RESEARCH

METHODS

Engr. Vivian D. Guda

Faculty, Civil Engineering and Sanitary Engineering Department
Lesson 1
Introduction to Research
Topics:

Research Overview
1. Definition, objectives and motivation of research
2. Engineering Research
Research Preparation
1. Choosing a Research topic and its relevance
2. Research Problem Formulation
3. Writing the Introduction
At the end of this chapter, the students must be able to:

1. Learn the reasons for doing research.

2. Know about the applications of research.
3. Learn about the types of research.
4. Choose a relevant research topic.
5. Write a research introduction.
 What is Research?
Research is a way of thinking: examining critically the various aspects of
your day-to-day professional work; understanding and formulating
guiding principles that govern a particular procedure; and developing
and testing new theories that contribute to the advancement of your
practice and profession.

It is a habit of questioning what you do, and a systematic examination of

clinical observations to explain and find answers for what you perceive,
with a view to instituting appropriate changes for a more effective
professional service.
As a professional you might be interested in finding the answers to
theoretical questions like:

• Which is the most effective intervention for a particular problem?

• What causes X or what are the effects of Y?

• What is the relationship between two phenomena?

Objectives of Research
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the
application of scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out
the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.

Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of
research objectives as falling into a number of following broad groupings:

1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it

(studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative
research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,
situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as
descriptive research studies);

3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with

which it is associated with something else (studies with this object in
view are known as diagnostic research studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables
(such studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).
Motivations of Research

The possible motives for doing research may be either one or more of
the following:
1. Studies have shown that intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge,
learning,meaning, purpose, are linked to strong creative performance;
2. Extrinsic motivating factors like rewards for good work include
money, fame, awards, praise, and status are very strong motivators,
but may block creativity..
3. Influences from others like competition, collaboration, commitment,
and encouragement are also motivating factors in research.
4. Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems, intellectual joy,
service to community, and respectability are all driving factors.
Significance of Research

1. Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the

development of logical habits of thinking and organisation.
2. The role of research in several fields of applied economics, whether
related to business or to the economy as a whole, has greatly increased
in modern times.
3. Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our
economic system.
4. Research has its special significance in solving various operational and
planning problems of business and industry,
5. Research is equally important for social scientists in studying social
relationships and in seeking answers to various social problems.
Engineering Research

Engineering research is 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.
 TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

Engineering is concerned with problems whose solution is needed

and / or desired by the society. The capacity to innovate, manage
information, and nourish knowledge as a resource will dominate the
economic domain as natural resources, capital and labour ones did.
This places high premium on development of technology and
delivery systems.
The advancement of technology has three
phases.
Invention : The creative act whereby an idea is
conceived
Innovation :The process by which an invention
or idea is translated into successful practice and
is utilized by the economy.
Diffusion : The successive and widespread initiation of successful innovation.

Science based innovation has made significant contributions to the development of

industries like aircraft, computers, plastics and television in developed countries like
USA. Traditionally, engineers play a major role in technological innovation. A strong
basic research is needed to maintain the storehouse of new knowledge and ideas.
Innovation in response to a need of the society has greater probability of success than
innovation in response to technological research opportunity. The scope for doing
applied research is high,

which involves innovative solution to the problem of the society.

Types of Research
The basic types of research are as follows:

1. Descriptive vs. Analytical

2. Applied vs. Fundamental
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical
Descriptive vs. Analytical

Descriptive Research Analytical Research

● It includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of ● The researcher has to

different kinds. use facts or
● The major purpose of descriptive research is information already
description of the state of affairs as it exists at available, and analyze
present. these to make a critical
● The main characteristic of this method is that the evaluation of the
researcher has no control over the variables; he material.
can only report what has happened or what is
happening.
● The methods of research utilized in descriptive
research are survey methods of all kinds, including
comparative and correlational methods.
Applied vs. Fundamental Research
Applied (Action) Research Fundamental (Basic or
Pure) Research

● It aims at finding a solution for an ● It is mainly concerned

immediate problem facing a society or an with generalisations
industrial/business organisation. and with the
● The central aim of applied research is to formulation of a
discover a solution for some pressing theory.
practical problem, whereas basic ● Gathering knowledge
research is directed towards finding for knowledge’s sake.
information that has a broad base of
applications and thus, adds to the already
existing organized body of scientific
knowledge.
 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
● It is based on the measurement of
quantity or amount. It is applicable to
phenomena that can be expressed in
terms of quantity.
● It is applicable to phenomena that
can be expressed in terms of
quantity.
Qualitative Research
● It is concerned with qualitative
phenomenon, i.e., phenomena
relating to or involving quality or kind.
● This type of research aims at
discovering the underlying motives
and desires, using in depth interviews
for the purpose. Other techniques of
such research are word association
tests, sentence completion tests,
story completion tests and similar
other projective techniques
 Conceptual vs. Empirical Research
Conceptual Research
● Conceptual research is
that related to some
abstract idea(s) or theory.
● It is generally used by
philosophers and thinkers
to develop new concepts
or to reinterpret existing
ones.
Empirical Research
● It relies on experience or
observation alone, often without
due regard for system and theory.
● It is data-based research, coming
up with conclusions which are
capable of being verified by
observation or experiment.
● It is also called as an
experimental type of research.
Continuation of Conceptual vs. Empirical Research

Empirical Research

● The researcher must first

provide himself with a working
hypothesis or guess as to the
probable results.
● Such research is thus
characterised by the
experimenter’s control over
the variables under study and
his deliberate manipulation of
one of them to study its
effects.
Research Approaches
There are two basic approaches to research:

