Research Methodology &

Intellectual Property Rights

Module 1
 Meaning of Research
• Research refers to a careful, well-defined (or
redefined), objective, and systematic method of search
for knowledge, or phenomenon with the goal of
discovering new information, enhancing the existing
knowledge base or solving a problem.
• Research Involves:
(a)formulation of hypothesis or proposition of solutions,
(b)data analysis and reasoning
(c)determining whether the conclusions fit the
hypothesis.
• Research is a process of creating, or formulating
knowledge that does not yet exist
The research cycle starts with basically a
practical problem
• Purpose: Research is conducted to answer questions,
explore a hypothesis, or address a problem in a
structured and systematic way.
• Systematic Inquiry: It involves a systematic process that
follows a predefined set of steps, methods, or
procedures to gather, analyse, and interpret
information.
• Objectivity: Research aims for objectivity and
impartiality in gathering and interpreting data,
minimizing bias to ensure the findings are reliable and
valid.
• Knowledge Creation: The ultimate aim of research is to
contribute to the body of knowledge in a particular
field or discipline by generating new information or
confirming existing theories.
• Types of Research: Research can be classified into
various types such as qualitative, quantitative,
experimental, observational, etc., depending on the
methodology and objectives.
Qualitative Research:
•Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing
non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to
understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be
used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or
generate new ideas for research.

•Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities

and social sciences, in subjects such as anthropology,
sociology, education, health sciences, history, etc.
Examples
• How does social media shape body image in
teenagers?
• How do children and adults interpret healthy
eating in the UK?
• How is anxiety experienced around the world?
• How can teachers integrate social issues into
science curriculums?
•Quantitative Research:
•"Quantitative" refers to something that can be
measured or expressed as a quantity, typically
using numbers and numerical data. It involves
measurements, counts, or calculations, and is
often used in scientific, statistical, and
mathematical analysis.
• Revenue in dollars.
• Weight in kilograms or pounds.
• Age in months or years.
• Distance in miles or kilometers.
• Time in days or weeks.
• Experiment results.
• Website conversion rates.
• Website page load speed.
• Application: Research is applied in various fields,
including engineering, to develop new
technologies, improve existing systems, solve
practical problems, and advance scientific
understanding.
• Ethical Considerations: Ethical principles and
guidelines are essential in research to ensure the
rights and well-being of participants, the integrity
of the research process, and the responsible
dissemination of findings
Example:
• Problem: A bridge architect is trying to build a
new earthquake-proof bridge.
• Assumption: The engineer thinks that the new
bridge using steel and concrete will be more
earthquake resistant than the existing bridge.
• Data Collection: Engineers collect data on
earthquake performance of different bridge
designs. Experts also conducted tests to
measure the strength and durability of the
new bridge.
• Data Analysis: Designers analyse data to see if it
supports the hypothesis. Engineers also use data to
identify design flaws.
• Inferences: Engineers make inferences from data and
theory. Experts may conclude that the newly built
bridge is more earthquake resistant than the existing
bridge, but may also conclude that there are some flaws
in the design standards that need to be addressed.
• Conclusion: Engineers concluded that the new bridge
construction is a promising solution to the bridge's
seismic resistance problem. But the experts also agreed
that more research is needed to measure and evaluate
fitness.
Objectives of Engineering Research
• The objective of engineering research is
• to solve new and important problems, the results of the
research should be new, but the results are not known when
the research starts.
• The main aim of the research is to apply scientific approaches
to seek answers to open questions, and although each
research study is particularly suited for a certain approach.
• In general, the following are different types of research
studies: ➢ Exploratory or formulative, ➢ Descriptive, ➢
Diagnostic, ➢ Hypothesis-testing
• Engineering research serves several important objectives,
contributing significantly to the advancement and innovation
within the field.
• Here are the key objectives of engineering research
• Innovation and Development: Engineering research aims
to foster innovation by developing new technologies,
methodologies, and solutions that advance existing
systems or create entirely new ones
• Problem Solving: it aims to address and solve real-world
challenges/ problems. This could involve improving
efficiency, sustainability, safety, or addressing specific
challenges within various engineering disciplines
• Advancing Knowledge: It seeks to expand the existing
knowledge base within engineering by conducting
experiments, collecting data, and validating theories,
contributing to the academic and scientific community’s
understanding
• Optimization and Improvement: it often focuses on
optimizing existing processes, systems, or products.
This could involve making them more cost-effective,
energy efficient, durable, or environmentally friendly
• Technological advancement: The objective is also to
push the boundaries of technology by exploring new
materials, techniques, and approaches that can be
applied to various engineering fields
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Engineering research
often spans multiple disciplines, encouraging
collaboration between engineers, scientists, and
experts from various fields to tackle complex
problems that require diverse expertise
• Commercial and Social impact: it endeavors to create
products, systems, or methodologies that have a
positive impact on society, the economy, and various
industries. This could involve developing solutions
that improve quality of life, enhance infrastructure,
or boost economic growth.
• Education and training: Engineering research also
plays a vital role in educating and training the next
generation of engineers. It provides valuable insights,
methodologies, and examples that contribute to
academic curricula and practical training programs
 Motivations 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
including money, fame, awards, praise, and status are
very strong motivators but may block creativity.
• Influences from others like competition, collaboration,
commitment, and encouragement are also motivating
factors in research.
• Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems,
intellectual joy, service to the community, and
respectability are all driving factors
• Fusion of extrinsic and intrinsic aspects:
• Wanting to do better than what has been
achieved in the world
• Improve the state of the art in technology.
• Contribute to the improvement of society.
• Fulfillment of the historical legacy in the
immediate sociocultural context
• Other factors are Government directives,
funding opportunities in certain areas can
motivate people to get involved in engineering
research
Types of Engineering Research
• Descriptive includes methods like comparison,
correlation and fact finding inquiries to portray the
present state. Example, studying the properties of
materials at a molecular level to understand their
behaviour in various conditions
• Analytical involves existing data for in depth
analysis and critical evaluation
• Applied research is directly aimed at addressing
practical issue or improving existing systems,
products or processes. Example, designing and
testing of a new type of energy efficient cooling
system for buildings.
• Fundamental research includes natural phenomena
• Quantitative research relies on measurable and
quantifiable data, often using statistical analysis for
interpretation. Example, conducting experiments to
measure the strength of different construction
materials
• Qualitative research focuses on understanding
human behavior, experiences. This utilises non
numeric data, such as observations, or case studies,
to derive insights. Example, analysing user
experiences and feedback to improve the usability of
software interface
 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.
• It may involve rethinking of a basic theory or needs to be
formulated or put together from the information provided in a
group of papers suggested by the Supervisor.
• The process of literature survey and technical reading.
• Problem identification.
• A worthwhile research problem would have one or more
attributes.
• A simpler theory, a new subject-initiating discovery, an
improved or novel methodology with practical applications, or
a discovery that stops further work in an area can be important
results.
• George Pólya (1887–1985) proposed four steps
procedure for mathematical problem-solving:
• Understand the problem, restate it as if its your own,
visualize the problem by drawing figures
• One must start somewhere and systematically explore
possible strategies to solve the problem.
• 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.
• Looking back and reflecting helps in understanding and
assimilating the strategy, and is a sort of investment
into the future.
 Ethics in Engineering Research
• Scientists make various choices regarding ethics and
the impact of technology in various ways:
• By setting ethical standards up front, engineering
scientists can influence the full benefits of advancing
technology.
• Researchers can also tap into the power of design—the
process of transforming needs into designs designed to
meet those needs. Ethical decisions should be made to
determine the importance and importance of the
requirements while creating the process.
• Third, engineering scientists must choose different
options to complete similar tasks.
 Ethics in engineering research practice
• Ethics in engineering research practice is
essential for maintaining the integrity,
credibility, and responsible advancement of the
field
• By setting the ethically right requirements
• Influence may also be applied by researchers through
design
• Engineering researchers have to choose between
different alternatives
 Types of research Misconduct
• In order to prevent mistakes, peer reviews should take place
before the research output is published.
• Research ethics include fairness, honesty.
• Research fraud may include
• Fabrication(illegitimate creation of data): It is the creation of
documents or a test of knowledge in the belief that the person
understands the results of the analysis.
• Falsification (inappropriate creation of data): This refers to the
misrepresentation or misinterpretation of information or test,
of illegal changes to support a hypothesis, even if actual data
from experimental data suggest otherwise.
• Plagiarism (taking other's work): Manifesting other’s
work (including parts) (text, document, table, picture,
diagram or content) as it appears in his work Other
types of research bias: Significant deviations from
accepted behavior can be interpreted as research bias.
• Eg: Submitting an article to two different journals at
the same time is also a violation of the copyright.
• Important points can be explained in your own
words, so there is no need for copying.
• Researchers should practice writing in such a
way that readers can distinguish the author's
ideas or conclusions from other sources.
• This practice allows people to decide whether
they are overusing or relying on the content of
available information
Ethical Issues Related to Authorship
• Academic authorship involves communicating scholarly work,
establishing priority for their discoveries
• It is the primary basis of evaluation for employment,
promotion and other honors
• Double submission is an important ethical Issue which
involves submission of a paper to two forums
simultaneously
• False authorship can negatively impact credibility and
ethics. It is important to disclose all involved parties
for proper assessment