Research

Methodology
EPH 7112
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
Motivation

 Professor asks students to study

relationship between
 flame flickering and
 music beat

 15 students said ‘yes’

 5 students said ‘no’

 How did it happen?

Motivation

 Condition of experiment different

 ‘Sensor’ biased

 “Planning and conducting rigorous

research and development projects in
science and engineering is often very
challenging”
 This is our motivation
Contents

 Aim of Subject
 Learning Outcome of Subject

 Assessment Scheme

 Definition of research

 Introduction to academic research

 Contemporary research in
Engineering and Technology
Aim of Subject
 The main objectives of this course are
to help students:
 To use information systems
effectively;
 To write a critical review of the
relevant literature;
 To identify a research problem;
 To develop and write a research
proposal for their discipline area;
Aim of Subject
 To propose and justify an appropriate
research plan for the chosen research
problem;
 To choose and apply an appropriate
experimental design to a particular research
problem, if required;
 To understand and apply a range of
standard techniques for instrumentation and
data acquisition;
 To prepare a well written and concise
research thesis or report
Assessment Scheme

 Group assignment
 Preparation of research proposal

 Graded as “Pass” or “Fail”

Assignment

 Critical Review
 Research Proposal

 Study Model

 Research Ethics Case Studies

 Technical Writing

 Short assignments
Reference Books
 Ranjit Kumar. "Research Methodology" Longman, 1996

 Lindsay D. “A Guide to Scientific Writing” Longman, 1995

 Ralph Berry. “How to write a Research Paper”, Pergamon,

1986

 Gerson S J and Gerson S M. “Technical Writing Process

and Product”, Prentice Hall, 1992

 Coley S M and Scheinberg C A, "Proposal Writing",

Newbury Sage Publications, 1990
How do you view research?
 A quest for knowledge and
understanding
 An interesting and useful experience
 A course for qualification
 A career
 A style of life
 A way to improve quality of life
 An ego boost
Have you done research?

 Not a new process

 Looking for a dream job
 Looking for good apartment
 Buying a cheap car
 Finding the love of your life …
Background

 Beginning of 2nd Millennium

 Dark Ages – Renaissance

 3G Exploration – into Africa and Asia

 Crusaders fight for Jerusalem

 Can Earth possibly be flat?

 Research begins ….
Background

 Chinese civilization
 Islamic civilization

 Indian civilization

 All have contributions to research too

…
Definition of Research
 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
(http://www.merriam-webster.com)
 careful or diligent search
 studious inquiry or examination; especially :
investigation or experimentation aimed at the
discovery and interpretation of facts, revision
of accepted theories or laws in the light of
new facts, or practical application of such
new or revised theories or laws
 the collecting of information about a
particular subject
Definition of research
 Greenfield (1996): “Research is an art
aided by skills of
 inquiry,
 experimental design,
 data collection
 measurement and analysis
 by interpretation, and
 by presentation”
Development
 fundamentally more significant as a
contributor to the success of a
commercial organization
 apply scientific, engineering or
technological knowledge in a
systematic manner to improve
performance
 organization growth and increase
shareholder value
Development
 Exploits technology created elsewhere
 Has a final product or process tied to it
 Has finite timescales in which to deliver
 Has finite costs for the end product
 Is targeted at tangible benefits for the
customer
R&D

 Research is a process that acquires

new knowledge
 Development is a process that
applies knowledge to create new
devices or effects
R&D Problems

 Research seeks truth

 Development seeks utility

 Industry can’t afford luxury of research

 Academics uninterested with

development
 Myopic views

 R&D is interdependent
R&D Problems

 Research results cannot be

reproduced
 Data collection is haphazard

 Experiment methods are chaotic

 Trial and error …

 Lack records

 Reports are disorganized

Academic Research
Problems
 Very similar to R&D problems
 Research methodology is important

 In Science & Engineering, lack of

emphasis on research methodology
 Research methodology informal
training
Conclusions

 Importance of Research Methodology

 Definition:
 Research
 Development