MEM797 - Topic 1 8 Oct 2022

School of
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
(MEM797)
PROFESSOR TS. DR. NOR HAYATI SAAD
Email: norhayatisaad@uitm.edu.my
Tel: 0197778275
School of
2
School of
1. TOPIC 1
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (4hrs)
1. Definition and types of research

2. Research process
3. Thinking like a researcher – Understanding Concepts,
Constructs, Variables, and Definition
4. Hypothesis of research
5. Research proposal and aspects
6. Research Ethics and Integrity
3
School of
1.1 Definition and types of research
4
School of
Research is…
Knowledge acquisition gained

• through reasoning
• through intuition
• through the use of
appropriate methods
( Polgar, Thomas)
5
School of
Research Principles College of Engineering
● Contribution to new/ improved

knowledge
● use scientific approach/method
● Scientific contribution
● Solving industrial problems
6
School of
Searching for knowledge College of Engineering
• A scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific

topic.
• An art of scientific investigation.
• “a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new

facts in any branch of knowledge.” (The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of
Current English)
• “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” (Redman and Mory, 1923)
• Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from the

known to the unknown. It is actually a voyage of discovery.
7
School of
Methodology College of Engineering
From Latin methodus + -logia –logy
The procedure of tackling your problem, including:
1. your world view, your assumptions, and theoretical framework that

lead to your research focus
2. the design of the process, including the research question or

hypothesis, the methods, the analytic approach, the product and
the timeline (Scientific Approach)
8
School of
Scientific Method Mechanical Engineering
Direct observation
Clearly defined variables
Clearly defined methods
Empirically testable
Elimination of alternatives
Statistical justification
Self-correcting process
(Donald R.C., Pamela ss, 2011) 9
School of
Why do we do research? College of Engineering
• Validate intuition
• Improve methods
• Demands of the Job
• For publication
10
School of
The Purpose of research College of Engineering
• To learn about a specific phenomenon that you

are researching
• To investigate an issue to gain understanding in
order to contribute to:
✓ Theory
✓ Decision making
✓ Action
11
School of
Objective of research Mechanical Engineering

• 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.
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 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).
12
School of
Motivation in research Mechanical Engineering

The possible motives:
• Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential

benefits;
• Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved
problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates
research;
• Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
• Desire to be of service to society;
• Desire to get respectability.
13
School of
Type of Research: Descriptive vs. Analytical Mechanical Engineering
Descriptive research Analytical research

• surveys and fact-finding enquiries • researcher has to use facts
• major purpose of descriptive research is or information already
description of the state of affairs as it available, and analyze these
exists at present to make a critical evaluation of
• researcher has no control over the the material
variables; he can only report what has
happened or what is happening
• researcher seeks to measure such items/ to
discover causes
Example: frequency of shopping online, Example: Vaccine establishment
preferences of people (e.g. Grab or Food for new Covid-19 variance
Panda), or similar data.
Method: Any kind of survey; comparative and Method: Simulation; laboratory/
correlational methods Clinical testing
14
School of
Type of Research: Applied vs Fundamental Mechanical Engineering
Applied research (Action) Fundamental research (Basic/ pure)

• aims at finding a solution for an immediate • mainly concerned with generalizations
problem facing by a society or an industrial/ and with the formulation of a theory
business organization • directed towards finding information
• “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake” that has a broad base of applications
• Discover a solution for some pressing and thus, adds to the already existing
practical problem organized body of scientific knowledge
Example: research aimed at certain conclusions Example: Research concerning some

(solution) facing a concrete social or business natural phenomenon or relating to pure
problem is an example of applied research; mathematics; research studies
research to identify social, economic or political concerning human behavior carried on
trends that may affect a particular institution; with a view to make generalizations about
research to find out whether certain human behavior
communications will be read and understood;
the marketing research;
15
School of
Type of Research: Quantitative vs Qualitative Mechanical Engineering

