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MODULE-1

Introduction: Meaning of Research, Objectives of Engineering Research, and Motivation in

Engineering Research, Types of Engineering Research, Finding and Solving a Worthwhile
Problem. Ethics in Engineering Research, Ethics in Engineering Research Practice, Types of
Research Misconduct, Ethical Issues Related to Authorship.

Meaning of Research
 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
 Research involves formulation of hypothesis or proposition of solutions, data analysis, and
deductions; and ascertaining whether the conclusions fit the hypothesis. Research is a process
of creating, or formulating knowledge that does not yet exist.
The primary objectives of research typically include:
Discovery of Knowledge: Research aims to uncover new facts, information, or insights that
were previously unknown or not well understood.
Problem Solving: Research is often undertaken to find solutions to existing problems or
challenges. This could involve developing new technologies, processes, or methods to
address specific issues.
Validation of Existing Knowledge: In some cases, research is conducted to verify or
validate existing theories, hypotheses, or concepts.
Creation of New Theories: Researchers may seek to formulate new theories or models that
explain observed phenomena or predict outcomes.
Advancement of Knowledge: Research contributes to the overall advancement of
knowledge within a particular field or across multiple disciplines
The research flow

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Explains that the research cycle starts with basically a practical problem:

 1. Identify Research Problem: Start by identifying a research problem or question. This

can be inspired by gaps in existing literature, real-world challenges, or emerging trends in
your field
 2. Literature Review: Conduct a thorough review of existing literature to understand the
current state of knowledge in the area. Identify key theories, methodologies, and gaps that
your research can address.
 3. Formulate Research Questions or Hypotheses: Based on your literature review,
articulate clear research questions or hypotheses that guide your study. These should be
specific, measurable, and relevant to your research problem.
 4. Define Scope and Objectives: Clearly define the scope of your research, including the
population or sample you will study. Set specific objectives that align with your research
questions or hypotheses.
 5. Design Research Methodology: Choose and justify your research design, whether it's
experimental, observational, qualitative, quantitative, or a combination. Develop a
detailed methodology, including data collection methods and tools.
 6. Data Collection: Implement your chosen data collection methods. This could involve
surveys, experiments, interviews, observations, or the analysis of existing datasets.
Ensure data quality and ethical considerations.
 7. Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data using appropriate statistical or qualitative
analysis techniques. Interpret the results in the context of your research questions or
hypotheses.
 8. Interpretation and Discussion: Interpret the findings in relation to existing literature.
Discuss the implications of your results, highlighting any unexpected findings or
limitations. Relate your research back to the broader context of your field.
 9. Draw Conclusions: Summarize your key findings and draw conclusions based on your
analysis. Address whether your hypotheses were supported or rejected and discuss the
significance of your results.
 10. Recommendations: Provide practical recommendations based on your research.
These could be suggestions for policy, further research, or practical applications in the
real world

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 11. Write Research Paper or Thesis: Compile your research into a structured paper or
thesis. Follow the conventions of academic writing and ensure that your work is well-
organized, clear, and properly referenced.
 12. Peer Review and Revision: Submit your work for peer review. Incorporate feedback
from colleagues, mentors, or reviewers to improve the quality of your research.
 13. Dissemination: Share your research findings through conferences, workshops, or
publications in peer-reviewed journals. Contribute to the broader scientific community and
engage with other researchers in your field.
 14. Reflection: Reflect on your research process. Consider what worked well, what could be
improved, and how your findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your field.
 15. Future Research: Identify potential avenues for future research based on the limitations
of your current study and new questions that arise from your finding.

The objective of a good research

 The objective of a good research program is to try and gain insight into something. Or indeed,
to try and solve a problem.
 Good research questions develop throughout the project actually and one can even keep
modifying them.
 Through research, one would like to make, or develop, new knowledge about the world
around us which can be written down or recorded in some way, and that knowledge can be
accessed through that writing or recording.
To Contribute to Knowledge: The primary goal of research is often to contribute new
knowledge to the existing body of information within a particular field or discipline. This
involves discovering, creating, or validating facts, theories, or concepts.
To Solve Problems: Many research endeavours’ are driven by the desire to address practical
problems or challenges. Researchers aim to find effective solutions that can improve
processes, technologies, or outcomes.
To Test or Develop Theories: Research may be designed to test existing theories or to
develop new ones. This process helps refine and expand our theoretical understanding of
various phenomena.
To Inform Decision-Making: Research can provide valuable information to guide decision-
makers in various sectors, such as government, business, healthcare, and education. Well-

