Introduction To Research Methodupdated (Compatibility Mode) - 2

Bahir Dar Bahir Dar Institute of School of Chemical &
University Technology Food Engineering
Lecture Note on
Introduction to Scientific
Research Methods
2007 E.C Nigus Gabbiye Habtu (PhD)

Objetive
The overall objective of this course is to equip the student
with all the tools and methodological know-how required
for the effective Planning, Execution and Reporting of
his research or project work.
To achieve this objective, we will support you

with fundamental research tools to assist you
throughout the duration of your research/ Thesis
Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

3/27/2015 Nigus Gabbiye Habtu (PhD) 2
Out come of the course
• Be able to identify the originality of your research
topic
• Be able to identified the objectives and sub-objectives

of your research
• Carried out a detailed literature search, created a

database (Endnote and Reference work)
• Using this database, written a literature review
• Carried out a plan of your research, identifying

research question

Out come of the course
Be able to written a research proposal and thesis
Be able to design research process ( experimental design)
Be able to analyze experimental results using
statistical soft ware
Be able to prepare a standard presentation of your
research work

Class Layout
Course Layout
Part 1 Part 3 Part 4

Introduction Part 2
Efficient writing Effective Experimental
Research process presentation Design & Data Analysis
Literature Review & Work planning
Home works and Assignments

Basic Analysis of
Proposal Writing Evaluation Statistics Variance
&Final Presentation
Factorial Regression
Final Examination Design and
Correlation
Class Policy and Assessment
Students must attend at least 85% of the classes in order
to pass the course.
Homework submission dates will be provided and

should be submitted accordingly.
The class will be graded on the basis of

(i) Class attendance and interaction (10%)
(ii) Home works and projects (35%)
(iii) Proposal writig and Final presentation (25%)
(IV) Exam (30%)

Content for Class 1
• Research design and process
• Identification of research theme and objectives
• Scientific methodology and ethics
• Literature Review identification and

contribution to the research theme

What is Research?
“A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search
for new facts in any branch of knowledge.” (The Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary of Current English )
A “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” (Redman

and Mory)
A scientific and systematic search for

pertinent information on a specific topic.

What is Research?
Research comprises defining and redefining

problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested
solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating
data; making deductions and reaching conclusions;
and at last carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis (Clifford Woody at. el).

What is Research?
Research is, thus, an original contribution to the
existing stock of knowledge making for its
advancement. It is the Persuit of truth with the
help of study, observation, comparison and
experiment.
In short, the search for knowledge through

objective and systematic method of finding
solution to a problem is research.

Component of Research Process
What is research Research Process
methodology? Research
question
Is a highly intellectual
Formulation hypothesis
human activity used in the
Research design
investigation of nature and
Experiment, data collection and
preparation
matter and deals with
experimentation, data Analysis and
interpretation
collection, analysis and
interpretation of results.
Research Reporting

Research Process
Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to
effectively carry out research and the desired sequencing of these steps.
FF
FF
F F

Main Component of research
Research Process
A study that seeks to Study and research that
Research solve any practical seeks only pure science.
question problems. E.g. Energy The main motivation is
efficiency to expand basic
knowledge .
Research design
E.g, how does the
universe begin
Process
Experiment, data
collection, preparation
1. Participant
• Truthful
Analysis and • Right to privacy
interpretation Component • Right to be
of research informed
Ethics
Research Reporting • Protection
2. Researcher
• Research
purpose
• Objectivity
• Confidentiality
Mixed Quantitative Qualitative • Dissemination of
faulty conclusion
3/27/2015 Nigus Gabbiye Habtu (PhD) 13 13
The aim of research is to contribute to knowledge, so
that every new result adds to the previous state of
knowledge, forming a basis for new thinking and
interpretation, new implications, identification of
needs for further research. etc.

Selecting a Research Theme
Themes for research can come
Remembering the important
from different sources and is time
taking. questions to ask is to think of
the five ‘Ws’:
Ask yourself why things happen & What? Purpose
the way they do or what if things
& Why? Your motivation
were different.
& Who? Target group
Keep your eyes open! Any & Where? Field, laboratory

source can generate legitimate & When? Seasonal requirement
research ideas or themes.

