Nature and

Characteristics of
Research
Methods of Research for Mechanical Engineering

1st semester, SY 2023 - 2024

 Research is a systematic investigation (i.e. the gathering and
analysis of information) designed to develop or contribute to
generalisable knowledge.

The word ‘research’ perhaps originates from the old French

word “recerchier” that meant to ‘search again.’ It implicitly
assumes that the earlier search was not exhaustive and
complete, and hence a repeated search is called for.

What is Research? In practice, the term ‘research’ refers to a scientific process of

generating an unexplored horizon of knowledge, aiming at
discovering or establishing facts, solving a problem, and
reaching a decision

Simply put, research is the process of discovering new

knowledge. This knowledge can be either the development of
new concepts or the advancement of existing knowledge and
theories, leading to a new understanding that was not
previously known.
Importance of Research
Research is a vehicle for mobility, a contribution towards the attainment of national goals.

Research explains an issue or controversy.

Research advances human knowledge and satisfies curiosity.

Research improves instruction and student achievements

Research improves quality of life.

Research satisfies man’s needs.

Research reduce the burden of work

 • is a scientific approach of answering a
research question, solving a research
problem, or generating new knowledge
Research through a systematic and orderly collection,
organization, and analysis of data with the
ultimate goal of making the findings of
research useful in decision-making.
 • It is based on empirical and measurable
evidence subject to specific principles of
When do we reasoning;
call a research • It consists of systematic observations,
measurement, and experimentation;
scientific? Any
• It relies on the application of the scientific
research methods and harnessing of curiosity;
endeavor is • It provides scientific information and
said to be theories for the explanation of nature;
• It makes practical applications possible; and
scientific if
• It ensures adequate analysis of data
employing rigorous statistical techniques.
• The chief characteristic which distinguishes
the scientific method from other methods of
acquiring knowledge is that scientists seek to
let reality speak for itself, supporting a
theory when a theory’s predictions are
confirmed and challenging a theory when its
predictions prove false.

• Scientific research has multidimensional

functions, characteristics, and objectives.
 • Attempts to solve a research problem;

Keeping • Involves gathering new data from primary or first-hand

sources or using existing data for a new purpose;
these issues • is based upon observable experiences or empirical
evidence;
in view, we • Demands accurate observation and description;
assert that • Employs carefully designed procedures and rigorous
analysis;
research in • attempts to find an objective, unbiased solution to the
problem and takes great pains to validate the methods
any field or employed;

discipline: • is a deliberate and unhurried activity that is directional

but often refines the problem or questions as the
research progresses.
• Keeping this in mind that research
in any field of inquiry is undertaken
to provide information to support
decision-making in its respective
area, we summarize some Characteristics
desirable characteristics of of Research
research:
 Characteristics of Research

The research should be systematic. It

The research should focus on priority
emphasizes that a researcher should
problems.
employ a structured procedure.

The research should be logical. The research should be reductive.

Without manipulating ideas logically, This means that the findings of one
the scientific researcher cannot researcher should be made available
make much progress in any to other researchers to prevent them
investigation. from repeating the same research.
Characteristics of Research

The research should be replicable. This asserts that there should be scope to confirm the findings of previous
research in a new environment and different settings with a new group of subjects or at a different point in time.

The research should be generative. This is one of the valuable characteristics of research because answering
one question leads to generating many other new questions.

The research should be action-oriented. In other words, it should be aimed at reaching a solution leading to the
implementation of its findings.

The research should follow an integrated multidisciplinary approach, i.e., research approaches from more than
one discipline are needed.
Characteristics of Research
The research should be participatory, involving all parties concerned (from
policymakers down to community members) at all stages of the study.

The research must be relatively simple, timely, and time-bound, employing a

comparatively simple design.

The research must be as much cost-effective as possible.

The results of the research should be presented in formats most useful for
administrators, decision-makers, business managers, or the community members.
3 Basic Operations of Research

• Data Collection - refers to observing, measuring, and

recording data or information.
• Data Analysis - refers to arranging and organizing the
collected data so that we may be able to find out what their
significance is and generalize about them.
• Report Writing - is the ultimate step of the study. Its purpose
is to convey the information contained in it to the readers or
audience.
examples that demonstrate what research is:
A farmer is planting two
varieties of jute side by side to
compare yields;
A business enterprise is
examining the effects of
advertisement of their
products on the volume of
sales;
A physician is experimenting
A sociologist is examining the An economist is looking at the
with the effects of multiple
causes and consequences of interdependence of inflation
uses of disposable insulin
divorce; and foreign direct investment;
syringes in hospital;
The Bangladesh Bank is Based on some prior
An economist is doing a cost-
closely observing and information, Bank
benefit analysis of reducing
monitoring the performance Management is planning to
the sales tax on essential
of nationalized and private open new counters for female
commodities;
banks; customers.
Supermarket Management is
assessing the satisfaction level
of the customers in their
products.
Research Motivation – What makes one motivated to do
research?