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conducted research can offer insights that contribute to informed and effective decision-
making.
To Enhance Methodologies: Research can contribute to the refinement and improvement of
research methodologies and techniques. This includes developing more effective ways to
collect, analyse, and interpret data.
To Encourage Critical Thinking: Through the process of conducting research, individuals
develop and enhance critical thinking skills. This involves evaluating evidence, questioning
assumptions, and drawing reasoned conclusions.

The categories of knowledge in research

 Observation is the most fundamental way of obtaining information from a source, and it
could be significant in itself if the thing that we are trying to observe is really strange or
exciting, or is difficult to observe. Observation takes different forms from something like
measurements in a laboratory to a survey among a group of subjects to the time it takes
for a firmware routine to run. The observational data often needs to be processed in some
form and this leads to the second category of knowledge, the model.
 Models are approximated, often simplified ways of describing sometimes very complex
interactions in the form of a statistical relationship, a figure, or a set of mathematical
equations. For instance, the modelling equation captures the relationship between

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different attributes or the behaviour of the device in an abstract form and enables us to
understand the observed phenomena.
 The final category is a way of arranging or doing things through processes, algorithms,
procedures, arrangements, or reference designs, to get a certain desired result

Good research
 Good research involves systematic collection and analysis of information and is followed
by an attempt to infer a little bit beyond the already known information in a way that is a
significant value addition.
 Usually, engineering research is a journey that traverses from a research area (example:
Control Systems), to the topic (example: Control of Microbial Fuel Cells) and finally onto
the problem (example: Adaptive Control of Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells) (Area
→ Topic → Problem). Getting a good problem to solve is more than half the work done.
 However, sometimes the journey can be reversing, for example, the traversal from
(Problem → Topic → Area). This can happen when one is led to a problem through a
connection to another problem whose top structure is different.
 Clear Purpose and Objectives: Good research begins with a well-defined research
question or problem statement. The purpose and objectives of the research should be
clearly articulated, guiding the entire study.
 Relevance: The research should address a significant and relevant issue within its field of
study. It should contribute meaningfully to existing knowledge or address a practical
problem.
 Transparency: Good research is transparent in its methods, allowing others to replicate
the study. Researchers should provide detailed information about their methods, data
collection, and analysis techniques.
 Validity and Reliability: The research should produce valid and reliable results. Validity
ensures that the study measures what it intends to measure, while reliability indicates the
consistency of the results
 Systematic Analysis: The data analysis should be conducted systematically, using
appropriate statistical or qualitative methods. The findings should be interpreted in a
logical and contextually relevant manner.

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 Peer Review: Good research often undergoes a peer-review process, where experts in the
field evaluate the methodology, results, and conclusions. Peer review helps ensure the
quality and validity of the research.
 Clarity in Communication: Findings should be communicated clearly and effectively
through well-organized research reports, articles, or presentations. Clear communication
enhances the accessibility of the research to a wider audience.

Engineering research
Engineering research encompasses a wide range of studies aimed at advancing knowledge,
solving practical problems, and innovating within various branches of engineering. The
objectives of engineering research often include improving existing technologies, developing
new solutions, and contributing to the overall progress of the field. Here are key aspects of
engineering research
 Problem Definition: Engineering research often begins with the identification of a specific
problem or challenge that requires attention. This could be related to the design, analysis,
optimization, or improvement of systems, structures, processes, or technologies.
 Innovation and Design: Engineering research frequently involves the development of new
designs, materials, or methodologies. Researchers aim to create innovative solutions that
address current limitations or enhance the performance of existing systems.
 Experimental and Analytical Methods: Depending on the nature of the research,
engineering studies may employ a combination of experimental and analytical methods.
Experimental work could involve laboratory testing, prototyping, or field trials, while
analytical methods may include mathematical modelling, simulation, and computational
analysis.
 Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Many engineering research projects require collaboration
across multiple disciplines. Engineers often work with experts in fields such as physics,
materials science, computer science, and biology to address complex challenges.
 Sustainability: With an increasing focus on sustainable development, engineering research
often explores environmentally friendly solutions. This includes the development of
renewable energy technologies, eco-friendly materials, and processes that minimize
environmental impact.