Why?
Why do you want to do the research? What is its purpose? Okay, you might
have been told to do some research by your tutor or by your boss, but there
should be another reason why you have chosen your particular subject. Reasons
could include the following:
You are interested in the topic.

You have identified a gap in the literature.
You want to obtain funding for a particular service or enterprise and
you need to find out whether there is a demand for what you are proposing.

Whatever your reason, think very carefully about why you are doing the
research as this will affect your topic, the way you conduct the research
and the way in which you report the results. You should consider the
following points:
If you’re conducting the research for a university dissertation or

project, does your proposed research provide the opportunity to
reach the required intellectual standard? Will your research generate
enough material to write a dissertation of the required length? Will
your research generate too much data that would be impossible to
summarise into a report of the required length?
If you’re conducting research for funding purposes, have you found out
whether your proposed funding body requires the information to be
presented in a specific format? If so, you need to plan your research in a
way which will meet that format.

Common Sources of themes:
• Personal Interests and Curiosities,

• Casual Observation
• Practical Problems or Questions
• Vague and Fleeting Thoughts
• Reading Reports of Others’ Observations
• Some theories
Identifying and describing a research topic is

not a simple task and requires a lot of efforts!!
Common Sources of themes:
Common mistakes
in choosing a research topic:
• Topic does not interest the investigator,
• Topic is too safe or too easy,
• Topic is too difficult,
• Topic is too broad,
• Inadequate literature in the topic

You do not need to know everything about a topic,
and you certainly do not need to read everything
about a topic before you being research. You should
read enough to gain a solid, basic understanding of
the current knowledge in the area of your interest.

Formulation of research question
Discover
Problems How ?
Ideas and opportunities
Exploration
can be found
Literature review,
discussion with
people,
preliminary Questions to be raised
experiments, What is the research question?
Define research observation
question Is it a good question? has it
been answered before?
Several research questions Priority Is it a useful question to

can be formulated research work on?
question
Is the question adequately
answered?
Research
design Does it have an adequate
contribution to knowledge?

Research Proposal Process
Research Process A hypothesis is a suggested
Research answer to your question and must
question
be measurable in some way.
Research design Research
Question Revise
Experiment, data Decision Reject
Submit
collection, preparation [Discuss &
Decide]
Analysis and
interpretatio Accept
Develop Stop
n
Research
Proposal Revise
Research
Reporting
Submit Decision Reject
[Discuss &
Decide]
Accept
Execute
research design
Research Design Process
Research Design
Research methodology design Strategy
[Type, Purpose, time-dimension, scope]
All hypotheses in
Experimental scientific research
Data collection Sampling require testing.
Modelling
Design Design A well-designed
Field survey experiment must
include an appropriate
sample size, controls,
blinds where
Revise Pilot testing Revise necessary, and a plan
[Statistical&
accuracy technique] for statistical analyses
of the data.
Accept
Execute research

Research Design Process
Important considerations
The means of obtaining the information
Exploration of the way in which selected means of
obtaining information will be organized
The time available for research
The cost factor relating to research, i.e the finance available
for the purpose

What is literature review?
Definition: A review of the literature is a classification and
evaluation of what researchers have worked on a topic of
interest, organized according to a guiding concept such as
your research objective, thesis, or the problem/issue you
wish to address.
It is a summary and synopsis of a particular area of

research, allowing anybody reading the paper to
establish why you are pursuing this particular research
theme.
Why do a literature review?
To shows the reader that you are a scholar in the field - that you
know what the important issues are, what has gone on before you,
that you know and understand the issues and that you have given
them critical thought.
Conclusions from a review of the literature might suggest new areas

for research by identifying gaps in the knowledge. In doing so it is
possible to identify what is known and what is not known, where is
the gap of knowledge in the literature and to formulate a specific
problem to study.