He might have genuine interest and curiosity in the existing

body of knowledge and understanding of the problem;

He is looking for answers to questions which remained

unanswered so far and trying to unfold the truth;

The existing tools and techniques accessible to him, and others

may need modification and change to suit the current needs.
Desirable Qualities of
Research
• purpose,
• research process,
• research design,
• ethical issues,
• limitations,
• results or findings,
• conclusions,
• recommendations and
• the researcher’s experiences.
 The primary goal or purpose of research in any field of
inquiry; is to add to what is known about the phenomenon
under investigation through the application of scientific
methods.

Goals of
Research
Though each research has its own specific goals, yet we may
enumerate the following 4 broad goals of scientific research:

Causal
Exploration. Description. Prediction.
explanation.
 Exploration.

Goals of Description.
Research Causal explanation.

Prediction.
The link Goals
/purposes
Types of questions

between the 4 What is the full nature of the problem or phenomenon?

goals of
Exploration What is going on?
What factors are related to the problem?

research and Description

How prevalent is the problem?
What are the characteristics of the problem?

the questions What is the process by which the problem is experienced?

raised in Explanation
What are the underlying causes of the problem?
What do the occurrences of the problem mean?
Why does the problem exist?

reaching these If problem X occurs, will problem K follow?

goals. Prediction Can the occurrence of the problem be controlled?

Does an intervention result in the intended effect?
 Nature of Research

Inductive research methods focus on the

Research methods for data collection fall
into one of two categories: inductive
methods or deductive methods.
analysis of an observation and are usually
associated with qualitative research.
Deductive research methods focus on the
verification of an observation and are
typically associated with quantitative
research.
Qualitative Research

is a method that enables non-numerical data collection through open-ended methods such as interviews,
case studies and focus groups.

It enables researchers to collect data on personal experiences, feelings or behaviours, as well as the
reasons behind them. Because of this, qualitative research is often used in fields such as social science,
psychology and philosophy and other areas where it is useful to know the connection between what has
occurred and why it has occurred.
Quantitative Research

Quantitative research is a method that collects and analyses numerical data through statistical
analysis.

It allows us to quantify variables, uncover relationships, and make generalisations across a larger
population. As a result, quantitative research is often used in the natural and physical sciences such
as engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, finance, and medical research, etc.
What does Research Involve?
Research often follows a systematic approach
known as a Scientific Method, which is carried out
using an hourglass model.
A research project first starts with a problem
statement, or rather, the research purpose for
engaging in the study. This can take the form of the
‘scope of the study’ or ‘aims and objectives’ of your
research topic.

Subsequently, a literature review is carried out and

The data is then analysed using various statistical
a hypothesis is formed. The researcher then
methods and the null hypothesis is either accepted
creates a research methodology and collects the
or rejected.
data.

In both cases, the study and its conclusion are

Although these steps outline the overall research
officially written up as a report or research paper,
process, keep in mind that research projects are
and the researcher may also recommend lines of
highly dynamic and are therefore considered an
further questioning. The report or research paper
iterative process with continued refinements and
is then shared with the wider research community,
not a series of fixed stages.
and the cycle begins all over again.
Sample of
Innovative
Researches

• Source:
https://interestingengineerin
g.com/clean-no-cost-
skylight-makes-drinkable-
seawater?utm_source=Face
book&utm_medium=Article
&utm_campaign=organic&ut
m_content=Jun12&fbclid=Iw
AR0VfcrqjObgoSMkwj-
SuT9AwEY1TX962naNqAGQ Designer Henry Glogau developed a skylight that provides free lighting and drinking water. The design
MNP5vh7blV6JAUYLOcg stores the sun's energy during the day to light homes at night and distilling seawater into drinking water.

The Solar Desalination Skylight works by evaporating seawater via the sun's energy. During the day,
seawater is fed through a pipe into the bowl-shaped skylight where the energy of the sun is used to
distill the salty seawater. The owners of the skylight can then use a tap at the base of the skylight to
extract drinking water. Then at night, the residual brine left over from the purification process is used to
generate an electrical charge to power a diffused light.
 Search and discuss about the Submit your discussions in
Nature and Characteristics of A4 paper, Times New Roman
Research. 12, Double Spacing.

Present your answers in class

This serves will be recorded
in one (1) slide inforgraph,
as Quiz No.1
Activity No. 1: for one (1) minute.

Nature and
Characteristic Due date: October 2, 2023

s of Research