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Research
Methodology
Concept Mapping, Selection of Method, Experimentation and Sampling

DR. SULTANA BEDOURA

Department of Dyes and Chemical Engineering
Bangladesh University of Textiles

20
24
 Research
A careful investigation for new facts in any branch
of knowledge

“Research is a systematic effort to gain new knowledge”

--Redman and Mori
 Research!
Research 

● defining and redefining problems,

formulating hypothesis/objectives;
● collecting, organizing and evaluating
data;
● making deductions and reaching
conclusions;
● testing the conclusions to determine
whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis/objectives
----Clifford Woody
 Why Do Research?
● Desire to get a research degree along with ● Validate intuition
its consequential benefits
● Improve methods
● Desire to face the challenge in solving the
unsolved problems ● Demands of the Job

● Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some ● For publication/patent

creative work
● Directives of government, employment
● Desire to be of service to society conditions etc.

● Desire to get respectability ● Others….

 Characteristics of Research
Empirical Logical Systematic
Research is based on Research is based on Research is conducted in
direct experience or logical reasoning and a structured and
observation by the sound judgment organized manner,
researcher following a predefined
Critical plan or methodology..
Cumulative Research exhibits careful
Research builds on existing and precise judgment.
knowledge and contributes to the Analytical
body of knowledge in a particular Research involves critical
field. New research expands or Replicable
analysis of data and
refines existing theories, leading Other researchers should be able to information to identify
to a deeper understanding of the replicate the study using the same patterns, trends, and
subject matter methods and procedures and obtain relationships.
similar results
 Steps Involved in a Research
● Choose a subject/Identifying a research
problem
● Literature survey
● Defining and formulation of specific
objectives
● Prepare Synopsis
● Procuring of suitable apparatus/materials
● Design of experimental set up
● Preliminary experiments
● Execution of the project
● Accurate measurements/data collection
● Analyse and interpret the data
● Draw conclusions, Limitation, future research
● Project report or write thesis

3 Steps 
Pose a question,
Collect data to answer the question
Present an answer to the question
 Choose a Subject
● Based on your reading

● Based on an idea

● Based on your experience

● Originality
 Literature Search
● Check to see if your idea is original
● Get articles
● Read articles and their references
● Most of these will be vital when writing up reports
● Find gap areas
● Find obsolete measurements and results
● Define objectives of the study
 Define A Objective
● Try to keep these simple

● The more variables the more difficult

● Use the opportunity

● Get help at this stage

- Faculty/Senior colleagues

- Experienced researchers
 Concept Mapping

Concept mapping is a visual

representation technique that
helps researchers organize and
explore complex ideas or
concepts.
 Create Concept Map and Challenges
● Creating a concept map for research methodology involves
 Identify the main research question and objectives.
 Brainstorm and list relevant concepts, theories, and variables
 Organize the concepts hierarchically or according to their relationships
 Connect the concepts using lines and arrows to show relationships.
 Add specific details such as methodologies, data collection methods and
analysis techniques
 Review and refine the concept map to ensure clarity and accuracy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JJu1uFokP6I
 Example: Climate Change
Research is always easier when you are researching something you are actually interested in.

1. Writing down all the question 2. Writing down the concepts you can
you have about this topics associate with this topic(not necessarily
 What is it? need to know all these things mean!)
 What causes it?  Melting ice
 What are the effects?  Plant and animal extinctions
 Who is the most affected?  Extreme weather
 Where is most affected?  Paris climate agreement
 How do we stop or reverse it?  Government regulations
 How bad is it?  Fossil fuels
 How much time do we have?  CO2
 Is there a difference between climate  Deforestation
change and global warming
 Example: Climate Change
3. Organize all these to visually see the relationship between the different concepts
Fossil Is global
warming Animal Extreme
fuels Extinctions weather
different?
Defores
tation Causes Effects of
of Climate Rising
climate Change
Carbon Ocean
change
dioxide levels

Climate
Change
Reforestation
UN
climate
Solution
plans Responses
to
to climate
Climate
change
Change
Greta Renewable
Thunberg Paris
Govt. energy
US vs. Climate
agreement Regulation
Europe
 Example: Climate Change
Public pressure
on companies to
Climate
Change address climate Now you are ready
Reforestation change to start looking for
Solution information about it
to
Climate
Change
Renewable Corporate
Paris energy
Climate Govt. responsibility to
Agreement Regulation respond to
climate change?

What are some of Which types of

Which countries
the strategies renewable energy
have
countries are are the best at
implemented
using to combat reducing climate
climate action
climate change? change?
plans?
 Benefits of Using Concept Mapping
● Ensure a more comprehensive focused approach
● Enhances Understanding
● Promotes critical thinking
● Encourage Creativity
● Identify knowledge gaps
● Facilitates Collaboration

The challenges include -

● Complexity of mapping complex ideas
● Subjective interpretation of concepts
● Need for expertise in creating accurate maps
Sometimes, the concept map needs to be
reviewed and refined !!

