Research Methodology

and Intellectual Property

Rights
Subject Code: BRMK557
Text book : “Engineering Research Methodology ”
By
• Dipankar Deb
• Rajeeb Dey
• Valentina E Balas
 Course Objectives
• CO1: To Understand the knowledge on
basics of research and its types.
• CO2: To Learn the concept of Literature
Review, Technical Reading, Attributions
and Citations.
• CO3: To learn Ethics in Engineering
Research.
• CO4: To Discuss the concepts of
Intellectual Property Rights in engineering.
 Course Outcomes (Course Skill Set)
• At the end of the course the student will be able to:
• CO 1: To know the meaning of engineering research.
• CO 2: To know the procedure of Literature Review
and Technical Reading.
• CO 3: To know thw fundamentals of patent laws and
drafting procedure.
• CO 4: Understanding the copyright laws and subject
matters of copyrights and designs
• CO 5: Understanding the basic principles of design
rights.
 Module - 1
• Introduction ( Chapter 1 from text book)
– Meaning of Research
– Objectives of Engineering Researchand
– Motivation in Engineering Research
– Types of Engineering Research
– Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem.
• Ethics in Engineering Research ( chapter 5)
– Ethics in Engineering Research Practice
– Types of Research Misconduct
– Ethical Issues Related to Authorship.
 Introduction – What is Research?
• Research refers to a
– Careful
– Well-defined (or) redefined
– Objective
– 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 to make an original contribution
• Research involves
• formulation of hypothesis or
• proposition of solutions,
• data analysis
 What is Research…
• Research is a process of creating or formulating
knowledge that does not yet exist.
• Explains that the research cycle starts with basically a
practical problem: one must be clear what the problem
being attempted to solve is and why it is important.
• The building up of background for doing research
includes one to acquire the ability to connect different
areas.
• Research is not just about reading a lot of books and
finding a lot of, gathering a lot of existing information.
• It is instead adding, maybe small and specific, yet
original, contribution to that existing body of
knowledge.
 What is Research…
• So, research has relevance to the world that we are
living in, and while looking for that answer one has to
be as systematic as one can be.
• research program with a finite endpoint and
contribution it is going to make.
• The objective of a good research program is to try and
solve a problem and keep modifying throughout the
project.
• Through research
– make, or develop, new knowledge
– which can be written down or recorded and
– knowledge can be accessed through that writing or
recording.
 scope
1. what is research?
2. Selecting a topic for research
3. Types of research efforts
4. How to read a paper?
5. Problem formulation
6. Research approaches
7. Evaluation and validation
7. Conference and journal publications
6. Writing technical papers
8. Presenting papers
9. Writing research proposals
10.Professional ethics
11.Collaborative research
12.Final words
Meaning of Research : The research Flow
Meaning of Research: The Categories of knowledge
in research
• The ways of developing and accessing knowledge come in three broad
categories:
(i) Observation
 Most fundamental way of obtaining information from a source ,
 observe is really strange or exciting, or is difficult to observe.
 Observation - like measurements.
 The observational data processed in some form.
(ii)Models
• approximated
• very complex interactions in the form of a statistical relationship,
• a figure, or
• a set of mathematical equations.
• relationship between different attributes or the behavior.
(iii)The final category is a way of
• arranging or doing things through processes,
• Algorithms or procedures,
• arrangements, or reference designs, to get a certain desired result.
Meaning of Research: The Categories of knowledge
in research
 Meaning of Research …
• Engineering research
– journey that traverses from a (Area → Topic → Problem).
• research area (example: Artificial Intelligence)
• to the topic (example: Health Care) and
• finally onto the problem (example: Based Robotic Technique for
Reusable Waste Materials
– journey can be reverse (Problem → Topic → Area).
• This can happen when one is led to a problem through a connection
to another problem whose top structure is different.
• Engineering research can be
– Existing Problem / new Idea : We can start off by describing some
problem in the world that exists that is bugging or worrying us and that
we should be addressing
– Enhancement : It could be that there is something that already works,
but we do not know why and we would like to understand it better.
 1.1 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
 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.
 The answer is, based on “circumstantial
evidence”, intuition, and imagination, one
guesses what may be a possible conclusion.
 A guess gives a target to work toward, and
after initial attempts, it may turn out that the
guess is incorrect.
 1.1 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH…
 Research objectives where and how to find different
types of information helps one solve engineering
problems.
 Lack of investigation into engineering guidelines,
standards, and best practices result in failures.
 Results is extremely important in decision- making.
 The main aim of the research is to apply scientific
approaches
 In general, the following are different types of
research studies:
• exploratory or formulative,
• descriptive,
 1.1 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH…
 The objectives of engineering research should
be to develop new theoretical or applied
knowledge.
 The objectives should be framed such that in
the event of not being able to achieve the
desired result, i.e also a contribution toward
ongoing research in solving that problem.
 1.2 Motivation in Engineering Research
•The possible motives may be the result of one or more of the following
desires:
i. Studies have shown that intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge,
learning, meaning, purpose, are linked to strong creative performance;
ii. Extrinsic motivating factors like rewards
• for good work include money, fame, awards, praise, and status
• For example: Research outcome may enable obtaining a patent
which is a good way to become rich and famous.
iii. 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.
iv. Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems, intellectual joy,
service to community, and respectability are all driving factors.
 1.2 Motivation in Engineering Research…
v. The following factors would be a mix of extrinsic and
intrinsic aspects:
(i) Wanting to do better than what has been achieved in
the world
(ii) improve the state of the art in technology
(iii) Contribute to the improvement of society,
(iv) Fulfillment of the historical legacy in the immediate
sociocultural context.
vi. Several other factors like
– government directives,
– funding opportunities in certain areas, and
– terms of employment.
 TYPES OF RESEARCH
The basic types of research are as follows:
i. Descriptive vs. Analytical:
ii. Applied vs. Fundamental:
iii. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
iv. Conceptual vs. Empirical:
• Descriptive
-surveys, comparative and correlational methods
• Analytical
- analyze and make critical evaluation of
information
• Applied
-Address practical problems and solutions that can
be implemented for near term benefits
• Fundamental
-Generalization and formulation theories
• Quantitative
-Provides numerical results to validate the claims
• Qualitative
- comparative development of enhancing the
usage patterns and experiences
• Conceptual
- abstract ideas or theories
• Empirical
-Relies on experience and observations
1. Descriptive vs. Analytical
Includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries
of different kinds.
social science and business research we
quite often use the term Ex post facto research
for descriptive research studies.

