2012

Writing a Scientific Research Article

From Abstract to Conclusion

Survey, Case Study, and Data Analysis

For PhD and Master Students

The goal of this study is to lay out some key concepts in the process of
writing a scientific paper.

EMU
October 2012
Gazimağusa, North Cyprus

Nariman Ghodrati
Eastern Mediterranean University
 Contents
Foreword ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
TITLE & KEYWORDS ................................................................................................................................ 2
Title ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Keywords .................................................................................................................................................. 3
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................. 4
Essential elements of Abstract along with several examples .................................................................... 4
1. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 5
2. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 6
4. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 7
5. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 7
6. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 8
7. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 8
8. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 9
9. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 9
10. Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 9
11. Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 10
12. An Abstract with different arrangement ..................................................................................... 11
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Essential elements of Introduction along with several examples ............................................................ 13
Notice: ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 14
2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 17
3. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 19
4. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 21
LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................... 23
Essential elements of Literature Review along with several examples .................................................. 23
1. Literature review ............................................................................................................................. 24
2. Literature review ............................................................................................................................. 25
3. Literature review ............................................................................................................................. 28

I
METHODOLOGY & DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................. 30
Essential elements of Methodology along with several examples .......................................................... 31
1. Methodology (Case Studies) ........................................................................................................... 32
2. Research Methodology (Questionnaire) ......................................................................................... 33
3. Research Methodology (Interview) ................................................................................................ 33
4. Methodology (Survey) .................................................................................................................... 34
5. Research Methods (PhD Proposal) ................................................................................................. 35
6. Research Methodology (Questionnaire) ......................................................................................... 36
7. Research Methods (Questionnaire) ................................................................................................. 36
8. Methodology (Literature Review and Questionnaire) .................................................................... 39
RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 41
Essential elements of Results and Conclusions along with several examples ........................................ 42
1. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 43
2. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 43
3. Results and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 44
4. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 45
5. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 46
6. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 46
7. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 47
8. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 47
9. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 48
10. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 48
11. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 49
12. Results ......................................................................................................................................... 49
13. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 50
14. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 51
15. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 52
16. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 52
17. Results ......................................................................................................................................... 53
TABLES & FIGURES ................................................................................................................................ 54
1. Tables .............................................................................................................................................. 54
2. Figures............................................................................................................................................. 55
2.1. Graphs and Histograms ............................................................................................................... 55

II
 2.2. Drawings and Photographs ......................................................................................................... 55
3. Methods for referring to Tables and Figures in a text ..................................................................... 56
4. Some examples for placing Caption below the Figures .................................................................. 56
5. Some examples for using Equation in text...................................................................................... 57
5.1. Equation ...................................................................................................................................... 57
5.2. Equation ...................................................................................................................................... 57
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 58
Format for citing References in the text (Literature Cited): ................................................................... 58
Notice: ..................................................................................................................................................... 61
Essential elements of Reference along with several examples ............................................................... 62
1. Journal ............................................................................................................................................. 62
2. Book ................................................................................................................................................ 63
3. Conference ...................................................................................................................................... 63
4. Thesis .............................................................................................................................................. 63
5. Websites .......................................................................................................................................... 63
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 64
Several examples for writing Acknowledgements in an article .............................................................. 64
1. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 64
2. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 64
3. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 65
4. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 65
5. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 66
6. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 66
7. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 66
8. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 67
9. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 67
PLAGIARISM ............................................................................................................................................ 68
What is Turnitin? .................................................................................................................................... 68
Notice: ..................................................................................................................................................... 69
Other points to note ................................................................................................................................. 69
References ................................................................................................................................................... 73

III
Foreword
The goal of this tutorial is to lay out some key concepts in the process of writing a scientific
paper. I will not cover methods for any one field, but rather, provide a general approach to the
process. For help with specifics within your field, your best bet is to ask your advisor or other
members of your lab for assistance. Meanwhile, I have to confess that almost nothing in this
tutorial originally belong to me and due to numerous research examples; I was not able to cite
most of them. Therefore, a special acknowledgement must be given to those, who have
contributed to this study. Also, I would like to appreciate my supervisor Asst. Prof. Dr. Alireza
Rezaei for his constructive guidance.

Last but not least, the author wishes to thank the anonymous reviewers for their professional
comments and suggestions. I would be glad if we discuss on this more. Please drop me an email
at nariman366@[Link]

Sincerely,
Nariman Ghodrati

1
 Chapter 1

TITLE & KEYWORDS

Title

The title is probably the most important section of the whole paper. The title immediately clues

the reader (and the reviewers) into what your point is and why it’s important. As such, your title

should be concise, specific, and interesting. This provides the first impression to the reader, so

selecting the most appropriate title requires some thought. The title influences whether a reader

is interested in reading the manuscript. It should include all essential words in the right order

such that the topic of the manuscript is accurately and fully conveyed (e.g. clearly related to the

purpose of the study). Avoid long titles (the recommended length is 10 - 12 words) and those

which begin with redundant words such as “A study of…”.

2
Notice:

 Informative, specific, concise and understandable.

 Make your title specific enough to describe the contents of the paper, but not so technical
that only specialists will understand. The title should be appropriate for the intended
audience.
 The title usually describes the subject matter of the article: Effect of Smoking on
Academic Performance.
 Sometimes a title that summarizes the results is more effective: Students Who Smoke Get
Lower Grades.
 The title is on a Cover Page.
 The title is descriptive and concise (no jargon, no unintelligible). It tells the reader what
effect you measured and on what organism.
 All nouns are capitalized in the title.
 The title is centered on the page.
 Your names and date appear below the title.

Keywords

Most journals require the author to identify three to five keywords which represent the major

concept of the paper. Each keyword contains one word or more. These are used for indexing

purposes and authors have to apply words which represent the main idea of the research.

3
 Chapter 2

ABSTRACT

An abstract, or summary, is published together with a research article, giving the reader a

preview of what's to come. The abstract should be a little less technical than the article itself; you

don't want to discourage your potential audience from reading your paper. Don't use

abbreviations (unexplained) or citations in the abstract. It should be able to stand alone without

any footnotes. The abstract is a one or two paragraph summarizing (150-200 words) of the entire

work described completely in the article. It should be a self-contained unit capable of being

understood without the benefit of the text.

Essential elements of Abstract along with several examples

 A brief review of introduction (Topic)*:

One or two sentences of background information (placed at the beginning)

 A brief statement of purpose of the study (Question)*:

The question asked (present verb tense)

 A brief statement of what was done (Methods):

What was done to answer the question (past verb tense)

 A brief statement of what was found (Results)*:

Findings that answer the question (past verb tense)

 A brief statement of what was concluded (Discussion)*:

An implication or a speculation based on the answer (present verb tense)

* Topic and Question usually combine into a single body.

* Results and Discussion usually combine into a single body.

4
 1. Abstract

[In the past, productivity assessment and performance evaluation were carried out separately due

to cost constraints. The appropriate use of schedule compression methods to accelerate the work

at hand will reduce additional costs] 1 . [The aim of this study was to develop a project

monitoring tool that combines productivity assessment and schedule compression methods for

reporting productivity status and evaluating project performance] 2 . [Factors Affecting

Productivity and Schedule Compression Methods were identified and measured from completed

building projects. The capability of using these factors as project assessment tool and project

performance predictor was analyzed using fuzzy logic inference system]3. [It is found that the

Time Performance Ratio can be included in a project status report to monitor and predict project

performance]4.

2. Abstract

[Integrating cost and performance assessment makes the building sector a more feasible route in

reducing the environmental impact in the human society] 5. [To realize this cost-benefit potential,

owners and design teams need to understand sustainable design, construction, cost and

environmental factors which are closely linked, and consider these factors simultaneously] 6 .

[Two methodologies are of particular interest. Life cycle costing has long been used as a

technique in assessing the economic viability of design decisions. It provides a long-term

1 Topic
2 Question
3 Methods
4 Results and Discussion
5 Topic
6 Question

5
economic perspective on asset investment, whereas life cycle assessment evaluates

environmental performance. This paper compares four applications in terms of ease-of-use and

relevance to design decision-making] 7. [It concludes that a team approach should be adopted to

evaluate design options to provide benefit and cost analysis that appeal to clients and

stakeholders to fulfill the sustainability of our built environment] 8.

3. Abstract

[The problem of project delays is a fact that occurs mostly in construction industry of Pakistan.

Delays are always measured as expensive to all parties concerned in the projects and very often it

will result in clash, claims, total desertion and much difficult for the feasibility and it slows the

growth of construction sector] 9. [For analyzing the causes of delay, an appraisal on construction

project’s time performance was conducted] 10 . [The main objective of this study is the

identification of factors of delay and their effects on the success and completion of project] 11.

[The most common factor of delay are natural disaster in Pakistan like flood and earthquake and

some others like financial and payment problems, improper planning, poor site management,

insufficient experience, shortage of materials and equipment etc. This paper evaluated the delay

factors and causes of delay and some suggestion for reducing these delays in large construction

projects in Pakistan] 12.

7 Methods
8 Results and Discussion
9 Topic
10 Methods
11 Question
12 Results and Discussion

6
 4. Abstract

[Revitalization of buildings is a valid response to climate change and sustainability agenda as it

has the potential to reuse a large proportion of resources in place without destruction or

substantial replacement]. [This paper applies an existing adaptive reuse potential (ARP) 13 model

to construct archetypes or patterns for various facility categories to provide insight into project

feasibility decisions]. [The probability of success is tested using a unique application of PERT

analysis for a range of obsolescence rates]. [The archetypes reflect distinct characteristics that

help inform selection of potential reuse opportunities].

5. Abstract

[Firms with the best information management are more likely to be successful in today’s highly

competitive business environment. It is a challenge for earthwork contracting firms to capture

information and transform it into knowledge that is available for sharing]. [This study involves a

survey on determining the level of implementation of knowledge transferring (KT) process by

earthwork contracting firms]. [Questionnaire forms were distributed to 120 relevant contracting

firms in Johor and Kuala Lumpur]. [The results reveal that all earthwork contracting firms being

studied have implemented KT, even though the level of implementation is different. It is found

that contractors of higher class are more willing to implement KT than the lower ones]. [In so

far, the benefits of KT are only moderately agreeable in terms of problem solving and customer

relationship].

