MODULE 1 and MODULE 2

MODULE 3 MODULE 4 and MODULE 5

TEXT BOOKS
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY &
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
(BRMK557)

Dr. GURURAJ K S
Prof & Head
Dept. of ISE
 Research : An Introduction
Research involves formulation of hypothesis or proposition of solutions, data analysis,
deductions and ascertaining whether the conclusions fit the hypothesis.

Research is a process of creating, or formulating knowledge

that does not yet exist.
Categories of Knowledge in
Research
Objectives of
Engineering Research
The objective of engineering
research is to solve new and
important problems through
scientific approaches and
innovative thinking.
 Research Objectives
The objective of engineering research is 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.

So, the start itself is tricky, one may say.

The answer is, based on “circumstantial evidence”, intuition,

and imagination, one guesses what may be a possible
conclusion
 Research Objectives
• 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 impacts.

• 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 with
different approach
Motivation in Engineering Research

1 Intrinsic Motivations 2 Extrinsic Motivating Factors

Interest, challenge, learning, and Rewards such as money and fame

purpose drive strong creative can be strong motivators but may
performance. hinder creativity.

3 Influences from Others 4 Personal Motivation

Competition, collaboration, Unsolved problems, intellectual joy,

commitment, and encouragement and service to the community are
also play a role in motivating driving factors.
research.
Motivating Factors
Personal Achievement

Striving to surpass previous achievements and contribute to the

improvement of society.

Influence of Others

Competition and collaboration with peers can motivate individuals to engage

in engineering research.

Government and Funding Opportunities

External factors like government directives and funding opportunities play a

role in motivating people to participate in research.
Types of Engineering Research
1 Descriptive and Analytical

Descriptive research describes the present state while analytical research

utilizes already available facts for analysis.

2 Applied and Fundamental

Applied research solves immediate problems, while fundamental research

focuses on generalizations and theory formulation.

3 Quantitative and Qualitative

Quantitative research draws conclusions from statistical observations,

while qualitative research relies on nonrepresentative cases or verbal
narrative.
Descriptive research includes comparative and correlational methods, and fact-finding inquiries, to effectively
describe the present state of art.

The researcher holds no control over the variables

Applied and Fundamental
 Quantitative and Qualitative

• Quantitative research uses statistical observations of a sufficiently

large number of representative cases to draw any conclusions,

• Qualitative researchers rely on a few nonrepresentative cases or

verbal narrative
Importance of Thorough Research
1 Engineering Problems

Thorough and accurate research aids in solving complex engineering

problems, both in academia and professional career.

2 Guidelines, Standards, and Best Practices

Investigating engineering guidelines, standards, and best practices

ensures successful outcomes and prevents failures.

3 Clear Communication

Conducting research and effectively communicating the results is crucial

for informed decision-making.
Research Studies
1 Exploratory or Formulative

Studies aimed at exploring new ideas or formulating hypotheses to

guide further research.

2 Descriptive

Research focused on describing the present state of a particular

phenomenon or subject.

3 Diagnostic

Investigations conducted to identify the causes and factors

contributing to a problem or condition.
 The Pursuit of Knowledge

Engaging in engineering research is a

way to apply scientific approaches and
seek answers to open questions,
contributing to the advancement of
knowledge.
 Research Ethics
• Ethics generally refers to a set of rules distinguishing acceptable and unacceptable
conduct, distinguishing right from wrong.
• Most people learn such norms in their formative years, but moral development
continues through different stages of growth.
• Everyone recognizes some common ethical norms, but there is difference in
interpretation and application.
• Research ethics and the Responsible Conduct of research are often erroneously used
interchangeably.
• Research ethics examines the appropriate application of research outcomes, while
responsible conduct of research deals with the way the work is undertaken.
 Ethics in Engineering Research Practice
• Technological developments raise a whole range of ethical concerns such as privacy
issues and data related to surveillance systems.
• Engineering researchers need to make ethical decisions and are answerable for the
repercussions borne out of their research as outcomes.
• Researchers make many choices that matter from an ethical perspective and
influence the effects of technology in many different ways:
 By setting the ethically right requirements at the very outset, engineering researchers can
ultimately influence the effects of the developed technology.
 Influence may also be applied by researchers through design (a process that translates the
requirements into a blueprint to fulfill those requirements). During the design process, decision is
to be made about the priority in importance of the requirements taking ethical aspects into
consideration.
 Thirdly, engineering researchers have to choose between different alternatives fulfilling similar
functions.
 Types of Research Misconduct
• Engineering research should be conducted to improve the state-of-the-art of
technologies.
• Research integrity encompasses :
 Dealing fairly with others.
 Honesty about the methods and results.
 Replicating the results wherever possible so as to avoid errors.
 Protecting the welfare of research subjects.
 Ensuring laboratory safety.
• Different types of research misconduct :
 Fabrication (Illegitimate creation of data).
 Falsification (Inappropriate alteration of data).
 Plagiarism (Taking other’s work sans attribution).
 Serious deviations from accepted conduct.
 Ethical Issues Related to Authorship
• Academic authorship involves communicating scholarly work, establishing priority for
their discoveries, and building peer-reputation, and comes with intrinsic burden of
acceptance of the responsibility for the contents of the work.
• Credit for research contributions is attributed in three major ways in research
publications:
 by providing authorship (of the intended publication).
 citation (of previously published or formally presented work).
 through a written acknowledgment (of some inputs to the present
research).
• Including “guest” or “gift” (co authorship bestowed on someone with little or no
contribution to the work) authors dilutes the contribution of those who actually did
the work, inappropriately inflates credentials of the listed authors and is ethically a
red flag highlighting research misconduct.
 Ethical Issues Related to Authorship
• Unfortunate malpractice of coauthorship that can be described as “career-
preservation authorship”
• Actual contributor abstains from the list of authors due to nondisclosed conflict of
interest within the organization
• All listed authors have the full obligation of all contents of a research article and so
naturally, they should also be made aware of a journal submission by the
corresponding author.
•
End of Module 1
Double submission is an important ethical issue related to authorship.