RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING

 Why are you here?

 What will you produce?
 Engineer or scientist?
 Discovery or Invention?
 Research refers to a careful, well-defined (or
redefined), objective, and systematic method of
search for knowledge, or formulation of a
theory
 It is driven by inquisitiveness for that which is
unknown and useful on a particular aspect so
as to make an original contribution to expand
the existing knowledge base
 Research involves formulation of hypothesis or
proposition of solutions, data analysis, and
deductions
 the process of developing the perspectives and
seeking improvements in knowledge and skills
to enable the recognition, planning, design, and
execution of research in a wide range of forms
relevant for engineering and technology
investigations and developments.
 to solve new and important problems
 to apply scientific approaches to seek answers
to open questions
 to develop new theoretical or applied
knowledge and not necessarily limited to
obtaining abilities to obtain the desired result
 Senior students or junior staff?
 Responsible for research output, teaching, UG
students?
 Rights to high level research training (resources
and supervision), employment, academic
experience?
 Intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge,
learning, meaning, purpose, are linked to strong
creative performance
 Extrinsic motivating factors like rewards for good
work include money, fame, awards, praise, and
status
 Influences from others like competition,
collaboration, commitment, and encouragement
 Personal motivation
 Descriptive versus Analytical
 Applied versus Fundamental
 Quantitative versus Qualitative
 Descriptive research includes comparative and
correlational methods, and fact-finding
inquiries, to effectively describe the present
state of art  market segmentation studies,
price and promotion studies
 Analytical research uses available facts for
analysis and critical evaluation  explaining
why and how….
 Applied research seeks to solve an immediate
problem facing the organization  to
determine a solution for compelling problems
in actual practice
 Fundamental research is concerned with
generalizations and formulation of a theory 
seeking information which could have a broad
base of applications in the medium to long
term
 Quantitative research uses statistical
observations of a sufficiently large number of
representative cases to draw any conclusions
 qualitative researchers rely on a few non-
representative cases or verbal narrative in
behavioral studies
 Build or
Observe Propose
develop
existing better
better
solutions solutions
solution

Repeat until no Measure,

further analyze,
improvement are and
possible evaluate
 To become an accepted and productive
member of the research community people
 People in the field should be citing that work,
and know one by the papers and talks
 It has to be a substantial and original
contribution to human knowledge
 To get the award of Master Degree
The award of the degree should also be taken to certify that
a candidate has
 Been trained in the techniques relevant to the field of
research and is capable, without further supervision,
of applying and adopting these techniques to other
research projects; and
 Become sufficiently familiar with a significant area of
the discipline within which the candidate has worked
to be able to assess critically the present state of
knowledge in the subject and to conceive original
ideas for further investigation with an increasing
independence.
 The thesis merits the award of the degree
 The thesis merits the award of the degree subject to
minor corrections as listed to the satisfaction
 Award Subject to Revisions and/or Further Work to
the Satisfaction
 Revise and Resubmit for Re-examination
 Non-award