13 After defining an abbreviation in abstract, such as “Adaptive reuse potential (ARP)”, ARP can be used during the
text without further explanation.

7
 6. Abstract

[The problem of delays in government construction industry is a global phenomenon and there is

no exception]. [The main purpose of this study is to identify the delay factors and the effect on

the project completion. Earlier study either considered causes or the effects of project delays,

separately]. [This study takes an integrated approach and attempts to analyze the impact of

effects. A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the causes and effects delay from

contractors and clients. About 40 respondents participated in the survey]. [This study identified

the most important causes of delay from a list 45 different causes and 5 different effects of delay

and the recommendation to reduce the delay].

7. Abstract

[This research shows that schedule analysis without resource allocation practice significantly

influences its results. Some delay can cause impractical resource allocation in downstream work,

which in turn may further delay the project. The effect of resource allocation can either add to or

reduce the impact of some delaying event]. [Sharing of delay responsibility may be inaccurate

unless resource allocation practice is considered in the analysis]. [A case study is presented to

compare the improved schedule window analysis considering resource allocation with the

traditional schedule window analysis]. [The benefit of this research is to ensure more trustworthy

delay analyses and claims].

8
 8. Abstract

[An analysis was carried out to determine whether concrete is a sustainable housing material].

[Sustainability generally means having no net negative impact on the environment, and this

analysis compared the environmental impact of producing concrete and steel]. [To make this

comparison, we first designed a simple reinforced concrete beam and a steel I-beam with the

same moment capacity, and we then estimated the environmental impact of the production of

these two beams using a commercial computer program designed for this purpose]. [The

estimation showed that the concrete beam required much less energy and had a lower net

environmental impact than the steel beam].

9. Abstract

[Most of the new construction solutions arise from the feeling that something should be done in

order to answer current society concerns: reduction of energy consumption, minimization of

pollution, etc]. [The aim of this paper is to evaluate the potentialities of a Mixed Building

Technology solution]. [This solution was evaluated under the thermal, acoustic and natural

lightning performance]. [The findings demonstrate that factors can be ranked according to

requirements of economical/environmental analysis].

10. Abstract

[Building adaptive reuse is an important global topic. In the context of sustainable development

and the effects of climate change caused by previous disregard for our environment, adaptive

reuse has significant implications]. [This paper aims to examine how the construction industry

9
can reposition itself to increase focus on the revitalization of existing buildings as an alternative

to demolition and replacement]. [The paper reports on current research undertaken in Australia

as part of a nationally-funded program in collaboration with industry, proposes a new model for

early identification of adaptive reuse potential, tests this model with case study data, and looks at

the social advantage from making better use of what we already have]. [The paper proposes that

adaptive reuse needs to be planned at the outset, and if this is done wisely and routinely, it will

provide a means of realizing sustainability objectives without reducing investment levels or

economic viability for the industry]. [In fact, adaptive reuse is the future of the construction

industry].

11. Abstract

[Adaptive reuse is an emerging and significant design strategy that supports global climate

protection and emissions reduction. Building adaptive reuse is a viable alternative to demolition

and replacement; it entails less energy and waste, and can offer social benefits by revitalizing

familiar landmarks and giving them a new lease of life]. [This paper describes the development

of a new rating tool known as adaptSTAR, suitable for assessing future adaptive reuse potential

at the time a building is designed]. [This paper reports on the methodology used to develop this

rating tool and the practical issues concerning its application]. [The findings show that criteria

can be identified and weighted according to physical, economic, functional, technological, social,

legal and political categories to calculate an adaptive reuse star rating].

10
 12. An Abstract with different arrangement

Purpose: The paper seeks to identify the major factors causing delay in building construction

projects in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey was used to carry out the study. The

questionnaire consisted of 31 factors which were grouped into four major categories by

responsibility – contractor factors, owner factors, consultant factors and external factors. The

level of importance of the categories was measured and the relative importance of weights was

ranked.

Findings: The study finds that financial problems are the main factor and coordination problems

are the second most important factor causing delay in construction projects in Malaysia. The

results were analyzed to rank the causes of delay and further classify the types of delay.

Research limitations/implications: The scope of this study is limited to building projects in the

Klang Valley area, where major Malaysian cities are located. The data for this study was

gathered through a detailed questionnaire survey.

11
 Chapter 3

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the introduction is to stimulate the reader’s interest and to provide background

information which is pertinent to the study. The statement of the research question is the most

important part of the introduction. The review of the literature needs to be short and concise.

References are almost exclusively used in the introduction and the discussion. The references

cited should be those which are the most valid and the most available. Articles in peer-reviewed

journals (suitability for publication) satisfy both these criteria. Books, Master’s and PhD theses

and some conference proceedings, those for which papers are rigorously reviewed, are also valid

sources, but usually take longer to find. Abstracts do not contain enough information to allow

critical evaluation of the work. Journal articles which have been accepted for publication are a

valid source but those which have been submitted (but not yet accepted) are not, as they are

unavailable. Avoid citing perusal communications and unpublished reports or observations.

These are not strong evidence because they are unable to be accessed and evaluated. The number

of references should be limited to the fewest number necessary by choosing the most important,

the most valid and where appropriate, the most recent.

12
Essential elements of Introduction along with several examples

 Introduction Background to the topic (past verb tense)

 What is known or believed about the topic
 What is still unknown or problematic
 Findings of relevant studies (past verb tense)
 Importance of the topic
 Statement of the research question
 Several ways can be used to signal the research question :
 “To determine whether ………”
 “The purpose of this study was to …….”
 “This study tested the hypothesis that ……”
 “This study was undertaken to ……”
 Approach taken to answer the question (past verb tense)

Notice:

The function of an introduction is to present the question being asked and place it in the context

of what is already known about the topic. Background information that suggests why the topic is

of interest and related findings by other scientists are usually mentioned here. In other words,

this section should contain:

 A description of the nature of the problem and current state of knowledge or

understanding at the beginning of the investigation (background);

 A statement of the purpose, scope, and general method of investigation in your study;

 Hypothesis/hypotheses and predictions.

13
Do not get lost in reviewing background information. Remember that the Introduction is meant

to introduce the reader to your research, not summarize and evaluate all past literature on the

subject (which is the purpose of a review paper). Many of the other studies you may be tempted

to discuss in your Introduction are better saved for the Discussion, where they become a

powerful tool for comparing and interpreting your results. Include only enough background

information to allow your reader to understand why you are asking the questions you are and

why your hypotheses are reasonable ones. Often, a brief explanation of the theory involved is

sufficient. The statement of purpose expresses the central question you are asking and thus

presents the variable you are investigating.

1. Introduction

[Climate change is a contemporary and global area of scientific enquiry and research. The

challenges that changing environments have on society are significant (e.g. Stern, 2006; Bouwer

and Aerts, 2006). Many have concluded that climate change is the most important challenge

facing humankind, and indeed other life on Earth. Sir David King, Britain’s Chief Scientist,

described the Stern Report (Stern, 2006) as the most detailed economic analysis yet conducted.

Climate change will influence our world in a number of ways, including detrimental economic,

environment and social impact]14.

[The built environment has a prominent role to play in this debate, particularly as it demands

40% of global resources and generates a proportionate amount of waste. Climate change

adaptation is about human responses to this challenge, and how the impacts of a changing

14 Introduction to the topic

14
climate can be minimized as much as practicable (Burton et al., 2005). A major contribution that

the built environment can make to climate change adaptation is in the area of making better use

of the infrastructure that we already have. While new design and construction should be

optimized for environmental performance, it would take around one hundred years to

substantially renew the stock of existing buildings even if high environmental compliance was

mandatory on every new project, both immediately and globally]15.

[Existing buildings that are obsolete or rapidly approaching disuse and potential demolition are a

‘mine’ of raw materials for new projects; a concept described by Chusid (1993) as ‘urban ore’.

Even more effective, rather than extracting these raw materials during demolition or

deconstruction and assigning them to new applications, is to leave the basic structure and fabric

of the building intact, and change its use. This approach is called ‘adaptive reuse’. Breathing

‘new life’ into existing buildings carries with it environmental and social benefits and helps to

retain our national heritage. To date, a focus on economic factors alone has contributed to

destruction of buildings well short of their physical lives] 16.

[This study investigates the role that the construction industry can play in climate change

adaptation. There needs to be shift from new-build to reuse or refurbishment and these needs to

happen rapidly. But the literature on building reuse is limited and appropriate methods of

identification and analysis of opportunities are poorly understood. This study advocates a rethink

15 Importance of topic
16 What is known or believed about the topic and demonstrating the reason for conducting research

15
of our approach to sustainable development. Rather than simply build less, we should be more

strategic on where to build and how to make the most of existing resources]17.

[Specifically this paper aims to:

 Outline an integrated model for the assessment of adaptive reuse potential in buildings,

 Validate this model through retrospective evaluation of a large number of completed

projects, and

 Speculate on the implications for climate change adaptation of an increased focus on the

preservation of existing buildings with adaptive reuse potential as an alternative to

premature destruction or dilapidation]18.

[To achieve these aims this paper will discuss the conceptual model that has developed from

progress on an Australian Research Council Linkage Project entitled “Strategic Assessment of

Building Adaptive Reuse Opportunities”. Then, using a retrospective approach, a large number

of completed adaptive reuse projects will be evaluated by the model to determine if forecasted

and actual performances are a close match. A detailed case study is discussed to illustrate the

process. Finally the paper will consider the contribution that an adaptive reuse agenda can make

to enhance sustainable development in the light of increasing pressure to minimize the effects of

climate change while continuing to deliver prosperity and enhanced living standards]19.

17 What is still unknown or problematic

18 Statement of the purpose
19 Approach taken to answer the question

16
 2. Introduction

[Today's students live and work in the twenty-first century, in an era dominated by computers,

world-wide communication, and by a global economy. Jobs that contribute to this economy

require workers who are prepared to absorb new ideas, to perceive patterns, and to solve

unconventional problems. Mathematics is the key to opportunity for these jobs (Steen, 1989).

