ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL, MECHANICAL AND MATERIAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Research Methods for Engineers

(ChEg6108)
By

Fekadu Lemessa (PhD), Associate Professor

February , 2025
Adama, Ethiopia
OUTLINE

 CHAPTER1. Research: Basic Concepts

 Definition and purposes of research
 Philosophy of research
 Research ethics and integrity
 Plagiarism and its consequences

 CHAPTER 2. Types of Research

 Classification of research
 Basic and applied research
 Descriptive, explanatory and exploratory
research
 Qualitative and quantitative research
OUTLINE …

 CHAPTER 3. Research Process &

Planning
 Research process
 Research planning

 CHAPTER 4. Research Proposal

Writing ****
 What is research proposal
 Components of research proposal
OUTLINE …

 CHAPTER 5. Design and Analysis of

Experiments
 Introduction to Design of Experiments(DOE)
 Defining Research Problems
 Selection of the Response
 Statistical Analysis
OUTLINE …

 CHAPTER 6. A Technical Report: ***

 Rational of a Research Report
 Writing a scientific report
 Written and oral presentation
 OVERVIEW OF THE SUMMERY OF
COURSE

1. Literature Review: identification and

organization of literature, critical reading &
citation of literature
2 Sampling & sampling methods
3. Data Collection: qualitative & quantitative
data collection
4. Experimental designs & data analysis
5. Research report writing & publications
6. Multivariate analysis
7. Computer application: data analysis using
appropriate software & data managing
EVALUATION & GRADING SYSTEM

 Assignments 10%
 Research proposal writing 30%
 Paper presentation 10%
 Software usage 10%
 Final Exam 40%
 CHAPTER1. Research: Basic Concepts

 Definition:
 Research can be defined in different ways.
 Research is defined as “human activity based on
intellectual application in the investigation of
matter”.
 In other words, “research is the systematic
process of collecting and analyzing information to
increase our understanding of the phenomena
under study”.
Research: Basic Concepts …
 Research can be broadly explained as “original
and creative intellectual activity, carried out in
the laboratory, the library or the field, which
endeavors to discover new facts and to
appraise and interpret them properly in the
light of previous knowledge”.

 With constantly increasing understanding,

it revises previously accepted conclusions,
theories and laws, and makes new
applications of its findings. RESEACH
 Research: Basic Concepts …

 In brief, research can be summarized as:

 A process of inquiry/investigation; it is
systematic, methodical and ethical
 Research can help solve practical problems
and increase knowledge. (Covid-19, HIV, Anti pests, Productivity

etc )
 To convince government, authorities, associations etc
Scientific Research Explained

 The strict definition of “scientific

research” is performing a
methodological study in order to
prove a hypothesis or answer a
specific question. R
 Finding a definitive answer is the central

goal of any experimental process.

 A hypothesis is an assumption that is made based
on some evidence.
 It includes components like variables, population
and the relation between the variables.
 Scientific Research …

 For a successful career in science, you

must understand the methodology
behind any research and be aware of
the correct protocols.

 Science has developed these

guidelines over many years as the
benchmark for measuring the validity
of the results obtained.
 Scientific Research …

 Failure to follow the guidelines will

prevent your findings from being
accepted and taken seriously.

 These protocols can vary slightly

between scientific disciplines, but all
follow the same basic structure. R
 Important Aspects of Scientific
Research Methods in Engineering
 From engineering points view, research can be
describe as the process of using tools and
techniques to generate and adapt new
technologies, by sophisticated empirical study.
 Procedures to be followed in inventing
new technologies:
 Designing of Prototypes
 Measuring the Parameters
 Testing of the Parameters vs. the existing
Technology
 Validation of the Findings
 Purposes of Research 1

 WHY Research?
 The general aims of research are:
 to observe and describe, to predict,

to determine causes and explain.

 to discover answers to questions by

applying scientific procedures.
 to solve socio-economic and related

problems of any nation.

