1. EPH 7112 LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
Research Methodology
EPH 7112
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION

2. Motivation Professor asks students to study relationship between
flame flickering and
music beat
15 students said ‘yes’
5 students said ‘no’
How did it happen?

3. Motivation Condition of experiment different ‘Sensor’ biased
“Planning and conducting rigorous research and development projects in science and engineering is often very challenging”
This is our motivation

4. Contents Aim of Subject Learning Outcome of Subject Assessment Scheme
Definition of research
Introduction to academic research
Contemporary research in Engineering and Technology

5. Aim of Subject
The main objectives of this course are to help students:
To use information systems effectively;
To write a critical review of the relevant literature;
To identify a research problem;
To develop and write a research proposal for their discipline area;

6. Aim of Subject
To propose and justify an appropriate research plan for the chosen research problem;
To choose and apply an appropriate experimental design to a particular research problem, if required;
To understand and apply a range of standard techniques for instrumentation and data acquisition;
To prepare a well written and concise research thesis or report

7. Assessment Scheme Group assignment Preparation of research proposal
Graded as “Pass” or “Fail”

8. Assignment Critical Review Research Proposal Study Model
Research Ethics Case Studies
Technical Writing
Short assignments

9. Reference Books Ranjit Kumar. "Research Methodology" Longman, 1996
Lindsay D. “A Guide to Scientific Writing” Longman, 1995
Ralph Berry. “How to write a Research Paper”, Pergamon, 1986
Gerson S J and Gerson S M. “Technical Writing Process and Product”, Prentice Hall, 1992
Coley S M and Scheinberg C A, "Proposal Writing", Newbury Sage Publications, 1990

10. How do you view research?
A quest for knowledge and understanding
An interesting and useful experience
A course for qualification
A career
A style of life
A way to improve quality of life
An ego boost

11. Have you done research? Not a new process Looking for a dream job
Looking for good apartment
Buying a cheap car
Finding the love of your life …

12. Background Beginning of 2nd Millennium Dark Ages – Renaissance
3G Exploration – into Africa and Asia
Crusaders fight for Jerusalem
Can Earth possibly be flat?
Research begins ….

13. Background Chinese civilization Islamic civilization
Indian civilization
All have contributions to research too …

14. Definition of Research
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (
careful or diligent search
studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws
the collecting of information about a particular subject

15. Definition of research
Greenfield (1996): “Research is an art aided by skills of
inquiry,
experimental design,
data collection
measurement and analysis
by interpretation, and
by presentation”

16. Development
fundamentally more significant as a contributor to the success of a commercial organization
apply scientific, engineering or technological knowledge in a systematic manner to improve performance
organization growth and increase shareholder value

17. Development Exploits technology created elsewhere
Has a final product or process tied to it
Has finite timescales in which to deliver
Has finite costs for the end product
Is targeted at tangible benefits for the customer

18. R&D Research is a process that acquires new knowledge
Development is a process that applies knowledge to create new devices or effects

19. R&D Problems Research seeks truth Development seeks utility
Industry can’t afford luxury of research
Academics uninterested with development
Myopic views
R&D is interdependent

20. R&D Problems Research results cannot be reproduced
Data collection is haphazard
Experiment methods are chaotic
Trial and error …
Lack records
Reports are disorganized

21. Academic Research Problems
Very similar to R&D problems
Research methodology is important
In Science & Engineering, lack of emphasis on research methodology
Research methodology informal training

22. Conclusions Importance of Research Methodology Definition: Research
Development