Despite these applications of mathematics in life and professions, mathematics is still

troublesome and a leading anxiety for most people and students]20.

[Research in mathematics education indicates that there are many factors influencing

mathematics performance and achievement. [A review of literature on mathematics and attitude

toward mathematics has shown that these variables are related to mathematics performance and

achievement (McCoy, 1992; Bassant, 1995; Ma, 1999)] 21. One of the variables probably related

to mathematics performance is the studying approach. The studying approach refers to how a

learner is engaged in the subject matters. Biggs (2003) has identified three different approaches

to studying: i) deep approaches are characterized by a preference to work conceptually and are

driven by intrinsic curiosity. ii) strategic approaches are characterized by a focus on obtaining

high marks and organized studying; and iii) surface approaches are characterized by an intention

to achieve a pass, avoid too high a workload, misunderstanding requirements, and or thinking

that factual recall is all that is required. Finding indicated that surface approach is associated with

a less successful academic performance and deep and strategic approach is associated with

higher academic performance (Diseth & Martinsen, 2003)]22. [There is a little research about the

20 Introduction and background to the topic

21 In research paper, if word limit does not allow, the literature review will be combined with introduction
22 Finding relevant studies

17
relation between the studying approaches and the mathematics performance. Crawford,

Gordon, Nicholas and Prosser (1998) concluded that “…fragmented conceptions of mathematics

are associated with surface approaches to learning mathematics”]23.

[Statistically, the high number of educational fall-off in mathematics is a common problem of

Iranian students. The findings of the third international mathematics and science study (TIMSS,

2003) emphasize the weak performance of Iranian students in the mathematics fields. The results

of these researches indicate that Iran ranks 34th in mathematics of the third grade in secondary

education among 46 countries and 22th among 25 countries of fourth grade. Therefore, it is

necessary to inquiry the reasons for the students failure and to determine the variables which can

be inquired for the students studying approaches] 24 . [The studying methods of successful

individuals are one of the influential ways to find the best method of studying and learning.

Identifying the studying procedures of successful individuals and teaching these procedures to

other students can play an important role in promoting the national culture and improving the

education quality]25.

[The studies which were carried out on the relationship between studying approaches and the

mathematics performance indicated some measure of correlation between mathematics

performance with studying approaches or learning methods. However, these studies do not

particularly indicate 26 the type of individuals with specific studying approaches in relation to

23 What is still unknown or problematic

24 What is known or believed about the topic
25 Approach taken to answer the question
26 Discussion and criticism are main parts of literature review

18
mathematical skills]27. [Thus the aim of this study is to compare students’ mathematics skills

based on the different studying approaches. Accordingly, two research questions are formulated:

1) How many clusters of studying approaches do we have among university students?

2) Do the basic mathematic skills differ significantly by the different studying approaches

adopted?] 28

3. Introduction

[Soil erosion is a major environmental concern in agricultural areas, especially in hilly areas and

on sloped land. In the purple hilly area in China, soil erosion has attracted increasing attention

over the last 20 years. Inappropriate reclamation and land use methods in the area have

accelerated the soil erosion process in this region in recent years (Shi, 1992). Such practices have

not only caused irreversible loss of soil resources (Zhang and Xu, 2005), but also threatened the

downstream environmental quality due to the influx of sediment movement that occurs in

response to runoff from farmland (Wolf, 1997). Thus, it is necessary to study sediment flow

behavior in agro-watersheds, which will ultimately help in the selection of effective reclamation

methods and land use types, thereby reducing potential hazards (Heathwaite and Sharpley,

1999). In addition, the purple hilly area is a traditional agricultural region with a high population

and high level of cultivation that has caused ecological frailty and poverty. However, a flood in

1998 led to ecological protection of the soil and water conservation becoming an important

mission in this area. Thus, it is important for scientists to investigate and understand the

27 Finding relevant studies

28 Statement of the purpose

19
fundamental erosion mechanics of purple soil and to reveal sediment flow behavior from

agricultural areas in the region (Overton, 1992)]29.

[Currently, most investigations conducted to evaluate soil erosion have focused on the influence

of land use and planting methods on soil erosion and its processes (Bai et al., 1997), however,

little is known about the behavior of sediment flow from the agro-watershed, especially in the

Chinese purple soil region]30. [Pathak et al. (2004) reported the effects of storm size and land

management on total soil loss during runoff in five small agro-watersheds. However, they did not

illustrate how different storm types affected sediment flow behavior. Li et al. (2002)

characterized the mechanism of runoff generation and sediment behavior of Sichuan purple soil

watersheds in China, but differences in the spatial scale and storm types need further

investigation] 31 . [Thus, to enable the sustainable development of local agriculture, it is

necessary to study sediment flow behaviors at different scales of the agro-watershed under

natural rainfall events in the purple soil region. Clarifying sediment flow behaviors at different

spatial scales and in response to different types of storms can help simulate and ultimately

prevent soil and water loss, as well as aid in evaluation of non-point source pollution in the

Chinese purple soil region. In the present study, natural rainfall events, runoff and sediment

behaviors in three small agro-watersheds with different catchment areas, physical characteristics

and land use types in the purple soil area were monitored]32.

29 Finding relevant studies, showing the importance of topic and the reason for conducting research
30 Statement of research question
31 What is still unknown or problematic
32 Approach taken to answer the question (past verb tense)

20
 4. Introduction

[Increasingly, developers are seeking to construct more sustainable buildings, including mega

structures like the much anticipated redevelopment of the World Trade Center33. While there is

increasing technological knowledge on how to accomplish this goal [1] there is still limited

research on the relationship between these improvements and individual building users and

occupants. Since social issues are essential components of sustainable development, it is

important to understand the relationship between technological advances in sustainable structures

and the behaviors of, and impacts, on building users [2]34.

[The first recognized definition of sustainable development was offered by the Brundt land

Commission in 1987 as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the

needs of the future” [3-5]. Sustainability was further conceptualized and expanded at the

international Earth Summit conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, to integrate concerns for

environmental, economic, and social well being] 35. [The focus of this paper is on sustainability

in the context of the built environment with primary emphasis on consumption of physical

resources.]36.

[There is limited research on human behavioral and social responses to issues of sustainability in

buildings in general, and even less so for high-rise buildings, which for the purpose of this paper

are limited to structures over 10 or more stories high [6]. Even so, trends over the last century

suggest increased construction of such edifices. The world-wide phenomenon of migration from

33 Numeric type of citation for references which is prone to error and is not recommended
34 Introduction and background to the topic
35 Finding relevant studies
36 Statement of research question

21
agricultural to urban communities [7] and increased awareness of environmental problems

related to urban sprawl [8] provided the impetus for development of large scale urban projects.

This tendency towards high-rise buildings is supported by technological advancements that have

made their construction easier and less costly]37.

[Traditionally, high-rise buildings consume a great number of resources. These massive

structures are dependent on large quantities of building materials during construction, require

considerable amounts of energy to operate, and produce a great deal of waste. In the past, the low

cost of energy and technological advancements in lighting and HVAC have discouraged

architects and building engineers from making more use of passive temperature control devices,

such as operable windows and shading techniques. But current concerns about the rising cost of

energy, limits on availability of potable water, and awareness of problems with material use and

waste disposal are likely to influence designers to incorporate more sustainable elements into

high-rise structures] 38 . [While there is increasing attention paid to sustainable building

techniques, there has been relatively little discussion about the psychological and behavioral

aspects of sustainability and how people interact with these structures] 39. [This paper will

discuss social, psychological and behavioral issues that need to be addressed in high-rise facility

management, as well as the potential for sustainable buildings to ameliorate some of the

problems in those areas traditionally associated with high-rise buildings]40.

37 Importance of topic
38 Background
39 What is still unknown or problematic and demonstrating the reason for conducting research
40 Statement of research question

22
 Chapter 4

LITERATURE REVIEW

The literature review must show that the writer has studied existing work in the field with

insight. The insights should be derived from both the theoretical considerations and the

completeness of the review of the literature. A simple listing of the articles which have been read

with a summary of their main points is not sufficient. The critique drawing out issues and

arguments, setting alternative views against each other is the essential element of the critical

review. Therefore, the review of theory and literature must provide the reader of the research

report with a summary of the “state of the art”, the extent of knowledge and the main issues

regarding the topic which inform and provide rationale for the research which is being

undertaken. Naturally, it is useful if the review not only informs the reader of the basics of the

research, but makes the reader eager to read the subsequent sections of the report.

Essential elements of Literature Review along with several examples

 Citation and review of previous (not too old) and current researches;
 Demonstrating the gap and shortcoming of previous and current researches by doing
accurate comparison between them which enable for current study.
 Literature review summarizes the relevant literature so that the reader will understand
why you were interested in the question you asked;
 In a research paper as opposed to a thesis, if word limit does not allow, the literature
review will be mentioned as a part of introduction or combine with it.

23
 1. Literature review

[Several studies have been carried out to identify the root causes of poor performance in

construction projects] 41 . [For example, Meng (2011) found that the deterioration of the

relationship between project parties may increase the likelihood of poor performance. His results

reveal that time delays, cost overruns and quality defects are the main reasons of this

shortcoming. Mansur et al. (2008) by focusing on the level of knowledge transferring

implementation, relationship and benefits identified that all earthwork-contracting firms have

implemented knowledge transferring. Ali and Rahmat (2010) stated that functionality and

client’s satisfaction are two of the most important criteria for measuring construction project

performance. According to Long et al. (2008) poor project management assistance contribute to

problem of cost overrun in construction projects]42.

[However, few studies have addressed the influence of supply chain management on project

performance in construction firms. To fill in this gap, this study wants to explore the specific

characteristics of supply chain management and to assess their impact on project

performance]43.

[Poor performance, such as time delays and budget overruns, are not unusual in construction

projects (Lo et al., 2006). Identifying the reasons behind these troubles have drawn attention of

construction practitioners and researchers to these topics. For example, Mansfield et al.

