Introduction

What is a research?
search for knowledge through objective and systematic method
of finding solution to a problem or establishing facts/principles.

process of arriving on a dependable solution to a problem

through the planned and systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of data

systematic process of collecting, analyzing,

and interpreting information in order to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon about which we are
interested or concerned
 Objectives of Research

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve

new insight (exploratory or: formulative research
studies);
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
situation or a group (descriptive research studies)
• To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or associated with something else (diagnostic
research studies);
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables (hypothesis-testing research studies).
 Characteristics of Research

• Controlled: in real life many factors that affects an

outcome. A particular event is seldom the results of
one to one relationship.
• Rigorous: ensure that procedures, followed to find
answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and
justified
• Systematic: follow a certain logic sequence
• Valid and verifiable: conclusion based on findings can
be verified
• Empirical: conclusion are based upon hard evidence
• Critical: foolproof and free from any drawbacks
 Purposes for Research

• Description: Wants to describe situations and events.

Asks questions like who and how many?
• Exploration: want to know more about situations
and events. Used more to gain insight than to find
definitive answers
• Explanation: Wants to describe situations and
events. Interested in cause and effects and often
asks why something is the way it is
• Evaluation: Wants to know policies or programs are
having the desired effect, what effects they do have ,
and/or how to improve them
 Classification of Research

Objective Inquiry Mode

Application

Pure Applied Descriptive Exploratory Quantitative Qualitative

Research Research Research Research Research Research

Mixed Method
Research

Correlational Explanatory
Research Research
 Classification of Research
• Example Basic vs. Applied One type can influence the
other and vise versa
• An engineer studying theory of light rail construction
techniques may lead to less expensive construction cost
(THEORETICAL)
• therefore leading to the ability of Regional Transportation
authorities to implement extensive regional transportation
systems that can efficiently transport people around the area
(APPLIED)
• Development of efficient transportation systems may lead to
new theories related to development and growth
• (THEORETICAL>APPLIED> THEORETICAL)
 RESEARCH PROCESS IN FLOW
CHART

general Preliminary Formulating

Intensive Design
area of Literature the research Literature
problem and Research
interest Review Review
Objectives

Collect data Analyze Interpret Conclude and

data data Recommend
 Selecting a research topic.
Good sources of ideas are:
• Result of exposure to that topic in their preceding
years of study.
• own work experience
• Reports of research, such as those published in peer-
reviewed journals,( implications or suggestions for
future research (e.g. still unanswered questions,
unresolved debates, new ideas that have emerged as
a result of the research, etc.).
 Selecting a research topic.
Good sources of ideas are:
• The media, both general and
business/professional, ( an applied variety).
• Talking to practitioners can provide interesting
insights into key issues –
• Funding body, either government or private-
sector, makes it known – by public
advertisement or by contacting select
individuals or organizations – that it wishes to
have research undertaken on a particular topic
question will lead to research/project title

Why did the wind turbine fail in 100 kph winds?

What is the effect on the strength of concrete when
recycled concrete is used in the mix?
How can the braking system of a railway carriage be
selfactivating when its velocity exceeds a threshold
value?
When will the roof bolts in an underground tunnel fail
through environmental degradation?
 Research title
• Gap(s) in current research that you what to fill
Questions to ask
• Interest: Will it keep me interested for a long
period?
• Magnitude: Can I answer it with the time and
resources I have?
• Level of expertise:
–Do I have some idea of how to go about
answering it?
–Is there someone who can supervise me and
can I get on with them?
 Research title
Questions to ask
• Relevance/significance: Will it bridge current
gap(s) or will it solve a problem in a society
• Availability of data: Can I access the required
data?
• Ethical issues: what are the ethical issues and
how to overcome them?
 Research overview
Your research describes your proposed plan of
work
• What you intend to study (scope and research
questions).

• How you intend to study your topic (methodology).

• Why this topic needs to be studied (significance).

• When you will complete this work (timeline).

(Occasionally) Where you will conduct this work.
 ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• The topic/problem should be clearly stated.
• The objectives of the research should be clearly defined.
• The rationale of the research should be provided.
• The existing literature should be reviewed.
• The conceptual framework should be clear.
• The research methodology should be clearly described.
• A timetable and a budget (where relevant) should be
provided.
 WHY PROJECT/RESEARCH
PROPOSALS
• Reality check
Finding out whether the ‘great idea’ in your head
sounds as good once it has been committed to paper
• It gets you started
treated not as a set of decisions ‘cast in stone’ but as a
statement of direction and general intent which
helps initiate the research process
• No choice: to complete study
 introduction and background
sections
• An overview of main area under study:
introduces the research area in its broad sense
• Shows historical perspective (development,
growth) pertinent to the study area
• Main findings relating to key issue(s)
• Indicates knowledge gap from the previous
researches (deficiencies)
• defines the context and boundaries of your
proposed research.
 introduction and background
sections
• knowledge of the literature surrounding this
topic.
• If there is no ( or unable to find) any other
research which deals specifically with your
proposed research; need to say so, illustrating
how the 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.
 introduction and background
sections
•  Facts included must contain a citation of their
source.
• Direct quotations must have a page citation
• Conclusions about what needs to be studied
based on the literature
 Formulating a research problem
Problem Statement: what issue or concern need to
be addressed? What is the situation that lead to
present study?
• Presents the reason behind the proposal i.e. what
will change when this research is done or what
would happen if the research is not done

