Module 1:Introduction to

Research
Dr. Richa Das,
Associate Prof. , Dept. of MBA
Atria Institute of Technology
Meaning of Research
• Research in simple terms refers to search for knowledge. It is a scientific
and systematic search for information on a particular topic or issue.
• Research refers to a careful, well-defined (or redefined),
objective, and systematic method of search for knowledge, or
formulation of a theory that is driven by inquisitiveness for that
which is unknown and useful on a particular aspect so as to make
an original contribution to expand the existing knowledge base.
• The manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of
generalizing to extend , correct or verify knowledge, whether that
knowledge aids in construction of theory or in the practice of an art.
• What are research projects? :Research involves the formulation of
hypotheses or problem-solving strategies, data analysis, and
reasoning; and determine whether the results are consistent with
the hypotheses. Research is the process of creating or presenting
knowledge that does not yet exist
Objectives of Engineering Research,
• To generate new knowledge.
• To gain familiarity or to develop a new insight into
some phenomenon.
• To investigate some existing situation or problem.
• To construct or create a new procedure or system.
• To explore and analyze more general issues.
• To investigate some existing situations or problems.
• To test a hypothesis or theory.
• To identify patterns or trends related to the problem.
Motivation in Engineering Research
• Intrinsic Motivation: This is the desire to do something for one's
own good without any external reward. Intrinsically motivated
engineers are driven by a passion for learning, solving problems,
and changing the world.
• Extrinsic Motivation: The desire to do something for reward or
recognition. Extrinsically motivated engineers may be motivated
by money, fame, awards, or career advancement opportunities.
• Social Motivation: The desire to do something to meet the needs
of others or to fit into the group.
• A social worker may be motivated by a desire to please a
colleague, please a mentor, or meet the expectations of a parent
or teacher.
• Engineers are motivated by thinking in addition to these three
main motivations:
Motivation in Engineering Research
• Solving unsolvable problems: Engineers are often
motivated by thinking to find solutions to
problems in the world's most difficult problems.
• Improving the Latest Technology: Engineers are
constantly looking for ways to improve existing
technologies and create new ones.
• Contributing to the Improvement of Society:
Engineers want to use their knowledge and skills
to make the world a better place.
• Finally, the motivation for engineering research is
as diverse as the engineers themselves. But all
engineers want to change the world.
Types of Engineering Research,
• Research can also be classified as quantitative and qualitative.
• Quantitative research uses numerical data to answer questions. It
is often used in research where the purpose is to evaluate the
effects of certain interventions. For example: how many people
clicked on the ad after seeing it. It is the process of collecting and
analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages,
make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to
wider populations.
• Qualitative research uses non-mathematical data such as text,
images, and video to answer questions. It involves collecting and
analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand
concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth
insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.
Types of Engineering Research
• Descriptive is fact finding to describe the state of affairs
• Analytical Research is using already available information and
analyse to make a critical evaluation of the material.
• Applied aims at finding a solution to the problem faced by the
society/ organisation.
• Fundamental Research is concerned with generalization and
formulation of a theory
• Conceptual research is related to some abstract ideas
• Empirical research is data based research which relies on
observation or experience.
• Exploratory research- consist of substantial structure and specific
hypotheses to be verified
Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem.
• George Pólya (1887-1985) proposed four steps for
solving problems.
• Suggested steps in solving a research question are:
1. Understand the Problem
2.Devise a Plan
3.Carry out the Plan
4.Look Back
Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem.
• (i) understand the question, modify it to suit you, visualize the
problem, and decide if there is more detail.
• (ii) Decide how you are going to try to solve your problem. You
could use any of the following methods: use algebra, use
basic arithmetic, look for a pattern, guess an answer, see if it
works. If it doesn't work, try something else., use a model or a
diagram, sometimes just by drawing a model we can figure out
the answer.
• (iii) Follow the plan to see if it works, if not, start over with
another method. After researching a problem and coming back
many times, people may experience a sudden revelation or come
up with a new idea to solve the problem.
• (iv) Looking back and thinking helps to understand and
assimilate ideas and is an investment in the future.
Ethics in Engineering Research
• Ethics means moral principles that govern a person's behaviour or
the conducting of an activity.
• International codes of ethics have emerged since the Nuremberg
Law was passed in 1947. Issues related to research scores date
back to the 17th century, from the founding of the Royal Society
(BRS) to refine scientific credit methods and methods. modern
scientific practice.
• Rather than trying to identify who made the first discovery, BRS
focuses on who first submitted research results to publication.
• Government agencies and universities around the world have
adopted specific policies regarding research practices.
• Research ethics and responsible research are often used
interchangeably. Research ethics examines the appropriate use of
research results, while research responsibility is about
performance.
Ethics in Engineering
Research
• Scientists make various choices regarding ethics and
the impact of technology in various ways:
• (i) By setting ethical standards up front, engineering
scientists can influence the full benefits of
advancing technology.
• (ii) Researchers can also tap into the power of
design—the process of transforming needs into
designs designed to meet those needs.
• Ethical decisions should be made to determine the
importance and importance of the requirements
while creating the process.
• (iii) Third, engineering scientists must choose
different options to complete similar tasks.
Ethics in Engineering Research & Practice
• Research ethics provides guidelines for the
responsible conduct of research. In addition, it
educates and monitors scientists conducting research
to ensure a high ethical standard. The following is
a general summary of some ethical principles:
• Honesty:
• Honestly report data, results, methods and
procedures, and publication status. Do not fabricate,
falsify, or misrepresent data.
• Objectivity:
• Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data
analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel
decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other
aspects of research.
Ethics in Engineering Research & Practice
• Integrity:
• Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of
thought and action.
• Carefulness:
• Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own
work and the work of your peers. Keep good records of research activities.
• Openness:
• Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
• Respect for Intellectual Property:
• Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use
unpublished data, methods, or results without permission. Give credit where credit
is due. Never plagiarize.
Ethics in Engineering
Research & Practice
• Confidentiality:
• Protect confidential communications, such as
papers or grants submitted for publication,
personnel records, trade or military secrets, and
patient records.
• Responsible Publication:
• Publish to advance research and scholarship,
not to advance just your own career. Avoid
wasteful and duplicative publication.
• Responsible Mentoring:
• Help to educate, mentor, and advise students.
Promote their welfare and allow them to make
their own decisions.
Ethics in Engineering Research
& Practice
• Respect for Colleagues:
• Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.
• Social Responsibility:
• Strive to promote social good and prevent or
mitigate social harms through research, public
education, and advocacy.
• Non-Discrimination:
• Avoid discrimination against colleagues or
students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or
other factors that are not related to their scientific
competence and integrity.
Ethics in Engineering
Research & Practice
• Competence:
• Maintain and improve your own professional
competence and expertise through lifelong education and
learning; take steps to promote competence in science.
• Legality:
• Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and
governmental policies.
• Animal Care:
• Show proper respect and care for animals when using
them in research. Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly
designed animal experiments.
• Human Subjects Protection:
• When conducting research on human subjects, minimize
harms and risks and maximize benefits; respect human
dignity, privacy, and autonomy.
Ethical Issues Related
to Authorship