(1994) identified four crucial indicators leading to project delays and budget overruns. The study

41 Review of researches
42 Citation of researches
43 Demonstrating the shortcoming and reason for current research

24
by Kaming et al. (1997) showed that the main factors causing project delay are design changes,

poor labour productivity, inadequate planning, and resources shortages. Assaf and Al-Hejji

(2006) grouped delay factors into different categories including project-related, client-related,

design-related and contractor-related]44.

[In spite of all above mentioned studies, there is a lack of systematic investigation on the

influence of supply chain management and its relationship with project performance. Because,

most of studies have paid attention to the influence of supply chain on one particular part of

project performance and cannot be used widely. For example, the influence of mutual objective

setting on project performance was studied by Swan and Khalfan (2007) that only

investigated the projects from public sector perspective] 45.

2. Literature review

[So far, several studies have been carried out to classify the root causes of poor performance in

sustainable construction and address key factors that contribute to the aim of sustainable

development]46. [For example, Yung and Chan (2012) and Holden et al. (2008) have proposed a

number of sustainability factors which emphasized on a framework for achieving sustainable

development and examined its challenges and barriers. Šaparauskas and Turskis (2006) analyzed

different problems of sustainable construction and they developed an indicator system for

44 Citation and review of research works

45 Demonstrating the shortcoming by doing comparison which enables for current study
46 Review of researches

25
construction sustainability and found that construction industry in Lithuania moves towards

sustainability]47.

[Chew, (2010) by focusing on strategies to achieve resource efficiency, promoted the adoption of

sustainable construction materials and practices. He also presented some recent initiatives of

sustainable construction, such as the development of demolition protocol and sustainable

construction capability development fund. To investigate the level of knowledge and

achievement of sustainable practices based on the perceptions of the project developers, Zainul

Abidin (2010) has investigated the application of sustainable construction concept and he

suggests that to improve the momentum of sustainable practice in the industry, actions should be

directed towards improving this knowledge at all levels. Shen et al. (2011) by examination of 9

different practices grouped an international urban sustainability indicators list and they showed

that the list can be used to guide the selection of indicators of sustainable urbanization plans and

improve the effective communication of the status of practices. For the aim of improving current

situation of urban land use in China, Zhang et al. (2011) based on 13 indicators presented an

evaluation system and the findings lead to further suggestions for government]48.

[Despite the contribution of all above mentioned studies to sustainable development, they

provide few insights into practical way of sustainable construction and just some of them have

addressed more tangible method and technique for sustainable construction in all levels. The

47 Citation of researches
48 Using more researches for magnifying and emphasizing the gap

26
objective of this research is to present three different sustainable methods which could cover all

stages of construction projects form cradle to grave]49.

[Bullen and Love (2010) examined owner’s and practitioner’s views and experiences associated

with adaptive reuse. They presented a building viability process model that can be used by

owners, occupiers and planners to determine the strategy needed to meet changing commercial

and regulatory demands being required of buildings. Likewise, a more comprehensive

assessment provided by Ai Lin Teo and Lin (2011). They suggested a model for assessing

adaptation potential of public housing in Singapore and discuss its validation process. Moreover,

numerous research studies performed in many countries to acknowledge adaptive reuse method

as a viable alternative and affordable housing strategies (Cantell, 2005; Velthuis and

Spennemann, 2007; Watson, 2009). The study of Yıldırım and Turan (2012) demonstrated that

design criteria can highlight the significance of cultural heritage through adaptive reuse and they

emphasied the challenges of reuse in terms of development involving historical buildings to

provide guidelines for future projects. Shipley et al. (2006) examined the business of heritage

development include renovation or adaptive reuse of buildings and determined that involved

parties should support the developers to find new uses for historic buildings and bring their

development skills. Wang and Zeng (2010) presented a method for the reuse selection of historic

buildings which enables decision-makers to understand the relationships of attributes in reuse

selection problems]50.

49 Demonstrating the shortcoming by doing comparison which enables for current study
50 Citation of researches

27
[Obviously, most of the researches have paid attention to fulfill two objectives include

categorizing the indicators of sustainability to improve current policies in achieving sustainable

development and developing a framework for assessment of building adaptive reuse

potential, which neither of these methods alone, can be used as a comprehensive solution for

builders. To fill in this gap, this study wants to demonstrate three methods, which if engineers

apply them simultaneously, not only perform a consistent process of sustainable construction but

also contribute to reduce the impact of new construction on energy consumption]51.

3. Literature review

Sustainable land use has been the subject of much research since the Bruntland report of 1987 on

‘Our Common Future’ (WCED, 1987) and the ‘Earth Summit’ in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Hart

and Sands (1991), for example, have proposed a sustainable land-use systems research (SLUSR)

agenda that may provide a starting point. The study focuses on land use as a system, targeting the

land management unit, within the context of its biophysical and socioeconomic environments.

The Ecological Footprint (Rees, 1992; Rees & Wackernagel, 1999) introduced an approach for

evaluating the extent of human use of natural resources. It aggregates the ecological flows

associated with consumption and translates them into appropriated land area, an indicator that

anyone can understand (Wackernagel & Rees, 1996). In this regard, sustainable urban land use is

defined as “the urban land use, the types and sequences of development, conservation and

environmental management activities to meet specified socioeconomic-environmental

objectives”.

51 Demonstrating the shortcoming by doing comparison which enables for current study

28
This definition focuses on land use intensification, which was recognized as the most promising

form of urban intensification contributing positively towards sustainable cities, mainly because it

reduces pressures of outward expansion (Williams, 2000). In order to achieve sustainable urban

land use, the school of “sustainable land management (SLM)” emerges. SLM is defined as a

system that combines technologies, policies and activities aimed at integrating socioeconomic

principles with environmental concerns (Smyth & Dumanski, 1993).

However, all of the above frameworks are a generalization of common guidelines and need

further modification to accommodate different countries or areas of practice. Since the 1990s,

numerous indicators, frameworks and assessment tools have been developed (Briassoulis, 2001;

Davison, 1996; Halla, 1994; Izac & Swift, 1994; Maclaren, 1996; Stevenson & Lee, 2001) in

order to understand the sustainability of land use.

Most of the previous studies have focused on the conceptual framework, systematic analysis and

strategies in evaluating sustainable land use. However, much of this work to date has been

concerned with the evaluation of the sustainability of agricultural land use while little has

addressed the sustainability of urban land use evaluation. For those studies on sustainable urban

land use, most of them have established basic evaluation frameworks and have arrived at some

basic agreement of the issues including the environmental, economical and social aspects at

national level. Therefore, very few of them has addressed a comprehensive indicators set tailored

for evaluating the sustainability of urban land use that is easier to apply at the urban city

level. And there is a lack of quantitative evaluation approach by combining the set of indicators

to assess the sustainability level of urban land use. There is a necessity to find out an appropriate

method in this paper to facilitate the study in evaluating the sustainable urban land use in China.

29
 Chapter 5

METHODOLOGY & DATA ANALYSIS

This section consists of what you actually did. For instance, you’ll describe any software you

used, a new technique you invented, what organisms were cultured, etc. You need to be specific

about how you did things such that another researcher can repeat your experiments. This section

is typically the easiest to write because you have presumably done your experiments many times.

Therefore, they should be second nature to you and writing about them should just be a matter of

recalling them from memory. The function of this section is to describe all experimental

procedures, including controls. The description should be complete enough to enable someone

else to repeat your work. If there is more than one part of the experiment, it is a good idea to

describe your methods and present your results in the same order in each section. This may not

be the same order in which the experiments were performed; it is up to you to decide what order

of presentation will make the most sense to your reader.

30
Essential elements of Methodology along with several examples

 How did you answer this question? There should be enough information here to allow
another scientist to repeat your experiment. Look at other papers that have been published
in your field to get some idea of what is included in this section.

 If you had a complicated protocol, it may helpful to include a diagram, table or flowchart
to explain the methods you used.

 Do not put results in this section. You may, however, include preliminary results that
were used to design the main experiment that you are reporting on.

 Experimental procedures and results are narrated in the past tense (what you did, what
you found, etc.) whereas conclusions from your results are given in the present tense.

 Mathematical equations and statistical tests are considered mathematical methods and
should be described in this section along with the actual experimental work.

 Use active rather than passive voice when possible. Always use the singular "I" rather
than the plural "we" when you are the only author of the paper.

 If any of your methods is fully described in a previous publication (yours or someone

else’s), you can cite that instead of describing the procedure again.

 Sub-headings should be used, where appropriate.

Notice:

 You only need to describe your specific experiment method.

Do NOT repeat the frog surgery process described in the lab manual.
 You do not need to include an equipment list.
 Notice the format of mathematical expressions. Equations are spaced apart from the text.

31
 1. Methodology (Case Studies)

In terms of case study research, there was the option to conduct multiple studies or a single case

study. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Multiple case studies offer a wider

range of data comparison, but there is danger in attempting to make strong connections between

varying contexts and some case study data may be outside the scope of research. Single case

studies can provide more detailed information, but the context may be too specific or unique to

be applied on a broader scope. I used guidance from Groat & Wang (2002), who suggest that the

choice of multiple vs. single case studies should be based on the nature of the research

question(s) and the role of application.

For the aim of energy analysis the building which is shown in Figures 9 and 10 was modeled.

The building was designed and built in Dezful, Iran, as a residential building in 1968.

Construction materials were masonry brick, steel and concrete. Most of the unique interior

decorations in the building were misplaced or missing, prior to recent renovations. The building

comprises of three major parts including: the aboveground floor, underground floor, and

foundation. Results were attained based on modeling of the building in the software for finding

building adaptive reuse potential. Then, based on outcomes which were zero possibility for

adaptive reuse, the best solution was considered to demolish the old building. Consequently, the

new building design was modeled in Sindex for sustainable project appraisal and then the new

construction design transferred to Autodesk Revit Architecture and Autodesk Green Building

Studio which helped for energy and material analysis. The new building includes steel structure

frame and load bearing masonry brick walls. The roof was firstly designed as a sloped roof but

during the bidding process it was replaced with a flat roof. Various sustainable technologies were

32
experimented during the project, including rainwater collection, energy efficient hot water heater

as well as consumption of salvaged wood, metal and brick for interior doors and walls. Finally,

insulation was installed to save energy and reduce resource consumption for sustainable aims.

