Research method

1. Scientific Research Methods
Assamen Ayalew (Ph.D.)
Kombolcha Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Assamen Ayalew, 2021
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2. Outlines
―Introduction
―Basics of Doing Research
―Research Design Techniques and Ethics
―Quantitative Analysis
―Interviews and Observations
―Qualitative Analysis
―Case Studies
―Survey Research
―Replication, Reviewing and Publishing
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3. Introduction
What is research?
Research refers to:
―A careful, well-defined, objective, and systematic
method of searching for knowledge, or
― Formulation of a theory that is driven by curiosity for
that which is unknown and useful on a particular aspect
in order to make an original contribution to expand the
existing knowledge.
―A process of creating, or formulating knowledge that
does not yet exist.
oResearch is a scientific investigation of phenomena
which includes the collection, presentation, analysis and
interpretation of facts that link man’s speculation with
reality. (Calmorin,1994)
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4. Introduction, Cont’d
Scientific research:
―Scientific research is hence a systematic attempt to obtain
answers to meaningful questions about a phenomena
through the application of scientific procedures.
―It is impartial, objective, empirical and logical analysis and
recording of controlled observations that may lead to the
development of generalizations, principles or theories about
a specific phenomena or event.
Abebe Dinku, Prof. (Dr.-Ing.)
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5. Introduction, Cont’d
Features that distinguish research from unintentional
observations:
Research is:
✓Systematic-so ordered, planned and disciplined;
✓Controlled-the researcher can have confidence in his/her
research outcomes
✓Empirical -putting beliefs, ideas, or assumptions to a test;
and
✓Critical – many truths are tentative and are subject to a
change as a result of subsequent research.
Abebe Dinku, Prof. (Dr.-Ing.)
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6. Introduction, Cont’d
Activity Questions
Q1: What are engineering disciplines?
A1:The application of science to realistic system which benefit
for human beings. Or,
“The application of science and mathematical knowledge with
judgement to develop ways to utilise, economically, the
materials and forces of nature for the benefit of human
beings “.
Q2: What is an engineering research?
A2: A research based on the principles of scientific research
which in turn are based on the scientific method, in which
observation(experiments), theories, calculations and models
are derived the existing body of scientific knowledge and
verified independently by others who are experts in the field
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7. Introduction, Cont’d
― Research is a systematic investigation to find answers to a
problem (Burns, 1994)
―According to HEFCE(1998), research is defined as ‘original
investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and
understanding:
Important terms from the above definition:
Original
✓ Doing(producing) some thing that has not been done
before
✓ There is no need of repeating the work/research result of
others
✓ Discovering/producing what is already done
HEFCE- Higher Education Funding Council for England 7

