RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

BEL5003
SYLLABUS CONTENT
01 Literature Review, Academic Writing and
Referencing

02 Overview of research methodologies

03 Qualitative
Qualitative and
and Quantitative
Quantitative research
research methods
methods

04 Research ethics

05 Proposal writing

06 Critical review and research problem derivation

07 Basic Statistics for Research

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
LECTURE 01 – ACADEMIC WRITING, REFERENCING, LITERATURE REVIEW

Suvini Karunaratne (MSc, BSc)

Malsha Maduwanthi (MSc, BSc)
ACADEMIC WRITING
 CHARACTERISTICS OF ACADEMIC WRITING
• Good academic writing is:
• Clear - it avoids unnecessary detail
• Simple - it uses direct language, avoiding vague or complicated sentences
• Avoid Technical terms and jargon - used only when they are necessary for accuracy
• Neutral - it avoids making assumptions (Everyone knows that ...) and unproven statements (It
can never be proved that ...)
• It presents how and where data were collected and supports its conclusions with evidence
• Structured logically - ideas and processes are expressed in a logical order
• The text is divided into sections with clear headings
• Accurate - it avoids vague and ambiguous language (about…, approximately….., almost….
• Has a clear objective - statements and ideas are supported by appropriate evidence that
demonstrates how conclusions have been drawn as well as acknowledging the work of others
ELEMENTS OF A SCIENTIFIC PAPER
1. Title

2. Abstract / summary

3. Introduction

4. Materials and Methods

5. Results

6. Discussion

7. Works Cited

8. Appendices
 TITLE
• Informative and specific
• Concise
• Understandable
• Has important words first
• Has no abbreviations
• Descriptive
• Identify study variables and the relationship between them
• Identify population(s) used in research –if any
• Do not include the words "method and results" (put them in the abstract)
• Avoid using a "yes-no" question as a title
• All nouns are capitalized in the title
• Author names, affiliations and date appear below the title (designations)
Ergonomics factors influencing school education during the COVID-
19 pandemic

Impact of Social Media on Consumer Buying Behavior through

Online Value Proposition: A Study on E-Commerce Business in
Bangladesh
The Influence Of Facebook Marketing On Consumer Buying
Intention Of Clothing: Evidence From Young Adults

Impact of Ergonomics on Employee Performance of the Sri Lankan

Apparel Industry: A Case Study

Operational Performance of Lean Manufacturing in the Sri Lankan

Apparel Industry
 ABSTRACT/ SUMMARY
• An abstract summarizes the major aspects of the entire journal / essay / poster /review
paper
• A one paragraph summary of the work, including the question investigated, the
methods used, the principal results and conclusions
• Use concise sentences
• Use past tense
• Contents of the Abstract
• Brief background/context
• Aim of study
• How you will go about the research
• The information the research will provide.
 INTRODUCTION

The introduction is a brief

Provide a clear statement of
section designed to inform the
the rationale for your
reader of the relevance of
approach to the problem
your work and includes a
studied
relevant background.

Introductions usually follow a

Outlines your main objectives. funnel style, starting broadly
and then narrowing.
 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
• The general aim of the research is to give a broader overview of the research questions.
• Specific objectives could be pointed out to show the breakdown of the realistic goals of
the research.
• Several ways can be used to signal the research question ,
• “To determine whether ………”
• “The purpose of this study was to …….”
• This study tested the hypothesis that ……”
• “This study was undertaken to ……”
 METHODS

• Explain clearly how you carried out the study

• Chronologically describes the process you undertook to complete the research
• Includes the materials used for the study
• The methods should be reliable and accurate
• The methods should be able to be replicated by the reader
 RESULTS

• The function of the Results section is to objectively present your key results, without
interpretation, in an orderly and logical sequence using both text and illustrative
materials (Tables and Figures)
GUIDELINES IN USING TABLES
1. The title clearly describes what the table is about
2. The column heads are descriptive and clearly indicate the nature of the data presented
3. The data is divided into categories for clarity
4. It is self-contained
5. Sufficient spacing is present between columns and rows
6. The layout is clean; and the font is legible

GUIDELINES FOR THE USAGE OF FIGURES

1. Ensure image clarity
2. A figure legend at the bottom draws the reader’s attention to the graph's key points
3. Label all important parts
4. An informative title that immediately tells the reader
5. The axes are labeled clearly
6. A note at the bottom acknowledges the source
Anatomy of a table
Anatomy of a figure
 DISCUSSION
• This section offers your interpretations and conclusions about your findings
• How do your results relate to the goals of the study?
• How do they relate to the results that might have been
• Expected from background information obtained?
• Demonstrate your ability to synthesize, analyze, evaluate, interpret, and reason
effectively
• Should be properly structured
• Interpret your results
• Explain key limitations
• Discuss agreement or contrast with previously published work
• Offer general conclusions
• Recommend areas for future study
 CONCLUSION

