ADAMA SCINECE AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ARCHITECTURE
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
Research method for architect
Individual assignment

Prepared by
 Eyuel Asrat UGR/23344/13
Section 1 / group 1

Submitted to: Prof. Dr. Ambuj Kumar

Submitting date: 5/7/2024
 Research Methodology

1 What do you understand by research? What is the main objective of any research
work? Explain the various types of research in brief?

A. What do you understand by research?

• a search for knowledge
• systematized effort to gain new knowledge
• a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge
• an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement
B. What is the main objective of any research work?
• The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered
as yet.
C. Explain the various types of research in brief?
• Descriptive vs. Analytical
Descriptive research encompasses various methods such as surveys and fact-gathering inquiries. Its
primary objective is to depict the current state of affairs accurately. In analytical research, the
researcher relies on existing facts or information, examining them to conduct a critical evaluation of
the material.
• Applied vs. Fundamental
Applied research focuses on resolving immediate issues encountered by society or industrial/business
organizations. In contrast, fundamental research primarily deals with making generalizations and
developing theories. The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is referred to as "pure" or "basic"
research.
• Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative research relies on quantifying measurements or amounts and is suitable for phenomena
that can be described in quantitative terms. In contrast, qualitative research focuses on qualitative
phenomena, which involve characteristics or types. For example, when examining the motives behind
human behavior, such as why individuals think or act in particular ways.
• Conceptual vs. Empirical
Conceptual research pertains to abstract ideas or theories, often utilized by philosophers and
intellectuals to create novel concepts or reinterpret established ones. Empirical research relies solely
on experience or observation, often without adequate consideration for systematic approaches and
theories. It is research based on data, generating conclusions that can be confirmed through
observation or experimentation.
• Some Other Types of Research
 All other forms of research are modifications or combinations of the aforementioned approaches,
determined by factors such as the research's purpose, duration, setting, or other similar considerations.

2 What are the research approaches? Critically describe each of them in brief.
• Qualitative approach.
Is concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions and behavior. Research in such a
situation is a function of researcher’s insights and impressions. Such an approach to research
generates results either in non-quantitative form or in the form which are not subjected to rigorous
quantitative analysis.
• quantitative approach
In a quantitative format that can undergo thorough quantitative analysis in a structured and strict
manner.
3 What do you mean by “research method”? Explain the different groups of research method. What
is the difference between “Research method” and “Research methodology”?

A. What do you mean by “research method”?

 Research methods may be understood as all those methods/techniques that are used for
conduction of research. Research methods or techniques*, thus, refer to the methods the
researchers.
 Use in performing research operations. In other words, all those methods which are used by the
researcher during the course of studying his research problem are termed as research methods.

B Explain the different groups of research method

 three groups
1. In the first group we include those methods which are concerned with the
collection of data. These methods will be used where the data already
available are not sufficient to arrive at the required solution;
2. The second group consists of those statistical techniques which are used for
establishing relationships between the data and the unknowns;
3. The third group consists of those methods which are used to evaluate the
accuracy of the results obtained.
C What is the difference between “Research method” and “Research methodology”?

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem.

4 What is “research process”? What are the steps in research process? Explain each step with
its purpose?

A. What is “research process”?

• Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out
research and the desired sequencing of these steps.
 B. What are the steps in research process?
(1) Formulating the research problem;
• There are two types of research problems,
i. which relate to states of nature
ii. Which relate to relationships between variables.

(2) Extensive literature survey;

 Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written down. At

this juncture the researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected
with the problem. For this purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and
published or unpublished bibliographies are the first place to go to.

(3) Developing the hypothesis;

• Researcher should state in clear terms the working hypothesis or hypotheses.
Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and
test its logical or empirical consequences. Working hypotheses arise as a
result of a-priori thinking about the subject, examination of the available data
and material including related studies and the counsel of experts and
interested parties.
(4) Preparing the research design;
• The research problem having been formulated in clear cut terms, the
researcher will be required to prepare a research design. conceptual structure
within which research would be conducted. The preparation of such a design
facilitates research to be as efficient as possible yielding maximal
information.
In other words, the function of research design is to provide for the collection
of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.
(5) Determining sample design;
A complete enumeration of all the items in the ‘population’ is known as a
census inquiry. It can be presumed that in such an inquiry when all the items are
covered no element of chance is left and highest accuracy is obtained.
(6) Collecting the data;
• There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ considerably in context of
money costs, time and other resources at the disposal of the researcher. But in the case of a survey,
data can be collected by any one or more of the following ways:
• (i) By observation
• (ii) Through personal interview
• (iii) Through telephone interviews
• (iv) By mailing of questionnaires
 • (v) Through schedules
(7) Execution of the project;
• If the execution of the project proceeds on correct lines, the data to be collected would be adequate
and dependable. The researcher should see that the project is executed in a systematic manner and in
time.
(8) Analysis of data;
• The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as establishment of
categories, the application of these categories to raw data through coding, tabulation and then drawing
statistical inferences.
(9) Hypothesis testing;
• After analyzing the data as stated above, the researcher is in a position to test the hypotheses, if any,
he had formulated earlier. Do the facts support the hypotheses or they happen to be contrary?
(10) Generalizations and interpretation
• If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be possible for the researcher to arrive at
generalization, i.e., to build a theory. As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its ability to
arrive at certain generalizations.
(11) Preparation of the report or presentation of the results
• Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been done by him.
 1. The layout of the report

 The preliminary pages

 The main text
 The end matter.

