GSU 07407 Research Methods - 1 1

Research Methods
for Engineers
GSU 07407
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
Objective
 The main objective of this course is to
help students to:
 use information systems effectively;
 write a critical review of the relevant
literature;
 identify a research problem;
 develop and write a research proposal
for their discipline area;
Aim of Subject
 propose and justify an appropriate research
plan for the chosen research problem;
 choose and apply an appropriate
experimental design to a particular research
problem, if required;
 understand and apply a range of standard
techniques for instrumentation and data
acquisition;
 prepare a well written and concise research
thesis or report
Reference Books
 Ranjit Kumar. "Research
Methodology: A step by step guide for
beginnners" Pearson, 2007
 C.R.Kothari. “Research
Methodology:Methods and
Techniques” New Age Intenation,2004
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
Oxford Concise Dictionary

 a. the systematic investigation into
and study of materials, sources, etc,
in order to establish facts and reach
new conclusions.
 b. an endeavour to discover new or
collate old facts etc by the scientific
study of a subject or by a course of
critical investigation.
Definition of research
In short
 Research is
Organized and Systematic way
of finding Answers to Questions.
 SYSTEMATIC because there is a definite set of
procedures and steps which you will follow.
There are certain things in the research process
which are always done in order to get the most
accurate results.
 ORGANIZED in that there is a structure or
method in going about doing research. It is a
planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is
focused and limited to a specific scope.
 FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research.
Whether it is the answer to a hypothesis or
even a simple question, research is successful
when we find answers. Sometimes the answer
is no, but it is still an answer.
 QUESTIONS are central to research. If there is
no question, then the answer is of no use.
Research is focused on relevant, useful, and
important questions. Without a question,
research has no focus, drive, or purpose
Have you done research?
 Not a new process

 Looking for a good school
 Looking for a dream job
 Looking for good apartment
 Buying a cheap car
 Finding the love of your life …
R&D
 Research is a process that acquires

new knowledge
 Development is a process that
applies knowledge to create new
devices or effects
Types of Research
 Classified from 3 perspectives

1.Application of research studies (pure or
applied research)
2.Objectives in undertaking the research
(descriptive, correlational, explanatory or
exploratory research)
3.Inquiry mode employed (qualitative or
quantitative research)
Types of Research
From the viewpoint of
Application Objectives Inquiry mode
Pure Descriptive Exploratory Quantitative

research research research research
Correlational Explanatory
Applied research research Qualitative
research research
Source:Ranjit Kumar
Pure or basic or fundamental research
 research carried out to increase
understanding of fundamental principles
 the end results have no direct or immediate
commercial benefits
 can be thought of as arising out of
curiosity;However, in the long term it is the
basis for many commercial products and
applied research.
Applied Research
 Aims at finding a solution for an immediate
problem facing a society or indutrial/business
organization .
 research that is applied, accessing and using
some part of the research communities' (the
academy's) accumulated theories,
knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a
specific, often state, commercial, or client
driven purpose.
Descriptive Research
 Attempt to describe systematically a
situation, problem, phenomenon, service
or program, or provide information about,
say, the living conditions of a community,
or describes attitude towards anissues
Correlational Research
 To discover or establish the existence of a
relationship/association/interdependence
between 2 or more aspects of situation
 Explanatory Research :To clarify
why and how there is a relationship
between 2 aspects of situation or
phenomenon
 Quantitative Research: Research
Methodology that emphasize on precise,
objectivity, and Generalizability .
 Methods: Measurement Design, Sampling
Design and Statistical Analysis Design
 Qualitative Research: Research
Methodology that emphasize on depth of
understanding and the deeper meanings of
human experience,
experience and that aim to generate
theoretically richer observations.
 Methods: Participant Observation, Direct
Observation, Unstructured or Intensive
Interviewing (In-dept Interview), Focus
Groups
Research Process
 You must take time to think about your
research as this will save you problems
later . ask yourself the five ‘Ws’:
 – What is my research?
 – Why do I want to do the research?
 – Who are my research participants?
 – Where am I going to do the research?
 – When am I going to do the research?
 Then think of HOW
Source:C.R.Kothari
Considerations
and steps in Methods and The Research Process
formulating a tools of data
research problem collection Source:Ranjit Kumar
Research design: Sampling theory Methods of data

functions and designs processing;
Use of computers Principles of
and statistics scientific writing
Literature
review
Constructing
Formulating Conceptualizing Writing a Writing a
an instrument Selecting Collecting Processing
a research a research research research
For data a sample data data
problem design proposal report
collection
Field test Editing Coding

Study designs of the of the
research data
tool
Variables and Validity and
hypotheses: reliability of the Contents of the Developing
definition research tool research proposal a code
and typology book
What How Conducting of the study

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Research Methods

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Oxford Concise Dictionary

 Not a new process

 Research is a process that acquires

 Classified from 3 perspectives

From the viewpoint of

Application Objectives Inquiry mode

Pure Descriptive Exploratory Quantitative

Research design: Sampling theory Methods of data

Field test Editing Coding

What How Conducting of the study

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