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 Advanced Materials: Research in engineering frequently involves the study and

development of advanced materials with enhanced properties. This could include
materials for structural engineering, electronic devices, biomedical applications, and
more.
 Quality Control and Assurance: Ensuring the quality and reliability of engineering
products and processes is a critical aspect of research. This involves the development of
methods for quality control, testing, and assurance in manufacturing and other industries.

Objectives of Engineering Research

The objectives of engineering research are diverse and can vary based on the specific focus,
discipline, and goals of the research project. However, there are several common objectives
that often characterize engineering research:
 Innovation and Advancement: One of the primary objectives of engineering research is to
faster innovation and advance the state of knowledge within a particular field. This may
involve developing new technologies, methodologies, or approaches that improve upon
existing solutions.
 Problem Solving: Engineering research often seeks to address practical problems and
challenges. This involves identifying issues within current systems, processes, or
technologies and developing effective solutions to overcome these challenges.
 Optimization of Systems and Processes: Researchers in engineering aim to optimize the
performance of systems, processes, and products. This can involve improving efficiency,
reducing costs, enhancing reliability, or maximizing functionality.
 Development of New Materials: Many engineering research projects focus on the discovery
and development of new materials with improved properties. This includes materials for
structural applications, electronics, biomedical devices, and more.
 Sustainability and Environmental Impact: With an increasing emphasis on sustainable
development, engineering research often aims to design and implement solutions that
minimize environmental impact. This may involve developing eco-friendly materials, energy-
efficient technologies, and sustainable infrastructure.
 Safety and Reliability: Ensuring the safety and reliability of engineering systems is a crucial
objective. Research in this area may involve studying failure modes, developing risk
assessment methods, and implementing measures to enhance safety and reliability.

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 Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Engineering research frequently involves collaboration

with experts from other disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach allows researchers to
address complex problems that require knowledge from fields such as physics, biology,
computer science, and more.
 Integration of Emerging Technologies: Engineering research often focuses on
integrating emerging technologies into practical applications. This includes the
exploration of artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT (Internet of Things), and other cutting-
edge technologies to enhance existing systems or create entirely new solutions.
 Education and Knowledge Dissemination: Engineering research contributes to
education by generating new knowledge that is shared through publications, conferences,
and other means. Disseminating research findings helps educate future engineers and
professionals in the field.

Motivation in Engineering Research

 Studies have shown that intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge, learning, meaning,
purpose, are linked to strong creative performance;
 Extrinsic motivating factors like rewards for good work include money, fame, awards,
praise, and status are very strong motivators, but may block creativity. For example: Research
outcome may enable obtaining a patent which is a good way to become rich and famous.
 Influences from others like competition, collaboration, commitment, and encouragement are
also motivating factors in research. For example: my friends are all doing research and so
should I, or, a person that I dislike is doing well and I want to do better.
 Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems, intellectual joy, service to community,
and respectability are all driving factors.
The following factors would be a mix of extrinsic and intrinsic aspects
(i) Wanting to do better than what has been achieved in the world
(ii) Improve the state of the art in technology
(iii)Contribute to the improvement of society
(iv) Fulfilment of the historical legacy in the immediate sociocultural context.
Several other factors like government directives, funding opportunities in certain areas, and
terms of employment, can motivate people to get involved in engineering research.

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Innovation and Creativity: Engineers are often motivated by the challenge of solving
complex problems. The satisfaction that comes from finding practical and effective solutions
to real-world issues can be a strong driving force in engineering research.
Curiosity and Passion: Genuine interest and curiosity about a particular problem or field of
study can be a powerful motivator. When researchers are passionate about their work, they
are more likely to persevere through challenges and setbacks.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Working with a diverse and talented team can foster
motivation. Collaboration allows researchers to leverage each other's strengths, share ideas,
and collectively work towards common goals.

