WOLLO University

College of Engineering
School of Electrical & Computer
Engineering

ECEG 4341- Research Methods and

Presentation

Lec-1: Research methods

14-January- 2021
By :Shegaw M.
Email: smelak8@gmail.com
smelak7@gmail.com
shegawm@kiot.edu.et 1
 Contents

◦ Necessity, types and levels of researches

◦ Information sources and means for R & D works
◦ Problem formulation, modeling & experimentation
◦ Data collection/generation and processing

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
Necessity, types and levels of researches


Humans have vital instinct of

questioning

man employs for obtaining the attain fuller

knowledge of whatever the understanding of the
unknown/ research unknown

This questioning is the mother utilize the knowledge

of all knowledge and the acquired to improve their
method quality of life.
 Humans
need much more knowledge and understanding to overcome existing and emerging
challenging problems in society, business, technology, the environment, etc.
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 Cont’d…
 Research
one effective way of solving scientific problems.
systematic investigation into existing or new knowledge.
process of arriving as dependable solution to a problem through
the planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation
of data.
 Research is the most important process
for advancing knowledge and promoting progress
to enable humans effectively to his environment to accomplish his
purpose and to resolve his conflicts.

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 Cont’d…
 Term Research
Research = ‘Re’ + ‘Search’
again and to find out
again something
Research :- to observe the phenomena again and again
from different dimensions
 General Flow of Research

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 Definitions of Research

 Research is used to
 establish or confirm facts,
 reaffirm the results of previous work
 solve new or existing problems
 support theorems
 develop new theories.
 Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
 “careful investigation through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”
• Magraz
 “an instrument or means used to enrich knowledge, accelerate
development, and enable individuals and society solve problems in a
coordinated manner.
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 Cont’d…

 Hemstater :
 “a structured and coordinated exploration/testing used to obtain
new findings the exploration methods of which are sufficiently
acceptable to experts in the profession.”
 D. Slesinger and M. Stephenson

 “the manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of

generalizing to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that
knowledge aids in construction of theory or in the practice of an art.”
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 Cont’d…
 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
 "a studious review or examination; especially:
investigation or experimentation aimed at
 discovery and interpretation of facts,
 revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of
new facts, or
 practical application of such new or revised
theories or laws“

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 Cont’d…
 P.M. Cook:
 “a honest exhaustive, intelligent searching for facts and their
meanings or implications with reference to a given problem.
 characteristics of research in his definition:
 honest and extensive process.
 facts are studied with understanding.
 facts are discovered in the light of problem.
 problem-centered.
 findings are valid and verifiable.
 should contribute new knowledge in that field.

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 General characteristics of Research

 places emphasis upon the discovery of general

principles.
 an exact systematic and accurate investigation.
 uses certain valid data gathering devices.
 logical and objective.
 easy-going and measured activity.
 carefully recorded and reported.
 Conclusions and generalizations are arrived at
carefully and cautiously.
 requires an inter-disciplinary approach:
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Objectives Of Research

 General objective of R&D activity is

 to improve the quality of life of humans at affordable cost while at
the same time restore, maintain and improve our global environment.

 Major objectives of research :

1. Theoretical objective
 theoretically formulate new theories, principles or laws.
 explanatory / contribute some basic knowledge to human/.

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 Cont’d…
2. Factual objective
factual find out new facts.

descriptive / describe facts or events which happened previously/.

3. Application objective
 does not contribute a new knowledge in the trust of human
knowledge but suggests new applications.

By application we mean improvement and modification in

practice.
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TYPES OF RESEARCHES
 Research can be classified in terms of:
◦ Major objectives of the research (4)
◦ Goal of research (2)
◦ Approaches of research (2)
◦ Element of the Research to be studied (2)
◦ Type of data used in research (2)
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 Classification of Research based on the
major objectives of the research
1. Exploratory/ formulative research
 used to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it.
 Example: Space journey to the planet Mercury.
2. Descriptive research
 used to show accurately the characteristics of a particular
entity (individual, situation or a group)
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 Cont’d…

3. Diagnostic research studies

 used to determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something else
4. Hypothesis-testing (experimental) research
 used to test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables.

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 Classification of Research based on the Goal of the
research

 Primary goal of a research is problem solving.

 nature of the problem that the research attempts to solve
◦ theoretical or practical
◦ building a theory or solving immediate practical
problems.
Based on these goals, two broad classifications of research:
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 Cont’d…
1. pure/ basic research
 discovery, interpretation, documentation of theoretical and scientific
laws of nature for the advancement of human knowledge.
 researches done in physics, biology, chemistry

2. Applied research
 aims at finding an immediate solution to identify problems and/or their
sources and the means to obtain solutions on such practical areas
 Engineering, health, education, socio economics, agriculture, etc.
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 Classification of Research based on the Approach of the
research

1. Quantitative research
 based on the measurement of quantity or amount.
 applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in
terms of quantity.
2. Qualitative research
 concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e.,
phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind.
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 Classification of Research based
on the element of the Research to be studied
1. Analytic research
 the system is given/ known but the problem may be to
determine/ understand
I.Either the outputs given a set of inputs or
II.possible inputs for a specified set of given outputs.
2. Synthetic research
 set of inputs and a specified set of outputs are known.
The problem is to determine/model the system itself.
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Classification of Research based on the data types of the
Research

1. Primary research
 Involves new/ noble ideas or methods in finding
solutions to problems.
 Example: archeological research.
2. Secondary research
 Bases itself on primary research in posing problems
for which it then seeks improved or new solutions.
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 Research Methods versus Methodology
 Research methods may be understood as all those methods/techniques that are
used for conduction of research. It refer to the methods the researchers use in
performing research operations.
 we use in performing research operations such as making observations, recording
data, techniques of processing data and the like.
 research methods can be put into three groups:
 Collection of data
 Statistical/analytical techniques:

 Evaluate the (validity and) accuracy of the results

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 Cont’d…
 Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may
be understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically.