2. Research Methodology (Questionnaire)

[The review of related works was done first and then the opinions and views of construction

experts were taken. The questionnaire survey was done on the behalf of the delay

causes] 52. There were two parts of the questionnaire, Part A Par B. Questionnaire asked about the

respondent’s personal information. A survey was conducted through mailed two hundred

questionnaire were distributed in Government, private and semi Government organization out of

which one hundred and twenty were given response and in some organization, I had taken

interviews vocally by the labors of private firms. The respondents were asked about the grading

and scoring of the causes and factors of delay. After the analysis of these, the

recommendations were made to counter these problems. The grading and scoring of delay factors

relevant to clients is shown in the table below.

3. Research Methodology (Interview)

A desktop research and literature review were conducted. The aim was to identify the methods of

programming and scheduling techniques in construction supply chain management. This formed

the base for a later investigation of current practices within the industry by means of a pilot

study. The small pilot study was conducted by means of interviews, combined with site visits,

with a small sample of industry role players representing the bigger contractors. An emphasis

52 Survey procedures and results are narrated in the past tense

33
was placed on the building sector as opposed to the civil sector in industry. The interviews aimed

to determine the preferred method of programming and delay analysis in the industry. Further the

approaches taken for the prediction of inclement weather conditions and of their effects on

differing building sites were explored. The interviews were semi-structured in nature. A broad

outline of the interview and questions were e-mailed or faxed to the interviewees in advance.

[The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thereafter analyzed and cross-checked with each

other. Based on the review and the fieldwork some suggestions for an improved method for

drawing up transparent contract programmes are made] 53.

4. Methodology (Survey)

For the aim of survey, auditors of EMS and senior management representatives of nine

construction firms including five IS0 14000 certified firms were interviewed and requested to

provide information and verification in drafting the questionnaire. Then the structured

questionnaires were sent to senior management representatives of 200 construction firms listed in

the Dictionary of Quality System Certification Enterprises in China and finally 60 completed

questionnaires had been received. In the survey, the 60 construction firms fall into two categories

of ownership: 52 state-owned (87%) and 8 sharing-holding enterprises (13%). All the

respondents were IS0 9000-certified, out of which, 20 (33%) construction firms are ISO 14001

certified. For the non-certified firms of IS0 14000, 28 (47%) firms revealed that they would not

seek certification of IS0 14000 in the near future if clients had no requirements. The other 12

(20%) firms felt they had intention to adopt EMS.

53 Results are narrated in the past tense

34
 5. Research Methods (PhD Proposal)

[The research methodology includes literature reviews, interviews, simulations, multiple-case

study approach and questionnaire survey where the target respondents would be clients,

consultants and contractors. Literature reviews include documentation, construction policy and

implementation strategies. Interviews with parties who participated in projects are considered to

collect crucial information related to supply chain management and delivery of projects. The

aims of interviews are to determine the preferred method of programming and delay analysis in

the industry] 54.

After gaining a thorough grounding in these topics, the outcomes will analyze with planning and

scheduling software to attain an appropriate solution for construction delays due to predicted

conditions. In this study, based on requirements of construction projects, group discussions of

construction practitioners and through a comprehensive literature review the key indicators of

supply chain and project performance will identify. A quantitative questionnaire survey will be

prepared based on project performance from literature review and group discussion. Then, the

applicability of the preliminary questionnaire can be evaluated through a pilot study

that involves a small group of construction practitioners such as project managers.

Compared to the quantitative questionnaire survey, the qualitative interview will use as a

complement to the questionnaire survey. Also, the interviewees will be selected from different

types of construction organizations. A purpose of expert interviews is to examine findings of

questionnaire result analysis to see whether or not supply chain management has a major effect

54 As a proposal wants to explain a methodology which is not done, present and future tense would be preferable

35
on project performance. Meanwhile, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods

makes the research more reliable and more useful.

6. Research Methodology (Questionnaire)

It was decided to use an industry questionnaire to obtain data on professionals’ opinions about

sustainability criteria in the construction industry. The purpose of the questionnaire is to identify

variables to be included in the decision-making model for sustainability. A mail survey was

employed due to the benefits of administration, wider coverage and the speed of data collection.

Following the identification of key variables for the decision-making model, case study research

was used to collect data for the variables. Data was collected for twenty public high school

projects using a questionnaire and other measurement techniques. The interaction of these

variables was examined using linear and multiple regression analysis to establish probabilistic

models. The hypothesis of this research was then tested for correlation.

7. Research Methods (Questionnaire)

The questionnaire was developed based on the relationship and performance indicators identified

from the literature review and focus group discussion. The purpose of the questionnaire survey

was to analyse the role of relationship management in project performance. The questionnaire

consists of three sections related to project and respondent information, supply chain

relationship, and project performance. The respondents were asked about how strongly they

agree or disagree with ten statements: (1) Mutual objectives were established to benefit to all

parties (“Mutual objectives”), (2) Gain and pain sharing was agreed between the parties (“Gain

36
and pain sharing”) and etc. The respondent’s perceptions were rated according to a four-point

Likert scale (1=Strongly Agree; 2=Agree; 3=Disagree; and 4=Strongly Disagree).

In addition, two Yes/No questions were asked concerning whether the project was completed on

time (“Time certainty”) and within budget (“Cost certainty”). A “No” response to either of these

questions was followed by the questions about how long the project was delayed (“Delayed

time”) and/or how much the project was overspent (“Overspent cost”).

The applicability of the preliminary questionnaire was tested through a pilot study, which

involved a small group of construction practitioners such as project managers. Based on their

feedback, the preliminary questionnaire was refined and the final questionnaire was

determined. The questionnaire survey conducted in this study is specific to building projects

completed in the UK. The survey targets the key project participants: project clients, project

management consultants, and main contractors. The survey mainly focuses on the effect of

client–main contractor relationship on project performance. Compared to the quantitative

questionnaire survey, the qualitative expert interview has a direct interaction with the

respondents in more depth. In this study, over ten industrial experts were interviewed as a

complement to the questionnaire survey. The interviewees were selected from different types of

construction organisations. Their roles in their organizations were related to business

improvement, relationship management and project management. A purpose of expert interviews

was to examine the findings of questionnaire result analysis to see whether or not supply chain

relationships have a major effect on project performance. In addition, the expert interviews help

to explore the roles of relationship management in today's construction projects and the

motivators of successful relationship management. A combination of quantitative and qualitative

37
methods makes the research more reliable and more useful. Based on the empirical data collected

from the questionnaire survey, a series of statistical analyses were made using the Statistical

Products and Services Solution (SPSS). The results of the analyses, which quantitatively assess

the impact of supply chain relationships on project performance, are presented in the following.

The questionnaire survey was sent to 400 construction practitioners. However, approximate 50

questionnaires were not delivered. As a result, a total of 105 responses were received for a

response rate of 30.0%. More than one third of the responses (37.1%) were collected from client

organisations, 32 (30.5%) were from main contractors, 22 (21.0%) were from project

management consultants, and 12 (11.4%) were from specialist contractors. The responses

covered almost all typical building projects such as housing, schools, offices, hospitals and

supermarkets. Project information was reported as follows:

Project duration: The surveyed projects varied from the shortest at 1.5 months to the longest at

120 months, and a total of 90 surveyed projects (88.3%) lasted 36 months or less.

Project budget: The budgets of the surveyed projects were diverse, ranging from 0.10 million

pounds to 600 million pounds. There were 98 surveyed projects (94.2%) whose budgets were

less than 50 million pounds.

38
Information about time, cost and quality performance is presented below:

Time certainty and delayed time: 67 surveyed projects (64.4%) were completed on time while 37

surveyed projects (35.6%) were delayed (One datum was missing). The extent of time delays

ranged from one month to twelve months.

Cost certainty and overspent cost: 77 surveyed projects (74.8%) were completed within budget

while 26 surveyed projects (25.2%) were overspent (Two data were missing). The extent of cost

overruns ranged from 0.03 million to 14 million pounds.

Quality defect: After taking out three missing data, the statistical results showed that 12 surveyed

projects (11.8%) had no defects; 72 surveyed projects (70.6%) had minor defects; 17 surveyed

projects (16.7%) had medium defects; and only one project (1.0%) had major defects. “Totally

defective” received zero responses.

8. Methodology (Literature Review and Questionnaire)

This study begins with an intensive literature review of reports and documents to identify major

factors in the sustainable adaptive reuse of built heritage. A list of preliminary sustainability

factors was shortlisted from the literature.

The initial list of sustainability factors identified in the literature were then verified and

confirmed by the practitioners in the interviews. During the interviews, the practitioners were

given the list of 20 sustainability factors shortlisted from the literature. They were asked: 1) to

indicate the extent to which they are important in enhancing the concept of sustainable

39
development in the adaptive reuse of built heritage projects in Hong Kong (rating scale: not

important, important, very important). Factors which were agreed by more than 50% of the

interviewees as either ‘important’ or ‘very important’ were extracted.

Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted over a 3-month period with architects, property

developers and project managers. The interviews varied in length from 45 to 90 min. The

interviews were transcribed and input into Excel for qualitative analysis.

40
 Chapter 6

RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS

The two functions of this section are to report the results (past verb tense) of the procedures

described in the methods and to present the evidence that is the data (in the form of text, tables or

figures), that supports the results. Some journals combine the results and discussion into one

section. Before sitting down to write the first draft, it is important to plan which results are

important in answering the question and which can be left out. Include only results which are

relevant to the question(s) posed in the introduction irrespective of whether or not the results

support the hypothesis(es). After deciding which results to present, attention should turn to

determining whether data are best presented within the text or as tables or figures. Clear tables

and figures provide a very powerful visual means of presenting data and should be used to

complement the text, but at the same time must be able to be understood in isolation. Except on

rare occasions when emphasis is required data that are given in a table or figure must not be

repeated within the text. Tables and figures must be mentioned within the text and should be

placed after the related text. If a manuscript includes a table or figure that has already been

published, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder (usually the publisher) and the

source acknowledged. For every result there must be a method in the methods. Careful planning

of the tables and figures is important to ensure that the sequencing of these tells a story. The

results must not include a discussion of the findings, methods of data analyses and citations of

references, except on rare occasions when a comparison is made of the raw data with the

findings of a published study. This applies only when this comparison would not fit well within

the discussion.