• A problem statement is the description of an issue

currently existing which needs to be addressed. It
provides the context for the research study and
generates the questions which the research aims to
answer
 Formulating a research problem
In a nut shell the section states
What is known (status quo- knowledge already
established by other scholars)
What is not Known (deficiency /knowledge gap)
Show clearly the focus of the study (focus and
significance/ address/find out what is not
known, a specific statement of what the
research will do
)
 Formulating objective
An objective is a clear statement of something
that needs to be accomplished over a period of
time. SMART objectives are:
Specific – states exactly what you need to achieve
Measurable – includes a quality or quantity measure
Achievable – How can the objective be accomplished
Realistic – can be challenging but must be achievable
Timebound – with a clear end date or timescale
 Formulating Objectives
• Main Objective
– is the overall statement of the main associations
and relationships that you seek to discover or
establish.
• Sub-objectives
– Specific aspects of the topic under investigation
– Worded clearly
– Each subobjective contains one aspect of the
study
– Use action oriented words or verbs (to determine,
to find out, to explore)
 Objective examples
The main objective of this study is to conduct a technical, environment,
and economic assessment for the utilization of Natural Gas-Diesel dual
fuel engine technology in Tanzania.
The specific objectives are;-
i. To study performance characteristics of an engine using Natural
Gas-Diesel dual fuel technology
ii. To estimate unit conversion cost and financial savings of adopting
Natural Gas-Diesel dual fuel engine technology in Tanzania
iii. To evaluate the maximum diesel substitution by Natural Gas through
adopting the technology
iv. To estimate the potential for reduced Carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions caused by diesel vehicles through adoption of dual fuel
technology
 SMART objective?

The main objective of this research is to evaluate the

effectiveness of the Solid Waste Management System at
Kinondoni Municipal Council.
 Why Formulate Objectives
Help to
Focus on the study
Avoid collection of data that are strictly not
necessary for understanding ad solving the
problem
Organize the study in clearly defined part/phase
Facilitate the development of research
methodology
 Operational definition
• To find out the number of children living
below the poverty line in Tanzania
• To measure the effectiveness of a retraining
program design to help young people
 Identifying Variables
• Variable: a concept that can be measured
(varies and take two or more values)
 Types of Variables
• Causation
– Independent variable-having the effect
– Dependent variable-what is being affected
– Extraneous –not related to the study but may
affect dependent variable (e.g. smoking and
cancer) independent
– Intervening variable-links independent variable
and dependent variable (e.g. higher education and
income [occupation])
 Types of Variables
• Unit of measurement
– Categorical (yes/no; bad/good, political party)
– Continuous (age, income)
 Hypothesis
• Hypothesis: assumption or supposition to be
proved or disproved.
– Simple, specific and conceptually clear
– Capable of verification
– Related to existing body of knowledge
– operationalisable
GENERAL RESEARCH OBSERVATION
The following observation may be gathered from
the definitions of ‘Research’
1. It gathers new knowledge or data from primary or
first-hand sources.
2. It places emphasis upon the discovery of general
principles.
3. It is an exact systematic and accurate
investigation.
4. It uses certain valid data gathering devices.
5. It is logical and objective.
6. The researcher resists the temptation to seek
only the data that support his/her hypotheses.
GENERAL RESEARCH OBSERVATION
The following observation may be gathered from
the definitions of ‘Research
7. The researcher eliminates personal feelings and
preferences.
8. It endeavours to organise data in quantitative
/qualitative terms.
9. Research is patient and unhurried activity.
10. The researcher is willing to follow his
procedures to the conclusions that may be
unpopular and bring social disapproval.
11. Research is carefully recorded and reported.
12. Conclusions and generalisations are arrived at
carefully and cautiously
Sample titles from previous 4th year projects

1. Design of a Fire Alarm System Using Global System Module (GSM)

2. Measures to Improve Quality of Bee Products
3. Design of a Decision Support System for Students Mealing Budget
4. Design and Manufacture of a Water Sprinkler for Large Farms
5. Design and Manufacture of a Maize Planter
6. Design and Manufacture of a Maize Shelling Machine
7. Cost – Benefit Analysis of Electrical Energy Generation Technologies
8. Assessment of Health and Safety at Kioo Ltd.
9. Assessment of Facility Layout at Saafa Plastics Ltd.
10. Application of Ergonomics Principles in Materials Handling at TICTS
11. Design and Manufacture of a Peas Threshing Machine
12. Design of a Smokeless Stove
13. Optimization of Parameters Involved in Production of Biogas
14. Design Improvement of Automatic Syringe Cutter
15. Chemical Additives to the Diesel Fuel to Improve Combustion in Diesel
Engines
16. Effects of Lubricating Oil Quality on Engine Wear/ Degradation and Poor Ash
Emission
 Summary
Engineering research is therefore based on the
principles of scientific research which, in turn, are
based on the scientific methods, in which
observations (experiments), theories, calculations
and models are derived from the existing body of
scientific knowledge and verified independently by
others who are experts in the field and most of the
time is directed toward the practical application
of science to products, services and infrastructure.

use, ethics, standard/procedures, environment