Engineering Design and Development

Justifying a Problem

Academically of Ethically

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

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.

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 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.

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 5

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.

Getting Started

Justifying Problem SelectionAcademically / Ethically

• 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.

Getting Started

Justifying Problem SelectionAcademically / Ethically

• 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?

Types of Justification

Justifying Problem SelectionAcademically / Ethically

• 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

Editor Reviewed

ProblemStatement

Legal Issues

People are suing

because…

Health & Safety

People are hurt

or killed by…

Technical Problems

People a complaining

about…

Economics

Lack of a solution

to this problem

costs…

Ed

uca

tiona

l

Strategies for Brainstorming Revisited

Five Common Attack Paths to Justifying a Problem

Education programs exist to prevent…

Justification

Quantity and Quality of Sources

Justifying Problem SelectionAcademically / Ethically

• 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

A Systematic Approach to Research

Justifying Problem SelectionAcademically / Ethically

• 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 Stateshttp://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

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 prototypes