Research Methods & Presentation

1. Introduction
2. Types of Research
3. Process in Research Proposal Development
4. Process in conducting Research
5. Reporting Research Findings
6. Research Ethics

References
 Research and Thesis Writing, John C. Almack,
COSMO, Indigo books and COSMO publications,
2006, ISBN81-292-0146-1
 Research Methodology methods and Techniques,
C.R. Cothari, Newage International Publishers,
Second Edition, 2004, ISBN (13) : 978-81-224-2488-1
 Project Management for Research: A guide for
Engineering and Science, by Adedeji B. Badru
Goal of the Course
 Literally, research is Search for knowledge.

The natural early stages immediate way of knowing something has been daily
experience of human’s through their senses.
… a process of enquiry and investigation; it is systematic, methodical and
ethical;
Research is usually to solve practical problems and/or increase knowledge.

… The systematic approach concerning generalization and the formulation

of a theory is also research. As such the term ‘research’ refers to the
systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a
hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts and reaching
certain conclusions either in the form of solutions(s) towards the
concerned problem or in certain generalizations for some theoretical
formulation.
Key Words for the above definition of Research:-
-Systematic
-Hypothesis
-Facts data
-Analysis
-Conclusion/Generalization
Some Characteristics of Research
Objectives/Purposes of Research
• Review or synthesize existing knowledge
• Investigate existing situations or problems
• Provide solutions to problems
• Explore and analyze more general issues
• Construct or create new procedures or systems
• Explain new phenomenon
• Generate new knowledge/to discover new facts
• …or a combination of any of the above!
Objectives/Purposes of Research
In some other literatures, the prime objectives of research are
• to verify and test important facts
• to analyze an event or process or phenomenon to identify the cause and effect
relationship
• to develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories to solve and understand
scientific and nonscientific problems
• to find solutions to scientific, nonscientific and social problems and
• to overcome or solve the problems occurring in our every day life.
• To get a teaching position in a college or university or become a scientist in a
research institution
• to solve the unsolved and challenging problems then get joy of doing the
creative work
• to get recognition
• curiosity to find out the unknown facts of an event/curiosity to find new things
• to serve the society by solving social problems
Typical Research Process/stages
i) Selection of a research topic
ii) Definition of a research problem
iii) Literature survey and reference collection
Assessment of current status of the topic chosen
iv) Formulation of hypotheses
v) Research design
vi) Investigation
vii) Data analysis
Viii) Interpretation of result
ix) Reporting Result
 Research Process/stages
Review of Literature

Review Concepts Design

Definition and theory Research
Formulate
of Research (including
Hypothesis
Problem sample
Review Previous
design)
I Research finding
III IV
Collect
Data
II (Execution)
V
Interpret Analyze Data (Test
hypothesis if any)
and Report
VII VI
 Research Process/stages
Definition I. Research Topic: Sensorless Control of Interior Permanent Magnet
of Research Synchronous Motor.
Problem
II. Definition of Problem:

Synchronous motors require rotor position information for adjustable

speed and torque application to operate stably. Mechanical rotor
positions are generally used for rotor position sensing. But mechanical
sensors have reliability problem and cost, which is about 10% of the
total derive cost. Mechanical sensors are also sensitive to environment
like humidity dust and vibration resulting wrong rotor position
information and requiring frequent maintenance. Furthermore, the rotor
position information is communicated to the controllers usually with a
number of cables prone to noise and mechanical damage which can
result failures.

Therefore, if it is possible to control IPM motors without mechanical

position sensors there is a possibility of cost reduction and improvement
in reliability.
 Research Process/stages

III. Concept and Theory: Basic Electric machine

Review of Literature theory, Electromagnetic energy
Review Concepts conversion principles, models, analysis, ….
and theory Text books like Fitzgerald.

Review Previous Research Findings:- Journal

Review Previous
Research finding
and conference proceeding papers on
sensorless control of electric machines.
Back EMF method of sensorless control,
Observer method, high frequency
injection method, …
What can I do different from the work of
others? Is there a possibility to simplify,
modify and improve the work of others?
Is there any other approach?
 There is a rotor position information in the carrier frequency
Formulate component current of PWM inverter supplying the Interior
Hypothesis Permanent Magnet Motor which can be extracted and used for
sensorless control.