 Purposes of Research …

 Generally, research is a real life situation, the

process of locating and evaluating information.
 Research is about decision making, i.e.,
 Problem Definition
 Data Identification
 Data Gathering
 Data Analysis & Interpretation
Reporting & Presentation
Information
Decision Making
 Philosophy of Research

 Philosophy is concerned with views

about how the world works (i.e.,
world outlook).

 As an academic subject, focuses,

primarily, on reality, knowledge and
existence.
 Our individual view of the world is
closely linked to what we perceive as
reality.
Philosophy of Research …

 On a day-to-day basis outside of

your academic work, it would be
unusual to think often about the
way you perceive reality and the
world around you.

 However, in relation to your PhD

Dissertation project, it is very
important to realize how you
perceive reality.
Philosophy of Research …

 Your individual perception of

reality affects how you gain
knowledge of the world, and
how you act within it.

 This means that your perception

of reality, and how you gain
knowledge, will affect the way in
which you conduct the research
in your Dissertation/Project
 Research Ethics and Integrity

 What are research ethics and research

integrity and why are they important?
 Ethics refers to responsibility towards society
whereas Integrity is about respect of professional
standards.
 Hence, Research Integrity relates to the
performance of research to highest standards of
professionalism and rigors, and to the accuracy
truth of the record in publications and elsewhere.
R
 Research Ethics 2

 Research Ethics is a commitment to

integrate social value, transparency, and
accountability in research and research
related issues.
 Research Ethics also involves the
application of fundamental ethics and
principles to a variety of topics involving
scientific research.
 Research Ethics …

 These Topics include the design and

implementation of research involving:
 human experimentation; (Ethical Clearance)
 animal experimentation, and
 various aspects of academics
scandals/humiliations, including scientific
misconduct (fraud, data fabrication, and
plagiarism, etc).
 Why is research ethics important?

24
 Education might be the Vessel/Ship that helps
you cross the vast ocean of knowledge, but where
would you land without an ethical compass? Titanic

 There are several reasons why it is important to

adhere to ethical norms in research.


First, some of these norms promote the aims of
research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of
error.
e.g., prohibitions against fabricating, falsifying, or
misrepresenting research data promote the truth and
avoid error.
25

 Second, since research often involves a great deal of

cooperation and coordination among many different people in
different disciplines and institutions, many of these ethical
standards promote the values that are essential to
collaborative work, such as trust, accountability, mutual
respect, and fairness.

e.g., many ethical norms in research, such as guidelines for

authorship, copyright and patenting policies, data sharing
policies, and confidentiality rules in peer review, are designed
to protect intellectual property interests while encouraging
collaboration.

 Most researchers want to receive credit for their contributions and

do not want to have their ideas stolen or disclosed prematurely.
26

 Third, many of the ethical norms help to ensure

that researchers can be held accountable to the
public.

 Ethical Clearance
Any harm doing in (social, psychological, physical
or legal) must be reported to the research ethics
committee.
The importance of ethical clearance in research is to
ensure the research is conducted in a responsible and
ethically accountable way
 Ethical considerations
• Informed consent.
• Voluntary participation.
• Do no harm.
• Confidentiality.
• Only assess relevant components.
28

Exercise
 It is common knowledge that aiding a

fugitive from the law is illegal. If the

fugitive happens to be someone you know
very well and s/he asks you to pass a
message to his/her family … will you do it?
 Do you consider this act contrary to the law

forbidding ‘assistance to a fugitive’?

 And is it ethical?
 Research Integrity Principles

 Integrity Principles:

 Honesty in communication
 Reliability in performing research
 Objectivity (based on facts rather than feeling)
 Impartially and independence (treating equally)
 Duty of care
 Fairness in providing references and giving
credits
 Responsibility for the scientists and
researchers of the future
 Research Codes of Conduct

 Code of Conduct:
 Honesty
 Objectivity
 Integrity
 Carefulness
 Openness
 Respect for Intellectual Property
 Confidentiality
 Responsible Publication
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Responsible Mentoring
 Respect for colleagues
 Social Responsibility
 Non-Discrimination
 Competence
 Legality
 Animal Care
 Human Subjects Protection
 Research Code of Conduct …

