97.
July 22, 2009 - With encouragement from my beloved wife, I became interested to pursue for PhD.
July 24, 2009 - Confirmed that I really want to do PhD! I also confirmed to postpone any desire to run for 2VDG.
Aug 1/2, 2009 - DG Inauguration / 1st Cabinet Meeting. More Lions come to know of my intention not to go for 2VDG for the next 2 years.
Aug 3 - YES! I will seek Knowledge, instead offering myself to two thousand Lions as their Leader. PhD for my Self-Satisfaction, Sense of Achievement and Self-Realisation!
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