1 What are the objectives of Engineering Research?

2 What are the motivational factors behind research?

3 What is Explanatory Research?
4 What is the importance of formulating a research problem?
5 Mention the sources of Research problems
6 What are the steps researcher should undertake to analyse the
relevant information?

7 Mention the criteria’s that could help the researcher in the

evaluation of the information under study

8 What is bibliographic databases?

9 What is h-index and how it is calculated?
10 Give some examples of calibration procedures in Research.
What are the objectives of Engineering Research?

 The objectives of engineering research include solving practical problems,

advancing technology, contributing to scientific knowledge, improving designs,
and developing new processes or materials.

What are the motivational factors behind research?

 Motivational factors include curiosity, the desire to solve existing problems,

advancing knowledge in a specific field, contributing to society, career
advancement, and personal fulfillment.

What is Explanatory Research?

 Explanatory research seeks to explain the reasons behind a phenomenon or the

relationships between variables. It is focused on providing understanding and
clarifying the causes or effects of certain variables.

What is the importance of formulating a research problem?

 Formulating a research problem is essential because it defines the direction of

the study, helps in identifying relevant data, clarifies objectives, and provides
focus to the research.

Mention the sources of Research problems.

 Research problems can arise from literature review, observations, industry

challenges, theoretical gaps, technological advancements, or real-world
problems faced by society.
 What are the steps researcher should undertake to analyse the relevant
information?

 Steps include: identifying the research question, gathering data, reviewing

existing literature, analyzing data using appropriate methods, interpreting
findings, and drawing conclusions.

Mention the criteria’s that could help the researcher in the evaluation of the
information under study.

 Criteria include reliability, validity, accuracy, relevance, credibility, timeliness,

and consistency of the information.

What is bibliographic databases?

 Bibliographic databases are digital repositories that store references to

academic literature, including journal articles, books, conference papers, and
other scholarly materials, such as IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, and PubMed.

What is h-index and how it is calculated?

 The h-index is a metric that measures both the productivity and citation impact
of a researcher’s published work. It is calculated by determining the highest
number (h) such that the researcher has published at least h papers, each of
which has been cited at least h times.

Give some examples of calibration procedures in Research.

 Examples include calibrating measurement instruments (e.g., thermometers,

pressure gauges), sensors, or equipment used in experiments to ensure
accuracy and reliability of results.
 What are the objectives of Engineering Research? Engineering research aims to
address practical challenges and improve existing systems, materials, processes, and
technologies. Key objectives include:

 Solving real-world problems: Engineering research often focuses on finding

solutions to specific problems faced by industries, society, or the environment.
 Innovating and advancing technology: Engineering researchers work on
developing new technologies or improving existing ones, such as creating more
efficient materials, systems, or processes.
 Contributing to scientific knowledge: Researchers contribute to advancing the
body of knowledge in engineering disciplines, often pushing the boundaries of
what is known.
 Improving designs and systems: Research helps in refining design practices to
optimize performance, safety, and cost-efficiency in engineering solutions.
 Developing new techniques: Research can lead to the development of new
methods or procedures that can be applied across various engineering fields.

What are the motivational factors behind research? Several factors drive
individuals to engage in research:

 Curiosity and intellectual challenge: Many researchers are driven by the desire
to understand phenomena and solve complex problems.
 Filling knowledge gaps: Researchers are motivated to address gaps in existing
knowledge or resolve unanswered questions in a field.
 Societal impact: Some researchers are motivated by the desire to contribute to
solving significant societal issues, such as climate change, health problems, or
resource management.
 Advancement of technology: Many engineers are motivated by the potential
to create breakthroughs that can lead to new technologies, enhancing
productivity and improving quality of life.
  Career development: Research offers opportunities for career growth,
including academic recognition, promotions, and funding opportunities.
 Personal fulfillment: For some, the process of discovery and contributing to
their field is a source of personal satisfaction.

What is Explanatory Research? Explanatory research is a type of research aimed at

explaining the causes, relationships, and reasons behind a phenomenon or event. It
typically seeks to answer "how" or "why" questions and establishes causal links
between variables. This type of research builds on descriptive research by providing
deeper insights into why and how things happen, often through controlled
experiments or statistical analysis. Example: If a study looks at the relationship
between pollution levels and respiratory diseases, it would explain how and why
pollution contributes to poor health outcomes.