Explaining the Code of Conducts

 Honesty

 Strive for honesty in all scientific

communications.
 Honestly report data, results, methods and
procedures, and publication status.
 Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.
 Do not deceive colleagues, research sponsors,
or the public.
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Objectivity
 Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data
analysis, data interpretation, peer review,
personnel decisions, grant writing, expert
testimony, and other aspects of research where
objectivity is expected or required.
 Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception.
 Disclose personal or financial interests that may
affect research.
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Integrity
 Keep your promises and agreements; act
with sincerity; strive for consistency of
thought and action.
 Carefulness
 Avoid careless errors and negligence;
carefully and critically examine your own
work and the work of your peers.
 Keep good records of research activities,
such as data collection, research design, and
correspondence with agencies or journals.
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Openness
 Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources.
 Be open to criticism and new ideas.

 Respect for Intellectual Property

 Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of
intellectual property.
 Do not use unpublished data, methods, or
results without permission.
 Give proper acknowledgement or credit for all
contributions to research.
 Never plagiarize.!!!!
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Confidentiality
 Protect confidential communications, such
as papers or grants submitted for
publication, personnel records, trade or
military secrets, and patient records. R

 Responsible Publication
 Publish in order to advance research and
scholarship, not to advance just your own
career.
 Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication.
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Responsible mentoring
 Help to educate, mentor, and advise students.
 Promote their welfare and allow them to make
their own decisions.

 Respect for colleagues

 Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.

 Social Responsibility
 Strive to promote social good and prevent or
mitigate social harms through research, public
education, and advocacy.
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Non-Discrimination
 Avoid discrimination against colleagues or
students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity,
or other factors not related to scientific
competence and integrity.

 Competence
 Maintain and improve your own professional
competence and expertise through lifelong
education and learning; take steps to
promote competence in science as a whole.
 Research Code of Conduct …

 Legality R
 Know and obey relevant laws and
institutional and governmental
policies. (bone char)

 Animal Care
 Show proper respect and care for
animals when using them in research.
 Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly

designed animal experiments.

 Research Code of Conduct …

 Human Subjects Protection R

 When conducting research on human subjects:
 minimize harms and risks and maximize
benefits;
 respect human dignity, privacy, and
autonomy;
 take special precautions with vulnerable
populations, &
 strive to distribute the benefits and burdens
of research fairly.
 Research Misconduct

 Refers to “serious deviation of the

normal practice”.
 Strong focus on FFP as misconduct: R
 Fabrication

 Falsification

 Plagiarism.
Plagiarism and its Consequences

 What is plagiarism?

 Does it be avoidable?

 If your answer is yes. How?

 Plagiarism …

 Plagiarism is representing the work of

others as your own.
 It is “the wrongful appropriation, and
publication as one’s own, of the ideas, or the
expression of the ideas (literary, artistic,
musical, mechanical, etc.) of another”. R

 Plagiarism is a crime because it is considered

a theft - a theft of ideas or a theft of text.
 Using someone’s hard work and dedication,
and passing the work as your own is what
constitutes plagiarism.
 Avoiding Plagiarism (4)

 The best way to avoid plagiarism is to quote and

cite the sources used in a way that gives proper
credit and avoids plagiarism.

 In the body of the article or research, citations are

used to refer to sources, and complete reference of
all the sources used is provided in bibliography at
the end.

 The sources to be cited may include printed sources

(such as books, journals), electronic sources (such
as blogs/diary on website), data (such as facts),
images/recorded material (such as TV serials).
 Chapter Two

Types or
Classification of
Research
 Types of Research (Classification)

 Research can be classified in terms of: (6

classifications)

 1. Goal of research;
 2. Specific objectives of research;
 3. Approaches of research;
 4. Designs;
 5. The type of data used in research
 6. Fields of study.
 1.Classification of Research based on
the Goal

 One of the goals of research is practical or

theoritical problem solving.

