10/8/2009

What is RESEARCH? Lecture Outline/Objectives

• Define research and its importance
• Differentiate pure and applied research.
• Define a thesis.
• Identify important considerations in choosing a
research topic
• Identify important considerations in choosing a
mentor (thesis adviser)
• Familiarize and recognize the need for safety and
ethics in research.

What is research? What is research?

• Research - from Old French recerchier, from
re- + cerchier, sercher , meaning to search or
to seek
- Merriam-Webster online dictionary and thesaurus
• Reasons for searching/seeking:
– For more explanations
– For verifiable truth
– To make discoveries
• “ the manipulation of things, concepts, or
symbols for the purpose of generalizing; to
extend, correct, or verify knowledge whether
that knowledge aids in the construction of a
theory or in the practice of art”
- Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences

What is research? What is research?

• “ newly discovered facts or the practical
application of such new or revised
conclusions, theories, or laws”
- Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary
• systematic activity that is directed toward the
development of an organized body of knowledge;
• systematic objective analysis and recording of controlled
situations leading to the development of generalizations,
principles or theories;
• A formal, scientific, systematic, and intensive process of
carrying on a method of analysis of controlled data to be
able to obtain information as new knowledge

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What are the benefits of research?

What is research?
All researches is directed to Research enriches our lives…

 extension of knowledge  Fast and comfortable land, sea, and air

transportation
 solution to a problem that are given in statistical forms
or in quantitative terms, and are used in the analysis  Wonders of electricity, electronics, and technological
of data advances
 Reduces our burden of work
Principal purpose: preservation and improvement of the
quality of human life  Improves our judgment
 Increases satisfaction in multiple ways

Scientific Research Scientific Research

Basic research involves the search for knowledge for its
own sake. Applied research involves studying a specific problem in
industry or the environment.
The findings of basic research can someday be applied
to a specific problem in industry or the environment. • Prototype of a wastewater treatment system that uses
bacteria
• Some chemists work out the fine points of atomic and molecular
structure • Improving the productivity and sustainability of rice-
• Food technologists at the University of the Philippines Los Baños wheat systems
have identified local squash varieties that may be used for food
processing.

Outputs of research Outputs of research

• Special Problem
• Thesis
– special type of thesis
– conducted by an undergraduate or graduate student
– does not require the complete elements of a thesis
– partial fulfillment of the course or degree • Preliminaries
– defended before a panel of examiners/reviewers • Text
• Reference materials
• Research paper – a partial fulfillment usually for a master’s degree program,
– does not require complete parts of a thesis under care and approval of an adviser
– written as partial fulfillment of a course by a graduate or – need not be defended before a panel of
undergraduate student examiners/reviewers

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Essential Factors
MONEY
RESEARCH
MEN
Activities in research
• Identification of a research problem
• Data collection
• Analysis of data
• Summarizing of results
• Drawing conclusions
Getting started
• Select a research topic
• Define the research objective/s
• Determine the information requirements
• Select appropriate tools
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Procedures in research
• Recognition for a need for research
• Formulation of a specific goal
• Devising a specific plan of procedure
MATERIALS
• Subdivision of problems
• Formulation of hypotheses
• Use of critical assumptions
• Use of specific, measurable data as admissible
Getting started
• Select a research topic
• Do your homework
• Keep an open mind
• Focus, focus, focus
• Take one step at a time
Finding a general topic area
• Common sources of research topics
– Personal interests and curiosities
– Casual observation
– Practical problems or questions
– Vague and fleeting thoughts
– Reading reports of others’ considerations
– Behavioral theories
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Finding a general topic area Research topics

• Common mistakes in choosing a research topic • Electronics and electrical engineering
– Topic is not interesting to a student – IECEP (http://www.iecep.ph/national/)
– Topic is too safe or too easy • Digital signal processing
– Topic is too difficult • Electronics
– Topic is too broad • Instrumentation and control
– Sticking with the first topic that comes to mind • Microelectronics
– Inadequate literature • Robotics
• Telecommunications

Research topics Finding a thesis adviser

• Civil engineering
– PICE (http://www.pice.org.ph/console.htm)
• Structural engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Transportation engineering
• Water resource and hydraulics engineering
• Construction management and engineering
• Common considerations in finding a mentor
– Area of specialization
– Source of funds
– Personal relations to the mentor
– “Feedback” from previous students
– Output of the mentor
– Others…

The Scientific Method of Investigation Observation vs. Inference

• Example:
• The process that lies at the center of scientific – When an acid is added to a metal :
inquiry
• Steps: • Observation : Bubbling and fizzing
occurs
– 1. Observations/Data gathering
• Inference : Hydrogen gas is released
–Qualitative - does not involve a number
–Quantitative – also called measurement;
involves a number and a unit

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• 2. Natural Law- a verbal or mathematical statement