What is the importance of formulating a research problem? Formulating a research

problem is critical because:

 Guides the entire research process: It defines the scope, direction, and focus
of the study. Without a clear problem statement, the research process can
become aimless or lack clarity.
 Clarifies objectives: A well-defined research problem helps set clear goals and
expectations, making it easier to identify what needs to be achieved.
 Enables effective data collection and analysis: A clear problem ensures that
only relevant data is collected, preventing wastage of time and resources.
 Fosters deeper insights: With a specific problem to address, researchers can
explore the topic in depth, leading to meaningful conclusions.
 Mention the sources of Research problems. Research problems often emerge from
various sources:

 Literature Review: Reviewing existing studies can highlight gaps in knowledge

or areas that require further exploration.
 Practical issues or industry challenges: Real-world problems in industries or
society often prompt researchers to investigate solutions (e.g., environmental
issues, energy efficiency).
 Theoretical gaps: Theories in a particular field may be incomplete, outdated, or
underdeveloped, leading to research questions that fill these gaps.
 Technological advancements: New technologies often bring up novel problems
or opportunities that require investigation.
 Observation and experience: Researchers may notice patterns or phenomena
in their everyday work or practice that are unexplained, leading to a research
problem.
 Feedback from stakeholders: Input from industry professionals, policymakers,
or communities can reveal pressing issues or needs that warrant research.

What are the steps a researcher should undertake to analyze relevant

information? When analyzing relevant information, researchers typically follow these
steps:

 Define the research question: Clearly articulate what the research aims to
answer.
 Gather data: Collect relevant information from primary sources (e.g.,
experiments, surveys, interviews) and secondary sources (e.g., published
articles, reports).
 Review existing literature: Analyze previous studies to understand existing
knowledge and identify gaps or opportunities for further exploration.
  Select an appropriate method for data analysis: Choose statistical, qualitative,
or quantitative techniques based on the research objectives.
 Interpret the findings: Analyze the results in the context of the research
question and existing knowledge to draw conclusions.
 Synthesize information: Combine insights from various data points, studies, or
sources to create a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Mention the criteria that could help the researcher in the evaluation of the
information under study. To ensure that information is reliable and valid, researchers
can evaluate it based on:

 Accuracy: The information should be correct and free from errors.

 Reliability: The source or data should provide consistent results over time.
 Validity: The information should measure what it intends to measure.
 Relevance: The information should be directly related to the research question
or objectives.
 Credibility: The source should be authoritative and trustworthy.
 Timeliness: The information should be up-to-date and reflect current
knowledge or trends.
 Consistency: Information should be coherent and consistent with other related
findings or theories.

What is bibliographic databases? Bibliographic databases are organized collections

of citations to academic materials, including journal articles, books, conference
papers, patents, and reports. They provide detailed bibliographic information, such as
author names, publication dates, titles, and abstracts. These databases are crucial for
conducting literature reviews and staying updated on recent research. Examples
include:
 IEEE Xplore: A digital library for engineering and technology research.
 Google Scholar: A freely accessible database of scholarly articles.
 PubMed: A database focused on medical and life sciences research.
 What is h-index and how is it calculated? The h-index is a metric that quantifies the
productivity and citation impact of a researcher’s publications. It measures how often
a researcher’s papers are cited, indicating both the quantity and the quality of their
work.

 To calculate the h-index, you rank the researcher’s publications in descending

order of citations. The h-index is the highest number (h) such that the
researcher has published at least h papers, each of which has been cited at least
h times.
 Example: A researcher with an h-index of 5 has five papers that each have at
least five citations.

Give some examples of calibration procedures in Research. Calibration is the

process of adjusting an instrument or equipment to ensure it produces accurate
measurements. Some examples include:

 Thermometers: Calibrating a thermometer using a reference standard, like a

freezing or boiling point.
 Pressure gauges: Calibrating them using a known pressure standard to ensure
accurate readings in experiments.
 Weighing scales: Calibrating using certified weights to ensure precise
measurements in laboratory settings.
 Spectrometers: Calibrating using standard solutions with known
concentrations to ensure the accuracy of spectroscopic readings.
 Flow meters: Calibrating using a known flow rate to ensure accurate
measurements of fluid flow.