More practical reasons:
• Need to know what has already been done (not just to show you
are a scholar)
• Organize information and relate it to the research question you are

developing.
• Synthesize results into a summary of what is and isn't known.
• Identify controversy when it appears in the literature develop

questions for further research
The value of your review does not simply

depend on how many sources you find
27
Components of literature review
Literature review requires four stages:
• Problem formulation—which topic or field is being

examined and what are its component issues?
• Literature search—finding materials relevant to the

subject being explored
• Data evaluation—determining which literature makes

a significant contribution to the understanding of the
topic
• Analysis and interpretation—discussing the findings

and conclusions of pertinent information
Important considerations
Information seeking: the ability to
scan the literature efficiently using
manual or computerized methods to
identify a set of potentially useful
articles and books.
Critical appraisal: the ability to apply

principles of analysis to identify those
studies which are unbiased and valid.
Note: Your readers want more just than

a descriptive list of articles and books.
Reviewing Literature
While reviewing a literature, you have to ask your self
What were the authors trying to discover?
Why is this piece of research important?
What information do you have on the sample?
How was the data collected?
What were the results?
What do the authors conclude and to what do they
attribute their findings?
Can you accept the findings as true?
How can you apply these findings to your own work?
Questions to be asked after reviewing
Do I have a specific question which my literature review helps to
define my objective?
What type of literature review am I conducting?
What is the scope of my literature review?
How good are my information seeking skills?
Is there a specific relationship between the literature I've chosen
to review and the problem I've formulated?
Have I cited and discussed studies contrary to my perspective?
Will the reader find my literature review relevant, appropriate and
useful?

Final check list
Critical Evaluation of the Literature
Have you indicated the purpose of the review?
Have you organized your material according to issues?
Is there a logic to the way you organized the material?
Have you been sufficiently critical of design and methodological
issues?
Have you indicated when results were conflicting or inconclusive
and discussed possible reasons?
Have you indicated the relevance of each reference to your
research?
Dose the summary of each reviewed study reflect the essential
components of the study design?
Final check list
Does the synthesis summary follow a logical sequence that leads
the reader to why there is the need for the particular research or non
research project?
Did the organization of the reviewed studies (i.e.

chronologically, or according to concepts/variables, or
type/design of study) follow logically, enhancing the ability of
the reader to evaluate the need for the particular research or
non research project?
Does the literature review follow the purpose(s) of the study or

non research project?
The review provides a rationale for your research.

3/27/2015
Sources of Literature:
Primary Sources: It is first hand data that is collected
through interviews, experiments, and questionnaires.
Secondary Sources: Secondary source of evidence is

information published about research that is done by others
previously.
Searching through millions of publications can be a

daunting prospect. One should develop a strategy and
follow in a logical way. An important rule is to record
where you searched, which terms you used, and what
you found.

Resources
Strategies to be followed could
include:
• Electronic search – requires use of
keywords
• Manual searching – contents, lists
catalogue the tables of contents and
Books keywords
Journals • Recording your search – cards, pieces of
Data base
paper, bibliographic software, etc.
Interview
Reports, Records • Referencing published work –
WWW engines (Internet) acknowledgment, plagiarism, vary among
(http://www.scopus.com/scopus/home.url)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/ journals, etc.
Final check list
Selection of Sources
Why did you include some of the literature and exclude others?
Which years did you exclude?
Have you emphasized recent developments?
Have you focused on primary sources with only selective use
of secondary sources?
Is the literature you have selected relevant?
Is your bibliographic data complete?

Final out put of the review
Synthesize previous results

Identify controversy
Develop questions
The final product will be a unique and appropriate integration of

evidence you have located outside yourself and personal insights, and set
objective.

Summary - Background
This section should contain a rationale for your research which answers:
Why are you undertaking the project?
Why is the research needed?
This rationale should be placed within the context of existing research or

within your own experience and/or observation. You need to demonstrate
that you know what you’re talking about and that you have knowledge of
the literature surrounding this topic.
If you’re unable to find any other research which deals specifically with
your proposed project, you need to say so, illustrating how your proposed
research will fill this gap. If there is other work which has covered this area,
you need to show how your work will build on and add to the existing
knowledge. Basically, you have to convince people that you know what
you’re talking about and that the research is important.

