A3.0 Justifyin a Problem Academically or Ethically

Justifying a Problem Academically or Ethically

2013 Project Lead The Way, Inc.Engineering Design and Development1

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? 2Two Pathways to JustificationAcademically 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.

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.

Justifying Problem Selection

Market ResearchSome 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.

Justifying Problem Selection

Where are we in the research phase?

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.Step 5Presentation NameEngineering Design and DevelopmentUnit # Lesson #.# Lesson Name6An Engineering Design Process - Research1. Define and Justify a ProblemBrainstorm possible project problems.Research and select a valid problem.Become an expert on the problem.Justify the problem through research.AcademicMarketWrite a problem statement.Document and analyze prior solutions.Identify design requirements.Create a Project Proposal.

Why EDD?Engineering Design and DevelopmentLesson 1.1 Overview and Expectations7Getting StartedJustifying Problem SelectionAcademically / EthicallyWho 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.

Presentation NameEngineering Design and DevelopmentUnit # Lesson #.# Lesson Name8Getting StartedJustifying Problem SelectionAcademically / EthicallyFrom 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?

Presentation NameEngineering Design and DevelopmentUnit # Lesson #.# Lesson Name9Types of JustificationJustifying Problem SelectionAcademically / EthicallyPeriodicals & Academic Journals PrintedElectronic DatabasesMicrofiche Books Refereed ArticlesGeneralReferenceDocumented CommunicationExpert InterviewsSurveysNewspapersMultimedia (video, audio)Commercial Internet Sites

Peer Reviewed

Editor Reviewed

Credentialed Expert

Editor Reviewed

Note the order in which these types of justification are listed. Can you see which represents the BEST academic justification?Why?Presentation NameEngineering Design and DevelopmentUnit # Lesson #.# Lesson Name10ProblemStatementLegal IssuesPeople are suing because

Health & SafetyPeople are hurt or killed by

Technical ProblemsPeople a complaining aboutEconomics Lack of a solution to this problem costsEducationalStrategies for Brainstorming RevisitedFive Common Attack Paths to Justifying a ProblemEducation programs exist to preventJustification1111Earlier 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?Quantity and Quality of Sources Justifying Problem SelectionAcademically / EthicallyA 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

JustificationYour 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.Presentation NameEngineering Design and DevelopmentUnit # Lesson #.# Lesson Name12A Systematic Approach to ResearchJustifying Problem SelectionAcademically / EthicallyYou instructor will introduce you to the research tools available to you at your school.Some common places to start are Google ScholarDatabases such as; Academic Search PremierERICStatistical Abstract of the United Stateshttp://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Presentation NameEngineering Design and DevelopmentUnit # Lesson #.# Lesson Name13

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

Thanks to EDD teachers who shared images of student prototypes14