Design Develop mathematical expression relating the rotor position to

Research the carrier frequency voltage, current and motor parameters,…
(including
sample Use Interior Permanent Magnet Electric motor and PWM inverter
design) models to demonstrate the presence of rotor position information
in the carrier frequency component current and its extraction.
Design experimental system including IPM motor, PWM inverter,
microcontroller systems, etc to drive the motor with the rotor
position extracted from the carrier frequency component current.

Collect Measure the currents, voltage, the parameters and the

Data corresponding rotor position information, compare with actual
(Execution) measured rotor position, speed and torque performance of the
drive with and without the mechanical rotor position, …
 Simulation and rotor Position information extracted against actual
Analyze rotor position checked for accuracy, delay, … calculation period and
Data actual real time requirement, …..

Implementation and testing under various conditions

-Low speed
-High speed
-Zero speed
-No-load
-Full load,
- over load
-Breaking made
What are Research Methodology?
Research Methods? and

The term methodology refers to the overall approaches & perspectives to the
research process as a whole and is concerned with the following main issues:

• Why you collected or collect certain data

• What data you collected or collect
• Where you collect/collected it
• How you collect/collected it
• How you analyze/analyzed it

In other words, Research methodology is a systematic way to solve a problem. It is

a science of studying how research is to be carried out. Essentially, the procedures
by which researchers go about their work of describing, explaining and predicting
phenomena are called research methodology. It is also defined as the study of
methods by which knowledge is gained. Its aim is to give the work plan of
research.
… Research Methods, …
Research methods are the various procedures, schemes and algorithms used in research.
All the methods used by a researcher during a research study are termed as research
methods. They are essentially planned, scientific and value-neutral. They include
theoretical procedures, experimental studies, numerical schemes, statistical approaches,
etc. Research methods help us collect samples, data and find a solution to a problem.
Particularly, scientific research methods call for explanations based on collected facts,
measurements and observations and not on reasoning alone. They accept only those
explanations which can be verified by experiments.

A research method refers only to the various specific tools or ways data can be collected
and analyzed, e.g. a questionnaire; interview checklist; data analysis software etc.
Impact of Research
Some important avenues of research are:
i) A research problem refers to a difficulty which a researcher or scientific
community or an industry or a government organization or a society
experiences. It may be a theoretical or a practical situation. It calls for a
thorough understanding and possible solution.
ii) Research on existing theories and concepts help us identify the range and
applications of them.
iii) It is the fountain of knowledge and provide guidelines for solving problems.
iv) Research provides basis for many government policies. For example,
research on the needs and desires of the people and on the availability of
revenues to meet the needs helps a government to prepare a budget.
Impact of Research
v) It is important in industry and business for higher gain and productivity and
to improve the quality of products.
vi) Mathematical and logical research on business and industry optimizes the
problems in them.
vi) It leads to the identification and characterization of new materials, new
living things, new stars, etc.
vii) Only through research inventions can be made; for example, new and
novel phenomena and processes such as superconductivity and cloning
have been discovered only through research.

viii) Social research helps find answers to social problems. They explain social
phenomena and seek solution to social problems.
ix) Research leads to a new style of life and makes it delightful and glorious
Further Characteristics of Research
1. Systematic: It means that research is structured with specified steps to be taken in a
specified sequence in accordance with the well defined set of rules. Systematic
characteristic of the research does not rule out creative thinking but it certainly does
reject the use of guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions.
2. Logical: This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning and the
logical process of induction and deduction are of great value in carrying out research.
Induction is the process of reasoning from a part to the whole whereas deduction is
the process of reasoning from some premise to a conclusion which follows from that
very premise. In fact, logical reasoning makes research more meaningful in the context
of decision making.
3. Empirical: It implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of a real
situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external validity to
research results.
4. Replicable: This characteristic allows research results to be verified by replicating the
study and thereby building a sound basis for decisions.
End