Department of Civil and Building

Introduction to Research Methodology

DR. BO Otieno

[email protected]
 Intended learning outcomes of Module (ILOs)

• To review the literature and develop a research topic within the specialisation areas of

Structures, Transportation, and Water & Environmental.

• To develop a problem statement.

• To develop research aims and specific objectives

• Literature review on the chosen research topic

• To develop a research method for the proposed study

• AdvDip – Introduction to experimental design

• PGD – Advanced experimental design

• Write and present a research proposal for approval of the research topic.

• To develop and present a PPT presentation of their proposed study

• To develop a detailed academic research proposal

• Research ethics, Journals and Publishing, Proposals for funding (PGD only)
 Module content (Outline of module)

• The concept and philosophy of research

• Introduction to research and topic development

• Identify and define a project title

• Research problem and problem statement

• Research Aim and Objectives

• Hypothesis statement and Research proposal.

• Literature review

• Methodology and data collection

• Data bases, Categories of journals, Impact factor, Hirsch Index,

• Proposal writing (detailed analysis), Relevance of research to

society, Time management, Effective technical communication. PGD

• Research proposal for project funding.

• Research Ethics and Plagiarism.

 Assessment; Semester 1, 2024 AY

AdvDip

Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4 Assessment 5 Comments

C 10% 10% 10% 10% 60% All the assessments will
count towards the final
A mark.
Introduction + (Literature Review) (Methodology and PPT Presentations of ( Proposal)
S Problem Satement + Research Design) Draft Proposal
Aim and Objectives
S

PGD

Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4 Comments

C 20% 20% 10% 50% All the assessments will count
towards the final mark.
A
(Introduction + Problem (Literature Review + (PPT Presentation of Draft ( Final Proposal)
S Methodology)
Statement + Aim and Proposal)
S Objectives)
 WHAT IS RESEARCH?

❖Research is an endeavor to discover answers to intellectual and practical problems through the
application of scientific method.

❖“Research is a systematized effort to gain new knowledge”.

-Redman and Mory.

❖ Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in order to
increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.

❖ Research is the process of finding solutions to a problem after a thorough study and analysis of the
situational factors

❖ Research provides the needed information that guides managers to make informed decisions to
successfully deal with problems

❖ The information provided could be the result of a careful analysis of data gathered firsthand or
secondary
 What is research NOT?
➢ Advocating own opinions
➢ Tool for criticism/offending others
➢ Proving ones conviction about something
➢ Money-making avenue
➢ Unethical
➢ Done for fun

What is Research?
➢ Systematic and unbiased way of solving a problem
(by answering questions or supporting hypotheses)
through generating verifiable data
➢ A way of thinking
➢ A way of tackling a problem
 Characteristics of Research

❖Research is directed towards the solution of a problem.

❖Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence.

❖Research involves gathering new data from primary sources or using existing data for a new

purpose.

❖Research activities are characterized by carefully designed procedures.

❖Research requires expertise i.e., skill necessary to carryout investigation, search the related

literature and to understand and analyze the data gathered.

❖Research is objective and logical – applying every possible test to validate the data collected

and conclusions reached.

 Characteristics of research cont’

❖ Rigorous – You must be scrupulous in ensuring that the procedures followed to find answers to

questions are relevant, appropriate and justified.

❖ Systematic – This implies that the procedures adopted to undertake an investigation follow a

certain logical sequence. The different steps cannot be taken in a haphazard way. Some

procedures must follow others.

❖ Valid and verifiable – This concept implies that whatever you conclude on the basis of your

findings is correct and can be verified by you and others.

❖ Empirical – This means that any conclusions drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered

from information collected from real-life experiences or observations.

❖ Critical – Critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the methods employed is crucial to a

research enquiry. The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from any drawbacks.

The process adopted and the procedures used must be able to withstand critical scrutiny.
 Criteria of a Good Research

 Purpose clearly defined.

 Research process detailed.

 Research design thoroughly planned.

 High ethical standards applied.