Induction or inductive reasoning : involves
which relates a series of observation consistently
using a relatively small set of specific
observed
observations as the basis for forming a
general statement about a larger set of – Examples:
possible observations Law of Conservation of Mass
Boyle’s Law (P vs V of gases)

Scientific Method
• 3. Define a problem
is a systematic approach to research
• 4. Hypothesis – an educated guess to
explain an observation
• 5. Experimentation – testing procedure to  Hypothesis
 A tentative explanation for a set of observations
test the hypothesis
 Unconfirmed explanation of an observed
• 6. Theory – a hypothesis that survived phenomenon that can be tested by further
testing through experimentation research
 Validity is tested by further experiments

Scientific Method Scientific Method

is a systematic approach to research
 Experiments
 Procedural steps taken to study some phenomenon
 Hypothesis under known conditions
 A tentative explanation for a set of observations
 Unconfirmed explanation of an observed  Scientific data
phenomenon that can be tested by further  Facts; collected by making observations or
research measurements
 Validity is tested by further experiments

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Scientific Method Scientific Method

 Theory  Model
 An explanation of observed behavior in terms of a
simple model that has familiar properties  Approximate representation or simulation of a system
being studied
 Natural law
 Empirical generalization describing the behavior of  Mental image of a phenomena in terms of something
nature we are familiar with
qualitative statement makes visible the invisible
mathematical formula

Every Science…. Scientific Method:

Chooses to study a Collection of Data

class of phenomena

Describe in a Formulation of Laws

systematic way

Formulation of a
‘explain’ in terms of Model, Theory or
principles Conceptual Scheme

The Scientific Method References

Observation • Ariola, Mariano M. (2006). Principles and Methods of Research. Manila:

REX Book Store, Inc.
• Gravetter, Frederick J. and Lori-Ann B. Foranzo. (2009). Research Methods
Natural law for the Behavioral Sciences (3rd ed). California: Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning.
Repeated
testing and
modification Hypothesis
(Tentative model)

Theory Experimentation

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Science & Technology Human values

• Logic
• Science – systematic body of knowledge • Diversity of ideas
Based on experimentation, observation, careful
reasoning
• Open-mindedness
• Curiosity
• Technology – sum total of the processes by • Prudence
which humans modify the materials of nature • Honesty
to better satisfy their needs and wants • Patience and perseverance
• Meaningful relationships

Safety and Ethics in Research Ethics

• Norms of conduct
• Related to the disciplines that study standards
of conduct
• Method, procedure, or perspective for
deciding how to act and for analyzing complex
problems and issues

Why follow ethics in research?
• Promotes the aims of research
• Promotes the values that are essential to
collaborative work
• Holds researchers accountable to the public
• Helps build public support for research
• Promotes a variety of other important moral
and social values
Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Honesty
– In all scientific communications
• Objectivity
– Avoid bias, self-deception
• Integrity
– Keep promises and agreements; sincerity;
consistency in thought and action
• Carefulness
– Avoid careless errors; good documentation

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Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Openness
– Sharing of data, results, tools, ideas and
resources; constructive criticism and new ideas
• Respect for intellectual property
– Patents, copyrights, and other forms of IP
– Use of unpublished data, methods, results
– “Give credit where credit is due.”
– Never plagiarize.
Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Respect for colleagues
– Respect and fair treatment
• Social responsibility
– Promote social awareness, prevent or mitigate
social harms
• Non-discrimination
– Against colleagues or students: gender, race,
ethnicity, religion, sexuality
Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Animal care
– Respect and care for animals
– Avoid poor experimental design which jeopardize
the welfare of animals
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Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Confidentiality
– Protect confidential communications
• Responsible publication
– For advancement of research and scholarship
– Avoid duplicative publication
• Responsible mentoring
– Educate, mentor, guide, and advise students
Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Competence
– Maintain and improve
– Promote competence in science as a whole
• Legality
– Recognize and follow relevant laws and policies
set by agencies, institutions, and government.
Codes and Policies for Research Ethics
• Human subjects protection
– Minimize harms and risks; Maximize benefits
– Human dignity, privacy, and autonomy
– Take special precautions with vulnerable
populations
– Distribute benefits and burdens of research fairly
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References for the clip art Activity

• http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-
• 2 general research topics of interest
4npEHXMGVg/Se6ETs9K5zI/AAAAAAAABPY/MzkAXWlYjGc/s320/plagiaris – Indicate your reason for choosing these general
m_nite.gif
• http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kDoyvibiZag/RbdNmLjcEVI/AAAAAAAAAVY/sPi topics
ndGcVVN4/s320/ethics.jpg
• http://bigthink.com/system/idea_photos/136/normal/images.jpg
• http://www.aum.edu/uploadedImages/Faculty_and_Staff/Sponsored_Pro
grams/Research_Council/j0387779.jpg
• 3 subtopics for each of the 2 broad topic
• http://www.globalpov.com/images/plagiarism.jpg – Indicate how you limit your topics to these 3
• http://www.mequoda.com/wp-content/uploads//picture-274.png subtopics