Types of Engineering Research

(i) Descriptive versus Analytical: Descriptive research includes comparative and correlational
methods, and fact-finding inquiries, to effectively describe the present state of art. The
researcher holds no control over the variables; rather only reports as it is. Descriptive
research also includes attempts to determine causes even though the variables cannot be
controlled. On the contrary, in analytical research, already available facts for analysis and
critical evaluation are utilized. Some research studies can be both descriptive and analytical
(ii) Applied versus Fundamental: Research can either be applied research or fundamental
(basic or pure) research. Applied research seeks to solve an immediate problem facing the
organization, whereas fundamental research is concerned with generalizations and
formulation of a theory. Research concerning natural phenomena or relating to pure
mathematics are examples of fundamental research. Research to identify social or economic
trends, or those that find out whether certain communications will be read and understood are
examples of applied research. The primary objective of applied research is to determine a
solution for compelling problems in actual practice, while basic research is aimed at seeking
information which could have a broad base of applications in the medium to long term.
(iii) Quantitative versus Qualitative: Quantitative research uses statistical observations of a
sufficiently large number of representative cases to draw any conclusions, while qualitative
researchers rely on a few no representative cases or verbal narrative in behavioural studies
such as clustering effect in intersections in Transportation engineering to make a proposition.

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Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem

A researcher may start out with the research problems stated by the Supervisor or
posed by others that are yet to be solved. Alternately, it may involve rethinking of a basic
theory, or need to be formulated or put together from the information provided in a group of
papers suggested by the Supervisor.
Research scholars are faced with the task of finding an appropriate problem on which to
begin their research.
Skills needed to accomplish such a task at the outset, while taking care of possible
implications are critically important but often not taught.
 Once the problem is vaguely identified, the process of literature survey and technical reading,
as described in the next chapter, would take place for more certainty of the worthiness of the
intended problem.
 However, an initial spark is ideally required before the process of literature survey may duly
begin. Sometimes, an oral presentation by somebody which is followed by asking questions
or introspection provides this perspective which reading papers do not.
 1. Identify Your Interests: Start by considering your own interests and passions. Research
becomes more rewarding when you are genuinely curious and invested in the subject matter.
 2. Review Existing Literature: Conduct a thorough literature review to understand the
current state of research in your field. Identify gaps, controversies, or areas where further
exploration is needed.
 3. Consult with Experts: Discuss your ideas with mentors, professors, or experts in the field.
They can provide valuable insights, guide you toward relevant literature, and help refine your
research questions.
 4. Stay Informed about Emerging Trends: Follow recent developments in your field
through conferences, journals, and online resources. Emerging trends often present new
challenges that could be worthwhile to explore.
 5. Consider Real-World Impact: Look for problems that have real-world implications or
practical applications. Research that can address societal needs, improve processes, or
contribute to solving pressing issues tends to be more valuable.

 6. Evaluate Feasibility: Assess the feasibility of your research. Consider the resources, time,

and expertise required. A problem may be worthwhile, but it should also be manageable
within the constraints of your project.

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 7. Collaborate with Peers: Discuss potential research problems with your peers.
Collaborative efforts can lead to innovative solutions and help you see the problem from
different perspectives.
 8. Consider Ethical Implications: Reflect on the ethical considerations of your research
problem. Ensure that your work adheres to ethical standards and contributes positively to
the well-being of individuals and society.
The recommended steps to solve a research problem are
(i)Understand the problem, restate it as if it’s your own, visualize the problem by drawing
figures, and determine if something more is needed.
(ii)One must start somewhere and systematically explore possible strategies to solve the
problem or a simpler version of it while looking for patterns.
(iii)Execute the plan to see if it works, and if it does not then start over with another
approach. Having delved into the problem and returned to it multiple times, one might have a
flash of insight or a new idea to solve the problem.
(iv) Looking back and reflecting helps in understanding and assimilating the strategy, and is a
sort of investment into the future.