 Limitations frankly revealed.

 Adequate analysis for decision maker’s needs.

 Findings presented unambiguously.

 Conclusions justified.

 Researcher’s experience reflected.

 Types of research

Can be looked at from three different perspectives (Figure 1.2):

➢ Applications of the findings;

➢ Objectives of the study;

➢ Mode of enquiry used in conducting the study

➢ Classification based on these perspectives is not mutually exclusive.

➢ Research study classified from the viewpoint of ‘application’ can also be classified from
the perspectives of ‘objectives’ and ‘enquiry mode’ employed.
 Objectives of Research

❖The purpose of research is to discover answers through the application of scientific procedures. The

objectives are:

i. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it – Exploratory or

Formulative Research.

ii. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group –

Descriptive Research.

iii. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with

something else – Diagnostic Research.

iv. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables – Hypothesis-Testing Research.

 Types of Research

Descriptive vs Analytical Research

Descriptive Research is a fact-finding investigation which is aimed at describing the characteristics of

individual, situation or a group (or) describing the state of affairs as it exists at present.

Analytical Research is primarily concerned with testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting
relationships, by analyzing the facts or information already available.

Applied vs Fundamental Research

Applied Research or Action Research is carried out to find solution to a real-life problem requiring an
action or policy decision.

Fundamental Research which is also known as basic or pure research is undertaken for the sake of
knowledge without any intention to apply it in practice. It is undertaken out of intellectual curiosity and is
not necessarily problem-oriented.

Quantitative vs Qualitative Research

Quantitative Research is employed for measuring the quantity or amount of a particular phenomena
using statistical analysis.

Qualitative Research is a non-quantitative type of analysis which is aimed at finding out the quality of a
particular phenomenon.
 Types of Research

Conceptual vs Empirical Research

Conceptual Research is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to
reinterpret existing ones.

Analytical Research is primarily concerned with testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting
relationships, by analyzing the facts or information already available.

Other types

❖ One-time Research – Research confined to a single time period.

❖ Longitudinal Research – Research carried on over several time periods.

❖ Diagnostic Research – It is also called clinical research which aims at identifying the causes of a

problem, frequency with which it occurs and the possible solutions for it.

❖ Exploratory Research – It is the preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem, about which the

researcher has little or no knowledge. It is aimed to gain familiarity with the problem, to generate

new ideas or to make a precise formulation of the problem. Hence it is also known as formulative

research.
.
 Scientific Method

 Science’ refers to the body of systematic and organized knowledge which makes use
of scientific method to acquire knowledge in a particular field of enquiry.

 Scientific method is the systematic collection of data (facts) and their theoretical
treatment through proper observation, experimentation and interpretation.

 Scientific method attempts to achieve a systematic interrelation of facts by

experimentation, observation, and logical arguments from accepted postulates and a
combination of these three in varying proportions.
 Basic Postulates Scientific Method

 It relies on empirical evidence.

 It utilizes relevant concepts.

 It is committed to only objective considerations.

 It presupposes ethical neutrality.

 It results into probabilistic predictions.

 The methodology is made known.

 Aims at formulating scientific theories.

 Engineering method

➢ Observe existing solutions

➢ Propose better solutions

➢ Build or develop better solution

➢ Measure, analyze, and evaluate

➢ Repeat until no further improvements are possible

➢ This is what is expected of you.

 RESEARCH PROCESS

FF
Review the literature
FF

Review
Concepts Analyse
And Design
Collect Data
theories Research Interpret
Define Formulate Data (Test
(Including and
Research hypothesis (Execution) Hypothesis
Sample report
Problem if any)
Design)
Review F F
Previous
I Research III IV V
findings VI VII

II
F

F Feed Back

FF Feed Forward
RESEARCH PROCESS
 RESEARCH PROBLEM

The term ‘problem’ means a question or issue to be examined.

➢ Research Problem refers to some difficulty /need which a researcher experiences

in the context of either theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a
solution for the same.