Research Objective
The aim of research is to find out the truth which is
hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.
This is your opportunity to clearly indicate which
component you will address from the general
issue/problem outlined in your introduction/literature
review.
Main Categories of research objective
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);
Research Objective
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);
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between

variables (such studies are known as hypothesis-testing
research studies).
The objectives should be written after the statement

of the research problem is developed and before the
methodology for the study is planned.
Research Objective
1. The general objective or purpose of the research
indentifies in general terms what is to be accomplished
by the research project and why? - related to
stakeholder/academic enquiry, to your client population,
or to society in general.
2. The specific objectives identify, in greater detail, the

specific aims of the research project often breaking
down what is to be accomplished into smaller logical
components
Research Objective
How can be stated research objectives?
Research objectives can be stated as:
Questions: ‘the objectives of this study are to answer
the following questions…’
Positive sentences: the objectives of this study are to

determine
Hypotheses: ‘the objective of this study is to verify the

following hypotheses
Research Objective
Objectives should be stated using ‘action
verbs’ that are specific enough to be measured
• To determine
• To compare
• To verify
• To calculate
• To describe

Research Objective
The objective developed must be

• Specific
• Clear
• Must state what action
will be performed
I will do A, so I accomplished B

Motivation of Research
Motivation could be
Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems,
i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research;
Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential
benefits;
Desire to be of service to society;
Desire to get respectability.
What is your
motivation ?

Summary

Experimental Design (ED)
Definition: ED is a planned approach for determining
cause and effect relationships between input and output
parameters.
Purpose: Collect the maximum amount of relevant

information with a minimum expenditure of time and
resources.
For example, you may wish to compare the mean tensile

strength from two types of mortar formulation to find
whether a measurable difference exists in these two mortar
formulation.
Important tips in DOE
Reduction or minimization of total number of trials
Simultaneous varying of all factors that formalizes
experimenter’s activities
Choice of a clear strategy that enables reliable
solutions to be obtained after each sequence of
experiments.

Purposes of Experimental designed
• To provide estimates of treatment effects for the population

or differences among population treatment effects
• To provide an efficient way of confirming or denying

conjectures about the response to treatment
• To assess the reliability of estimates and conjectures

Purposes of Experimental designed
• To estimate the variability of the experimental material
• To increase precision by eliminating extraneous

variation from the comparison of interest
• To provide a systematic, efficient pattern for conducting

an experiment

Experimental Design
Before designing can be chosen, the following questions must be answered:
How to measure the response and the factor’s effect?

How many of the factors will affect the response?
How many of the factors will be considered
simultaneously?
How many replications of the experiment will be
required?
What type of data analysis is required (regression,
ANOVA, etc.)?
What level of difference in effects is considered
significant?
It is important to remember also that the design of experiment should be as

simple as possible and consistent with the requirements of the problem.
Experimental Design Tools
Analysis of variance
Optimal use of factor space
Successive experimenting Cause and effect
Relationship
Fully factorial design
Statistical estimates, etc.
Regression and correlation analysis

52
Classical Design of Experiments
The traditional approach demands considerable material expense and is
more time consuming, for the effect of each factor experiment may be
designed to investigate one factor at a time so that all other independent
variables (factors) are held constant.
At the same time, the factors have no more than 4 or 5 different values
(levels of variation) as the total number of trials is particularly big. If, for
instance, the effect of five factors is to be tested where each of them may
be varied at five levels, then for the complete testing of the research
subject it is necessary to realize 55=3125 different combinations of
factors-trials with no trial replications meant to reduce experimental
errors.

Classical Design of Experiments
The plotted number of classical experimental design points is hard to
realize, so that in practice their number is reduced at the expense of either
reducing the investigated factor space-domain or the number of factor
levels. In both cases, the confidence of conclusions, based on
experimental results, is reduced.
Assume we have the cement production in a chemical reactor whereby the

product yield y is essentially affected by three factors: X1 reaction mixture
temperature, X2 pressure in reactor and X3 time of reaction. If all factors are
changed at two levels (p=2) then the research program is encompassed by four
trials (N=4), with one experiment at once.

Example: A research system with k factor and p level has 4 trial
N = k(p-1) + 1 Ri = f(T, P, t)
= 4 trial
Number Factor level combination y

of trial X1 X2 X3 Factor effect on product yield
1 - - - y1
EX1= y2 –y1;T effect on yield;
2 + - - y2 EX2=y3 –y1 ;P effect on yield;
3 - + - y3 EX3=y4 –y1 ;t effect on yield;
4 - - + y4
Precision can checked by repeating the experiment

