UNIT- 1

Introduction: Meaning of Research, Objectives of Engineering Research, and Motivation in

Engineering Research, Research Process, Types of Engineering Research, Finding and
Solving a Worthwhile Problem.
Ethics in Engineering Research, Ethics in Engineering Research Practice, Types of Research
Misconduct, Ethical Issues Related to Authorship. Copyright Infringements. Copyright
Infringement is a Criminal Offence. Copyright Registration.
Books Referred:
•Engineering Research Methodology by Dipankar Deb, Rajeeb Dey, Valentina E. Balas
•Intellectual Property A Primer for Academia by Prof. Rupinder Tewari Ms. Mamta
Bhardwaj.
•Research Methodology by C R Kothari
Research Definitions:
• The word research is derived from the Middle French "recherche",
which means "to go about seeking"
• Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the
stock of knowledge"
• The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in
order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
• According to Kothari (2004), defines that the research is an original
contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its
development. The systematic approach concerning generalizations and
formulation of a theory is also research.
Research consists of:
• Asking a question that nobody has asked
before;
• Doing the necessary work to find the
answer; and
• Communicating the knowledge you
have acquired to a larger audience.
 Objectives of Engineering Research
• To acquire the ability to connect different areas.
• Nourishment and Exercise for the Mind
• Adding (maybe small and specific, yet original) contribution to that of
existing body of knowledge.
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it
• To solve a problem since the conclusion at the end of one's research outcome has to be a new,but when one starts the conclusion unknown
• A Way to Prove Lies and to Support Truths
• To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables
• Means to Find, Gauge, and Seize Opportunities
• Means to Understand Various Issues and Increase Public Awareness
Research Flow Diagram
 Motivation in Engineering Research
• Intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge, learning, meaning, purpose, are ICLMP
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: Research outcome may enable obtaining a patent which is a good way to
become rich and famous.
• Influences from others like competition, collaboration, commitment, and
encouragement are also motivating factors in research. For example: my friends
are all doing research and so should I, or, a person that I dislike is doing well and I
want to do better.
• Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems, intellectual joy, service to
community, and respectability are all driving factors.
• 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.
Research Process
 Types of Engineering Research
• Descriptive/ Ex post facto Research
• Analytical Research
• Fundamental/ Basic/ Pure Research
• Applied Research
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
Descriptive research/ Ex post facto Research
• Simplest form of research.
• Descriptive research includes comparative and correlational methods,
and fact-finding inquiries, to effectively describe the present state of
art.
• Restricted to the problems that are describable and not arguable and
the problems in which valid standards can be developed for standards.
• Existing theories can be easily put under test by empirical
observations.
• It is not directed by hypothesis.
• Ex: implications of Blockchain technology, Implications of AI in
Healthcare.
Analytical Research
• The researcher has to use facts or information already
available, and analyse these to make a critical evaluation of
the material.
• It involves the in-depth study and evaluation of available
information in an attempt to explain complex phenomenon.
• It primarily concerned with testing hypothesis and specifying
and interpreting relationships, by analyzing the facts or
information already available.
• Ex: Analysis of Attrition Studies Within the Computer
Sciences.
Fundamental/ Basic/ Pure Research
• This research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with
the formulation of a theory.
• “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or
‘basic’ research.”
• Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to
pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
• Similarly, research studies, concerning human behaviour carried
on with a view to make generalisations about human behaviour,
are also examples of fundamental research.
• Thus basic research is aimed at seeking information which could
have a broad base of applications in the medium to long term.
Applied Research
• Based on the concept of the pure research.
• Is problem oriented and helps in finding results or solutions
for real life problems.
• Provides evidence of usefulness to society.
• Helps in testing empirical content of a theory.
• Utilizes and helps in developing the techniques that can be
used for basic research.
• Provides data that can lead to the acceleration of the process
of generalization.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or
amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of
quantity.
•It uses statistical observations of a sufficiently large number of
representative cases to draw any conclusions
• The goal of quantitative methods is to determine whether the
predictive generalizations of a theory hold true.
Qualitative Research:
It is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to
or involving quality or kind.
This type of research aims at discovering the underlying motives and
desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose
•Descriptive/Ex post facto Research:
•Example: Studying the factors that led to a bridge collapse by analyzing existing data on
construction materials, design, and maintenance records.
•Analytical Research:
•Example: Comparing the energy efficiency of different HVAC systems using historical data
and performance metrics to identify the most effective system.
•Fundamental/Basic/Pure Research:
•Example: Investigating the properties of new materials at the atomic level to understand their
potential uses, without a specific application in mind.
•Applied Research:
•Example: Developing a new type of corrosion-resistant coating specifically for offshore oil
rigs to extend their operational life.
•Quantitative Research:
•Example: Measuring the tensile strength of a new alloy across multiple samples to
generate statistical data on its performance under stress.
•Qualitative Research:
•Example: Conducting interviews with engineers to understand the challenges they face
when implementing renewable energy technologies in urban areas.
•Descriptive/Ex post facto Research:
Example: Analyzing historical data on cyber attacks to identify common patterns and vulnerabilities in
network security. This type of study looks at data after incidents have occurred to understand the factors involved.
•Analytical Research:
Example: Evaluating the performance of different machine learning algorithms (e.g., decision trees,
SVM, neural networks) for image classification by analyzing accuracy, training time, and memory usage.
This research focuses on comparing and analyzing data from multiple approaches to determine which is more
effective.
•Fundamental/Basic/Pure Research:
Example: Exploring the theoretical foundations of quantum computing algorithms, without
immediate applications, to understand how qubits and quantum gates can process data differently
from classical bits. This research advances knowledge for its own sake.
•Applied Research:
Example: Developing a real-time facial recognition system for a security application that can detect
and identify individuals in a crowded area. This research takes existing knowledge (e.g., image processing,
pattern recognition) and applies it to solve a practical problem.
•Quantitative Research:
Example: Testing the response times of various database management systems (e.g., MySQL, MongoDB,
PostgreSQL) under high traffic conditions to measure performance quantitatively, using metrics like average
response time, throughput, and scalability.
•Qualitative Research:
Example: Conducting interviews with software developers to understand the challenges they face in
implementing Agile methodologies in large-scale projects. This research gathers non-numeric data to
gain insights into developers' experiences and perspectives.
Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem Read xerox

