Module 1
Module 1
NOTES OF LESSON
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION
Syllabus
MEANING OF RESEARCH
• Research refers to a careful, well-defined (or redefined), objective, and systematic method
of search for knowledge, or formulation of a theory that is driven by inquisitiveness for that
which is unknown and useful on a particular aspect so as to make an original contribution
to expand the existing knowledge base.
• Research involves formulation of hypothesis or proposition of solutions, data analysis, and
deductions; and ascertaining whether the conclusions fit the hypothesis.
• Research is a process of creating, or formulating knowledge that does not yet exist. Thus
research is an art of scientific investigation
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific
procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not
been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of
research objectives as falling into a number of following broad groupings:
• To solve new and important problems, and since the conclusion at the end of one‘s research
outcome has to be new, but when one starts, the conclusion is unknown.
• Research objectives can sometimes be convoluted and difficult to follow. Knowing where
and how to find different types of information helps one solve engineering problems, in
both academic and professional career.
• Lack of investigation into engineering guidelines, standards, and best practices result in
failures with severe repercussions. As an engineer, the ability to conduct thorough and
accurate research while clearly communicating the results is extremely important in
decision making.
• 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
• The objectives of engineering research should be to develop new theoretical or applied
knowledge and not necessarily limited to obtaining abilities to obtain the desired result.
• The objectives should be framed such that in the event of not being able to achieve the
desired result that is being sought, one can fall back to understanding why it is not possible,
because that is also a contribution toward ongoing research in solving that problem.
The possible motives may be the result of one or more of the following desires:
• 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 include money, fame, awards,
praise, and status are very strong motivators, but may block creativity. For example:
Several other factors like government directives, funding opportunities in certain areas, and terms
of employment, can motivate people to get involved in engineering research.
Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out research
and the desired sequencing of these steps.
The chart indicates that the research process consists of a number of closely related activities, as
shown through I to VII. But such activities overlap continuously rather than following a strictly
prescribed sequence
1. Formulating the research problem: There are two types of research problems, viz., those
which relate to states of nature and those which relate to relationships between variables.
• A researcher may start out with the research problems stated by the Supervisor or posed by
others that are yet to be solved. Alternately, it may involve rethinking of a basic theory, or
need to be formulated or put together from the information provided in a group of papers
suggested by the Supervisor.
• Research scholars are faced with the task of finding an appropriate problem on which to
begin their research. Skills needed to accomplish such a task at the outset, while taking care
of possible implications are critically important but often not taught
• Once the problem is vaguely identified, the process of literature survey and technical
reading would take place for more certainty of the worthiness of the intended problem.
• However, an initial spark is ideally required before the process of literature survey may
duly begin.
• Understand the problem, restate it as if it‘s your own, visualize the problem by drawing
figures, and determine if something more is needed.
• One must start somewhere and systematically explore possible strategies to solve the
problem or a simpler version of it while looking for patterns.
• 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 generally refers to a set of rules distinguishing acceptable and unacceptable conduct,
distinguishing right from wrong as such
• Most people learn such norms in their formative years, but moral development continues
through different stages of growth. Although everyone recognizes some common ethical
norms, but there is difference in interpretation and application.
• Ethical principles can be used for evaluation, proposition or interpretation of laws.
Although ethics are not laws, but laws often follow ethics because ethics are our shared
values.
• International norms for the ethical conduct of research have been there since the adoption
of the Nuremberg Code in 1947.
• According to Whitbeck, the issues related to research credit dates back to the establishment
of the British Royal Society (BRS) in the seventeenth century to refine the methods and
practices of modern science. This event altered the timing and credit issues on the release
of research results since BRS gave priority to whoever first submitted findings for
publication, rather than trying to find out who had first discovered.
• Technological developments raise a whole range of ethical concerns such as privacy issues
and data related to surveillance systems, and so engineering researchers need to make
ethical decisions and are answerable for the repercussions borne out of their research as
outcomes.
• The reason that ethics matter in data used in engineering research is usually because there
is impact on humans. Certain practices may be acceptable to certain people in certain
situations, and the reasons for unacceptability may be perfectly valid.
• We have unprecedented access to data today, and unprecedented options for analysis of
these data and consequences in engineering research related to such data. Are there things
that are possible to do with this data, that we agree we should not do?
• Engineering ethics gives us the rule book; tells us, how to decide what is okay to do and
what is not. Engineering research is not work in isolation to the technological development
taking place.
• Researchers make many choices that matter from an ethical perspective and influence the
effects of technology in many different ways:
There may be different types of research misconduct as described, which can be summarized as
follows:
Although there are many free tools and also paid tools available that one can procure
institutional license of, one cannot conclusively identify plagiarism, but can only get a
similarity score which is a metric that provides a score of the amount of similarity between
already published content and the unpublished content under scrutiny.
However, a low similarity score does not guarantee that the document is plagiarism free. It
takes a human eye to ascertain whether the content has been plagiarized or not. It is
important to see the individual scores of the sources, not just the overall similarity index.
Setting a standard of a maximum allowable similarity index is inadequate usage of the tool.
Patchwork plagiarism is more difficult to evaluate.
There are simple and ethical ways to avoid a high similarity count on an about to be
submitted manuscript. Sometimes, certain published content is perfect for one‘s research