Quantitative research Qualitative research

• based on the • concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena
measurement of relating to or involving quality or kind
quantity or amount • aims at discovering the underlying motives and desires
• applicable to • Analyze the various factors which motivate people to behave
phenomena that can in a particular manner or which make people like or dislike a
be expressed in particular thing
terms of quantity.
Example: investigating the reasons for human behaviour (i.e.,
why people think or do certain things); Attitude or opinion
research i.e., research designed to find out how people feel or
what they think about a particular subject or institution
Method: In depth interviews; word association tests; sentence

completion tests; story completion tests; other projective
techniques 16
School of
Type of Research: Conceptual vs Empirical Mechanical Engineering
Conceptual research Empirical research

• related to some • relies on experience or observation, data-based research, coming
abstract idea(s) or up with conclusions
theory • experimental type of research; to get at facts first hand, at their
• used by source, and actively to go about doing certain things to stimulate the
philosophers and production of desired information
thinkers to develop • research is thus characterized by the experimenter’s control over
new concepts or to the variables under study and his deliberate manipulation of one of
reinterpret existing them to study its effects
ones • appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect other
variables in some way
Method: Verification by using observation or experiment: researcher
must first provide a working hypothesis/ guess as to the probable
results, then works to get enough facts (data) to prove or disprove his
hypothesis, then sets up experimental designs which will manipulate
the persons or the materials concerned so as to bring forth the
desired information 17
School of
Type of Research: Others Mechanical Engineering
One-time research @ longitudinal research is confined to a single time-period, whereas in the latter case the research is
research: carried on over several time-periods.
Field-setting research @ depending upon the environment in which it is to be carried out.
laboratory research @ simulation
research
Clinical or diagnostic research research follow case-study methods or in-depth approaches to reach the basic causal
relations. Studies usually go deep into the causes of things or events that interest us,
using very small samples and very deep probing data gathering devices
Exploratory @ formalized Exploratory: exploratory research is the development of hypotheses rather than their
testing; formalized research studies are those with substantial structure and with specific
hypotheses to be tested
Historical research utilizes historical sources like documents, remains, etc. to study events or ideas of the
past, including the philosophy of persons and groups at any remote point of time
conclusion-oriented and decision- conclusion oriented: researcher is free to pick up a problem, redesign the enquiry,
oriented proceeds and is prepared to conceptualize as he wishes. Decision-oriented: research is
always for the need of a decision maker and the researcher in this case is not free to
embark upon research according to his own inclination (Operations research is an
example of decision oriented research since it is a scientific method of providing
executive departments with a quantitative basis for decisions regarding operations under
their control.
18
School of
1.2 Research process
19
School of
Research Process Mechanical Engineering

20
School of
Research Process Mechanical Engineering

21
School of
IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH TOPIC
Research Title Evaluation Form

https://bit.ly/ResearchTitle_EvaluationForm_MEM797
22
TYPE OF PROJECT vs INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION/ School of
NATURE OF WORK College of Engineering
1. Manufacturing
2. Construction
3. Aviation industry
4. Safety & Health (e.g. Ergonomics)
5. Oil and Gas & Power Plant
6. Electrical & Electronics Industries
7. Operation & Quality Management
8. Training Consultants & Education
9. Etc.
23
LINKING: PROJECT TOPIC/ TITLE School of
SELECTION & CURRENT JOB FUNCTION
1. WHO ARE YOU? WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION?

2. WHAT IS THE MAIN BUSINESS OF YOUR COMPANY?
3. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE/ RESPONSIBILITY?
4. DO YOU FACE ANY PROBLEMS CURRENTLY?
5. HOW DO YOU FORESEE YOUR CHANCE TO BRING PROFIT TO
YOUR COMPANY WITHIN 6-10 MONTHS BY SOLVING THOSE
PROBLEMS?
6. WHAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL KPI FOR YOUR COMPANY TO MEET
WITH? (meeting the customer requirement- product design, quality, cost
of unit price, time to market, global market....)
7. HOW DO YOU MAY SEE YOUR FUTURE IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?
24
LINKING: PROJECT TOPIC/ TITLE School of
SELECTION & CURRENT JOB FUNCTION
8. Are you seeking for CQI (Continual Quality Improvement) in your

internal business operation or along the SPM (supply-chain-
management)?
Product Development: Concept- Design-Fabrication-