• Restate answer and/or indicate importance of work by stating implications, applications,

suggest future work
• Final concluding remark of your writing work
• Future implications could also be included
• Short statement – not more than one paragraph (2-10 lines)
REFERENCING
 IMPORTANCE OF REFERENCING
• To support your opinion
• To add credibility to the information you present
• To enable the reader to trace the source you used
• To avoid possible accusations of plagiarism
• You should include a reference for all the sources of information that you use when
writing
• Referencing tools – ENDNOTE, Mendeley

REFER HARVARD REFERENCING GUIDELINES – MANUAL

REFER MENDELEY – USER MANUAL

LITERATURE REVIEW
 WHY A LITERATURE REVIEW?
• A literature review is an objective, thorough summary and critical analysis of the relevant
available research and non- research literature on the topic being studied.
• Up-to-date account of current literature on a topic.
• Forms the basis for justification for future research in the area.
• Provide a theoretical basis for the research.
• Help the researcher determine the nature of his/her own research.
• Well written and contains few, if any, personal biases
• Good structuring is essential to enhance the flow and readability of the review.
• Accurate use of terminology.
• Correct referencing.
 TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEWS

NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEWS

• Type of review that critiques and summarizes a body of literature and draws
conclusions about the topic in question.
• The primary purpose is to provide the reader with a comprehensive background for
understanding current knowledge and highlighting the significance of new research.
• It can inspire research ideas by identifying gaps or inconsistencies in a body of
knowledge, thus helping the researcher to determine or define research questions or
hypotheses.
 TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEWS

SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEWS

• Systematic reviews use a more rigorous and well-defined approach to reviewing the
literature in a specific subject area.
• Systematic reviews are used to answer well-focused questions about a problem.
• Main aim of a systematic review is to provide as complete a list as possible of all the
published and unpublished studies relating to a particular subject area.
 THE PROCESS OF LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Identify a research topic.
2. Review secondary sources to get an overview of the topic.
3. Develop a search strategy and use appropriate preliminary sources and primary
research. Journals, check the references at the end of relevant research publications.
Access personal networks.
4. Conduct the search and select specific articles to review.
5. Obtain full text references (e.g. Journal articles or books).
6. Read articles and prepare bibliographic information and notes on each article.
7. Evaluate the research reports.
8. Synthesize the findings.
9. Writing the review.
10. Use the literature review to gain a conceptual framework and to formulate research
questions, hypotheses, or both.
TYPES OF SOURCES FOR A LITERATURE REVIEW

• Primary source: Usually a report by the original researchers of a study.

• Secondary source: Description or summary by somebody other than the original
researcher, e.g. a review article.
• Conceptual/theoretical: Papers concerned with description or analysis of theories or
concepts associated with the topic.
• Anecdotal/opinion/clinical: Views or opinions about the subject that are not research,
review or theoretical in nature. Clinical may be case studies or reports from clinical
settings.
TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

1. Abstract writing
2. Literature review
1. Task 01 – Choose an appropriate topic
2. Task 02 – Make the draft of the structure of the lit review.
3. Task 03 -Start collecting valid literature – primary literature
4. Task 04 – Alteration of the structure if any.
5. Task 06 – Writing the literature review
Q&A
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
LECTURE 02 – OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES,
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Malsha Maduwanthi(Msc, Bsc) / Suvini Karunaratne (MSc, BSc)

RESEARCH METHODS
 ASSUMPTIONS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• Nature is orderly and regular
• To some extent, events are consistent and predictable
• Events or conditions have one or more causes that can be discovered
• This enables establishing cause and effect relationships
 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• The scientific method has been defined as a systematic, empirical, controlled and critical
examination of hypothetical propositions about the association among natural phenomena.
1. Systematic
• Use of orderly procedures to ensure reliability
• Logical sequence is used from problem identification, through data collection, analysis, & interpretation
2. Empirical
• Documentation of objective data through direct observation (or other systematic methods)
• Findings are not based on personal bias or subjective belief of the researcher
3. Control
• Factors are controlled that are not directly related to the variables in question.
• Investigators have confidence in their research outcomes to the extent that they control extraneous
influences
 LIMITATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• Science is imperfect, especially when it is applied to human behaviour and performance.
• Sources of uncertainty:
• Complexity and variability within nature
• The unique psychosocial and physiological capacities of individuals
• Social science researchers must be acutely aware of extraneous influences in order to interpret
findings in a meaningful way
RESEARCH DESIGN/METHOD

