Main Research Methods and

General Project Structure

Dr. Nasser Al-Muafa

 Subject Content
• Research Definition and Uses
• The Research Process and Research Proposal Writing
• Research Project Definition, Characteristics and Phases
• Characteristics of a Scientific Research
• Research Ethics
• The Main Research Types and Methods
• General Final Year Project Structure
• Creativity in the Research Process
• Research Design and Common Research Design
• Finding and Reviewing the Literatures
• Writing up The Research Report
• Project Management (PM)
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 Research Types
• Generally, all researches can be classified into two
groups:

➢ Qualitative: This type of research methods involve

describing in detail specific situation (case) using
research tools like surveys, interviews, focus groups
(group discussion) and participants observations.

➢ Quantitative: This type of research methods

requires quantifiable data (Statistics, records)
involving numerical and statistical explanations
(analysis).
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 Types of Research Methods According to the Nature
of The Study
• Descriptive Methods
• Predictive Methods
• Explanatory (Analytical) Methods

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 Descriptive Methods

• Descriptive Methods:
➢ are used to describe various aspects of a phenomenon,
or a situation more completely.
➢ Descriptive is needed when nothing or very little is
known about the phenomenon.
➢ Research questions in descriptive studies typically start
with ‘What is / are…”
▪ Ex. what are the reservoir characteristics of Qishn
Formation in Tawila Field in Masila Basin?

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 Descriptive Sub-Methods
• Case Study Method
➢ Investigate specific selected Issue or Individual.
➢ Case studies, in their true essence, explore and
investigate contemporary (recent) real-life
phenomenon through detailed contextual analysis
of a limited number of events or conditions, and
their relationships.
▪ Ex. Study and describe the drilling hazards in
specific field and its relationship to Mud System
Design.

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 Descriptive Sub-Methods
• Observational Method
➢ It can be Naturalistic (Field) Observations
➢ Or Laboratory Observation
▪ Ex. Effect of mud properties changes on
well drilling performance.

• Archive Method
➢ Use old data

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 Descriptive Sub-Methods
• Survey Method:
➢ In survey research, the researcher selects a
sample of respondents from a population and
administers a standardized questionnaire to them.
➢ The questionnaire, or survey, can be a written
document that is completed by the person being
surveyed, an online questionnaire, a face-to-face
interview, or a telephone interview.
▪ More related to Managmet and Business Cases

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 Advantages of Descriptive Methods
➢ Effective to analyze non-quantified topics and
issues.
➢ The possibility to observe the phenomenon in a
completely natural and unchanged natural
environment.
➢ The opportunity to integrate the qualitative and
quantitative methods of data collection.

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 Disadvantages of Descriptive Methods
➢ Descriptive studies cannot test or verify the
research problem statistically.
➢ Research results may reflect certain level of bias
due to the absence of statistical tests.
➢ The majority of descriptive studies are not
‘repeatable’ due to their observational nature.

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 Predictive Methods
• Predictive research is mainly concerned with
forecasting (predicting) outcomes, consequences,
costs, or effects (The question ex.: how something
will work….).
• This type of research tries to extrapolate from the
analysis of existing phenomena, policies, or other
entities in order to predict something that has not
been tried, tested, or proposed before.
➢ The question answered here is what will happen if….?
• Example: How eliminating of some drilling hazards
will reduce the drilling time and cost?

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 Predictive Sub-Methods
• Correlational Method (Quantitative Research)
➢ Positive relationship between variables.
▪ Both variables increase.
▪ Rate of Injection vs Production Rate
▪ Example: Ht. + Wt. , Age + Ht.

➢ Negative Relationship between variables.

▪ One variable increase the second one decreases.
▪ Example: Permeability increase vs Capillary
Pressure decrease.
▪ Or Elevation Vs Temperature.
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 Predictive Sub-Methods
• Experimental Method (Quantitative Research)
• Or Quasi –experimental Method
➢ Conducted when it is impossible, or not
reasonable, to meet all the criteria of a true
experiment.
➢ Study same Materials / data in different set of
environment.
➢ The goal is to discover the trend that is a result of
intervention, not the cause.
➢ Ex. Simulation

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 Predictive vs Descriptive Research
• Descriptive Research – the attempt to determine,
describe, or identify something.
➢ The intent is to pulls knowledge or information
together to form a theory / system.
• Predictive (Analytic) Research– the attempt to
establish why something occurs or how it came to be.

• All disciplines generally engage in both.

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 Explanatory Methods

• Explanatory Methods: is conducted in order to

identify the extent and nature of cause-and-effect
relationships.
➢ Explanatory seeks to answer the following question: to what
extent do two or more characteristics tend to occur to gather?

