Definitions of Research

 Any creative systematic activity undertaken in order to

increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of
man, culture and society, and the use of this knowledge to
devise new applications.
 A process of steps used to collect and analyze information
to increase our understanding of a topic or issue.
 Studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation
or experimentation aimed at the discovery and
interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws
in the light of new facts, or practical application of such
new or revised theories or laws.
Research: what does it mean?
 Research is one of the ways to find answers to your
questions.
 It is process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting
information to answer questions or solve a problem.
 When you say that you are undertaking a research study to
find out answers to a question, you are implying that the
process being applied:
 is being undertaken within a framework of a set of
philosophies;
 uses procedures, methods and techniques that have
been tested for their validity and reliability;
 is designed to be unbiased and objective.
Characteristics of Good Research
 Originates with a question or problem.
 Requires clear articulation of a goal.
 Follows a specific plan or procedure.
 Often divides main problem into sub problems.
 Guided by specific problem, question, or hypothesis.
 Accepts certain critical assumptions.
 Requires collection and interpretation of data.
 Cyclical (helical) in nature.
Ingredients for a good researcher
What is Bad in Research?
 The opposites of what have been discussed.
 Looking for something when it simply is not to be
found.
 Plagiarizing other people’s work.
 Falsifying data to prove a point.
 Misrepresenting information and misleading
participants.
Questions a research proposal should answer
 What:
 What is my research about?
 What is its purpose?
 What is it trying to find out or achieve?
 especially:
 What questions is it trying to answer?
 How:
 How will my research answer its questions?
 Why:
 Why is this research worth doing?
 More specifically:
 What is my research area? Have I clearly identified it?
 What is my topic? Have I clearly identified it and shown how it fits
within the research area?
 What are my general research questions?
 What are my specific research questions?
 Does each specific research question meet the empirical criterion? Is it
clear what data are required to answer each question?
What students expect of their
supervisors
 To be supervised
 To read their work well in advance
 To be available when needed
 To be friendly, open and supportive
 To be constructively critical
 To have a good knowledge of their research area
 To structure the tutorial so that it is relatively easy to
exchange ideas
 To have sufficient interest in their research to put more
information in the student’s path
 To be sufficiently involved in their success to help them get
a good job at the end of it all!
What supervisors expect of their
students
 To be independent
 To produce written work that is not just a first
draft
 To have regular meetings
 To be honest when reporting upon their progress
 To follow the advice that they give, when it has
been given at their request
 To be excited about their work, able to surprise
them and fun to be with!
The research process:
characteristics and requirements
 Controlled: In real life experience there are many
factors that affect an outcome. A single event is
often a result of several factors. When similar event
is tested in research, due to the broader nature of
factors that effect that event, some factors are taken
as controlled factors while others are tested for a
possible effect. The controlled factors or variables
should have to be controlled rigorously.
 Rigorous: be scrupulous in ensuring that the
procedures followed to find answers to questions
are relevant, appropriate and justified.
The research process:
characteristics and requirements
 Systematic: the procedures adopted to undertake
an investigation follow a certain logical sequence.
 Valid and verifiable: whatever you conclude on the
basis of your findings is correct and can be verified
by you and others.
 Empirical: any conclusions drawn are based upon
hard evidence gathered from information collected
from real-life experiences or observations.
Types of Research
Types of research
Basic Research
Applied Research

Applied research is a methodology used to solve a specific,

practical problem of an individual or group. The study and
research is used in business, medicine and education in order
to find solutions that may cure diseases, solve scientific
problems or develop technology.
Pure or Basic Research and Applied
Research
Basis for
Basic Research Applied Research
Comparison
Applied Research is the
Basic Research refers to the
research that is designed
study that is aimed at
Meaning to solve specific practical
expanding the existing base
problems or answer
of scientific knowledge.
certain questions.
Nature Theoretical Practical
Utility Universal Limited
Development of
Concerned Developing scientific
technology and
with knowledge and predictions
technique
To add some knowledge to To find out solution for
Goal
the existing one. the problem at hand.
Basic vs Applied Research
Parameters Basic Research Applied Research

Type of Scientific Technological

knowledge discovery applications
produced (science) (Engineering)

Motivation Intellectual Solving problems

curiosity

Key questions Is it true Does it work?

Objective To understand To come up with
solution
Model of Relationship between Basic and
Applied Research on the classical view

In the old fashioned view, science came before technology.