• Research scores in published

research are achieved through three
main methods: reading, writing, and
written verification.
• Authorship creates responsibility
and builds credibility.
• An individual is listed as an author
only if they have made significant
contributions to the design,
interpretation, or writing of the data.
Ethical Issues Related
to Authorship
• Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting someone
else's work or ideas as your own, with or without
their consent, by incorporating it into your work
without full acknowledgement. All published and
unpublished material, whether in manuscript,
printed or electronic form, is covered under this
definition. It paints a misleading picture of a
researcher's own contribution.
• Duplicate publication: There are two types of
duplicate publication. The first type occurs when
an author publishes text, tables, and figures
verbatim from a published work (particularly one
for which the author has signed a copyright
agreement) without permission from the publisher
of the original publication.
Ethical Issues Related to Authorship
The second type of duplicate publication violation occurs when an
author simultaneously submits the same manuscript to two
different journals. Most journals require authors to formally attest
that the manuscript has not been submitted to another journal.
• Guest authorship, ghost authorship, Gift, Surrogate and
Anonymous authorship: Authors whose significant
contribution is not acknowledged
Guest: Authors included solely for the purpose of increasing
acceptance rate of the manuscript
Gift: Authors included despite any significant contribution
Surrogate: Written by someone else passed off as someone else’s
Anonymous: Publishing with anonymity; lacks transparency
Ethical Issues Related
to Authorship
• Lying by omission
o Lying by omission includes not citing relevant
literature. In some cases, an irresponsible
researcher may not have devoted sufficient
time to the all‐important detailed literature
search phase of the research project and is
unaware of relevant literature.
o In other cases, however, citation of relevant
work is omitted deliberately to avoid revealing
to reviewers that the work presented has
already been the subject of thorough
investigation, and the study they are seeking to
publish would be a nominal contribution to the
overall literature.
Types of Research Misconduct
• Falsification: Falsification is manipulating research materials,
equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results
such that the research is not accurately represented in the
research record.
• Fabrication: Fabrication is the construction and/or addition of
data, observations, or characterizations that never occurred in
the gathering of data or running of experiments.
• Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or
ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by
incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement.
All published and unpublished material, whether in manuscript,
printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. It
paints a misleading picture of a researcher's own contribution.
Types of Research Misconduct
• Types of plagiarism
• Global plagiarism means plagiarizing an entire text.
This includes purchasing an essay or turning in an
assignment completed by someone else.
• Patchwork or mosaic plagiarism means copying
phrases, passages, and ideas from different sources
and compiling them into a new text.
• Incremental plagiarism means inserting a small
amount of plagiarized content in a mostly original text.
• Self-plagiarism means recycling your own previous
work that you’ve already submitted or published.