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 Explanatory Sub-Methods
• Experimental and Correlational Methods
(Quantitative Research)
➢ To define cause and effect relationship.
➢ Include both description and prediction.
➢ Gives answers to questions What + When + Why?

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 Advantages of Explanatory Research
➢ Explanatory (Causal) studies may play an
instrumental role in terms of identifying reasons
behind a wide range of processes, as well as,
assessing the impacts of changes on existing
norms (criteria), processes etc.

➢ Causal studies usually offer the advantages of

replication (repeat) if necessity arises.

➢ This type of studies are associated with greater

levels of internal validity due to systematic selection
of subjects.
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 Disadvantages of Explanatory Research
➢ Coincidences in events may be perceived (understood) as
cause-and-effect relationships.

➢ It can be difficult to reach appropriate conclusions on the

basis of causal research findings due to the impact of a wide
range of factors and variables. In other words, while casualty
can be inferred (guessed), it cannot be proved with a high
level of certainty.

➢ In certain cases, while correlation between two variables can

be effectively established; identifying which variable is a
cause and which one is the impact can be a difficult task to
accomplish.

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 Classification of Research According to the
Purpose of The Study
• Basic Research– to determine or establish
fundamental facts and relationships within a
discipline or field of study (Develop a theory).
• Applied Research– undertaken specifically for the
purpose of obtaining information to help resolve a
particular existing problem.
➢ The distinction between them is in the application
➢ Applied Research is often not public, has deadline,
and expensive.

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Relationship among Research, Knowledge, and Use
(Bonnen, 1986)

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 Disciplinary Knowledge (Basic)
• Designed to improve a discipline.
• Elaborate on theories, fundamental relationships and
analytical procedures and techniques.(Ex. Developing
of Sw equations by Archie.)
• It is synergistic (interactive) and complementary with
subject matter and problem-solving research.
• Provides the foundations for applied research.
• Circular as applied research reveals the shortcomings
of disciplinary research.

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 Subject-matter Knowledge (Applied)
• Research on a subject of interest to a group of a
decision makers.
• Tends to follow subject-matter boundaries within a
discipline ( eg. drilling, production,……)
• It is multi-disciplinary in terms of required data,
drawing information from many disciplines.

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 Problem-solving Knowledge (Applied)
• Designed to solve a specific problem for a specific
decision maker.
• Often results in recommendations on decisions or
actions.
• Problem-solving research is holistic
(comprehensive) – uses all information relevant to
the specific problem (while disciplinary research
tends to be reductionist).
• Disciplinary research is generally the most
durable (long lasting); while problem-solving
research is the least durable.

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 Creativity in the Research Process
• Research is a creative process.
➢ Research includes far more than just logic …
➢ It includes insight, genius, groping (feel in dark),
pondering (think deeply), sense, “The logic we can
teach; the art we cannot”
➢ Research requires or at least works best with
imagination, initiative, intuition, and curiosity.

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 How to Foster Creativity in Research?
• Gather and use previously developed knowledge.
• Exchange ideas.
• Apply deductive logic.
• Look at things alternate ways.
• Question or challenge assumptions.
• Search for patterns or relationships.
• Take risks.
• Use tolerance for uncertainty.

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How to Foster Creativity in Research?
• Allow curiosity to grow.
• Set problems aside and come back to them.
• Write down your thoughts.
• Freedom from distraction.

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General Research Structure of the Final Year Project

➢ TITLE PAGES • CHAPTER ONE:

➢ DECLARATION Introduction
➢ ABSTRACT ➢Introduction

Aims and Objectives

➢ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ➢Problem Statement
➢ TABLE OF CONTENTS ➢Research Question(s)
➢ LIST OF TABLES ➢Research Objectives
➢ LIST OF FIGURES ➢Research Contribution
(value)
➢ LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
➢Limitations of The Study
➢Definition of Key Term

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 General Research Structure of the Final Year Project
• CHAPTER TWO: • CHAPTER THREE:
Literature Review Research Methodology
➢ Previous Studies On The Subject ➢ Types of Data and
Method of Collection
➢ Previous Research Framework
➢ Data Analysis
➢ Summary Approach (Method)
➢Expected Results
➢ Summary

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General Research Structure of the Final Year Project
• CHAPTER FOUR: • CHAPTER FIVE:
Data Analysis and Results Conclusion and
➢ Introduction Recommendation
➢ Conclusion
➢ Data Quality Check

problem nature
Dependent on
➢ Recommendations
➢ Descriptive Statistics
➢ Correlation Analysis
REFERENCES
➢ Comparison Analysis
APPENDIXES
➢ Others Approaches
➢ Summary

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