The first step in the research process – definition of the problem involves
two activities:

➢ Identification / Selection of the Problem

➢ Formulation of the Problem

Sources of problems: Reading, Academic Experience, Daily Experience, Exposure

to Field Situations, Consultations, Brainstorming, Research, Intuition
 Formulation of the Research Problem

 Formulation is the process of refining the research ideas into research questions and

objectives.

 Formulation means translating and transforming the selected research problem/topic/idea into

a scientifically researchable question. It is concerned with specifying exactly what the research

problem is.

 Problem definition or Problem statement is a clear, precise and succinct statement of the

question or issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding an answer or solution.

 Characteristics of good research problem: Clear and Unambiguous, Empirical,

Verifiable, Interesting, Novel and Original

 Establishment of Research Objectives

➢ Research Objectives are the specific components of the research problem, that you’ll be
working to answer or complete, in order to answer the overall research problem.
- Churchill, 2001
➢ The objectives refers to the questions to be answered through the study. They indicate
what we are trying to get from the study or the expected results / outcome of the study.

➢ Research Objectives should be clear and achievable, as they directly assist in answering the
research problem.
➢ The objectives may be specified in the form of either statements or questions.
➢ Generally, they are written as statements, using the word “to”. (For example, ‘to discover
…’, ‘to determine …’, ‘to establish …’, etc. )
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
➢ Literature Review is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published and
unpublished work from secondary sources of data in the areas of specific interest to the
researcher.
➢ The main aim is to find out problems that are already investigated and those that need
further investigation.
➢ It is an extensive survey of all available past studies relevant to the field of investigation.
➢ It gives us knowledge about what others have found out in the related field of study and how
they have done so.

Purpose for Review

➢ To gain a background knowledge of the research topic, identify the concepts relating to it,
and to formulate researchable hypothesis.
➢ To identify appropriate methodology, research design, methods of measuring concepts and
techniques of analysis.
➢ To identify data sources used by other researchers.
➢ To learn how others structured their reports.
How to conduct the Literature Survey?

➢ Identify the relevant sources.

➢ Extract and Record relevant information.

➢ Write-up the Literature Review.

Sources of Literature

➢ Books and Journals

➢ Electronic Databases
Bibliographic Databases
Abstract Databases
Full-Text Databases
➢ Govt. and Industry Reports
➢ Internet
➢ Research Dissertations / Thesis

➢ Make good use of Journal articles

 Suggested Proposal Template

➢ Introduction – Study background, Problem

statement, Aim and Objectives.

➢ Literature Review

➢ Methodology – Materials and Equipment,

Experimental Work/Approach, Research Design,

Data and Error Analysis

➢ Time frame and Budget

➢ References
 Guidelines and Reference Style

➢ Font size 12 in Times New Roman, spacing 1.5.

➢ Cover page with research topic and students’ details must be included.
➢ Pages must be numbered and fully justified.
➢ Every heading must be numbered in a logical order and in bold type.
➢ No unnecessarily large spaces at the bottom of pages.
➢ Harvard Referencing style recommended.
➢ Use Mendeley for Reference Management.

Specimen text
Application of prolonged ozonation as a pre-treatment method has been reported to lead to the oxidation of
biodegradable organic compounds instead of the targeted biorecalcitrant and toxic ones, and the formation of ozone
products with a potential to inhibit the subsequent biodegradation process (Gomes et al., 2013; Ariunbaatar, et al.,
2014).

REFERENCES
ARIUNBAATAR, J., PANICO, A., FRUNZO, L., ESPOSITO, G., LENS, P.N.L. AND PIROZZI, F. (2014). Enhanced anaerobic digestion of
food waste by thermal and ozonation pretreatment methods. Journal of Environmental Management, 146 , p. 142–
149.
GOMES, A.C., SILVA, L., SIMÕES, R., CANTO, N. AND ALBUQUERQUE, A. (2013). Toxicity reduction and biodegradability
enhancement of cork processing wastewaters by ozonation. Water Science and Technology, 68 (10), p. 2214–2219.