41
Essential elements of Results and Conclusions along with several examples

 This is where you present the results you've gotten. Use graphs and tables if appropriate,
but also summarize your main findings in the text. Do NOT discuss the results or
speculate as to why something happened, these should go in the Discussion.
 You don't necessarily have to include all the data you've gotten during the semester. This
isn't a diary.
 Use appropriate methods of showing data. Don't try to manipulate the data to make it
look like you did more than you actually did.
“The drug cured 1/3 of the infected mice, another 1/3 were not affected, and the third
mouse got away.”
 The function of this section is to summarize general trends in the data without comment,
bias, or interpretation. Statistical tests applied to your data are reported in this section
although conclusions about your original hypotheses are saved for the Discussion section.
 Data may be presented in figures and tables, but this may not substitute for a verbal
summary of the findings. The text should be understandable by someone who has not
seen your figures and tables.
 Organize logically and use headers to emphasize the ordered sections.
 Don't discuss or interpret. Findings are matters of fact; interpretation fluctuates with
perspective, opinion, and current knowledge. Reasoned speculation belongs in
Discussion; important facts and objective observations that are unambiguously true
belong in Results.

42
 1. Conclusions

[The survey results indicated that the majority of delay factors are relevant to client factor. It is

concluded from survey for dipping in delay client must have strong economical ability and

financial arrangement for project, correctly time decision]55 . He must give proper time and

priority on his construction project and tacking appropriately time verdict. Most factors related to

consultant it is due to not understanding the client necessities, not having proper project

information, absence of some detail in drawing etc. It is examine from survey due to contractor

that mostly delay occur because of deficient in obtaining up-to-date equipments, unwarranted

material used in construction. Due to which cause of dispute occur in construction so it is

necessary that excellent material is used in construction.

2. Conclusions

[A novel inverse analysis computational technique, SelfSim, presented in this paper provides a

rational and systematic approach for integrating downhole measurements into numerical

modeling of site response] 56 . SelfSim represents a major departure from general system

identification methods from field observations and conventional methods for development and

calibration of dynamic soil models using laboratory measurements. SelfSim is capable of

extracting non-linear soil behavior using downhole array measurements unconstrained by prior

assumptions of soil behavior.

55 Report the results (past verb tense)

56 Supporting the results

43
[The algorithm is successfully demonstrated and provides good results for several synthetic

downhole array profiles. The results show that SelfSim is able to gradually learn the global

response while extracting the underlying soil behavior. Recordings from multiple events are

needed to extract non-linear soil behavior over a wide strain range]57.

3. Results and Conclusions

[The above model is used to predict the measured unsaturated soil behavior obtained from Test

1, Test 2, Test 3 and Test 4 described in Section 2. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show the comparisons

between predicted and measured degrees of saturation and void ratio during the equalization

from point A to B or B. The measured results are the same as those in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, and the

predicted results were obtained using the proposed coupled model for unsaturated soils with the

above model parameters. The initial values of yield stress (p0y) and suction (s0) used in all

model predictions were p0y = 25 kPa and s0 = 110 kPa. On the other hand, because the

measured initial values of void ratios and degrees of saturation were rather different between the

four tests, these experimental values were taken as the starting points of the respective

simulations]58.

It can be concluded from Fig. 13 to Fig 18 that the model with the eight model parameters is

capable of providing good predictions of the stress–strain and water-retention behavior of

unsaturated compacted soil under isotropic and general stress paths. The effect of the saturation

degree on the stress–strain behavior and strength of unsaturated soils can also be taken into

account by the model.

57 Report the results (past verb tense)

58 Data presented within the text and as tables and figures

44
 4. Conclusions

In this paper, an accumulation model for settlements due to vibrations at small strain levels in

granular non-cohesive soils has been proposed. It is assumed that the dynamic part of the loading

is small with respect to the static part, reflecting the stress conditions in the soil underneath

buildings.

It is assumed that the accumulation is caused by two distinct mechanisms: frictional sliding and

volumetric compaction of soil particles. Correspondingly, use is made of two state variables for

frictional sliding and volumetric compaction, respectively. Following the observation that the

direction of accumulation only depends on the stress state, the direction of accumulation is

derived from the Mohr–Coulomb yield function.

Furthermore, the assumption of a common compaction curve has been made, implying that the

shape of the compaction curve is invariant with respect to a variation of a parameter. Based on

this assumption, a phenomenological law is put forward that describes the shape of the

compaction curve. The strain accumulation rate is formulated independent from the number of

load cycles and two independent accumulation laws for deviatoric and volumetric strain

portions are introduced to ensure a flexible applicability of the model.

The presented accumulation model is calibrated to cyclic triaxial test results. Despite of several

simplifications, coming along with the very limited number of model parameters, sufficient

accuracy is reached in accumulation prediction. Although a broader data base is desirable, the

prediction corresponds well to the test data.

45
 5. Conclusions

An example of a project status report for a selected project is shown in Table 7. Productivity

assessment was shown per category and per group so that different perspectives can be obtained

from the assessment. It can be seen from the table that both assessment ratings per group were

critical. Efforts to recover from poor project conditions based on SCM were also shown as per

category and per group. They were mostly at medium level, which were probably not sufficient

to cater for the critical assessment rating. This was shown by the TPR value of 1.89, which

means that the project would most likely be delayed by 89% from the planned project

completion date if no action is taken to improve the situation. The report has revealed in this case

that currently the performances of the consultant, contractor, labour, tool and equipment, among

others, were in critical or very poor condition.

6. Conclusions

In this paper a new approach, based on interval mathematic, for transient tolerance analysis of

power cables has been presented. The proposed approach is well suited for the assessment of

uncertainty propagation in power cable thermal analysis.

The numerical results presented have demonstrated that the IMapproach furnishes robust

solutions compared to other settled methodologies, such as the Monte Carlo, exhibiting at the

same time fast solving times. These key features make the proposed approach particularly

suitable in thermal analysis of complex transmission or distribution systems, where many power

cables must be monitored at the same time. In general terms, we expect that …

46
 7. Conclusions

Based on the interference fringe model and the principle of scattering, the paper presented a

mathematic model of LDV for the measurement of solid-state using reflectance and the average

size of the particles to represent the characteristic of the solid-state surface. The relationship

among the characteristics of the solid-state surface, the signal intensity and the measurement

accuracy is given by numerical simulations. Results of experiment have verified the feasibility of

the mathematic model of LDV for the velocity measurement of solid-state surface. The research

is very important for the development, design and application of the dual-beam LDV.

8. Conclusions

This paper has highlighted the role that the adaptation of buildings could have in addressing the

UK’s housing and commercial building problems. The adaptation process must, however, take

full account of the size and depth of the environmental footprint the built environment generates.

To do this a feasibility study must be carried out to ensure that not only does the proposed

project proceed with limited problems. When considering a building for adaptation, due

consideration needs to be given to the initial costs and the future running costs as well as the

contribution to global environmental concerns. These factors can all be incorporated into the

advocated decision-making process model. A trend move towards an increased use of adaptation

work would be positively correlated to a change in the professional role / workload of surveyors

in the future and this may require some re-training or continuing professional development

activities for surveyors.

47
 9. Conclusions

This paper demonstrates that facility classification is an important ingredient in project selection

for adaptive reuse intervention. It uniquely uses PERT analysis to construct archetypes for each

facility classification that define and inform likely success. While more detailed study for

individual projects is certainly warranted in practice, this research has identified that the greatest

opportunities for adaptive reuse and not necessarily confined to the traditional decisions of

industrial or commercial transformations as has been widely witnessed. Making better decisions

about adaptive reuse opportunities will significantly improve our sustainability performance and

deliver economic, social and environmental benefits to property owners and investors. In

particular, the reuse of valuable resources will offset the need to destroy existing buildings and

contribute positively to climate change adaption initiatives that are increasingly urgent.

10. Conclusions

Resource allocation significantly affects project schedule. Impractical allocation may account for

the project delay. However, current schedule analysis often does not consider a project’s

resource allocation. This paper illustrates that resource allocation can affect the results of a delay

analysis. Performing a schedule analysis without considering resource allocations may increase

the owner’s or contractor’s risk of assuming delay responsibility which is not his or her fault.

A delay analysis that includes the resource allocation used on the project is more worthwhile. As

such, this research is useful to both industry professionals and researchers. The research enables

more reliable schedule analysis. Future research may focus on issues to increase the usability,

credibility, and acceptability of delay analysis considering resource allocation by project parties.

48
 11. Conclusions

As reported by the students of the experimental group through the questionnaire which was sent

to them, the felt better in working online. In fact, they enjoyed a lot surfing the web and studying

the course material online. The findings of the study has also shown that Mathematic Formula

can be taught online especially through giving links to students and leave them to do their own

learning and be responsible for their own learning. So autonomy of the participants has increased

to great extent. This new experience seemed to be both economical and efficient, since both the

inferential and descriptive results of the study revealed so.

12. Results

The energy consumed in the production of Portland cement, shown in Table 2, was estimated to

be 4.88 MJ/kg. The major energy, as expected, is consumed during preprocessing. A similar

energy value, 5.5 GJ/kg (5.6 GJ/long ton), was reported for Portland cement production in the

USA in 1997; and this report noted that energy consumption in Portland cement production in

the USA has decreased 30% from 1970 to 1997.

The total energy in the production of steel was estimated to be 23.70 GJ/kg. A reasonably similar

energy value, 25.5 GJ/kg (25.9 GJ/long ton), was reported for iron and steel production in the

USA in 1994. The value computed for steel is considerably higher than the value computed for

concrete.