5 What are the various ways of collecting data during survey of any research work? Explain
in brief.
 Questionnaires: Written or electronic sets of organized questions used to collect responses
from participants.
 Interviews: Engaging in individual or group conversations to gather qualitative data using
open-ended inquiries or organized interview sessions.
 Observations: Observing and documenting behaviors, interactions, or phenomena as they
occur in real-time.
 Document Analysis: Examining pre-existing documents, records, or archival materials to
extract pertinent information for the research.
 Surveys: Conducting standardized surveys or interviews with a large group of individuals to
gather quantitative data regarding their attitudes, opinions, or behaviors.
Experiments: Manipulating variables in controlled settings to observe and measure the effects on
participants' behavior or responses.
Case Studies: In-depth examination of a single individual, group, organization, or event to gather detailed
qualitative or quantitative data.
Online Data Collection: Utilizing online platforms, social media, or digital tools to administer surveys,
interviews, or collect data from online sources.

6 What do you understand by the ‘hypotheses’ in research? What is working hypothesis?

In research, hypotheses are statements that propose a tentative explanation for a phenomenon being studied.
They are educated guesses or predictions about the relationship between variables, based on existing
knowledge, theories, or observations.
A working hypothesis is a provisional assumption or proposition that guides the researcher's investigation and
serves as the starting point for further inquiry. It is subject to testing and refinement as the research
progresses, ultimately either being supported or rejected based on empirical evidence.

7 What is the various ‘referencing style’ in research report? What do you understand by ethical
standard in research work?

Various referencing styles in research reports include APA (American Psychological Association), MLA
(Modern Language Association), Chicago, and Harvard. These styles dictate how sources are cited within the
text and listed in the bibliography or reference section, ensuring proper credit is given to the original authors
and providing readers with the information needed to locate the sources.

Ethical standards in research work refer to the guidelines and principles that researchers must adhere to in
order to ensure the integrity, fairness, and trustworthiness of their studies. This includes obtaining informed
consent from participants, protecting their confidentiality and privacy, avoiding conflicts of interest, and
conducting research in a manner that minimizes harm to participants and respects their rights and dignity.
Ethical standards also encompass honesty and transparency in reporting research findings and acknowledging
any potential biases or limitations in the research process.

8 What is the layout of research report? Explain each component in brief.

A. What is the layout of research report?
The layout of a research report is the list of various parts of the report.
(1) Preliminary pages
Preliminary pages typically include the report title, acknowledgment, certificate page, list of publications, and
table of contents.
(2) Main text
The main text of the report delves into the core aspects of the research, offering comprehensive insights into
the following:
(1)Introduction.
(2) Actual research work performed and the findings.
(3) Summary and conclusion.

(3) End matters

In the concluding sections of the report, one typically finds:
1. References: Detailing all sources cited throughout the research, ensuring proper credit and
acknowledgment of external contributions.
2. Appendices: Containing supplementary materials such as additional data tables, charts, or relevant
information that supports the main text but isn't central to it.
3. Computer Programs: Providing copies of complex or specialized programs used in the research, if
applicable, to facilitate transparency and reproducibility of the results.
4. Research Publications: Including copies or references to any publications resulting from the
research, showcasing the dissemination of findings within the academic community and beyond.
9 How the ‘Architecture / design research’ is different from another research? What are the
various ways for doing ‘design research’?

Architecture and design research stand out from other forms of research due to their interdisciplinary
nature, emphasis on creativity, and focus on the built environment's visual and spatial aspects. Unlike
traditional research, design research integrates theory with practice, prioritizes human-centered
approaches, and employs iterative processes.
Various methods are used in design research, including visual analysis, historical analysis,
participatory design, user research, prototyping, and Research through Design (RTD). These methods
allow designers to explore, experiment, and innovate while addressing complex design challenges.
Overall, design research combines analytical rigor with creative exploration to generate innovative
solutions for the built environment.

10 How to write a research paper on issues related with architecture? Explain each
component.

To write a research paper on architecture-related issues, follow these key components:

1. Introduction: - State the purpose and scope of your research.
- Provide background information on the architectural issue.
2. Literature Review: Summarize existing research and identify gaps.
3. Methodology: Explain your research methods and data collection techniques.
4. Data Collection and Analysis: Collect and analyze relevant data.
5. Discussion: Interpret findings and discuss implications.
6. Conclusion: Summarize key findings and suggest future research.
7. References: Provide a list of cited sources.
By following these steps, you can effectively explore architecture-related topics in your research paper.