Percy Spencer's Microwave Oven Discovery
From Candy Bar to
Kitchen Staple
“In 1945, Percy Spencer, an engineer working for
Raytheon, was conducting experiments with a
magnetron, a vacuum tube used to generate
microwaves for radar equipment. One day, while
working with the magnetron, Spencer noticed that a
candy bar in his pocket had melted. Intrigued by this
unexpected result, he conducted further experiments
and discovered that the microwaves emitted by the
magnetron were responsible for heating the food.
Blue LED.mp4
What is a research design?
“A research design is a plan, structure and strategy of
investigation so conceived as to obtain answers to
research questions or problems. It includes an outline
of what the investigator will do from writing the
hypotheses and their operational implications to the
final analysis of data”
---Kerlinger, 1986

A research design is the procedures for collecting,

analyzing, interpreting and reporting data
in research studies.

A research plan or approach is a framework or blueprint for

conducting a research project.
Important features of a research design

• A plan • A strategy
Specify the sources & Which approach will be
types of information used for gathering and
relevant to the research analyzing the data
problem

• The time and budgets

Most studies are done under these two constraints
Research Design & Its Components
• Research design refers to the framework and structure of a research study.

• It encompasses various components such as-

 The selection of research methods,

 Data collection procedures, and
 Analysis techniques

• Understanding these components is crucial as they shape the overall validity

and reliability of the research.

• By carefully defining and implementing research design, researchers can

ensure that their study effectively addresses research questions and produces
meaningful results.
 Qualitative Research Designs
Qualitative research methods focus on understanding the complexity and depth of human experiences
and behaviors. Examples include interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic studies.

Type Description
Writing of history based on critical examination of sources into a
Historiography
narrative

Ethnography Explores the social world or culture, shared beliefs and behaviors

Phenomenology Describes the “lived experience’ of a particular phenomenon

Grounded theory Use an inductive approach to develop new theory

Examine how people use dialogue and body language to construct a

Ethnomethodology
world view
 Quantitative Research Designs
Quantitative research methods involve collecting and analyzing numerical data to identify
patterns and relationships. However, it is crucial to ensure proper sample size, data quality,
and statistical techniques to maintain validity and reliability in quantitative research.

Type Description

Associating or relating variables in a predictable pattern for one group of individuals.

Experimental
Experimental designs are procedures in which the investigator determines whether an activity or
Designs
materials make a difference in results for participants.

Describing trends for a population of people.

Survey
Survey designs are procedures in which a survey or questionnaire is used to a small group of people
Designs
to identify trends in attitudes, opinions, behaviours, or characteristics of a large group of people.

Correlational Correlational designs are procedures in which investigators measure the degree of association (or
Designs relation) between two or more variables using the statistical procedure of correlational analysis.
 Selecting Research Methods
• Selecting the most appropriate research methods is
crucial for gathering accurate and reliable data.

• Researchers must carefully consider the nature of

their research questions and the type of data they
need to collect.

• By choosing the right methodologies, such as

surveys, experiments, or qualitative interviews,
researchers can ensure their study is
methodologically sound and provides valuable
insights into their research topic.
 Experimentation-Materials
• All materials utilized for the study
 Which ones were used? Why was it chosen?
 Choose materials that align with the experimental design
 Testing instruments, books, images, database or other materials used in the
course of research

• Measures (Surveys/Interviews/observations) used for the study

 Provide details about the measures, scale, interpretation of scores
 When using a pre-existing published measure: Include full name of measure
followed by abbreviation and citation of original author
Ex: Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI; Cooper, 1997) After that, you can call
it the OSI
 Experimentation-Materials
Drugs, Chemicals, Samples
 List all materials used in the experiment,
including chemicals, equipment, and
biological materials.
 Include their generic name, brand
name, manufacturer, supplier, catalog
number for chemicals and equipment
 Mention their physical, chemical, and
biological properties of materials
relevant to the experiment , such as -
purity, concentration, strength,
composition etc.
 Mention any special handling or
storage requirements for materials
Animals/Plants/Bacteria
● List all materials used in the experiment, including
culture media, buffers, animals, plants, bacteria, and
human samples
● Include specific details such as composition,
preparation method, and source of culture media
and buffers
● For animals, plants, bacteria, and human samples,
specify species, strain, and any relevant
characteristics: such as - weight, strain, sex, and
age etc.
● Handling and care
● Details of sedation: agent used, amount, route,
administration (single, continuous) etc
 Experimental Design/Procedures
• Experimental Design
 Decide  the independent variables, dependent variable, experimental
procedure, how many real/replicates
 Describe the experimental design, including sample size, the grouping of
samples, controls, and any randomization procedures.