8. Introduction, Originality, Cont’d
Important questions
✓ What can we do to make our research original?
✓ What type of things can you produce that are original?
We can be original in two ways:
✓ In the way we do things (refers doing things which
have already done using different techniques or
approaches )
✓ Producing or developing some thing that has not been
produced before
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9. Introduction, Originality, Cont’d
Originality in the way we doing research:
Cryer(1996) finds the following areas in our research can be
original:
―Tools, techniques, procedures and methods
o apply new tools and techniques to alternative problems
o apply new procedures and methods in contexts were
they have not been applied before
―Exploring the unknown
o Investigate a field that no one has though to investigate
before.
o Recent discoveries in scientific fields may open up many
new possibilities
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10. Introduction, Originality, Cont’d
―Exploring the unanticipated
o You may come across unexpected results/ exciting new
directions that has not been explored from investigation
of field of research that has been looked for may times
before.
o You may be able to improve on some thing that already
exists
o Exploring a research that has already been investigated
does not necessary fail to be original. It will be original
if it provides a new perspective or produce a unique in-
depth
―The use of data
oInterpret data in different ways, use in new ways
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11. Introduction, Originality, Cont’d
According to Cryer(1996), originality in terms of outcomes
includes:
― New product, new theory, and new model, new design
If the proposed outcomes are not achieved by products, it
might still present originality
Example:
―Understanding of the reason for the failure of an
experiment
―Understanding the failure of a new technique not to work in
a new area
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12. Introduction, Objective of Research, Cont’d,
Objectives and Motivation
―The primary objective of researches is to find answers to
questions
through the application of scientific procedures
―The truth is hidden and has not been found out so far
―Every research has its own specific purpose, but we can
broadly group the research objectives as:
― To gain familiarity with the phenomenon( get new insights
into it) (Exploratory or formative research studies)
― To determine accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, system, situation or a group (descriptive
research studies)
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13. Introduction, Objective of Research, Cont’d
― To decide the frequency with which a phenomenon occur
or with which it is associated with something else
(diagnostic research)
― To establish the causal relationship between variables by
forming suitable hypothesis (hypothesis testing research)
― There are several motives for somebody undertaking a
research. The possible ones include:
―Desire to get a research degree along with its benefits
―Desire to solve unsolved problems of the community
―To get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
―To do service to the society and get respectability
―Direction by the employer, Govt. etc.
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14. Introduction, Objective of Research, Cont’d
In looking for solutions to practical or theoretical problem,
its common to do the following important tasks:
―Describing phenomena
―Explaining phenomena
―Predicting phenomena
―Controlling phenomena
―Comparing phenomena
Activities
Explain briefly the meaning of following terms in conducting
research.
Description, Explanation, Prediction, Comparison and
Control in conducting research.
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15. Basics of Doing Research
The basics of doing research may be structured in two parts:
―Nature of knowledge and the reasons for research
―Design and specific methods used to conduct effective
research
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16. Basics of Doing Research, Nature of Knowledge,
Cont’d
If you use the right sort of methods for your research, then you
should be able to convince other scholars that your conclusions have
some validity and the new knowledge you have created is soundly
―What you can do with research?
Research involves:
According to Booth et al.,(2008), the research cycle starts with
basically a practical problem:
―We must be clear what the problem being attempted to solve is
and why it is important
―This problem motivates a research question without which one can
tend to get lost in a giant swamp of information
Formulation of hypothesis or proposition of solutions,
Data analysis, deductions, and ascertaining whether the conclusions fit the hypothesis
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17. Basics of Doing Research, Nature of Knowledge,
Cont’d,
Fig.1.The Research Flow Diagram and Sequences
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18. Basics of Doing Research, nature of
knowledge, Cont’d
Process in conducting research
There are numbers of stages in the research process, although
their number and description tends to vary between authors.
One simplified view would see these as five stages which
include:
✓Conceptualization
✓Contextualization
✓Data analysis
✓Data collection and/or generation
✓Reporting conclusions
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19. Basics of Doing Research, Process in
Conducting Research , Cont’d
Conceptualization:
―Defining the 'problem’;
―Establishing the research questions;
―Identifying the aims;
―Specifying the testable hypotheses;
―Deciding on the research approach;
―Identifying the most appropriate way of undertaking
the data collection and/or generation.
This stage is the most difficult one for novice researchers.
Linking the problem and objective/aim of the research with
appropriate data collection method often requires careful
thinking and advice from senior researchers.
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20. Basics of Doing Research, Process in Conducting
Research , Cont’d
Contextualization:
―Putting the research in the context of similar research that
has been done previously.
―If there is similar research done elsewhere, looking carefully
the methodology used, the way data collected and the
limitation of the work may help.
Data Analysis:
―Method to collect data and the following data analysis
technique should match;
― Occasionally problem may emerge as one start to do data
analysis.
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21. Basics of Doing Research, Process in Conducting
Research , Cont’d
Data collection and/or generation:
―Applying the selected method
―Although organized in a systematic step by step
approach, in practice it is to be noted that the nature of
the research process is intrinsically iterative.
―You may need to move forwards and backwards between
these steps as the circumstances determine.
Reporting Conclusions:
―Writing up and / or further dissemination
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22. Research Design Techniques.., Cont’d
The overall research design can be split into the following
parts:
i. Evolving a suitable method for selecting items to be
observed for the study-sampling design
ii. Identifying the conditions under which the observations
are to be made-observational design
iii. Methods dealing with how many items are to be observed
and how to gather information / data and how to analysis
them – statistical design
iv. Procedures specified (i) to (iii) can be carried out by using
techniques - Operational design

23. Research Design Techniques.., Cont’d
A good design is often characterized by adjectives like:
flexible, appropriate, efficient, economical and so on.
Instrument, information, target, helmet ..

24. Research Design Techniques.., Cont’d
More explicitly, the designing decisions happen to be
in respect of the following:
―What is the study about?
―Why is the study being made?
―What type of data is required?
―Where can the required data be found?
―What periods of time will the study include?
―What will be the sample/model design?
―What techniques of data collection will be used?
―How will the data be analyzed?
―In what style will the report be prepared?

25. Research Design Techniques.., Cont’d
A research design appropriate for a particular research
problem, usually involves the consideration of the
following factors:
―The meaning of obtaining information,
―The availability of skills of the research,
―The objective of the problem to be studied,
―The nature of the problem to be studied, and
―The availability of time and money for the research
work.

26. Research Design Techniques.., Cont’d
In brief, a research design must at least contains:
―A clear statement of the research problem,
―Procedures and techniques to be used for data
gathering/how can you get your data
―Methods to be used in processing and analyzing data
Features of a good research design
A good design is often characterized by:
oFlexible
oAppropriate
oEfficient,
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o Gives the smallest experimental error
o Minimizes bias and
o Economical