Module-1

Chapter -1
Introduction
Agenda
 Definition
 Objectives
 Motivation
 Types of Research
 Ethics
 Ethics in Engineering Practices
 Research Misconduct
 Issues related to Authorship
 Definition
 A collection of methods and methodologies that researchers apply

systematically to produce scientifically based knowledge about the

social world. (Neuman)

 Clifford Woody says Research is defining and redefining the problem,

formulating hypothesis or suggesting the solutions, collecting,

organizing and evaluating the data, making deductions and reaching the

conclusions, at last carefully testing the conclusions and see if fits into
Definition

 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 Flow
Categories of Knowledge in Research
Engineering Research

 Engineering research is the process of developing the

perspectives and seeking improvements in knowledge and

skills to enable the recognition, planning, design, and

execution of research in a wide range of forms relevant for

engineering and technology investigations and

developments.
Objectives of Engineering Research
The objective of engineering research is to solve new and important
problems, and since the conclusion at the end of one’s research
outcome has to be new, but when one starts, the conclusion is unknown.
 A research objective is a clear, concise, declarative statement, which
provides direction to investigate the variables under the study.
 Research objectives focus on the ways to measure the variables, such
as to identify or describe .
 The objectives of a research project summarize what is to be
achieved by the study
Contd..
 Research objective is a concrete statement describing what
the research is trying to achieve.
• A well-known objective will be SMART
• S – Specific Research objective
should be
• M – Measurable. • Relevant,
• A – Attainable. • Feasible,
• R – Realistic. • Logical,
• T – Time bound • Observable,
•
Measurable
NEED FOR OBJECTIVES

To Focus

To Avoid Unnecessary Data

To Organize
Types Of Research Objectives
1. General Objectives.
2. Specific Objectives
1. General objectives are broad goals to be achieved.
 States what the researcher expects to achieve by the study in
general terms.
 Are short term and narrow in focus.
2. Specific objectives clearly specify what the researcher will do
in the study, where and for what purpose the study is done.
• General objectives are broken into small logically connected
parts to form specific objectives.
• The general objective is met through meeting the specific
objectives stated.
Motivation in Engineering Research
 The possible motives may be the result of one or more of the
following desires:

(i) Intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge, learning, meaning,

purpose, are linked to strong creative performance;

(ii) 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.
Contd..

(iii) 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.

(iv) Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems,

intellectual joy, service to community, and respectability are
all driving factors.
Contd..
 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)Fulfillment 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.
Types of Engineering Research

Descriptive Research : 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.

Analytical research: uses already available facts for

analysis and critical evaluation. Some research studies
can be both descriptive and analytical
Contd..
 Applied Research It seeks to solve an immediate problem facing
the organization, whereas The primary objective of applied
research is to determine a solution for compelling problems in
actual practice,
 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. The basic research is aimed at seeking information
which could have a broad base of applications in the medium to
long term.
Contd..
 Quantitative Research uses statistical observations of a
sufficiently large number of representative cases to draw
any conclusions,
 Qualitative researchers rely on a few nonrepresentative
cases or verbal narrative in behavioral studies such as
clustering effect in intersections in Transportation
engineering to make a proposition
Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem
 The recommended steps to solve a research problem are

(i)Understand the problem, restate it as if its your own, visualize the problem by
drawing figures, and determine if something more is needed.

(ii)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)Look back and reflect helps in understanding and assimilating the strategy,
and is a sort of investment into the future.
 Chapter-2

Ethics in Engineering Research

Introduction

 Ethics generally refers to a set of rules

distinguishing acceptable and unacceptable

conduct, distinguishing right from wrong.
 Research ethics examines the appropriate
application of research outcomes, while responsible
conduct of research deals with the way the work is
undertaken.
Ethics in Engineering Research Practice

Engineering researchers need to make ethical decisions and are

answerable for the repercussions borne out of their research as
outcomes, Certain practices may be acceptable to certain people
in certain situations.

Engineering ethics gives us the rule book; tells us,

how to decide what is okay to do and what is not.
Contd..
 Ethical aspects that affects the technology in many different ways:

(i) By setting the ethically right requirements at the very

outset, engineering researchers can ultimately influence the

effects of the developed technology.

(ii) During the design process, decision is to be made about the

priority in importance of the requirements taking ethical
aspects into consideration.

(iii)Engineering researchers have to choose between different

alternatives fulfilling similar functions.
Types of Research Misconduct

 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.
Different types of research misconduct

 Fabrication (Illegitimate creation of data)

 Falsification (Inappropriate alteration of data)

 Plagiarism (Taking other’s work attribution)

Contd..
 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)Readers who come across the article or book, while doing

research.
Other Aspects of Research Misconduct:

Serious deviations from accepted conduct

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
 Ethical Issues Related to Authorship
 Important research conduct and ethics related issues connected to
authorship of research papers

Credit for research contributions is attributed in three major ways

in research publications:

i) By authorship (of the intended publication),

ii) Citation (of previously published or formally presented work),

and

iii) Through a written acknowledgment (of some inputs to the

present research).
Contd..

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
Contd..

 “Career-preservation authorship”
 Including “guest” or “gift” (co-authorship bestowed
on someone with little or no contribution to the work)
 Double submission is an important ethical issue
related to authorship, which involves submission of a
paper to two forums simultaneously
Thank
You