• Research Design carries an important influence on the reliability

of the results attained.
• It therefore provides a solid base for the whole research.
• It is needed and significant due to the fact that it allows for the
smooth working of the research operations.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH METHOD

1. Neutrality: The results projected in the research design should be free from bias and neutral.
2. Reliability: The research design should indicate how to form research questions to ensure
the consistency of the results.
3. Validity: Even though there are multiple measuring tools, the tools shall help the researcher
in gauging results according to the objectives of the research.
4. Generalization: The outcome of the research should be applicable to the population with
similar accuracy.
TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
 INTRODUCTION

• Concerned with narrative information under less structured conditions that often takes
the research context into account.
• Descriptive and observational research
• Purposes: describing conditions, exploring associations, formulating theory, generating
hypotheses
• Methods of qualitative research
• Case study
• Cross-sectional study
• Observational
• Cohort study
• Case control study
 SAMPLING IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

1. Purposive sampling
• Group’s participants according to preselected criteria relevant to a particular
research question.
• Depends on the study objectives
2. Quota sampling
• The chosen criteria will focus on subjects that are most likely to experience, know
about, or have insights into the research topic.
3. Snowball sampling.
• Used to find and recruit “hidden populations,” that is, groups not easily accessible
to researchers through other sampling strategies.
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
LECTURE 02 – OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES,
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Malsha Maduwanthi(Msc, Bsc) / Suvini Karunaratne (MSc, BSc)

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
 INTRODUCTION

• Concerned with narrative information under less structured conditions that often takes
the research context into account.
• Descriptive and observational research
• Purposes: describing conditions, exploring associations, formulating theory, generating
hypotheses
• Methods of qualitative research
• Case study
• Cross-sectional study
• Observational
• Cohort study
• Case control study
 CASE STUDY
• Often a description of an individual case’s condition or response to an intervention can focus
on a group, institution, school, community, family, etc.
• It involves a deep understanding of a variety of data sources and types of statistical analysis.
• In engineering refers to the study of a case report in industry.
 STRENGTHS VS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
• Enables understanding of the totality of an individual’s (or organization, community)
experience
• The in-depth examination of a situation or ‘case’ can lead to discovery of
relationships that were not obvious before
• Useful for generating new hypotheses or for describing new phenomena
WEAKNESSES
• No control group
• Prone to selection bias and confounding
• The interaction of environmental and personal characteristics make it weak in
internal validity
• Limited generalizability
CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
• Researcher studies a stratified group of
subjects at one point in time
• Draws conclusions by comparing the
characteristics of the stratified groups
• Well-suited to describing variables and their
distribution patterns
• Can be used for examining associations;
determination of which variables are predictors
and which are outcomes depends on the
hypothesis
 STRENGTHS VS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
• Fast and inexpensive
• No loss to follow-up (no follow-up)
• Ideal for studying prevalence
• Convenient for examining potential networks of causal links
WEAKNESSES
• Difficult to establish a causal relationship from data collected in a cross-sectional time-
frame (Lack of a temporal relationship between predictor variables and outcome
variables - Does not establish sequence of events)
• Not practical for studying rare phenomena
 OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH

• mechanism using empirical methodologies to collect

systematic sources of data.
• Primarily, a participant is used to compare differences.
• Focus groups aim to find an answer of why, what, and
how questions.
• It uses reliable existing documents and similar
information sources as the data source.
 STRENGTHS VS WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS
• Data based on the participants’ own categories of meaning
• Useful for studying a limited number of cases in depth or describing complex phenomena
• Provides understanding and description of experiences of phenomena
• The researcher can study dynamic processes (i.e., document sequential patterns/change)

