Chapter 1. Research Methods jsjdbhdhdhdhshh(1).pdf

Research

1. EngineeringResearchMethodology
Chapter 1
Introduction to Research
Instructor: Dr. Tadele A. Abose

2. Introduction to Research
Introduction
◼Research:
▪Istheprocessofdiscoveringnewknowledge
▪Istheorganizedandsystematicmethodof
findinganswerstoquestions.
▪Istheuseofexistingknowledgeinanewand
creativeway

3. Introduction to Research
Introduction
The research process:
▪Theprocessisinitiatedwithaquestionorproblem
(step1)
▪Next,goalsandobjectivesareformulatedtodeal
withthequestionorproblem(step2)
▪Thentheresearchdesignisdevelopedtoachieve
theobjectives(step3)
▪Resultsaregeneratedbyconductingtheresearch
(step4)
▪Interpretationandanalysisofresultsfollow(5)

4. Introduction to Research
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5. Introduction to Research
Motivation for research
▪Whatmakespeopletoundertakeresearch?Thisis
aquestionoffundamentalimportance.
▪Thepossiblemotivesfordoingresearchmaybe
eitheroneormoreofthefollowing:
•Desiretogetaresearchdegreealongwithits
consequentialbenefits;
•Desiretofacethechallengeinsolvingtheunsolved
problems
•Desiretogetintellectualjoyofdoingsomecreativework
•Desiretobeofservicetosociety
•Desiretogetrespectability

6. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Thebasictypesofresearchareasfollows:
1.Descriptivevs.Analytical
2.Appliedvs.Fundamental
3.Quantitativevs.Qualitative
4.Conceptualvs.Empirical

7. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Descriptivevs.Analytical:
◼Indescriptiveresearch,theresearcherhasto
onlyreportwhatishappeningorwhathas
happened
◼Themaincharacteristicofthismethodisthe
researcherhasnocontroloverthevariables,you
canonlyreportwhathashappenedorwhatis
happening
◼Inanalyticalresearch,theresearcherhastouse
thealreadyavailablefactsorinformation,and
analyzethemtomakeacriticalevaluation.

8. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Descriptive:
◼Descriptiveresearchusesvarioussurveymethods,fact-
findinginquiries,andcomparativeandcorrelational
techniques.
◼Thatis,itmayfurtherbesubdividedintosubclasses:
◼Surveystudy
◼Casestudy
◼Comparativestudy
◼Correlationalstudy

9. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Surveystudy:
◼Thisstudydoesnotexploretheissueindepth(problem&
solution)butonlyatasuperficialorshallowlevel.
◼Itgeneratesusefulpreliminaryfindingsontheproblems
andpossiblemeansofsolutions
◼Theresultmaythenbeutilizedashintsforfull
researchesthatintendtogotodeepandbroad
researches.

10. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Casestudy:
◼Inthismethodproblemsandmeansofsolutionsare
studiedindepthbutforanarrowscopeoftheproblem
andcoverageathand.
◼Problemsmaybestudiedinanindividualbasisoringroup
basis.

11. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Casestudy:
Example:1.EnergyefficiencystatusoftheMugherCement
factory
◼Here,though“energy”isabroadgenericterm
whichmaybeofelectrical,thermal,chemicalor
mechanical.
◼MugherCementfactoryisacaseinpoint,say,
amongothercementfactoriesorevenother
industries.

12. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Comparativestudy:
◼Itisusedtoidentifybetterorbestmeans/solutionunder
certainconditionsamongexistingonesbycomparative
analysismethod.
◼Example:whichelectricalenergysupplymethodisthe
mostfeasibleforEthiopia?
Electricityfromhydropower,dieselgenerator,nuclear
powerplant,windenergy,photovoltaic?

13. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Comparativestudy:
◼Analysiscriterionmaybebasedon:
◼Economicalconsiderations,
◼Environmentalfriendliness,
◼Technologically,
◼Needofskilledmanpower,
◼Resourcerequirement(water,dieseloil,nuclearfuel,
…)
◼Spacerequirement

14. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Correlationalstudy:
◼Itisusedtoexploreandstudyiftherearesome
correlationamongtwoormorevariablesinordertogain
greatersituationalinsight.
◼Forinstance,wemaywishtoknow
◼Investigatingthecorrelationbetweenpowersupply
voltageandmicrocontrollerperformance–toseeif
variationsinvoltageaffectprocessingspeedor
stability.

15. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Correlationalstudy:
◼Thepurposeofcorrelationalstudiesisnottoestablish
cause-effectrelationshipamongvariables
◼Buttodeterminewhetherthevariablesunderstudyhave
somekindofassociationornot.
◼Variablesbeingstudiedmayhavepositiveornegative
relationshiportheymaynothaverelationshipatall.

16. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Appliedvs.Basic:
◼Anattempttofindsolutiontoanimmediate
problemencounteredbyafirm,anindustry,a
businessorganization,ortheSocietyisknownas
AppliedResearch
◼Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is ‘Pure’
or ‘Basic’ or ‘Fundamental’ Research

17. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Appliedvs.Basic:
◼Basicresearch-Improvestheoreticalunderstanding
-Helpsforadvancementofknowledge
◼Appliedresearch–Improvespracticalappl.ofscience
-Solvepracticalproblems
◼Appliedresearchaimstofindasolutiontoan
immediateproblemfacingacountry/society/
organizationetc.

18. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Quantitativevs.Qualitative:
◼Quantitativeresearchisamorelogicalanddata-
ledapproachwhichprovidesameasureofwhat
peoplethinkfromastatisticalandnumericalpoint
ofview.
◼Forexample,ifyouwantedtoknowhowmanyof
yourcustomerssupportaproposedchangeinyour
productsorserviceandhowstrongly(onascale)
theysupportit.

19. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Quantitativevs.Qualitative:
◼Quantitativeresearchlargelyusesmethodssuch
asquestionnairesandsurveyswithsetquestions
andanswersthatrespondentstickfroma
predefinedselection.
◼Answerscanbemeasuredinstrengthsoffeeling
suchas‘stronglyagree’‘disagree’ornumberssuch
asscalesoutof10.

20. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Quantitativevs.Qualitative:
◼Unlikequantitativeresearchwhichrelieson
numbersanddata,qualitativeresearchismore
focusedonhowpeoplefeel,whattheythinkand
whytheymakecertainchoices.
◼Forexample,ifyouarethinkingofchangingyour
brandingyouwouldcarryoutqualitativeresearch
toseewhatemotionalreactionspeoplehavetothe
newidentityandwhattheyassociateitwith.

21. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Quantitativevs.Qualitative:
◼Qualitativeresearchislargelyledwithdiscussion
aroundcertainconceptsorideaswithopen
questioning.
◼Attendeesareencouragedtoexplainordescribe
theirreasonsforhavingcertainresponseswhich
canrevealunderlyingmotivations,associationsand
behavioraltriggers.

22. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Conceptualvs.Empirical:
◼Conceptualresearchisthatrelatedtosomeabstract
idea(s)ortheory.Itisgenerallyusedbyphilosophers
andthinkerstodevelopnewconceptsorreinterpret
existingones.
◼Conceptualresearchfocusesontheconceptor
theorythatexplainsordescribesthephenomenon
beingstudied.Whatcausesdisease?Howcanwe
describethemotionsoftheplanets?Theconceptual
researchersitsathisdeskwithpeninhandandtries
tosolvetheseproblemsbythinkingaboutthem.