 This leads to two broad classifications of

research:
 Basic Research
 Applied Research.
 2. Classification of Research Based on the Specific Objectives

 According to the specific

objectives research can be
classified as:
Descriptive research
Explanatory, research
Exploratory research.
 3. Classification of Research
Based on Approaches

 According to the approaches

research can be classified as:

Quantitative Research.
 Qualitative Research,
4.Classification of Research based on Designs

 According to the design research

can be classified as:

Experimental,
Non-experimental.
 Quasi-experimental
5.Classification of Research based on
Types of Data

 Depending on the type of data generated and used

research can be classified as:
 Primary research (also called field research) and
 Secondary research (also known as desk research).

 Primary research involves the collection of data

that does not already exist

 Secondary research involves the summary,

collection and/or synthesis of existing data rather
than generating primary data, where data are
collected from, research subjects or experiments.
(Review)
6.Classification of Research base on
Fields of Study

 Research can also be classified based

on fields of study. Therefore, there are:
 Natural Science Research, R

 Social Science Research,

 Educational Research,
 Behavioral Science Research
 Health Science Research. R
 Basic and Applied Research
(Goal)

 Based on goal/purpose of research;

there are two types of research.
Basic research, also called
fundamental or pure,
research, expands science
and knowledge.
“Basic Research lays down the
foundation for the Applied
Research”
 Basic Research

 Basic Research is a fundamental, theoretical or

experimental investigation to advance or improve
scientific knowledge whose immediate application is
not being a direct objective.
 Its objectives are:
 To provide a better understanding of the
phenomenon under investigation i.e. adding to
the existing body of knowledge in the discipline -
gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

 To discover or illustrate theories and general

principles
 In general, basic research is carried out to
understand the basic knowledge that can be used
in a wide variety of applied research.
 Applied Research

Applied Research - find a solution to an

immediate problem.
 Applied research is directed towards using knowledge
gained from basic research in solving specific practical
problems
 Its practicability is an important property of applied
research.

 Its objectives are:

 To solve practical problems of society, company or business
organization rather than to acquire knowledge for
knowledge sake.

 To solve an immediate practical problems or to find a

solution to some pressing practical problems.
 Applied Research….

 Applied research is undertaken to solve an

immediate practical problem and the goal of
adding to scientific knowledge is secondary.

 It is a type of research done to solve specific

and practical problems and to produce
knowledge and technologies that can be
used in practice.
 Solve typical Global problems like,
population, food problem, Covd-19 , HIV
e.t.c….R
 Applied research … Cont’d

Examples of Applied Research.

Design, Develop and testing of pumping machine,
Mitigating natural resources degradation,
Improving chemical reactions,
Improving engines efficiency
Increasing efficiency of edible oil extraction methods
Developing new method fertilizer production

 In developing countries, like Ethiopia with limited

research resources, applied research is given priority)
 Applied research can be further classified as:
 Adaptive research
 Strategic research
 Adaptive Research

 Adaptive is a type of research designed to adjust

new technologies generated elsewhere to a specific
set of environmental conditions.

 It involves taking applied research results that

developed elsewhere and adapting them to a
specific situation or environment.

 In adaptive research, no new scientific principle is to

be developed.

 Testing of such technology are useful before going

to supply to the communities.


 Strategic Research

 It is a research aimed at solving specific research

problems of strategic importance.

 It aimed at defining research strategies and priority

areas in which specific applied research should
focus.

 For example, researches conducted to solve

Food security problems
Policy research
Credit service;
Effective extension system
Roadmap, etc. are examples of strategic research.
 3. Quantitative and
Qualitative Research
(Approach)
 Based on attributes to be measured and the techniques
used for collection and analysis of data, there are two
types of research.

 Quantitative Research - is a research based on the

measurement of quantity or amount-number. E.g. height,
weight, Volume & yield.
 Statistical, Mathematical or computation technics are used
(hard science)

 Qualitative Research - is conducted mainly in social sciences

and is concerned with qualitative phenomena.
 Interviews are used in these types of researches.
 Where data based on form of number, observation, meanings,
concept definitions
 Open and closed ended questions are used (social science)
4. Research as a Group (Design)

 Research can be designed or

grouped as:
 Experimental
 Non-experimental
 Quasi-Experimental
 Experimental Research … Cont’d

When we say controlled

experiment, it means a situation is
created which enables us to control
all factors that are not under the
interest of the study or research,
and measures the influence of the
factor(s) of interest.
 (Temperature, Air, Moisture, Environment,

Concentration, Mass, Volume etc ..)