WEAKNESSES
• Knowledge produced might not generalize to other people or other settings
• It is difficult to make quantitative predictions
• It might have lower credibility with some administrators and commissioners of programs
• Takes more time to collect and analyze the data when compared to quantitative research
• The results are more easily influenced by the researcher’s personal biases.
 COHORT STUDY
• A group of individuals who do not yet have the outcome of interest are followed together over time
to see who develops the condition.
• Participants are interviewed or observed to determine the presence or absence of certain
exposures, risks, or characteristics
• May be simply descriptive
• May identify risk by comparing the incidence of specific outcomes in exposed and not exposed
participants
 STRENGTHS VS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
• Powerful strategy for defining incidence and investigating potential causes
of an outcome before it occurs
• Time sequence strengthens inference that the factor may cause the
outcome.
WEAKNESSES
• Expensive – many subjects must be studied to observe outcome of interest
• Potential confounders
 CASE CONTROL STUDY
• Generally retrospective.
• Identify groups with or without the condition
• Look backward in time to find differences in predictor variables that may explain why the
cases got the condition and the controls did not
• Assumption is that differences in exposure histories should explain why the cases have
the condition
• Data collection via direct interview, mailed questionnaire, chart review
 STRENGTHS VS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
• Useful for studying rare conditions
• Short duration & relatively inexpensive
• High yield of information from relatively few participants
• Useful for generating hypotheses

WEAKNESSES
• Increased susceptibility to bias:
• Separate sampling of cases and controls
• Retrospective measurement of predictor variables
• No way to estimate the excess risk of exposure
• Only one outcome can be studied
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

• Involves measurement of outcomes using numerical data under standardized

conditions
• Mostly involved experimental research designs

Types of
Variable
Quantitative
Data Analysis
Types of Data
Used
 VARIABLE
• Empirical indicators of the concepts we are researching
• Any characteristic or attribute of an object under investigation that takes on
empirical values

Independent

Variable

Dependent
 DEPENDENT & INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
Independent Variable:
• Also known as the predictor variable or explanatory variable
• Can be controlled
• Its values are not influenced by other variables in the study
• In experimental analysis, independent variables can be changed by the researcher in order to
identify the effect for the dependent variable

Dependent Variable:
• Also known as the response variable or outcome variable
• Its values are influenced by changes in the independent variable
• In an experiment, it is the variable that is measured to assess the effect of the independent
variable
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGNS

• It is a systematic and scientific approach to research in which the researcher

manipulates one or more variables and controls, and measures any change in
other variables
• The purpose is to study the cause and effect relationship
• An experiment is a set of observations conducted under controlled
circumstances in which the investigator manipulates conditions to ascertain
what effects such manipulation has on the outcome
 CRITERIA OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
1. Subjects are randomly assigned to the experimental groups (EG) and control groups
(CG). Presence of a comparison group; random assignment
2. The independent variable (IV) can be manipulated such that any change in the dependent
variable (DV) is attributable to changes in the independent variable (manipulable IV)
3. VALIDITY - The internal validity of any research undertaking is strengthened by the correct
choice of research design and the soundness and appropriateness of decisions that pertain
to sampling, instrumentation, data collection and analysis.
• Threats to experimental validity
❑ History
❑ Testing
❑ Instrumentation
❑ Selection
❑ Experimental mortality
 TRUE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH TYPES

• Manipulation – control of independent variable by the researcher through

treatment/intervention
• Control – the use of control group and extraneous variable
• Randomization – every subjects have equal chance of being assigned to
experimental and control group. Random assignment helps ensure that there is no
pre-existing condition that will influence the variables and mess up the results.
1. Posttest Only Control Group Design
2. Pretest – Posttest Control Group Design
3. Solomon Four Group Design
POST TEST ONLY CONTROL GROUP DESIGN

RANDOMLY SELECTED
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP POST TEST
INTERVENTION

RANDOMLY SELECTED
CONTROL GROUP POST TEST
PRE TEST – POST TEST CONTROL GROUP DESIGN

RANDOMLY SELECTED
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP POST TEST
INTERVENTION
PRE TEST

RANDOMLY SELECTED
CONTROL GROUP POST TEST
PRE TEST
 SOLOMON FOUR GROUP DESIGN

RANDOMLY SELECTED
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP A
PRE TEST
INTERVENTION POST TEST

RANDOMLY SELECTED
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP B

RANDOMLY SELECTED
CONTROL GROUP A
PRE TEST POST TEST

RANDOMLY SELECTED
CONTROL GROUP B
 TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

1. Summary of research methods with valid research titles.

(Come up with valid research titles under each research method given
below with a brief synopsis of the title)
a) Case study
b) Case control
c) Cohort study
d) Cross sectional study
e) Experimental design
Q&A
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
SYLLABUS CONTENT
01 Literature Review, Academic Writing and
Referencing

02 Overview of research methodologies

03 Qualitative and Quantitative research methods

04 Research ethics

05 Proposal writing

06 Critical review and research problem derivation

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
LECTURE 03 – RESEARCH ETHICS