Ethics in Engineering Research

 Ethics generally refers to a set of rules distinguishing acceptable and unacceptable conduct,
distinguishing right from wrong or wise aphorisms like the sayings of Chanakya
 Although everyone recognizes some common ethical norms, but there is difference in
interpretation and application.
 Ethical principles can be used for evaluation, proposition or interpretation of laws. Although
ethics are not laws, but laws often follow ethics because ethics are our shared values.
 Ethical conducts of research have been there since the adoption of the Nuremberg Code in
1947.According to whit beck, the issues related to research credit dates back to the establishment
of the British Royal Society (BRS) in the seventeenth century to refine the methods and
practices of modern science. This event altered the timing and credit issues on the release of
research results since BRS gave priority to whoever first submitted findings for publication,
rather than trying to find out who had first discovered.
 Whit beck raised two simple but significant questions to address the tricky issue of
authorship in research: (1) who should be included as an author and (2) the appropriate
order of listing of authors. In an increasingly interconnected world, the issue of coauthor

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ship is very relevant to all researchers. There are issues around individuals who may be
deeply involved during the conduct of the research work, but may not contribute in the
drafting phase. Additionally, certain universities now put restrictions on coauthor ship to
prevent malpractices which will be described later in this chapter.
 Government bodies and universities worldwide have adopted certain codes for research
ethics. Research ethics and the responsible conduct of research are often erroneously used
interchangeably. Research ethics examines the appropriate applications of research
outcomes, while responsible conduct of research deals with the way the work is
undertaken.

Ethics in Engineering Research Practice

Ethics in engineering research practice is a critical aspect of ensuring the responsible and
sustainable development of technology. Researchers and engineers have a responsibility to
conduct their work in an ethical manner to protect the well-being of individuals,
communities, and the environment. Here are some key considerations for ethical engineering
research practice:
 Informed Consent: Obtain informed consent from research participants before conducting
any experiments or collecting data. Participants should be fully aware of the purpose, risks,
and potential benefits of the research.
 Privacy and Confidentiality: Protect the privacy of individuals involved in the research by
ensuring that their personal information is kept confidential. This includes proper handling
and storage of data to prevent unauthorized access.
 Integrity and Honesty: Conduct research with integrity and honesty. Avoid falsifying data,
manipulating results, or misrepresenting findings. Transparent reporting of methods and
results is essential.
 Impartiality and Objectivity: Strive for impartiality and objectivity in research design, data
collection, and analysis. Minimize bias in the interpretation of results and avoid conflicts of
interest that could compromise the integrity of the research.
 Social Responsibility: Consider the social implications of your research. Evaluate how the
outcomes might impact individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Aim for research
that contributes positively to societal well-being.
 Environmental Responsibility: Acknowledge and address the potential environmental
impacts of engineering projects. Implement sustainable practices and consider the long-term

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effects of technological developments on the environment.

 Safety: Prioritize the safety of individuals involved in the research, as well as the safety
of end-users of the technology. Follow established safety standards and protocols.
 Open Communication: Foster open and transparent communication within the research
team and with the broader community. Share methodologies, data, and findings to
facilitate collaboration and reproducibility.
 Continuous Learning: Stay informed about evolving ethical standards and best practices
in engineering research. Engage in ongoing education and professional development to
enhance ethical decision-making.
 Responsible Use of Technology: Consider the potential societal impact of the
technologies developed through research. Anticipate and mitigate potential negative
consequences, such as job displacement, ethical concerns, or unintended consequences.
 Research outcomes often have unintended and undesirable side effects. It is a vital ethical
responsibility of researchers to ensure that hazards/risks associated with the technologies
that they develop, are minimized and alternative safer mechanisms are considered.
 If possible, the designs should be made inherently safe such that they avoid dangers, or
come with safety factors, and multiple independent safety barriers, or if possible a
supervisory mechanism to take control if the primary process fails.

Types of Research Misconduct

Engineering research should be conducted to improve the state-of-the-art of tech-nologies.
Research integrity encompasses dealing fairly with others, honesty about the methods and
results, replicating the results wherever possible so as to avoid errors, protecting the welfare of
research subjects, ensuring laboratory safety, and so forth. In order to prevent mistakes, peer
reviews should take place before the research output is published.
(i)Fabrication (Illegitimate creation of data): Fabrication is the act of conjuring data or
experiments with a belief of knowledge about what the conclusion of the analysis or
experiments would be, but cannot wait for the results possibly due to timeline pressures from
supervisor or customers
(ii) Falsification (Inappropriate alteration of data): Falsification is the misrepre-sentation or
misinterpretation, or illegitimate alteration of data or experiments, even if partly, to support a
desired hypothesis even when the actual data received from experiments suggest otherwise.
Falsification and fabrication of data and results, hamper engineering research, cause false