Packaging-to customer
Process Development: Raw material- production process-
process technology- product testing
Operation Management: Human resource development-
purchasing/ procurement-training-research & development-
finance & accounting (cash flow)
Vendors/ Suppliers Distributors Service after sales
Local & Global Competitors

25
School of
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT (PRODUCT) Mechanical Engineering
Product Life Cycle: Sales and Profit
Example A Cell
DESIGN
phone IMPLEMENT:
BUSINESS PLAN FABRICATION/ Component-based test
framework
TEST Manual GUI
Services &
Cell Phone lifecycle testing Automation API
automation
Raw materials
CP is
mined &
Processed
manufactured
CP is purchased &
OPERATE
used
Consumer recycle
phone Service virtualization
Recover valuable Consumer throw
material Reused/ away phone
(gold, plastic, refurbished
Incinerator/
copper)
Landfill
Recycling
26
School of
RESEARCH TOPIC Mechanical Engineering

'RESEARCH TITLE EVALUATION FORM' to guide you in selecting a RESEARCH TOPIC.
27
School of
RESEARCH TOPIC (Cont.) Mechanical Engineering
⚫ Industrial Problem ⚫ Area/ topic to research

⚫ Turn it to a Scientific/ proper Problem ⚫ Discuss/ review literatures to seek for
Statement/ research topic problems/ issue in the selected research area
⚫ Turn it to a Scientific/ proper Problem
Statement
⚫ Hypothesis/ Research Question (to link to ⚫ Hypothesis/ Research Question (to link to
objective) objective)
⚫ Research Background ⚫ Research Background
⚫ Research Objective ⚫ Research Objective
⚫ Research Scope ⚫ Research Scope
⚫ Expected Output/ Research significance ⚫ Expected Output/ Research significance
⚫ What People have done in solving the ⚫ What People have done in solving the
problem? problem?
⚫ What method, what machine, how, why, and ⚫ What method, what machine, how, why, and
what achievement so far? what achievement so far?
⚫ How to survey,do experiments, critically ⚫ How to survey,do experiments, critically
analyse and present qualitative & quantitative analyse and present qualitative & quantitative
research results...... research results......
28
School of
TIPS IN PLANNING&MANAGINGTHE Mechanical Engineering
PROJECTS: MODEL OF THINKING
29
School of
• Research
title?
• Methodology
?
• Expected
Result?
30
School of
TIPS IN PLANNING &MANAGING THE Mechanical Engineering
• Methodology?
• Data Analysis
• Result and
Discussion?
31
School of
• Data Analysis??
32
School of
• Data Analysis??
• Result and
Discussion?
33
School of
• Problem Statement
• Methodology?
• Data Analysis
• Result and
Discussion?
34
School of
META-COGNITION Mechanical Engineering
• Hypothesis
• Literature Review
• Methodology?
• Data Analysis
• Result and
Discussion?
35
School of
1.3 Thinking like a researcher –

Understanding Concepts, Constructs,
Variables, and Definition
36
School of
Thinking Like a Researcher Mechanical Engineering

Concept (Scientific)
• A scientific concept is a scientific theory or law that

explains why and how a natural event or process occurs.
• Scientific concepts include mathematical formulas that

explain or consistently describe natural phenomena.
37
School of
Constructs Mechanical Engineering

• Mental abstractions/ thoughts that used to express the

ideas, people, organizations, events and/or objects/
things that we are interested in.
• Constructs are a way of bringing theory down to earth,

helping to explain the different components of
theories, as well as measure/observe their behavior
(see next page for the examples).
38
School of
Types of constructs Examples
Ideas Ageism, sexism, racism, self-esteem, poverty, social capital, trust,

philanthropy, affluence, morality, tolerance, air pollution, genetic engineering,
euthanasia, marriage, taboos
People Age, gender, ethnicity, height, obesity, morbidity, energy, muscle soreness,
fatigue
Organisations Financial performance, corporate social responsibility, firm survival,

organizational culture, service quality, corporate governance, outsourcing,
alliances
Armageddon, famine, urban regeneration, Jihad, secularism