Malsha Maduwanthi(Msc, Bsc) / Suvini Karunaratne (MSc, BSc)

ETHICAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGINEERS
 ETHICAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGINEERING
• Introduced in the 20th century with the development of the ETHICS OF TECHNOLOGY as an
independent sub-discipline of philosophy.
• The ethics of technology has also branched into a number of subfields, which include computer ethics,
nanoethics, and roboethics.
• Some prominent works on the ethics of technology have been authored by the German philosopher
Hans Jonas.
• Introduction of concepts of ENGINEERING ETHICS, which is specifically concerned with actions and
decisions made by engineers during the latter part of the 20th century.
• Both the above are directly based on RESEARCH ETHICS
INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ENGINEERING ETHICS
• National professional ethical codes for engineers were formulated in the 1970s
• Technology assessment organizations
• National and international legislation and standards concerning health, safety and environmental
risks of engineering.
• International journals and conference series on ethics of technology were established in the
1980s and 1990s.
RESEARCH ETHICS
 INTRODUCTION

• Research ethics concerns the responsibility of researchers to be honest and respectful

to all individuals who are affected by their research studies or their reports of the
studies’ results.
• Involves the application of fundamental ethical principles to planning, conducting &
publishing of research.
 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH ETHICS

1. To protect participants /society/resources /researcher

2. To ensure accuracy of scientific knowledge
3. To protect intellectual and property rights
1. PROTECTION OF PARTICIPANTS /SOCIETY/RESOURCES /RESEARCHER

• Protect from harm, show respect -privacy /confidentiality

• Informed consent
• Refrain from coercion and undue inducement
• When do incentives amount to coercion /undue inducement?
• Refrain from exploitation of vulnerable participants.
• Who are the vulnerable groups?
• Refrain from indiscriminate use of resources
• Ensure Favorable Risk-Benefit Ratio: risk should be minimized & potential benefit to society
must outweigh risks
• Social value
• High social Value: Using high end technology process to uplift the workers comfort in
industry.
• Less social value: Introducing an unsafe technology based on a low budget allocation.
2. ENSURING ACCURACY OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

• Should be methodically rigorous - Scientific validity

• Fair subject selection: with inclusion / exclusion criteria & a valid number of subjects in order to
project results to the population
• State research method clearly so that another person can conduct advanced study in future by using
publication
• Should not falsify/modify/omit data, errors should be reported
• Use actual data for analysis/cannot include someone else's data
• Be aware of conflict of interest
• Should not withhold and/or ‘vaguing up’ information
• Keep data and material for 5 years. Data and material should be available to others.
• Do not present/publish paper from incomplete research or from anticipated outcomes
• Should not duplicate publications and submissions
• Should be reviewed independently by unaffiliated individuals
3. PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL AND PROPERTY RIGHTS

• Citation and authorship

• Inclusion:
• Writing and significant scientific contribution
• Order:
• order of contribution actual researchers
• Approval must be sought to include a name
• Whenever somebody else’s work is quoted reference should be made to the original author
(Piracy vs plagiarism)
• Acknowledgement should include the names of person who helped.
• In any case where the researcher should abide by any agreement (eg: Non-Disclosure) the
guidelines should be strictly adhered.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH MISCONDUCT
 ADVANTAGES OF RESEARCH ETHICS

• Promote the aims of research.

• Increases trust among the researcher and the respondent.
• Protect the dignity, rights and welfare of research participants.
• Researchers can be held accountable and answerable for their actions.
• Promote social and moral values.
• Promotes the ambitions of research, such as understanding, veracity, and dodging of error.
• Ethical standards uphold the values that are vital to cooperative work, such as belief,
answerability, mutual respect, and impartiality.
• To construct public upkeep for research. People are more likely to trust a research project if
they can trust the worth and reliability of research.
 LIMITATIONS OF RESEARCH ETHICS
• Possibilities to physical integrity
• Psychological risks:
• a questionnaire may perhaps signify a risk if it fears traumatic events or happenings that are
especially traumatic.
• Social, legal and economic risks:
• Release of personal information collected during a study unintentionally, participants might
face a threat of judgment and stigmatization.
• Certain tribal or inhabitant groups.
• Influence on the prevailing industrial system:
• Human and financial capitals dedicated to research may distract attention from other
demanding health care necessities in the community.
ENGINEERING ETHICS
WORLD FEDERATION OF ENGINEERING ORGANIZATIONS CODE OF ETHICS
ENGINEERING ETHICS - INTRODUCTION