The trial repeating does not offer new information, rather may
result additional errors.
Based on data analysis one can conclude that:
Lack of interaction effects;
The result of referential trial (y1) is overestimated for it
is used three times in determining the effects.
Figure : Results of the one-factor-at-a-time strategy for the golf experiment.
Based on this kind of analysis the researcher may decide to check the
precision of the results by repeating the trials. Precision is the repeatability of
the results of a particular experiment. However, apart from the possibility of
determining experimental error, the trial repeating does not offer new
information.
Statistical design of experiments-DOE
The correct approach to dealing with several factors is to conduct a
factorial experiment. This is an experimental strategy in which factors are
varied together, instead of one at a time.
Full factorial design
Number Factor level combination y Remark
of trial X1 X2 X3
1 - - - y1 Reference
2 + - - y2
3 - + - y3
4 + + - y4
5 - - + y5
6 + - + y6
7 - + + y7
8 + + + y8

Statistical design of experiments-DOE
Factor effect on yield

E X1=(y2 +y4 +y6 +y8 )/4-(y1 +y3 +y5 +y7 )/4
EX2 = (y3 +y4 +y7 +y8 )/4-(y1 +y2 +y5+y6 )/4
EX3 = (y5 +y6 +y7 +y8 )/4-(y1+y2 +y3 +y4 )/4
EX1X2 = (y1 +y4 +y5 +y8 )/4-(y2 +y3 +y6+y7 )/4
EX2X3 = (y1 +y3 +y7 +y8 )/4-(y23+y4 +y5+y6 )/4
EX1X3 = (y1 +y3 +y6 +y8 )/4-(y2 +y4 +y5+y7 )/4
EX1X2X3 = (y2+y3 +y5 +y8 )/4-(y21+y4 +y6+y7 )/4

Advantage of Factorial Design
It makes possible asserting lawfulness of phenomena in the
experimental space domain as a whole.
It offers wider possibilities of testing, the effects of factor
varying on final result, since results of all trials are used for
calculation of the effects.
It enables establishing the size of factor interactions,
Data accuracy from an active experiment is reached
through considerably fewer statistically designed trials

Advantage of Factorial Design
The final research objective setup is achieved in a
systematic well thought out and organized way in a
short time with considerably fewer runs
In a classical experiment one is usually unable to

take into account uncontrolled changes, errors
resulting from material variation, bias errors and errors
resulting from the sequence of testing.

Assignments
1. Carry out a literature review on your area of research interest
following research design process (Water and waste management,
catalytic system, modeling and simulation, CFD, heat and mass
transfer, material synthesis and characterization etc…). Show
clearly the state of art of your topic.
2. Using the existing version of ENDNOTE create literature data base

(at least 10 reference should be cited) which could be utilized in the
literature review.
3. State clearly the originality of your research theme and its
contribution to the scientific community.
N.B: Maximum two pages including reference material
Sources
http://wwwlibrary.csustan.edu/lboyer/education/grad_ed.htm
http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/postgrad/
http://qualityrg4.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/research-concepts-and-statement-of-
problem/


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Bahir Dar Bahir Dar Institute of School of Chemical &

University Technology Food Engineering

2007 E.C Nigus Gabbiye Habtu (PhD)

To achieve this objective, we will support you

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

• Be able to identified the objectives and sub-objectives

• Carried out a detailed literature search, created a

• Using this database, written a literature review

• Carried out a plan of your research, identifying

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Be able to design research process ( experimental design)

Be able to analyze experimental results using

statistical soft ware

Be able to prepare a standard presentation of your

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4

Home works and Assignments

Homework submission dates will be provided and

The class will be graded on the basis of

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

• Research design and process

• Identification of research theme and objectives

• Scientific methodology and ethics

• Literature Review identification and

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

A “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” (Redman

A scientific and systematic search for

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Research comprises defining and redefining

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

In short, the search for knowledge through

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Keep your eyes open! Any & Where? Field, laboratory

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

You are interested in the topic.

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

If you’re conducting the research for a university dissertation or

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

• Personal Interests and Curiosities,

Identifying and describing a research topic is

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Several research questions Priority Is it a useful question to

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

The means of obtaining the information

Exploration of the way in which selected means of

obtaining information will be organized

The time available for research

The cost factor relating to research, i.e the finance available

for the purpose

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

It is a summary and synopsis of a particular area of

Conclusions from a review of the literature might suggest new areas

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem

• Organize information and relate it to the research question you are

• Synthesize results into a summary of what is and isn't known.

• Identify controversy when it appears in the literature develop

The value of your review does not simply

Literature review requires four stages: