Module 1

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Ethics in Engineering Research

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 1

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 2
 Meaning of Research
• Careful, Well-Defined, Objective and Systematic
Method of search for knowledge.
• Formulation of a theory driven by
inquisitiveness for what is unknown and useful
on a particular aspect, to make original
contribution to expand existing knowledge
base.
• Research involves formulation of hypothesis or
proposition of solution, data analysis and
deductions
• Ascertaining whether conclusions fit the
hypothesis

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 3

 Research Cycle
• Starts with a practical problem
• Problem motivates a research
question (without which one would
be lost in giant swamp of information)
• Defines a research project
• Set of activities ultimately leads to
result
• Solves the practical problem

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 4

Research
IS NOT IS
• Reading lot of books • Adding small & specific
• Finding and gathering lot of • Original contribution to existing
existing information body of knowledge

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 5

Categories of knowledge in Research
Observation
• Most fundamental
• Measurements in laboratory
• Survey
Model
• Approximated & simplified ways (of
describing complex interactions)
• Statistical relationship
Process
• Way of arranging or doing things

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 6

Engineering research
• Process of developing the perspectives and
seeking improvements in knowledge and
skills to enable the recognition, planning,
design, and execution of research in a wide
range of forms relevant for engineering and
technology investigations and developments.
• We can start off by describing some problem
in the world that exists that is worrying us
and that we should be addressing.

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 7

Objectives of Engineering Research
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or
to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies)

• To portray accurately the characteristics of

a particular individual, situation or a group
(studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies)

• To determine the frequency with which

something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else (studies with this
object in view are known as diagnostic research studies)

•Torelationship
test a hypothesis of a causal
between variables (such studies are
known as hypothesis-testing research studies).

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 8

 Motivation in Engineering Research
• Intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge, learning, meaning, purpose,
are linked to strong creative performance.
• Extrinsic motivations like rewards for good work include money, fame,
awards, praise, and status are very strong motivators, but may block
creativity.
• Influences from others like competition, collaboration, commitment, and
encouragement are also motivating factors in research.
• Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems, intellectual joy, service
to community, and respectability are all driving factors.
• The following factors would be a mix of extrinsic and intrinsic aspects
• 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
• Other factors like government directives, funding opportunities in
certain areas, and terms of employment.

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 9

Types of Engineering Research
• Descriptive versus Analytical • Quantitative versus Qualitative

• Applied versus Fundamental

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ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 10

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 11
 Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem
• Research Problem
• Literature Review
• Oral presentation by expert
• Worthwhile problem
• Not all problems be great
• George Pólya (1887–1985): The recommended steps
to solve a research problem are
• Understand the problem, restate it as if its 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.
ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 12
Ethics in Engineering Research
• Ethical concerns such as privacy issues
and data related to surveillance systems
• Ethics matter - impact on humans
• Unprecedented access to data and
options for analysis.
• Research outcomes often have
unintended and undesirable side effects.
• Vital ethical responsibility of to ensure
that hazards/risks associated with the
technologies that they develop, are
minimized and alternative safer
mechanisms are considered.
• Designs should be made inherently safe
or come with safety factors.

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 13

Types of Research Misconduct
• Fabrication
• Falsification
• Plagiarism
• Other aspects of research
misconduct

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 14

Ethical issues related to authorship
• Gift/guest author
• Career boost authorship
• Career preservation authorship
• Ghost coauthorship
• Reciprocal gesture
• Double submission

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 15

 THANK YOU

ANITHA J., DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, SIR MVIT 16