 The scope of research methodology is wider than that of research methods.

 Thus, when we talk of research methodology we not only talk of the research methods
but also

 consider the logic behind the methods we use in the context of our research study and

 explain why we are using a particular method or technique and

 why we are not using others

 understand the assumptions underlying various techniques

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 Steps of Action Research
 research process is similar to undertaking a journey.
 important decisions to make under a research
journey -
1) What you want to find out about
 what research questions (problems) you want to
find answers to;
2) How to go about finding their answers.
 practical steps through which you must pass
 research methodology for finding answers to your
research questions.
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 steps of research
1. Selection of a research topic
2. Selection and formulation of the research problem
3. Literature survey and reference collection
4. Assessment of current status of the topic chosen
5. Formulation of hypotheses
6. Design of research
7. Collection of data
8. Analysis of data
9. Formulation of conclusions
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10. Report
 Characteristics of a researcher
 sensitive in his nature.
 problem-minded.
 have a scientific outlook about the area.
 have tolerance and patience.
 interested in the field studied.
 honest and devotee to his work.
 full understanding about the functions and
activities of his job.
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 Cont’d…
 curiosity to find out something new or to answer
some questions.
 creative and imaginative.
 scientific attitude for studying and observing things.
 objectivity in his thinking.
 democratic.
 open mind so that he can discuss his problems with
his colleagues and experts.
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Information sources and means for Research works

 the first and most crucial step of research process.

 Identification of a research problem
 identification of a problem is not selecting a topic of a
research or statement of the problem.
 they are inclusive.
 topic or title or statement of the problem is the
verbal statement of the problem.
 topic is the definition of the problem which
delimits or pin points the task of a researcher.

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 Cont’d…

 usual practice of the researchers

they select the topic of the study.
They construct the problem on the basis of the topic.
It results that the researcher has no involvement in his research
activities.
 identifying the exact nature and dimensions of a problem is of major
importance in research work
 investigator should learn how to recognize and define a problem.

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 Sources of Problems
 Personal experiences of the investigator / daily problems
 extensive study of available literature-research abstracts,
journals, hand-books of research international abstracts
 his field of investigation
 recent trends, new innovations and technological changes
 consulting supervisors, experts of the field and most
experienced person of the field.
 Unexplored areas

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 Steps in defining a problem
1. Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to
you
2. Dissect the broad area into sub areas
3. Select what is of most interest to you / delimiting the
elements of the problem.
4. Review the researches’ conducted in area to know
the recent trend and studies in the area
5. Raise research questions
6. Formulate objectives
7. Assess your objectives
8. Double check

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 Criteria for Selection of the
Problem
 Novelty and avoidance of unnecessary duplications.
 Interest, intellectual curiosity, and drive
 Magnitude
 Measurement of concepts
 Level of expertise
 Relevance
 Availability of data and method
 Ethical issues
 Special equipment and working conditions.

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 Evaluating the Problem

 The proposed research problem should be addressed the

following searching questions
o Is the problem significant?
o Is the problem a new one?
o Is the problem feasible?

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 Cont’d…
Hildreth Hoke McAshan proposed an objective guide
for judging the merits of a problem. The following
questions may be raised for this purpose.
 Is the problem really important?
 Is the problem interesting to others?
 Is the chosen problem a real problem?
 Does the problem display originality and
creativeness?
 Am I really concerned with finding the solution?
 Am I able to state hypotheses from the problem in a
testable form?

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 Problem formulation, modeling & experimentation

Statement of Problem

After selecting a problem, it should be stated carefully

 State the problem in questionnaire form or in an equivalent form.
 Specify the problem in detail and in precise terms
 List the assumptions made
 Remove the ambiguities, if any, in the statement of the problem
 Examine the feasibility of a particular solution

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 Cont’d…

 Kerlinger has identified three criteria of good Problem Statements.

1. A problem should be concerned with relation between two or

more variables.

2. It should be stated “clearly and unambiguously in question form.”

3. It should be amenable to empirical testing.

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 Need of defining a problem

 The definition of a problem serves the following purposes:

 The definition of a problem sets the direction of the study.
 The definition reveals the methodology or procedure of the study.
 The definition helps the researcher to control subjectivity or biases of the
researcher.
 The definition of the problem suggests and specifies the variables to be
taken up into the investigation through a problem involved into so many
variables.
 The definition makes the research work practicable.
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 Precautions that are to be taken in identifying
the problem

 words used for defining a problem should have a single

meaning.

 statement of the problem must be brief but

comprehensive.

 problem should have practical importance.

 statement of the problem should have certain

rationale.

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 Assumptions about the Problem
 makes the research work feasible.
 delimits the scope of the problem.
 establishes the proper frame of reference.
 aids in the development of testable hypotheses.

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 Data collection/generation and processing

 Reading assignment

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