Events
Objects/Things Sun, hurricanes, tsunamis, trees, flowers, amino acids, stem cells 39
School of
Constructs in quantitative research College of Engineering
• High quality quantitative dissertations are able to clearly bring

together theory, constructs and variables.
• The building blocks of theories, helping to explain how and why certain
phenomena behave the way that they do.
• During the dissertation process, need to clearly and precisely explain the
theories, constructs, and variables, as well as explain the relationship
between them.
(a) what constructs are?,
(b) the use of theoretical or nominal definitions to express the meaning of
constructs,
(c) the need to create operational definition from constructs so that they can be
measured.
40
School of
Understanding Variables in a Mechanical Engineering
Science Experiment – Parameter being studied
Event Act
Variable
Characteristic Trait
Attribute
(Donald R.C., Pamela ss, 2011) 41

School of
Science Experiment – Types of Variable
Male/Female
Dichotomous Employed/ Unemployed
Ethnic background
Discrete Educational level
Religious affiliation
Income
Continuous Temperature
Age
(Donald R.C., Pamela ss, 2011)

42
School of
Science Experiment – Type of Variables

Independent Variable (IV):
The independent variable is the one condition that you change in an experiment.
Example: In an experiment measuring the effect of temperature on solidification of a molten
material, independent variable is temperature.
Dependent Variable (DV) :
The dependent variable is the variable that you measure or observe. The dependent
variable gets its name because it is the factor that is dependent on the state of the
independent variable. Example: In the experiment measuring the effect of temperature on
solidification of material, solidification would be the dependent variable.
Controlled/ Constant Variable:
is a variable that does not change during an experiment. Example: In the experiment
measuring the effect of temperature on solubility, controlled variable could include the
source of water used in the experiment, the size and type of containers used to mix
chemicals, and the amount of mixing time allowed for each solution.
43
School of
Science Experiment – Type of Variables

Extraneous Variables (EV):
"extra" variables that may influence the outcome of an experiment but aren't taken into
account during measurement. Ideally, these variables won't impact the final conclusion
drawn by the experiment, but they may introduce error into scientific results.
Examples of extraneous variables include accidents, factors you either can't control or can't
measure or factors you consider unimportant. Every experiment has extraneous variables;
Example: You are conducting an experiment to see which paper airplane design flies
longest. You may consider the color of the paper to be an extraneous variable. You note in
your lab book that different colors of papers were used. Ideally, this variable does not affect
your outcome.
Confounding Variables (CFV)
Intervening Variables (IVV)
Moderating Variables (MV)
44
School of
1.4 Hypothesis of research
45
School of
THE ROLE OF HYPHOTHESIS Mechanical Engineering
Guide the direction of the study
Identify relevant facts
Suggest most appropriate

research design
Provide framework for organizing

resulting conclusions
46
School of
HYPHOTHESIS Mechanical Engineering
Types:
1. SIMPLE or COMPLEX HYPOTHESIS
2. ASSOCIATIVE or CAUSAL HYPOTHESIS
3. DIRECTIONAL or NON DIRECTIONAL

HYPHOTHESIS
4. NULL or RESEARCH HYPHOTHESIS
47
School of

School of
49
School of
• This hypothesis is used in

correlational research studies
50
School of
51
School of
52
School of
53
School of
54
School of
55
School of
HYPHOTHESIS FORMAT Mechanical Engineering
Descriptive Hypothesis Research Question

In Detroit, our potato chip What is the market share for
market share stands at our potato chips in Detroit?
13.7%.
Descriptive Hypothesis Research Question

American cities are Are American cities
experiencing budget experiencing budget
difficulties. difficulties?

56
School of
1.5 Research proposal and aspects
57
School of
Content of Research Proposal College of Engineering
Abstract / Executive Summary of Research Proposal

1. Introduction:
• Background
• Objective of Research
• Research Question or hypothesis
• Scope of Study
• Significance of Study
2. Literature Review
3. Research Methodology
4. Result & Discussion (Current & Expected Outcome
5. Conclusion & Future Work
Schedule of Project (planning versus completed)
6. Reference
58
School of
Guideline &Formatting College of Engineering
https://bit.ly/Guidelines_Thesis2018UiTM
59
School of
1.6 Research Ethics and Integrity
60
School of
https://www.recuitm.org/guidelines
https://youtu.be/dd2S-w-zw1g
61
School of
Professionalism College of Engineering
• adhering to the rules and regulations