Analytical research, the researcher has to use

facts or information already available.
Analyse these to make a critical evaluation of the
material.
 1. Descriptive versus Analytical
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;
rather only reports as it is.
Descriptive research also includes attempts to determine
causes even though the variables cannot be controlled.
Analytical research, already available facts for analysis
and critical evaluation are utilized.
Some research studies can be both descriptive and
analytical.
 2. Applied versus Fundamental
Applied research seeks to solve an immediate problem facing
the organization, whereas
fundamental research is concerned with generalizations and
formulation of a theory.
Research concerning natural phenomena or relating to pure
mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
Research to identify social or economic trends, or those that
find out whether certain communications will be read and
understood are examples of applied research.
The primary objective of applied research is to determine a
solution for compelling problems in actual practice, while
basic research is aimed at seeking information which could
have a broad base of applications in the medium to long term.
 2. Applied versus Fundamental
Sl.no Applied Research Fundamental Research
Applied research seeks to solve an fundamental research is concerned with
1. immediate problem facing the generalizations and formulation of a
organization theory.
Fundamental research is concerned with
Applied research is more useful in
the development, verification, refinement
2. making decisions and formulating
of research methods, procedures and
policies.
techniques
Applied research is deductive in nature Fundamental research is inductive in
3. that means it keeps some theories as its nature that means it comes with new
base while conducting research. theory discoveries.
Applied research is also called action Fundamental research is also called basic
4.
research. research or pure research.

Applied research is quantitative in nature. Fundamental research is qualitative in

5.
It is used in day to day life. nature. It is used for future benefits.
 3. Quantitative versus Qualitative:
Quantitative research uses statistical
observations of a sufficiently large number of
representative cases to draw any conclusions.

Qualitative researchers rely on a few non-

representative cases or verbal narrative in
behavioral studies such as clustering effect in
intersections in Transportation engineering to
make a proposition.
 3. Quantitative versus Qualitative:
Quantitative Qualitative

Focus Testing hypothesis or Exploring ideas or

theories formulating hypothesis/
theories

Sample Many respondents or Few respondents

large number of
representative cases

Characterized Testing, measurement, Understand, context,

by objectivity and complexity and subjectivity
replicability

Approach Narrow and specific Broad and complex approach

approach
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical
Conceptual research
• Related to some abstract idea or theory.
• It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop
new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

• Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone,

often without due regard for system and theory
• The researcher must first provide himself with a working
hypothesis or guess as to the probable results. He then works to
get enough facts (data) to prove or disprove his hypothesis
• Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that
certain variables affect other variables in some way.
 1.4 Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem
 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.
 1.4 Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem…
 Sometimes, an oral presentation by somebody which is followed
by asking questions or introspection provides this perspective
which reading papers do not.
 At other times, a development in another subject may have
produced a tool or a result which has direct implications to the
researcher’s subject and may lead to problem identification.
 A worthwhile research problem would have one or more attributes.
 Research community had been expecting for some time, a major
simplification of a central part of the theory, a new result which
would start off a new subject or an area i.e further work in an area.
 Not all problems that one solves will be great, and sometimes
major advancements are made through solutions to small problems
dealt with effectively.
 1.4 Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem…
Some problems are universally considered hard and
open, and have deep implications and connections
to different concepts.
The reality is that most researchers in their lifetime
do not get into such problems.
The question a researcher whether the time
investment is worth it given that the likely outcome
is negative, and so it is a difficult personal decision
to make.
Recent work such as suggest the relevance of these
recommendations.
 1.4 Finding and Solving a Worthwhile Problem…
 The recommended steps to solve a research problem are:
i. Understand the problem, restate it as if it’s your own, visualize
the problem by drawing figures, and determine if something more
is needed.
ii. One must start somewhere and systematically explore possible
strategies to solve the problem or a simpler version of it while
looking for patterns.
iii. 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.
iv. Looking back and reflecting helps in understanding and
assimilating the strategy, and is a sort of investment into the
future.