Other environmental parameters estimated for the two beams (reinforced concrete and steel)

using ATHENA are listed in Table 4. The resource use for concrete was about double that for

49
steel. Both produced high levels of carbon dioxide, but the amount for concrete was quite similar

to the amount for steel. The water pollution index for concrete was about half that for

steel. Overall, the computation shows a smaller environmental impact for concrete than for steel.

This computation showed that concrete has less environmental impact than steel when compared

in structures designed for the same engineering function. It is much more difficult to answer the

broader question of whether concrete housing is sustainable. What we can conclude from this

analysis is that concrete is more sustainable than steel in the same structure.

13. Conclusions

This study has shown that although in winter the MBT solution has a better thermal performance

than the conventional one due to its heavier insulation, in summer, the MBT behavior is very

penalizing in the cooling energy requirements, resulting in greater overall energy needs. This

poor performance is due to the huge area of windows with inadequate shading control devices

and also to the lack of thermal inertia. To correct the performance of the MBT building, the solar

exposure strategy must be revised.

From the study carried out, it was possible to conclude that in almost all the studied cases, the

MBT solution has better acoustic performance than the conventional one, in spite of having less

mass. The very good quality of the glazing and windows frames and the higher level of acoustic

absorbent material placed inside the building elements allow this good acoustic performance.

50
From the natural lighting evaluation carried out it was verified that in summer, the excess of

lighting in the MBT and in the conventional buildings, can be solved with a cheap efficient

shading system.

In the MBT solution, constructive costs are significantly higher than in the conventional one,

what can be justified by the weak implementation of the highly industrialized building

technologies in Portugal. However, in what concerns the environmental impact the MBT solution

is better since it needs a less amount of materials to be used. Despite the fact of being more

expensive, the option for MBT solutions is one of the possibilities to explore in future in order to

turn the Portuguese construction industry more sustainable.

14. Conclusions

The important issue focused on in this study is the delay of construction projects. Since delays

are considered to be a serious problem in the construction industry for both owners and

constructors, this study examines the factors that cause delay in construction projects in

Malaysia. The results of the analysis show that from a total of 31 variables examined, separated

into four categories by responsibility, the major factors causing delay in construction projects are

factors due to the contractor, followed by factors due to the consultant, factors due to the owner,

and finally external factors. The main finding of this study is that the financial factor is the most

influencing factor in causing delay in construction projects in Malaysia. Coordination problems

are considered the second important factor causing delay in construction projects, followed by

materials problems. This study also shows that …

51
 15. Conclusions

Building adaptive reuse is an important global topic. In the context of sustainable development

and the effects of climate change caused by previous disregard for our environment, adaptive

reuse has significant implications. This paper has examined how the construction industry can

reposition itself to increase focus on the revitalization of existing buildings as an alternative to

demolition and replacement. The paper has reported on current research undertaken in Australia

as part of a nationally-funded program in collaboration with industry, proposed a new model for

early identification of adaptive reuse potential, tested this model with case study data, and looked

at the social advantage from making better use of what we already have. The paper proposed that

adaptive reuse needs to be planned at the outset, and if this is done wisely and routinely, it will

provide a means of realizing sustainability objectives without reducing investment levels or

economic viability for the industry. In fact, adaptive reuse is the future of the construction

industry.

16. Conclusions

There is an increasing complexity and interplay between all of the issues associated with

property portfolio decisions. This research further investigates the relationships between

financial, environmental and social parameters associated with building adaptive reuse through

providing a vehicle for strategic design advice at the very beginning of a project’s life. The

outcomes of this research have the potential to assist in the transformation of the building and

property industry towards more sustainable practices, strategies and outcomes, and help mitigate

the effects of a changing climate.

52
 17. Results

This pilot survey took twelve months to complete, while the main survey took six months. The

first phase was used in collecting relevant measures of project performance in Ghana. A

questionnaire approach was used (mixture of open- and closed-ended items) to achieve this aim

(refer to Appendix 2). The closed-ended items were measures obtained from literature. In

these practitioners were asked to select the ones which are relevant in Ghana. The open-ended

questions allowed practitioners to include any measure known to be relevant in Ghana but were

not included in the questionnaires. The latter type represented the qualitative aspect while the

former represented the quantitative aspect, the dominant method. The analyses brought together

a set of measures which are of varying degree of relevance based on responses received.

The results of the first pilot studies were used to create an improved version of the questionnaires

for the survey in second pilot studies. Using mainly closed, but also some open questions, the

main goal of the survey was to assess which measures were considered to be important indicators

for project performance. Using likert scales of 1 to 4, important factors were selected as those

that score three or higher.

Tables 4.6 and 4.7 describe the results of t-test for statistical significance of indicators and

factors respectively. The second column comprised the related sub-measures which were found

to be important. In Table 4.7, the first, column contains factor groups, while the second and third

column contains the related sub-measures which are important and those which were found to be

statistically important respectively. The sub-measures in italics are new measures proposed by

respondents.

53
 Chapter 7

TABLES & FIGURES

Tables and figures should be used when they are a more efficient way to convey information

than verbal description. They must be independent units, accompanied by explanatory captions

that allow them to be understood by someone who has not read the text. Do not repeat in the text

the information in tables and figures, but do cite them, with a summary statement when that is

appropriate. Whenever possible, use a figure instead of a table. Relationships between numbers

are more readily grasped when they are presented graphically rather than as columns in a table. If

you present your data in a table or graph, include a title describing what's in the table ("Physical

activity at various temperatures", not "My results".) For graphs, you should also label the x and y

axes. Don't use a table or graph just to be "fancy". If you can summarize the information in one

sentence, then a table or graph is not necessary.

1. Tables

 Do not repeat information in a table that you are depicting in a graph or histogram;
include a table only if it presents new information.

 It is easier to compare numbers by reading down a column rather than across a row.
Therefore, list sets of data you want your reader to compare in vertical form.

 Provide each table with a number (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) and a title. The numbered title
is placed above the table.

54
 2. Figures

These comprise graphs, histograms, and illustrations, both drawings and photographs. Provide

each figure with a number (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc.) and a caption that explains what the figures

shows. The numbered caption is placed below the figures.

2.1. Graphs and Histograms

Both can be used to compare two variables. However, graphs show continuous change, whereas

histograms show discrete variables only. You can compare groups of data by plotting two or

even three lines on one graph, but avoid cluttered graphs that are hard to read, and do not plot

unrelated trends on the same graph. For both graphs, and histograms, plot the independent

variable on the horizontal (x) axis and the dependent variable on the vertical (y) axis. Label both

axes, including units of measurement.

2.2. Drawings and Photographs

These are used to illustrate organisms, experimental apparatus, models of structures, cellular and

sub cellular structure, and results of procedures like motion of particles in a liquid. Preparing

such figures well is a lot of work and can be very expensive, so each figure must add enough to

justify its preparation and publication, but good figures can greatly enhance a professional

article, as your reading in biological journals has already shown.

55
3. Methods for referring to Tables and Figures in a text

 As depicted in Figure 2.
 Fig. 2 depicts a summary of the...
 As shown in Figures 10 and 12.
 The assumptions and results are discussed in section 3.0.
 The ... consists of ...as a solution (see Table 1 - 4 below).
 Figure 5 presents the renovation options analyzed...
 From the results (presented in Figure 6) it can be seen that …
 Figure 7 shows the...
 As can be seen from the graph,
 The Figure below shows…
 As seen from the Fig. 3…
 The building in this study (Figure 1)…
 The general information about this building is listed in Table 1.
 Table 2 contains the...
 Fig. 6 presents the...
 As is shown in Table 2,
 As can be seen in Figure 1,
 As shown in the above analysis,
 From the results presented in Fig. 4 it can be calculated
 According to the results presented in Fig. 10,
 Figure 6 illustrates...
 From Figure 1, it can be observed that
 From the graph, it can be concluded that

4. Some examples for placing Caption below the Figures

 Figure 13: Input and output worksheet

 Figure 12: Graph showing...
 Figure 9: Pictures showing...
 Figure 8: Shows the...
 Figure 6: Embodied carbon Vs Thermal transmittance
 Fig. 3: Comparison of Initial Construction Costs
 Figure 1: the BIM model used in this case study

56
 5. Some examples for using Equation in text

5.1. Equation

Useful life can be determined through application of Equation 1 (Langston et al., 2008).

Lp
Useful Life (Lu) = (Eq. 1)
(1+∑7i=1 O i )

Where Lp is the physical life and Oi is the obsolescence type i.

5.2. Equation

The regression model is in the following form: or The regression model, C, is calculated as:

C = a + B1X1 + B2X2 + . . . +BnXn

Where a is a constant; Bn is the partial regression coefficient for Xn; and Xn is the independent

variable determining the outcome of C.

57
 Chapter 8

REFERENCES

Reference is the last section of a scientific paper. There are several possible ways to organize this

section. Other journals use variations on this theme. Ask your instructors for the specific format

they want you to adopt for your work. Here in this article we will follow the format of Eastern

Mediterranean University which is one commonly used way.

Format for citing References in the text (Literature Cited):

1. Both the name and date can go inside parentheses if the name is not actually part of your

sentence. Notice that the parenthesis is placed at the end of the sentence of clause

containing the reference and that punctuation. In the text, cite the literature in the

appropriate places:

“Bullen and Love (2010) suggest that the calculation of embodied energy is more

complex and time consuming than determining operating energy. Furthermore, there

exists no apt method that could calculate embodied energy accurately and consistently

(Ai Lin Teo, 2011). Holden et al. (2008) explain, embodied energy is the energy required

to provide a product”.

58
 In the References section list citations in alphabetical order.

• Ai Lin Teo,E. (2011). Building adaption model in assessing adaption potential of public
housing in Singapore. Building and Environment. 46, 1370-1379.

• Bullen, P. A. and Love, P. E. D. (2010). The rhetoric of adaptive reuse or reality of

demolition: views from the field. Cities. 27(4), 215-224.

• Holden, M., Roseland, M., Ferguson, K. and Perl, A. (2008).Seeking urban sustainability
on the world stage. Habitat International. 32 (3), 305–31.

2. Another way to cite a study is to make the last name of the researcher and follow it

immediately with the date of the study in parentheses:

• Holden et al. (2008) have proposed a number of sustainability factors.