• demonstrating workplace etiquette.
• good colleague.
• Professionalism: extends beyond your laboratory or
office, into institution and scientific discipline.
• Participate in extracurricular departmental functions
• These activities are a great way to network, gain
experience, and demonstrate your commitment to your
field, and they can be very important to your professional
advancement.
(Zainiharyati MZ, IGS Research Skill UiTM 2018)
62
School of
Responsible Conduct of Research College of Engineering
• foundation of trust
• maintaining its integrity.
• Careful record-keeping : Scientific records should provide
sufficient information to allow others to replicate your work.
• Researchers need to be well-versed in data ownership and
sharing standards, (so that they know when it is and is not
appropriate to access, modify, and share data, and what rules
they should follow when doing so)

63
School of
Responsible Conduct of Research College of Engineering
• must adhere to the rules regulating research with humans and

animals.
• must understand and adhere to standards for authorship?
• identify and manage research misconduct and real or perceived
conflicts of interest when you encounter them.
• Failure to manage these issues well could damage your reputation
and lead to poor performance evaluations and even termination.

64
School of
https://youtu.be/dd2S-w-zw1g College of Engineering
(Yong S K, Research Ethic Awareness, June 20 2021

65
School of

66
School of

67
School of

68
School of
https://www.recuitm.org/guidelines College of Engineering
69
School of
70
School of
71
School of
Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
norhayatisaad@uitm.edu.my
72

MEM797 - Topic 1 8 Oct 2022

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MEM797 - Topic 1 8 Oct 2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

School of

1. Definition and types of research

1.1 Definition and types of research

Knowledge acquisition gained

Research Principles College of Engineering

● Contribution to new/ improved

Searching for knowledge College of Engineering

• A scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific

• “a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new

• “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” (Redman and Mory, 1923)

• Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from the

Methodology College of Engineering

From Latin methodus + -logia –logy

The procedure of tackling your problem, including:

1. your world view, your assumptions, and theoretical framework that

2. the design of the process, including the research question or

Clearly defined methods

Why do we do research? College of Engineering

The Purpose of research College of Engineering

• To learn about a specific phenomenon that you

Objective of research Mechanical Engineering

• The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of

2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group

Motivation in research Mechanical Engineering

The possible motives:

• Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential

Descriptive research Analytical research

Applied research (Action) Fundamental research (Basic/ pure)

Example: research aimed at certain conclusions Example: Research concerning some

Type of Research: Quantitative vs Qualitative Mechanical Engineering

Quantitative research Qualitative research

Method: In depth interviews; word association tests; sentence

Conceptual research Empirical research

1.2 Research process

Research Process Mechanical Engineering

Research Process Mechanical Engineering

IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH TOPIC

Research Title Evaluation Form

1. WHO ARE YOU? WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION?

8. Are you seeking for CQI (Continual Quality Improvement) in your

Product Development: Concept- Design-Fabrication-

Vendors/ Suppliers Distributors Service after sales

Local & Global Competitors

Product Life Cycle: Sales and Profit

RESEARCH TOPIC Mechanical Engineering

'RESEARCH TITLE EVALUATION FORM' to guide you in selecting a RESEARCH TOPIC.

⚫ Industrial Problem ⚫ Area/ topic to research

1.3 Thinking like a researcher –

Thinking Like a Researcher Mechanical Engineering

• A scientific concept is a scientific theory or law that

• Scientific concepts include mathematical formulas that

Constructs Mechanical Engineering

• Mental abstractions/ thoughts that used to express the

• Constructs are a way of bringing theory down to earth,

Types of constructs Examples

Ideas Ageism, sexism, racism, self-esteem, poverty, social capital, trust,

Organisations Financial performance, corporate social responsibility, firm survival,

Armageddon, famine, urban regeneration, Jihad, secularism

• High quality quantitative dissertations are able to clearly bring

Science Experiment – Parameter being studied

(Donald R.C., Pamela ss, 2011) 41

Science Experiment – Types of Variable