• Procedures
 Detail the step-by-step procedures followed, including how materials were
prepared, handled, and measured.
 Provide sufficient detail to allow for replication of the experiment

• Data Collection
 Describe how data were collected, including the instruments and methods
used.
 Specify any measurements, observations, or data points recorded.
 Experimental Design
• Data Analysis
 Outline the statistical or analytical methods used to analyze the data.

• Ethical Considerations
 Discuss any ethical considerations related to the use of materials in the
experiment or animals, plants, bacteria, and human samples in the
experiment.
 Mention compliance with ethical guidelines and regulations.

• Safety Precautions
 Mention any safety precautions taken when handling materials.

• References
 Cite any references or sources used to select materials or design the
experiment.
How to write methodology.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.101898
 Sample Size and Population
 Determining the appropriate sample size and
population is a critical step in research design.

 Researchers must consider factors such as the

desired level of precision, the variability within the
population, and the available resources.

 By selecting an adequate sample size and

representative population, researchers can
ensure their findings are generalizable and
applicable to the broader target population.
 Organizing Research Data
 Collecting and organizing research data is crucial
to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
findings.

 Researchers must choose appropriate data

collection methods, such as surveys, interviews,
or observation, and develop a systematic process
to gather, record, and store the data.

 Organizing the data in a structured manner

allows for easier analysis and interpretation,
leading to meaningful research outcomes.
Integrity of Research Data
It's crucial to maintain the integrity of your
data and analysis. While it might be
tempting to manipulate data or graft
graphs to fit a certain narrative, doing so
can lead to false conclusions and
undermine the credibility of your
research.

Remember, unexpected results or anomalies

in data can sometimes lead to new
discoveries and innovations
 Serendipity in Science:
Accidental Discovery of
Penicillin
“In 1928, Alexander Fleming was studying
Staphylococcus bacteria in his laboratory at St. Mary's
Hospital in London. He had left a petri dish containing
the bacteria uncovered while he went on vacation. When
he returned, he noticed that a mold called Penicillium
notatum had grown on the dish and had killed the
bacteria around it. This observation led him to conclude
that the mold was producing a substance that was
inhibiting the growth of the bacteria.”
Discovery of Penicillin
 “Scientists Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were
Unexpected Data, working at Bell Labs in New Jersey, trying to
improve satellite communication by reducing
Unforeseen Inventions background noise. They built a highly sensitive
microwave antenna, but no matter what they did,
they kept picking up a constant noise coming from
all directions in the sky. Initially, they thought the
interference was due to pigeons nesting in the
antenna, or even radio signals bouncing off space
debris.

After thorough investigation, they realized that the

The Discovery of Cosmic Microwave Background
Radiation
noise was not due to any man-made or terrestrial
source but was evenly distributed across the sky,
day and night, and throughout the year. This
anomaly in their data led them to the remarkable
discovery of the cosmic microwave background
radiation, which is considered one of the strongest
pieces of evidence for the Big Bang theory of the
universe's origin.”
Validating & Reliability in Research Design
• Validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately
measures what it intends to measure.

• Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of

the results.

• By using rigorous methods and analytical techniques,

researchers can verify the accuracy and reliability of their
findings.

• This validation process involves peer review, replication

studies, and statistical validation to establish the
robustness of the research and enhance its overall
credibility in the field of study.
 Addressing Limitations
Potential challenges and constraints

 During the research process, it's crucial to address the limitations

that may have impacted the study's scope and validity.

 These limitations can include sample size, data collection methods,

or external factors that may have influenced the results.

 By acknowledging these limitations, researchers can ensure

transparency and provide a complete understanding of the
research problem within the methodological approach.
 Quality of a Researcher
• Curiosity • Time Management
A strong desire to explore and understand the The skill to organize and prioritize tasks to meet
unknown. research deadlines.
• Critical Thinking • Resourcefulness
The ability to analyze information, evaluate Finding solutions and utilizing available
arguments, and make reasoned judgments. resources effectively
• Perseverance • Resilience
The determination to overcome challenges and The ability to bounce back from setbacks and
setbacks in the research process. continue with the research process
• Creativity • Collaboration
The ability to think innovatively and develop Willingness to work with others, share ideas,
novel approaches to problems. and contribute to a team effort.
• Attention to Detail • Ethical Conduct
A meticulous approach to data collection, Adherence to ethical principles and guidelines
analysis, and interpretation. in conducting research.
 The Power of
Observational Inquiry
in Innovation
“In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral
went for a walk in the woods and noticed
how burrs from burdock plants stuck to his
clothes and dog's fur. Intrigued by this, he
examined the burrs under a microscope and
discovered they had small hooks that
attached to loops in fabric. This observation
inspired him to invent Velcro.”

Burdock Plants
Conclusions
Thanks !
Do you have any questions?
Email: sultana.bedoura@dce.butex.edu.bd