• Langston (2008) suggests that the calculation of embodied energy is complex.

• Zainul Abidin (2010) has investigated the application of sustainable construction concept.

• Shen et al. (2011) examined 9 different practices grouped on urban sustainability.

• The study of Yıldırım and Turan (2012) demonstrated that ...

• Šaparauskas and Turskis (2006) analyzed different problems of sustainable construction.

• Chew, (2010) by focusing on strategies to achieve resource efficiency, promoted the

adoption of sustainable construction materials.

59
3. In the References section list citations in alphabetical order:

• Chew, K.C. (2010). Singapore’s strategies towards sustainable construction. The IES
Journal Part A: Civil & Structural Engineering. 3(3), 196–202.

• Holden, M., Roseland, M., Ferguson, K. and Perl, A. (2008). Seeking urban sustainability
on the world stage. Habitat International. 32 (3), 305–31.

• Langston, C. (2008). Strategic Assessment of Building Adaptive Reuse Opportunities in

Hong Kong. Building and Environment. 43(10), 1709-1718.

• Šaparauskas,J. and Turskis,Z. (2006). Evaluation of construction sustainability by

multiple criteria methods. Technological and Economic Development of Economy. 12(4),
321–326.

• Shen, L.Y., Ochoa, J.J., Shah, M.N. and Zhang, X. (2011). The application of urban
sustainability indicators- A comparison between various practices. Habitat International.
35 (1), 17-29.

• Wang, H.J. and Zeng, Z.T. (2010). A multi-objective decision-making process for reuse
selection of historic buildings. Expert Systems with Applications. 37(2), 1241–1249.

• Yıldırım, M. and Turan, G. (2012). Sustainable development in historic areas: Adaptive

re-use challenges in traditional houses in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Habitat International. 36(4),
493-503.

• Zainul Abidin, N. (2010). Investigating the awareness and application of sustainable

construction concept by Malaysian developers. Habitat International. 34(4), 421-426.

60
Notice:

 All authors (more than three) must be named in the References, but, use “et al.” only with
the text. For example: Langston et al. (2008) have presented ...

Langston, C., Wong, F., Hui, E. and Shen L.Y. (2008). Strategic Assessment of Building
Adaptive Reuse Opportunities in Hong Kong, Building and Environment, 43(10), 1709-
1718 .

 It is INCORRECT to separate the date of publication from the author’s name:

Incorrect: Grubb found that cyanide inhibits enzyme action (1977).

 If you wish to cite more than one study per reference, if more than one author has reached
the same conclusion or worked on the same problem independently, you may list them
together in the same parentheses and separate their names by semicolons. For example:

Cyanide has been found to inhibit enzyme action (Keoleian et al., 2001; Ding, 2004;
Hannon et al., 1978; Nassen et al., 2007; Crowther, 1999; Sartori and Hestnes, 2007).

 No reference is listed in this section unless it was cited somewhere in the text.

 You must cite another researcher whenever you refer to his or her results, conclusions, or
methods in your paper.

 The reference in the text is made only to the author’s name and date of publication.

61
Essential elements of Reference along with several examples

1. Journal

Figure 1: First page of a research paper includes essential requirements for citation

• Wener, R. and Carmalt, H. (2006). Environmental psychology and sustainability in high

rise structures. Technology in Society. 28, 157–167.

Figure 2: First page of a research paper includes essential requirements for citation

• Brown, J.L. (2001). First ‘Green’ residential high-rise planned for New York City. Civil
Engineering. 71(2), 32–33.

62
2. Book

• Eadie, W. R. (1954). Animal control in farm and forest. MacMillan Co., New York, New
York, USA.
• Peck, R.B. (1972). Foundation engineering, 2nd edition. New York: McGraw-Hill,
pp.230–292.

3. Conference

• AbouRizk, S.M. and Sawhney, A. (1994). Simulation and gaming in construction

engineering education. Paper presented at the American Society for Engineering
Education Conference, ASEE/C2E2/C2EI conference, Edmonton, Alberta, June 1994.

4. Thesis

• Calvo, R. N. (1990). Pollinator limitation cost of reproduction and fitness in plants: a

demographic approach. Dissertation. University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• Alnasseri, S.S. (2005). Policies to sustain high standards of living in oil-exporting
Arabian Gulf countries. Thesis (PhD). Griffith Business School, Griffith University.

5. Websites

• Struble, L. and Godfrey, J. (2010). Managing Construction Projects, available

at [Link]
(Accessed 9 September 2009)

63
 Chapter 9

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The acknowledgments section of a research report allows the author to recognize and thank those

who helped contribute to the finished product. Unlike a dedication, acknowledgments should

mention only those who directly influenced the work. It is useful to jot down the names of people

worthy of acknowledgment throughout the research and writing process to ensure you do not

forget anyone. Wording the acknowledgments is fairly simple, as it merely involves listing

names and adding statements of genuine gratitude.

Several examples for writing Acknowledgements in an article

1. Acknowledgements

The author thanks Dr Diana Hopper and Dr Leon Straker for their help in reviewing this

manuscript.

2. Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the help of Aziz Shahrokni for his precise data and drawings he

has provided me on the case-study building of my research.

Last but not least, the authors are grateful to Dr. Ebrahim Shayan for his time and effort spent in

reviewing the paper and for his constructive comments.

64
 3. Acknowledgements

I would like to appreciate my supervisor Asst. Prof. Dr. Alireza Rezaei for his guidance during

the writing of this paper. The insight he has given me into the construction management is

wonderful and will be beneficial for my future.

Last but not least, I am more than thankful to my father, Gholamreza Ghodrati and my family for

their support by all possible means during these last two years of my stay in Cyprus.

4. Acknowledgements

I appreciate Professor John Julian Smallwood for the effort invested in mentoring me and

guiding me through the research. Professor John Julian Smallwood your expertise has played a

significant role in this research.

I am thankful to the Dean of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology,

for his encouragement throughout the course of this study.

I deeply appreciate the financial support provided by the NMMU. Although it is little, it helped

in many ways.

I would like to thank those that participated in the data gathering process of this study, in the

form of completing the questionnaires.

65
I would like to thank my close friends and brother, chief among them are: Fidelis Emuze, and

Mrs Esther Akinlabi and for their immense contribution directly or indirectly to this research.

Most of all, I thank my wife Abimbola Idowu Aiyetan for her encouragement, support, love,

understanding, and care for the children while I was away from home for the study.

5. Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the reviewers for their time and effort spent in reviewing the paper

and for their constructive comments.

6. Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following people for their help and guidance in life, civil engineering,

career pursuits and opportunities, education and on this study:…

7. Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and grateful appreciations to my supervisor, Dr

Rosli Mahamad Zin for his invaluable guidance, advice, encouragement and help throughout the

project. Without his advice and constructive ideas this report wouldn’t be successfully

accomplished. A special acknowledgement must be given to my sponsor the Common Wealth

Scholarship under the Government of Malaysia, for their financial support throughout this

project.

66
 8. Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant to the first and second authors from the …

9. Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the cooperation of Riva and ALMC in Canada for making

available the data needed to carry out the present study. The authors also wish to thank the

reviewers for their comments and suggestions. The financial support by the FCAR is gratefully

acknowledged.

67
 Chapter 10

PLAGIARISM

Use of another person's written work without acknowledging the source and unauthorized use of

patented or copyrighted materials consider as plagiarism. Therefore, researchers must be careful

and bear in mind that such an act is not acceptable and has serious consequences. Turnitin is a

way for assessment of writer’s manuscript which is currently in use in Eastern Mediterranean

University.

What is Turnitin?

Turnitin is a text matching or plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is presenting or

submitting someone else’s words or ideas, intentionally or unintentionally, as your own. It is

used as a development tool for students and to help staff detect plagiarism and copying.

Typically, universities and high schools buy licenses to submit essays to the Turnitin website,

which checks the documents for unoriginal content. The results can be used to identify

similarities to existing sources or can be used in formative assessment to help students learn how

to avoid plagiarism and improve their writing.

68
Notice:

 A high similarity match does not necessarily mean plagiarism or copying. It could be

because:

 there is an overuse of direct quotation s within the work

 common phrases or series of words are being used that are the same

 A low match does not necessarily mean that plagiarism has not occurred

 some sections (albeit small ) may be plagiarised or copied

 there are increasing sophisticated methods

Other points to note

 Your Similarity Index Score may be high because of your reference list

 You score may be high because you are using “Headers and Footers” that have the

assignment title included on every page of your work

 If some of your work matches the content of a “Student Paper” submitted at your

University or another institution, you will not be able to access the original source (i.e.

the other student’s work) on screen when you view your report. Only your tutors and

university will be able to request that information from Turnitin

 Please try not to worry!

69
Generally, there is a common mistake between students during the writing of Literature Review.

As this part of research usually forms according to citation of several references, authors ignore

the fact that possibility for plagiarism detection in this section is much more than other parts. So,

if then after you uploaded your manuscript in Turnitin, there was a high rate of detection, you

have to double check your Literature Review with a priority.

Figure 3: High rate of plagiarism detection in Literature Review

70
Figure 4: High rate of plagiarism detection in Literature Review

71
Figure 5: Score of assignment matches text in the Turnitin database

72
References

The above booklet was subtracted from:

Ambrose, H. W., III. and K. P. Ambrose. (1995). A handbook of biological investigation. 5th
edition. Hunter Textbooks, Inc. Winston-Salem, NC.

Day, R. S. (1994). How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 4th edition, Oryx Press,
Phoenix.

Fellows, R. and Liu, R. (2008).Research methods for construction, 3rd edition. Blackwell
Publishing Ltd, United Kingdom.

Jenkins, S. (1995). How to write a paper for a scientific journal. Australian Journal of
Physiotherapy. 41(4), 285 – 289.

McMillan, V. E. (1997). Writing papers in the biological sciences. Bedford Books, Boston.

William, L. (2012). How to Interpret “Turnitin” Reports. Oxford Brookes University, Business
School, United Kingdom.

73
Wish You Success and Happiness

74