• Engineering ethics is a subset of professional ethics: it is

professional ethics of and for engineers.
• It focuses on assisting engineers in shaping their professional
responsibility through the formulation of general ethical
principles and professional codes, and by providing methods
and techniques for tackling the moral issues and dilemmas
that engineers encounter in their work.
• Specified by the World Federation of Engineering
Organizations Code of Ethics
 WFEO MODEL CODE OF ETHICS
1. DEMONSTRATE INTEGRITY
• Refrain from fraudulent, corrupt or criminal practices
• Be objective and truthful
• Practice fairly and with good faith towards clients, colleagues and others
2. PRACTISE COMPETENTLY
• Practice in a careful and diligent manner in accordance with their areas of
competence
• Practice in accordance with accepted engineering practices, standards and
codes
• Maintain and strive to enhance the body of knowledge in which they practice
 WFEO MODEL CODE OF ETHICS cont..
3. EXERCISE LEADERSHIP
• Practice so as to enhance the quality of life in society
• Strive to contribute to the advancement of the body of knowledge within which
they practice, and to the profession in general
• Foster the public’s understanding of technical issues and the role of engineering

4. PROTECT THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIROMENT

• Create and implement engineering solutions for a sustainable future
• Be mindful of the economic, societal and environmental consequences of actions
or projects
• Promote and protect the health, safety and well being of the community and the
environment. The results projected in the research design should be free from
bias and neutral.
ETHICS OF TECHNOLOGY
 INTRODUCTION

• Ethics of technology is a form of applied ethics focused on ethical issues involving

technology that concern to society as a whole.
• Ethics of technology is in part an offshoot of applied ethics in general, and in part of
engineering ethics—a field in which considerations of professional responsibility have
sometimes given rise to more general ethical reflections on technologies and their role
in society.
 PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
• There are various interpretations of this principle, including consequentialist and
deontological interpretations.
• The precautionary principle states that any action or policy that could carry a risk of
causing (major) harm to the public or to the environment should not be carried out in
the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy does not present any
(major) risk, with the burden of proving the action is not harmful falling on those
intending to take the action.
ETHICAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING
ETHICAL CONCERNS WITH IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
• Environment
• Health
• Safety
• justice, access and equality
• Individual rights and liberties
• Autonomy, authenticity and identity
• Human dignity
• Bodily integrity
• Dual use: This covers the possibility that a new technology or technological product
can be used in ways other than its intended use, and that this alternative way of
using it is morally controversial.
• Hubris: This is a concern that for some technologies we overestimate our ability to
predict their consequences.
 ETHICAL ISSUES IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

• Toxic by-products in the creation of chemicals

• Difficulty in establishing long-term effects of
exposure of new chemicals
• Environmental issues: environmental impacts and
safety
• Consumption of natural resources for chemicals
ETHICAL ISSUES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

• Safety of built structures

• Accessibility issues for different stakeholder groups
(buildings, roads, bridges)
• Utility of built structures for different stakeholder
groups
• Environmental issues
• Design of spaces for torture or incarceration
considered inhumane
• Destruction of cultural heritage
• Fast and inexpensive
 ETHICAL ISSUES IN ROBOTICS

• Responsibility for actions by robots and artificial intelligence

programs
• Well-being and safety issues
• ethical issues concerning social robots and humanoid
robots (such as the reduction of human contact)
• Ethical issues concerning unmanned aerial vehicles
(drones) (such as the violation of privacy)
• Military applications of robotics
• Ethical issues involving technological singularity (such as
the threat of harm To humans by an unethical artificial
intelligence)
ETHICAL ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

• General issues in environmental ethics (such as the

level of responsibility for future generations)
• Ecological restoration
• Ethical issues with geo-engineering (such as those
relating to hydraulic fracturing and drilling for
exploration and production of water, oil, or gas)
• Ethical issues with climate engineering (such as the
threat of unforeseen harmful side-effects
 ETHICAL ISSUES IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
• Development of nuclear weapons
• Risks of nuclear catastrophes
• Problems of waste disposal
ETHICAL ISSUES IN NANOTECHNOLOGY
• Health and environmental risks
• Ethical issues with nanomedicine
• Runaway self-replicating nanobots
• Just distribution of benefits and risks
• Military applications
• Privacy risks (molecular monitoring and tracking devices)
Q&A
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
SYLLABUS CONTENT
 Literature Review, Academic Writing and
01
Referencing

02 Overview of research methodologies

03 Qualitative and Quantitative research methods

04 Research ethics

05 Proposal writing

06 Critical review and research problem derivation

07 Basic Statistics for Research

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
LECTURE 04 – CRITICAL REVIEW

Malsha Maduwanthi(Msc, Bsc) / Suvini Karunaratne (MSc, BSc)

 WHAT IS A CRITICAL ANALYSIS?
• A critical analysis (sometimes called a critical review, critique, critical commentary and critical appraisal)
is a detailed commentary on and critical evaluation of a text.