23. Introduction to Research
Types of research
Conceptualvs.Empirical:
◼Empiricalresearchreliesonexperienceor
observationalone,oftenwithoutdueregardfor
systemandtheory.Itisdata-basedresearch,
comingupwithconclusionswhicharecapableof
beingverifiedbyobservationorexperiment

24. Introduction to Research
Research Approaches
◼Accordingtotypesofresearchdiscussed,there
canbetwoapproachestoresearch:
◼Quantitativeapproach
◼Qualitativeapproach
◼Quantitativeapproachcanbefurtherdividedinto
3groups:
◼Inferentialapproach–infercharacteristicsofa
phenomenonthroughcollectionofdata–example
CO
2emission.

25. Introduction to Research
Research Approaches
◼Experimentalapproach–Researcherdeliberately
changessomevariablestoknowthecausaleffect-
example–effectoftemperatureriseonplant
growthunderopensky.
◼Simulationapproach–Researcherartificially
constructanenvironmentanddatacanbe
generated.Thispermitsanobservationofthe
dynamicbehaviorofasystemundercontrolled
conditions.

26. Introduction to Research
Significance of Research
◼Researchhasitsspecialsignificanceinsolving
variousproblems:Health,Energy,Water,
Technology,Food….
◼Researchinculcatesscientificandinductive
thinkinganditpromotesthedevelopmentof
logicalhabitsofthinkingandorganization.
◼Researchprovidesthebasisfornearlyall
governmentpoliciesinoureconomicsystem.

27. Introduction to Research
Significance of Research
◼Theroleofresearchinseveralfieldsofapplied
economics,whetherrelatedtobusinessortothe
economyasawhole,hasgreatlyincreasedin
moderntimes.
◼Researchisequallyimportantforsocialscientists
instudyingsocialrelationshipsandinseeking
answerstovarioussocialproblems

28. Introduction to Research
Research Methods versus Methodology

29. Introduction to Research
Research Methodology
◼Isawayofexplaininghowaresearcherintendsto
carryouthis/herresearch.

30. Introduction to Research
Research Process
◼Researchprocessconsistsofseriesofactionsors
tepsnecessarytoeffectivelycarryoutresearch
andthedesiredsequencingofthesesteps.

31. Introduction to Research
Research Process

32. Introduction to Research
Criteria of Research
◼Theobjectiveoftheresearchclearlydefined
◼Theresearchmethodologyusedshouldbe
describedinsufficientdetailtopermitanother
researchertorepeattheresearchforfurther
advancement
◼Thesamplingdesignshouldbesuchastoyield
leasterror
◼Thewritingshouldbedonewithcomplete
frankness–nothingwhichhasbearingonthe
resultshouldbehidden

33. Introduction to Research
Criteria of Research
◼Thevalidityandreliabilityofdataasawellas
calculationsshouldbere-checkedtoavoid
mistakes
◼Conclusionsshouldbeconfinedtothosejustified
bydataandanalysis
◼Researchershouldbeapersonofintegrity

34. Introduction to Research
Criteria of Research
◼Clarityandrelevanceoftheproblem
◼Researchabilityoftheproblem
◼Adequacyandrelevanceoftheliteraturereview
◼Matchbetweenthepurpose,designandmethod
◼Suitabilityofthesamplingprocedureandthe
sample
◼Correctnessoftheanalyticalprocedure
◼Clarityoffindings

35. Introduction to Research
Problemsencounteredbyresearchers
inEthiopia
◼Insufficientinteractionbetweenacademicsand
practitioners
◼Lackoftrainingonthepartofresearchers
◼Fearthatinformationprovidedtoresearchers
maybeusedagainstthem
◼Secondarysourcesofdataarenottimelyavailable

36. Introduction to Research
Wayforwardtoovercomeresearcher
problemsinEthiopia
◼Greaterinteractionbetweenacademicinstitutions
andpracticingorganizations/government/NGOs
etc.
◼Moreeducationandtrainingonresearch
methodology
◼NationalPolicyonResearchmentioningthat
researchdatacannotbeusedagainsttheperson
◼Timelypublicationofsecondarydataand
enforcementofacton“RighttoInformation”