1. Quantitative approach
● It involves the generation of data in quantitative form which can be
subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis in a formal and rigid
fashion.
● It can be further sub-classified into:
○ Inferential approaches
○ Experimental approaches
○ Simulation approaches
2. Qualitative approach
● It is concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions and
behaviour.
● The techniques of focus group interviews, projective techniques and
depth interviews are used.
 Quantitative approach

Inferential Approach Experimental Approach Simulation Approach

● The purpose of the ● It is characterised by ● It involves the

research is to form a
database from which to
infer characteristics or
relationships of
population.
● The sample of the
population is studied
(questioned or observed)
to determine its
characteristics, and it is
then inferred that the
population has the same
characteristics.
much greater control construction of an
over the research artificial environment
environment and in within which
this case some relevant information
variables are and data can be
manipulated to generated.
observe their effect ● This permits an
on other variables. observation of the
dynamic behaviour
of a system (or its
sub-system) under
controlled
conditions.
What is a Research Problem?

A research problem, in general, refers to some difficulty which a researcher

experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a
solution for the same.
The components of a research problem are:
1. There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the problem.
2. There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants nothing, one cannot
have a problem.
3. There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for obtaining the
objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that there must be at least two means
available to a researcher for if he has no choice of means, he cannot have a problem.
4. There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with

regard to the selection of alternatives. This means that research

must answer the question concerning the relative efficiency of

the possible alternatives.

5. There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty

pertains.
Choosing a Research Topic and its Relevance

The following points may be observed by a researcher in selecting a

research problem or a subject for research:
1. Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a
difficult task to throw any new light in such a case.
2. Controversial subjects should not become the choice of an average
researcher.
3. Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
4. The subject selected for research should be familiar and

feasible so that the related research material or sources of

research are within one’s reach.

5. The importance of the subject, the qualifications and the

training of a researcher, the costs involved, the time factor are few

other criteria that must also be considered in selecting a problem.

6. The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.

Research Problem Formulation

Defining a research problem properly and clearly is a crucial part of a

research study and must in no case be accomplished hurriedly. The research
problem should be defined in a systematic manner, giving due weightage to all
relating points.
The technique for the purpose involves:
1. Statement of the problem in a general way.
2. Understanding the nature of the problem.
3. Surveying the available literature.
4. Developing the ideas through discussions.
5. Rephrasing the research problem.
Other points to consider:
1. Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the
statement of the problem, should be clearly defined.
2. Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem
should be clearly stated.
3. A straight forward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the criteria
for the selection of the problem) should be provided.
4. The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must also
be considered by the researcher in defining the problem.
5. The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be
studied must be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.
Writing the Introduction
The introduction is the first chapter of the report or thesis and its chief
function is to familiarise the reader with your research problem and the
relevant literature.
The introduction provides background information for the research (i.e.
the problem being addressed). Information relating to your research
question(s) or hypothesis/hypotheses is typically organised from general to
specific.
The background information is provided in the form of a literature
review that helps you set the context for your research to help the reader
understand the research questions and objectives.
Possible format for an Introduction:
• Introduce the area of research
• Review key research papers
• Identify any gap in knowledge or questions that needs to be
answered
• Your hypotheses or research objectives
• Scope of your research project
Components of an Introduction

The Introduction essentially comprises the following three basic components:

1. Establish key ideas and findings of research literature and/or real world
context relevant to your research topic.
Step A: Statements about the importance or centrality of your research topic
in research and/or the real world.
Step B: Stating a knowledge claim which can be an established fact or a
controversial finding.
Step C: Definitions of technical terms and theoretical constructs in your
research.
2. Present a research problem.
Step A: In this step, you ‘argue for a real-world problem or
need’. This is the most common approach used by engineering
writers—expectedly so as engineering is closely applied in the
real world.
Step B: Here you argue for a research gap that is neglected
which your study will fill.
Step C: You argue for a problem of research insufficiency or
inadequacy.
3. Announce how you will specifically address or fix the research problem.
Step A: Statements of your research aims, objectives or purposes, or a
description of theoretical and/or real-world contributions of your study.
Step B: Statements of research questions or hypotheses are made.
Step C: Summary of the research design especially when the research
method is the central novelty of a research project.
Step D: Include a statement on the key findings of your research.
Step E: The parameters or scope of your research study can be indicated.
Step F: This step is a bold proclamation of your study’s research or real
world worth.
Step G: The last step is a content primer which summarises the contents of
subsequent sections of the report.
Tips on Writing Style and Language in a Research Proposal

1. Follow the three C’s rule.

Clear: Is what you have written intelligible and are your ideas clearly articulated?
Concise: Have you written your proposal in a succinct and focused way?
Coherent: Are the sections of your proposal clearly linked so that it is clear to the reader what
you want to do, why you want to do it and how you will do it?
2. Revise and edit your writing thoroughly.
Poor grammar and inappropriate style distract your reader and compromise your credibility as a
researcher. Use spell check and grammar check applications.
3. Use transitions:
Signal to the reader as you move through your text by using transition words and expressions
such as however, following this, in contrast, consequently and so on.
4. Avoid overly hesitant or tentative language.
Sound confident and sure about the work that you are proposing to do. So avoid excessive use
of expressions such as it seems that..., it is hoped that..., it might be possible..., perhaps and so on.
Activity 1A

Think of a problem in your community. Something related to your specialization. Discuss it in

class.
References:

1. Deb, D., Dey, R., & Balas, V.E. (2019). Engineering Research Methodology : A Practical Insight
for Researchers. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd .
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2947-0
2. Eng-Choon Leong, Carmel Lee-Hsia Heah, Kenneth Keng Wee Ong . (2016). GUIDE to
RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS: Planning, Writing and Presenting. CRC
Press.
3. Research Methods and Techniques by C.R. Kothari