 Experimental Research
cont..
 Experimental Research is a type of research
in which at least one variable called the
experimental variable is deliberately
manipulated or varied by the researcher to
determine the effect of that variation.

 Experimental research is conducted under

controlled condition to observe the behavior
of the variable(s) of interest.

 It is carried out in laboratory, greenhouse or

in the field.
 Experimental Research … Cont’d

 For example, “Effects of Temperature on

Edible Oil Extraction from Rape Seed. In
this experiment the research interest is
Oil Exploitation at different temperature.
 All other factors like seed size, seed
weight, and variety type, etc. all are out
of the interest of this study/research.
 Then we can see heating effect on the
yield oil from the data we collected and
analyzed after the completion of the
experiment.
 We can take Room Temperature as control
 Experimental Research … Cont’d

 Under laboratory conditions, it is possible to control

all factors, thus the effects of the
treatments/experimental variables can be measured
more precisely.

 For example, we can control temperature, light,

relative humidity (RH), moisture, etc.

 But under field condition, there are numerous

variables, which cannot be controlled.

 However, their effects are minimized by employing

certain statistical techniques (i.e., blocking,
replication, covariance analysis, etc).
Non-experimental Research
 Non-experimental Research, here the data are
obtained not from actual laid out experiments, but
from survey research where respondents are either
interviewed or provided with questionnaires to
generate data.

 The researcher collects data on the existing variables

using the techniques of sample survey.

 Gathering information from secondary sources such as

archives, libraries, personal communications

 Do not involve experimentation and they are non-

experimental researches.
 Non-experimental Research …
Cont’d
 Both the interview and questionnaire
techniques of data collection in a non-
experimental research involve:
 Careful questionnaire format construction
(closed/open end type); ?
 Careful sample selection (representativeness
of the sample), and
 Careful review of secondary data from
(Libraries, Industries, Research Institutes,
Federal and Regional Bureaus of Chemical,
Beverage and Food industries, Research
Institutes, Central Statistics Agency/CSA, etc.)
 Research Process and Planning

Research Process
 The typical eight-steps in all scientific research
process include:

1. Select a problem
2. Review existing research and theory (when relevant)
3. Develop hypotheses or research questions
4. Determine an appropriate methodology/research
design
5. Collect relevant data
6. Analyze and interpret the results
7. Present the results in appropriate form
8. Replicate the study (when necessary)
Schematically steps to all areas of scientific
research.

Research
Process
 Research Planning

 Research planning involves detailed

description of:
 Activities to be undertaken;
 Manpower, funds and facilities required,
and
 Methods of implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of the project.

 “Properly planned experiment is said

to be half- executed or completed”.
 Research Planning … Cont’d

 The general principles to be followed for

planning research are:

 Identification, definition and selection of problems

and areas on which research is focused;

 Identification of the key activities involved in the

proposed research;

 Arrangement of the program, and

 Coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the

implementation of the project.
 Research Planning … Cont’d

 Based on the above general principles, there

are about seven steps in the planning
processes:

 Step 1. Problem identification

 Step 2. Problem Prioritization - rank each of

the problems with respect to their distribution
(importance) R
 who suffers most
 importance of the technology
 severity of the problem
 Research Planning … Cont’d

Step 3. Identifying the causes of each

problem and construct a flow diagram
for each one.
The cause and effect relationship was
drawn for further analysis.

 Step 4. Analyzing of intervention points

based on cause and effect relationship.

 Step 5. Forwarding possible solution to the

problems.
 Research Planning … Cont’d

 Step 6. Evaluation of the possible

solutions
 if available elsewhere in terms of
profitability, compatibility with the
system in the area and ease of
technology used by end-users.

 Step 7. Prepare outline for trials

and diagnostic studies and
estimate the resources required.