• Critical analysis may carry out a as a stand-alone exercise, or as part of your research and preparation
for writing a literature review.

• It is a planned, balanced, careful critical evaluation of a piece of research work against the prespecified
criteria to judge the strengths and weaknesses of the research study with the aim of improving the
overall quality of the research study.
 PURPOSE OF A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
• To provide inputs regarding the strength and weakness of a study to the researchers.
• To provide suggestions to the students regarding the methodological flaws in their research
project.
• To evaluate the understanding of research by the students.
• To judge the scientific merits of the study.
• To take a decision whether to publish the study in journal or not.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

• Read and understand the research report carefully.

• Carryout the critical appraisal of all the aspects of the research report before writing
the critique of a research report.
• Avoid general vague statements.
• Be objective and sensitive while framing the negative comments.
• Be practical by considering all the limitations of the research.
CRITIQUE OF THE STUDY
 LITERATURE REVIEW /INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND
• Is the literature completely in accordance with research problem and covers majority of available
studies on the topic under study?
• Is the literature reviewed from the current and primary sources?
• Is the literature review well-organized under subheadings in a chronological order according to
the year of the study?
• Is the literature review presented in an analytical way to draw the meaningful inferences?
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
• Is the problem statement clearly and concisely articulated?
• Is the problem significant and has the researcher provided good argument
for the significance?
• Is the research problem within the professional domain?
• Is the problem not complex to study and appropriately delimited in its scope?
• Does the problem statement clearly depict the variables, population, and
place of the study?
• Is the research problem feasible to study in reference to time, resources,
researcher’s ability and availability of respondents?
• Is the research problem directed to develop the expected outcomes?
 HYPOTHESIS
• Are the hypotheses stated? If not, does the researcher provide sufficient
information for not stating the hypotheses?
• Are hypotheses logically related with the research problem and objectives?
• If stated, are the hypotheses clear? Specific? Testable?
• Whether hypotheses are stated in measurable terms by stating the level of
significance to accept or reject the hypothesis?
• Are hypotheses stated in a way that they express a predicted relationship
between two or more variables?
• Are hypotheses based on conceptual framework used in research study?
 OBJECTIVES

• Are the objectives in accordance with research problem?

• Are the objectives stated in clear and concise form?
• Are the objectives stated using accepted action verbs in logical manner?
• Are all the study variables operationally defined?
• Are the objectives SMART?
 RESEARCH DESIGN
• Is the design specified correctly?
• What was the design used?
• Is the design appropriate to answer the research question?
• Did the researcher attempt to control for threats to internal and external validity?
 SAMPLING AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
• Is the sample size adequate?
• Is the sample likely to be similar to members of population overall?
• Are the criteria for including and/or excluding people or items from sample clear and
appropriate?
• Is an appropriate sampling technique used to draw a sample from population?
 DATA COLLECTION METHOD AND TOOLS

• Are the instruments or other means for data collection described sufficiently?
• Are the reliability and validity of instruments addressed? Are those adequate?
• Are data collection method described clearly?
• Are the data collection methods appropriate? Could the researcher mentioned the specific
benefits and problems faced by the research with particular methods of data collection?
 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Are the participants safe from any physical harms, risks, psychological and social distress and
discomfort?
• Is confidentiality of information and anonymity and privacy of subjects was maintained?
• Was an appropriate written or verbal consent taken from all the study participants?
• Was a written permission obtained from competent authority to conduct the research study?
• If vulnerable populations were involved, was special consideration given to informed consent and
study procedure?
• Was the benefits of the study outweighed the risk for individual subjects and a risk/ benefit
assessment considered?
• Were subjects recruited, selected and assigned to groups in an equitable way?
 RESULTS

• Is the process used to analyze data clear?

• Whether the processes for data analysis appropriate to answer the research question?
• Do the results provide, are they clear and understandable?
• For qualitative studies, some additional items for critique include:
• Does the researcher provide sufficient examples of the data?
• Does the researcher describe processes that were used to avoid biasing or influencing the
data obtained and the analysis procedures used?
 INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION

• Does the discussion ‘fit’ with the data?

