Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
RESEARCH SUPERVISION
Academic Leadership Programme – 7 August 2013
Prof. Gerald Steyn
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
CONTENTS
1. Why research and supervision?
2. Art, architecture and science
3. Overcoming obstacles
4. Supervision styles and intensity
5. Role of the supervisor
6. Intellectual maturity
7. References
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
WHY RESEARCH AND SUPERVISION?
1. Commitment: teaching, research, community engagement
2. To be part of a community of scholars (internationally too)
3. Applied research contributes to solving real-life problems
4. Research and research supervision are synonymous
5. Personal: curiosity-driven research is stimulating
6. Self-development – enriching
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
ART, ARCHITECTURE AND SCIENCE
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious –
the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art
and true science.
Albert Einstein
Architecture is of all the arts the one nearest to a science,
for every architectural design is at its inception dominated
by scientific considerations. The inexorable laws of
gravitation and of statics must be obeyed by even the most
imaginative artist in building.
Anonymous
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Supervision and Research at Architecture
DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH
CONCEPT
OBJECTIVES & ISSUES
BUILDING TYPE
Group sessions
Presentations in front of group
Neutral examination settings
Rehearsing creates confidence
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
 Aim not clearly understood
Topic analysis, thematic focus
 Lack of communication
Regular interaction, group meetings
 Bad self-management
Programme, time management
 Language problem
Write in mother tongue and translate
 Fear of writing
Template, writing exercises
 Perfectionism
Quick and messy first draft
 Depression and despondency Supervisor as counsellor
 Lack of study experience
Selection, bridging preparation
 Intellectual level and needs
Supervision style and intensity
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
SUPERVISION STYLES AND INTENSITY
ADVISOR INVOLVEMENT
High
Low
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
High
Low
1.
Mentoring
2.
Coaching
3.
Apprenticeship
4.
Unadvisable
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
ROLE OF THE SUPERVISOR
1. Preparing for the role
2. Selection of the topic (before research has begun)
3. During the research
4. At the writing stage
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
1. PREPARING FOR THE ROLE
 Appropriate qualifications
 Read extensively on subject, training, workshops
 Internalise and formulate own position
 Write study guide
 Supportive, energetic, caring attitude
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Develop own position
 Philosophy – own research vis-à-vis social contract
 Strategy – questions and sub-questions vs. aim and objectives
 Tactic – hypothesis vs. argument, rationale or theory
 Courage – creative solutions and leaps of imagination
 Assertiveness – write guide book
 Credibility – high quality international conferences
 21st century – be flexible!
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
2. SELECTION OF THE TOPIC
 Niche Area themes and topics
 Contribution to own research (acknowledge!)
 Interesting, relevant and needed
 Achievable in time frame
 Availability of resources and funding
 Matches student’s capabilities
 Availability of specialist expertise
 Professional usefulness
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Formulating the aim
I am studying Tswana architecture
because I want to find out more about the history,
typology and technology
in order to (justification) expand my knowledge of
vernacular African architecture
by (how?)  Searching literature
 Surveying sites
 Interviewing community elders
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
The literature survey
 Clarity on problem
 State of the art
 Significant prior research
 No quilting!
 Develop a narrative
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
3. DURING THE RESEARCH
 Structured programme of progress
 Clear research plan
 Aggressive follow-up on deadlines
 Guard against too much control of process
 Collecting data is not research – insist on critical thinking
 Professionalism essential – punctuality, responsiveness
No
1
STAGE
ADMINISTRATIVE
DESIGN THESIS
BRIEF/
2
START-UP
ASSIGNMENT
2013
year programme
ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES

Information session and registration.

Hand out of Design VI start-up project



Thesis candidates to hand in briefs
See objectives, outputs and assessment criteria.
Candidates’ briefs to be distributed as Assignment #
DATE
WEEKS
31 Jan
—
14 Feb
Two
6-7 Mar
Three
11 Apr
Five
17 Jun
Nine +
18 Jul
Four
3 Sep
Seven
18 Sep
Two
9 Oct
Three
31 Oct
Three

3
DESIGN CONCEPT
PRESENTATION
6
COLLOQUIUM
7
INTERIM
ASSESSMENT
8
9
DRAFT THESIS
DOCUMENT
TECHNICAL
EXAMINATION
10
THESIS DOCUMENT
FOR PROOF
READING
11
PREPARING FOR
SUBMISSION OF
DOCUMENT
12
FINAL THESIS
DOCUMENT
13
PREPARING FOR
THE EXAM
14
EXAMINATION
Candidates submit design concepts and
accompanying information, including 500 word
rationale.

Design review [crit] sessions to be arranged.
The purpose of the colloquium is to evaluate the status of
of the following: (1) Rationale, objectives & issues; (2)
Precedent studies; (3) Site appraisal, (4) Programme &
accommodation; (6) Technical resolution.

Supervisors must assess progress since the
colloquium, and report in writing to the HoD and the
PG coordinator.

At this stage supervisors may advise that a
candidate should be withdrawn from the
examination process
From 18 June complete design and the document and
submit to supervisor
Focus on technical documentation from 19 July up to the
exam.

Supervisors to complete review of drafts by 1
August.

From 2 August to 17 September make time to
respond to supervisors’ comments.

Submit document for language editing.

Also submit one page illustrated abstract

From 18 September onwards candidates must
finish their improved drawings and models for
inclusion in the thesis document.

Editors to return all manuscripts by 9 October.

From 9 October onwards, respond to language
editor and print and bind four copies.

Refine drawings and models to be included in
document.

Submit final document for distribution to external
examiners, as well as abstract by 12:00 (No late
submissions will be allowed!)

From 31 October onwards candidates must finish
their poster presentations and PowerPoints.

Presentations must be rehearsed.

All exhibitions must be in place at 16:00 on 19 Nov.
This will be either a one or two-day event, depending on
the number of candidates.
Three
20-21
Nov
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Research design
COMPONENTS
Methodology
Method(s)
Technique(s)
DESCRIPTION
 Quantitative
 Qualitative
 Mixed
 Descriptive
 Historical
 Experimental
 Literature & precedent
 Interviews & questionnaires
 Measured -/photo surveys
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
4. AT THE WRITING STAGE
 Outlining and templates – maintain the big picture
 Academic grammar and style
 Writing attitude – demystify the process
 Professional editing and proofreading
WIST – Would I Say That?
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Outlining a thesis/dissertation
Depending on the discipline/level/theme/topic:
 Introduction
 Method of
investigation
 Review of
the literature
 Current dispensation
 Analysis and Findings
 Proposed
dispensation
 Conclusions
and recommendations
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Grammar and style
 Conventions prescribed by TUT
 Conciseness and simplicity is critical
 Quotations distract from academic appearance
 Rules for sentence length, paragraph construction, etc.
 Academic quality writing
 Author remains anonymous – use ‘I’ with great care!
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Writing attitude and tools
 Outline contents – process seldom linear
 Templates can be helpful
 Start ‘quick and messy’ – psychological and practical value
 Avoid personal opinions / value judgments
 Write to support the focus – ask ‘so what?’
 Consolidate data into graphics – insert after relevant text
 Graphics are not decorations – always reference + caption
 Plan the next session – park ‘downhill’
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
The value of graphics
Feedback and
paper trail
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
INTELLECTUAL MATURITY –
A CRITICAL SELF EVALUATION
1. What did I try to achieve?
2. Why did I do it?
3. How did I do it?
4. What kind of results did I get?
5. What do the results mean?
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Department of Architecture
REFERENCES
 Bolker, Joan. 1998. Writing your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes
a Day. New York: Henry Holt.
 Creswell, John. 2009. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative,
and Mixed Method Approaches. London: Sage.
 Davis, Gordon and Parker, Clyde. 1997. Writing the Doctoral
Dissertation: A Systematic Approach. New York: Barron’s.
 Single, Peg. 2010. Demystifying Dissertation Writing: A
Streamlined Process. Sterling: Stylus.
 Van der Westhuizen, Gert. 2013. Research methods: Design,
Supervision and Publications. Johannesburg: Belvica.