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empirical data to percolate in the literature, wreck trustworthiness of individuals involved,

incur additional costs, impede research progress, and cause actual and avoidable delays in
technical advancement. Misleading data can also crop up due to poor design of experiments
or incorrect measurement practices.
(iii)Plagiarism (Taking other’s work sans attribution): Plagiarism takes place when someone
uses or reuses the work (including portions) of others (text, data, tables, figures, illustrations or
concepts) as if it were his/her own without explicit acknowledgement. Verbatim copying or
reusing one’s own published work is termed as self-plagiarism and is also an unacceptable
practice in scientific lit-erature. The increasing availability of scientific content on the
internet seems to encourage plagiarism in certain cases, but also enables detection of such
practices through automated software packages.
How are supervisors, reviewers or editors alerted to plagiarism?
(i) Original author comes to know and informs everyone concerned.
(ii) Sometimes a reviewer finds out about it during the review process.
(iii) (iii)Or, readers who come across the article or book, while doing research.

(iv) Other Aspects of Research Misconduct: Serious deviations from accepted con- duct could be
construed as research misconduct. When there is both deception and damage, a fraud is
deemed to have taken place. Sooner or later ethical violations get exposed. Simultaneous
submission of the same article to two different journals also violates publication policies.
Another issue is that when mistakes are found in an article or any published content, they are
generally not reported for public access unless a researcher is driven enough to build on that
mistake and provide a correct version of the same which is not always the primary objective of
the researcher.

Ethical Issues Related to Authorship

 Academic authorship involves communicating scholarly work, establishing priority for their
discoveries, and building peer-reputation, and comes with intrinsic burden of acceptance of the
responsibility for the contents of the work. It is the primary basis of evaluation for employment,
promotion, and other honors.
 There is several important research conducts and ethics related issues connected to authorship
of research papers as described by Newman and Jones and are summarized herewith in the
context of engineering research.
 Credit for research contributions is attributed in three major ways in research

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publications: by authorship (of the intended publication), citation (of previously

published or formally presented work), and through a written acknowledgment (of some
inputs to the present research). Authorship establishes both accountability and gives due
credit. A person is expected to be listed as an author only when associated as a significant
contributor in research design, data interpretation, or writing of the paper.
 Including “guest” or “gift” (co authorship bestowed on someone with little or no
contribution to the work) authors dilutes the contribution of those who actually did the
work, inappropriately inflates credentials of the listed authors , and is ethically a red flag
highlighting research misconduct. Sometimes, the primary author dubiously bestows co
authorship on a junior faculty or a student to boost their chances of employment or
promotion, which can be termed as Career-boost authorship.
 There is also an unfortunate malpractice of co authorship that can be described as
“Career-preservation authorship” wherein a head of the department, a dean, a provost, or
other administrators are added as Coauthors because of quid pro quo arrangement
wherein the principal author benefits from a “good relation” with the superiors and the
administrator benefits from authorship without doing the required work for it.
 Sometimes, an actual contributor abstains from the list of authors due to non- disclosed
conflict of interest within the organization. Such coauthorships can be termed as ghost
coauthorship. Full disclosure of all those involved in the research is important so that
evaluation can happen both on the basis of findings, and also whether there was influence
from the conflicts. In another type of questionable authorship, some researchers list one
another as coauthors as a reciprocal gesture with no real collaboration except minimal
reading and editing, without truly reviewing the work threadbare.
 Some authors, in trying to acquire a sole-authored work, despite relying on signif- icant
contribution to the research work from others, recognize that effort only by an
acknowledgment, thereby misrepresenting the contributions of the listed authors. The
unrecognized “author” is as a consequence, unavailable to readers for elaboration.
 Double submission is an important ethical issue related to authorship, which involves
submission of a paper to two forums simultaneously. The motivation is to increase
publication possibility and possibly decrease time to publication. Reputed journals want to
publish original papers, i.e., papers which have not appeared else- where, and strongly
discourage double submission

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