Basic research increase the stock of science in the society
which in turns becomes the fuel of applied research
activities. Technology is an application of science hence
basic research need to be prioritized first.
Contrarian view to describe the
relationship
 Technology can develop independently without
previous scientific basis.
 Technology can stimulate science.
 Technological practices and applications used in
scientific discovery can spin out into new branch of
science.
Exploratory vs. Descriptive Research
Basis for
Exploratory Research Descriptive Research
Comparison
Exploratory research Descriptive research
means a research is a research that
Meaning conducted for explore and explain
formulating a problem for an individual, group
more clear investigation. or a situation.
Describe
Discovery of ideas and
Objective characteristics and
thoughts.
functions.
Overall Design Flexible Rigid
Research process Unstructured Structured
Sampling Non-probability sampling Probability sampling
No pre-planned design Pre-planned design
Statistical Design
for analysis. for analysis.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
Basis for
Qualitative Research Quantitative Research
Comparison
Quantitative research is
Qualitative research is a
a research method that
method of inquiry that
is used to generate
develops understanding
Meaning numerical data and hard
on human and social
facts, by employing
sciences, to find the way
statistical, logical and
people think and feel.
mathematical technique.
Nature Holistic Particularistic
Approach Subjective Objective
Research type Exploratory Conclusive
Reasoning Inductive Deductive
Sampling Purposive Random
Data Verbal Measurable
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
Basis for Comparison Qualitative Research Quantitative Research
Inquiry Process-oriented Result-oriented
Hypothesis Generated Tested
Words, pictures and
Elements of analysis Numerical data
objects
To explore and
To examine cause and
discover ideas used in
Objective effect relationship
the ongoing
between variables.
processes.
Non-structured Structured techniques
techniques like In- such as surveys,
Methods
depth interviews, questionnaires and
group discussions etc. observations.
Develops initial Recommends final
Result
understanding course of action
The research journey
Phases of research
The research process
Ingredients of a General research process
 Selection of domain
 Formulating a research problem (rough) and identification
of keywords
 Literature review
 Redefining research problem, objectives (final) and
outcomes/formulating hypothesis
 Preparing research proposal
 Identifying variable/parameters
 Data collection and representation
 Testing of proposed design on collected data/hypothesis
testing
 Writing and comparing results
 Research report writing
Considerations in Selecting Research Problem
 Interest:
 The most important criterion in selecting a research
problem.
 The whole research process is normally time consuming
and a lot of hard work is needed. If you choose a topic
which does not greatly interest you, it would become
difficult to keep up the motivation to write.
 Expertise:
 Before selecting a research problem, you need to ensure
that you met certain level of expertise in the area you are
proposing.
 Make use of the facts you learned during the study and of
course your research supervisors will lend a hand as well.
Considerations in Selecting
Research Problem
 Data availability:
 If your research title needs collection of information
(journal, reports, proceedings) before finalising the title,
you need to make sure you have these materials available
and in the relevant format.
 Relevance:
 Always choose a topic that suits your interest and
profession. Ensure that your study adds to the existing
body of knowledge. Of course, this will help you to
sustain interest throughout the research period.
Considerations in Selecting
Research Problem
 Ethics
 In formulating the research problem, you should
consider some ethical issues as well.
 Sometimes, during the research period, the study
population might be adversly affected by some
questions.
 In ICT, some scenarios might occur especially research
related information security, which might concern
certain authorities. Therefore, it is always good for you
to identify ethics related issues during the research
problem formulation itself.
Relationship between research problem
(input) and quality of content(output)

The formulation of a research problem is like the "input" for a

research work and the "output" refers to quality of contents of
the research report and the validity associated is entirely
dependent upon it. Formulating research problem is the most
crucial step. So take time in formulating your research
problem because a clearer research problem means clearer
research output and progress.
 Steps involved in formulating
research problem
Identification of Subject Area
 Brainstorm for ideas
 Choose a topic that will enable you to read and
understand the literature
 Ensure that the topic is manageable and that
material is available
 Make a list of key words
 Be flexible
 Define your topic as a focused research question
 Research and read more about your topic
 Formulate a thesis statement
Scientific Research
Process
Scientists
• study how nature
works.
• conduct scientific
research to advance
knowledge in an
area of interest
• perform
experiments using
the scientific
method
Engineering
Research Process
 Engineers design,
evaluate, develop,
test, modify, install,
inspect and maintain
a wide variety of
products and systems.
 Engineers follow the
creativity-based
engineering design
process
Research Plan