• Research problems stated by the Supervisor

• Research problems posed by others that are yet to be solved
• Rethinking of a basic theory, or need to be formulated
• Information gathered from research papers

Attributes Of Worthwhile Research Problem

• Significant
• Researchable
• Original/ Replicable
• Ethical
• Suitable for researcher
• Potential for new research
Mathematical problem-solving
• George Polya an American mathematician suggested 4 step procedure:
• Understand the problem, restate it as if its your own, visualize the
problem by drawing figures, and determine if something more is needed.
• 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 in Engineering Research
• Ethics are branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles(distinguishing
what is right or wrong)
• Engineering ethics is the field of system of moral principles that apply to the
practice of engineering. The field examines and sets the obligations by engineers
to society, to their clients, and to the profession.
• International norms for the ethical conduct of research have been there since the
adoption of the Nuremberg Code in 1947
• According to Dr. Caroline Whitbeck, Director of online Ethics Center for
Engineering and Science at national Academy of engineering, 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.
• 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.
 Ethics in Engineering Research Practice
• Honesty:
Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, and publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or
misrepresent data.
• Integrity:
Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.
• Carefulness:
Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of your peers.
Keep good records of research activities.
• Openness:
Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
• Respect for Intellectual Property:
Honour patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use unpublished data, methods, or
results without permission. Give credit where credit is due. Never plagiarize.
• Confidentiality:
Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel records, trade or
military secrets, and patient records.
• Responsible Publication:
Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career. Avoid wasteful and
duplicative publication.
• Responsible Mentoring:
Help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make their own decisions.
• Respect for Colleagues:
• Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.
• Social Responsibility:
• Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public education, and advocacy.
• Non-Discrimination:
• Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other factors that are not related to their
scientific competence and integrity.
• Competence:
• Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and learning; take steps to
promote competence in science as a whole.
• Legality:
• Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.
• Animal Care:
• Show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly designed animal
experiments.
• Human Subjects Protection:
• When conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and risks and maximize benefits; respect human dignity, privacy,
and autonomy.
Types of Research Misconduct
• Fabrication (Illegitimate creation of data)
• Falsification (Inappropriate alteration of data)
• Plagiarism (Taking other’s work and attribution)
• Serious deviations from accepted con- duct could be
construed as research misconduct. When there is both
deception and damage.
• Simultaneous submission of the same article to two different
journals also violates publication policies.
• Mistakes are found in an article or any published content
Authorship questionable on ethical grounds

• Guest/ gift authorship

• Career-boost authorship
• Career-preservation authorship
• Ghost authorship
• Reciprocal authorship
• Recognition only via acknowledgement
• Double submission of research work
Ethical Issues Related to Authorship
• Academic authorship involves communicating scholarly work,
establishing priority for their discoveries, and building peer-
reputation.
• Credit for research contributions is attributed in three major ways in
research publications:
• By authorship (of the intended publication),
• Citation (of previously published or formally presented work), and
• Through a written acknowledgment (of some inputs to the present
research).
Introduction to IPR
• Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as
inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and
images used in commerce.
• Intellectual Property rights provide certain exclusive rights to the
inventors or creators of that property, in order to enable them to reap
commercial benefits from their creative efforts or reputation. Some of the
major are discussed below:
• Copyright
• Patent
• Trademark
• Industrial design
• Geographical indication (GI)
• Trade secrets
Copyright is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary
and artistic works. (specifically in the fields of literature and computer software) Works
covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture and films, to computer
programs, databases, advertisements, maps and technical drawings. The general rule is that
copyright lasts for 60 years. In the case of original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic
works the 60-year period is counted from the year following the death of the author.

Patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. Generally speaking, a patent provides
the patent owner with the right to decide how - or whether - the invention can be used by
others. In exchange for this right, the patent owner makes technical information about the
invention publicly available in the published patent document. A patent is granted for a term
of 20 (twenty) years from the date of filling of the application.

Trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from
those of other enterprises. Trademarks date back to ancient times when artisans used to put
their signature or "mark" on their products. There are several types of trademarks a business
can choose from, including logos, names, taglines, and product brands. However, the use of
any mark may be mistaken for an existing one is prohibited. All registered trade-marks are
valid for a period of 10 years from the date of application.
Industrial design constitutes the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. A design may consist of three-
dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines
or color. Examples of industrial designs include the contour of a car hood, the graphical user interface on your phone
or the shape of a stylish piece of furniture. The duration of the protection of industrial designs varies from country to
country, but it amounts at least to 10 years.

Geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess
qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as
originating in a given place. The registration of a geographical indication shall be for a period of 10 years Examples
of possible Indian Geographical Indications are Basmati Rice, Alphanso Mango, Nagpur Orange, Kolhapuri Chappal,
Bikaneri Bhujia, Agra Petha, Paithani and Banaras Saree, Feni (Liquor from Goa), Lonavala Chikki, Tirunelveli
Halwa, Mysore Rasam, etc.

Trade secrets are IP rights on confidential information which may be sold or licensed. The unauthorized acquisition,
use or disclosure of such secret information in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices by others is
regarded as an unfair practice and a violation of the trade secret protection. Information considered a trade secret
gives the company a competitive advantage over its competitors and is often a product of internal research and
development. The trade secrets shall be protected without registration for an unlimited period unless the same
information is discovered by others. Some examples include: The Google search algorithm, Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The secret ingredients for KFC's original recipe were originally kept in Colonel Sanders' head. He eventually wrote
the recipe down, and the original handwritten copy is in a safe in Kentucky. Only a few select employees know the
recipe, and they are bound by a confidentiality agreement. Coca-Cola made a choice to brand the recipe a trade secret
instead of patenting it, which would have led to the disclosure of the ingredients.
 Copyright Infringements
• Copyright infringement is the use or production of copyright-protected material without the
permission of the copyright holder.
• Types: Literature, dramatic work, sound recording, artistic work, musical work and cinematographs.
• The Copyrights of the creator/author are legally protected under Section 14 of the Copyright Act,
1957.
• A Copyright owner enjoys two types of rights i.e. Economic Rights (or Proprietary Rights) and
Moral Rights (or Personal Rights).
As per the Copyrights Act, the following acts are regarded as an infringement of Copyrights:
• Making copies for sale or hire or selling or letting them for hire without permission.
• Permitting any place for the performance of owned work (in public) where such performance
constitutes an infringement of Copyright.
• Distributing infringing copies for trade or to such an extent to affect the interest of the owner of the
Copyright prejudicially.
• Public exhibition of infringing copies for trade purposes.
• Importation of infringing copies.
• Translating a work without the permission of the owner.
Copyright Infringement is a Criminal Offence
• According to Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957, if any person
knowingly infringes the Copyright, he qualifies for the criminal
offence.
• The punishment awarded for the infringement (of Copyright) is
imprisonment for six months with the minimum fine of ₹ 50,000/-.
• In case of a second and subsequent conviction, the minimum
punishment is imprisonment for one year and a fine of ₹ 1,00,000.
• There is a dedicated IP division to deal with Copyright cases. Also,
there is a Copyright Board constituted by the Central Government in
1958 to adjudicate certain claims about Copyright.
Copyright Registration Flowchart
 FAQ’s
1. Define Research. Mention the objectives behind engineering research.
2. Elucidate the motivations of researchers in the field of engineering.
3. Describe the Research process with the a flowchart.
4. Explain the various types of research, stating examples in your respective
area.
5. State the attributes of a worthwhile research problem
6. Discuss the types of research misconduct
7. Explain the situations where authorship is questionable on ethical grounds
8. What are copyright infringements? Enlist the following acts regarded as
an infringement of Copyrights.
9. Explain the process for copyright registration with a flowchart.
THANK YOU