• Is it logical based on the data and results presented?
• Does the researcher discuss the findings in regard to previous research?
• Does the researcher discuss the findings in regard to the theoretical framework?
• Does the researcher identify limitations of the study?
• How do these affect the quality of the study?
• Does the researcher discuss implications for practice? Are these appropriate?
 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Has the study concluded concisely and precisely depicting most significant findings?
• Are the conclusions drawn in accordance with study objectives, hypotheses/ assumptions, and
conceptual framework?
• Are practical recommendations made towards improvement in the nursing practices?
• Are the recommendations consistent with the research findings and results?
• Are the recommendations made with suggested changes and improvements in the methodologies of
the further researcher studies on similar topics?
 REFERENCES / CITATIONS
• Are the in-text references cited as per recommended guidelines?
• Are the references relevant and completely follow the recommended style?
 Tutorial

1. Critically analyze the articles provided to you

Q&A
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
SYLLABUS CONTENT
 Literature Review, Academic Writing and
01
Referencing

Overview of research methodologies

02 Qualitative and Quantitative research methods

03 Research ethics

04 Critical review and research problem derivation

05 Proposal writing

06 Basic Statistics for Research

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BEL5003
LECTURE 05 – PROPOSAL WRITING

Malsha Maduwanthi (Msc, Bsc) / Suvini Karunaratne (MSc, BSc)

 WHAT IS A PROPOSAL?
• Statement of intent
• Academically prepared to complete the research
• Audience: peers, supervisors, examiners
• A research proposal is your PLAN that describes in detail your study
• Decisions about your study are based on the quality of the proposal
• Approvals to proceed by the Institutional Review Board
 PURPOSE OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• Contract between you and your committee
• Serves to protect the student
• Demanding additional requirements

• Protects the committee from the student

• From delivering a degree of poor quality
The Issue
What problem
does your
research address?
Research
Benefit
Design What will the
How will the research
research achieve its contribute?
objective?
CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

• OUTLINE steps in your proposed research

• Provide yourself with intellectual CONTEXT
• JUSTIFY your research
• Be CREATIVE
• Anticipate potential PROBLEMS
• THINK through your experiments
• Anticipate a realistic TIMETABLE
RESEARCH PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
https://www.sjsu.edu/engineering/docs/research/Proposal_Guidelines_F21.pdf
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• Depends on the nature of the project.

• For small proposals, the provision of invoices along with a two or three page
summary report at the end of the project may suffice

• For larger, long-term projects, a regular detailed narrative report could be

required. These reports may include information the extent to which the
objectives have been reached, the reasons they
were not fully reached, and offer suggestions about changing the objectives
if they need to be changed
 CHALLENGES DURING PROPOSAL WRITING
• Ownership: Do you have clear title to the land you are developing? Ensure you
have all the legal documentation and the site boundaries are clarified.

• Zoning: Demonstrate that the land’s zoning is compatible with the project you
intend to undertake. Typical zoning classifications include: Commercial
Residential, Resource Management, Industrial General, and Outdoor Assembly.

• Sustainability is an issue for many projects. The project should be self-

sustaining after it is completed. You need to explain what your go forward plan is
and ensure your plan and assumptions are
realistic.
 CHALLENGES DURING PROPOSAL WRITING

• Terms of Reference: Many projects require the retention of outside expertise such as
engineers, architects, and consultants.

• You will need to specify what work you require these professionals to carry out,
how they will be selected, and how you will control the work.

• Any funding proposal for a study or professional services should contain a good
draft terms of reference.
• Sometimes proposals require some clarification. In your proposal cover letter,
express a willingness to be interviewed personally by the funding agency
 PROPOSAL WRITING

1. Write a proposal targeting the below topic (1000-2000 words)

“Evaluation of health and safety of site engineers in a apartment
construction site in Colombo”
Q&A
 Continuous Assessment – Literature Review
ASSIGNMENT DEADLINE: On or Before 12.00 Midnight on 2nd May 2024.

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES:
1) The literature review on the chosen topic of interest to be completed as per the guidelines
given in Lecture 01.
2) The academic writing style will be strictly monitored.
3) Use APA referencing system for in text citation and reference list.
4) You must complete your assignment using Microsoft word.
5) You must use Times New Roman, font size 12 and the spacing is 1.5.
6) If the word count is lesser than the required, marks will be deducted from the final
assignment mark. Marks will be deducted for grammar mistakes, spelling errors and
reference errors.
7) Plagiarism is an offence, and it is taken very seriously.

Word Count: 2500 – 3000 words