SAJJAD KHUDHUR ABBAS
Chemical Engineering , Al-Muthanna University, Iraq
Oil & Gas Safety and Health Professional – OSHACADEMY
Trainer of Trainers (TOT) - Canadian Center of Human
Development
Episode 13 : Research
Methodology ( Part 3 )

Research Methodologies
Professor, What is
Research Methodology
It’s the rational sequence of
scrutinizing materialistic
ideologies through scrupulous
and moralistic efforts to make
socio-ethical betterment……..
Anyone understood???

Research Methodology ?

Is this the most important for U?
• Assessment Method
Week -6: Assessment- 25%
Week -10: Group Assessment- 25%
Week -12 : Oral Presentation - 10%
Week 14+: Final Examination - 40%

Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
* Understand basic concepts of research and its methodologies
* Identify appropriate research areas and avenues
* Select and define appropriate research problem and parameters
* Prepare a project proposal (to undertake a project)
* Organize and conduct research in an scientific and ethical manner
* Selection of mathematical and analytical tools
* Write a research report and thesis
* Effectively communicate with the scientific society
* Understand the social responsibility as an engineer

“ Expertise is earned – not made”
“Brilliance is made– not born”
This course will not be able to
Make you an Instant Expert in
Research Methodology
Geniuses are born- not made

WHY DO WE NEED
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ?
Supplementary Presentation-1

WHY DO WE NEED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ?
To make a better world for all
living beings !!!!
This is what you should determine and impregnate in your mind
for the rest of your life

Why do we need research?
(This is what you have to write at the exam)
• To get PhDs, Masters and Bachelors etc.
• To provide solutions to complex problems
• To investigate laws of nature
• To make new discoveries
• To develop new products
• To reduce cost
• To improve the life-style
• To fulfil human desires

1.1: Concepts of research and its methodologies
Consider the following
[1] Miss Nurul wrote and article on “The pros and cons of genetically modified
food” after reviewing literature on the subject available at the university library and
called it a research paper.
[2] Mr. Chang says that he has discussed with the Head of the Renewable Energy
unit and prepared a research document which gives information on all renewable
energy plants in Malaysia; The type of energy sources, out put capacity, capital
investment, return on investment, measures against atmospheric pollution etc.
[3] Mr Kadir participated in a “Workshop on the Construction and maintenance of
of Smart Tunnels” and prepared what he calls, a research report on the available
civil engineering techniques on building modern tunnels; based on the workshop
materials presentations and discussions with the resource persons and participants
WHICH OF THE ABOVE IS A TRUE RESEARCH?

None of them can be classified under
the name “Research”
WHY ?

Consider the following case
• The Technical manager of CRYPTON Car Company received a large
number of complaints of similar type, within a short period of time,
regarding a new model of vehicles they have released. After carefully
studying these complaints he came up with the following summary of
the complaints
“ A strange noise is emitted from somewhere in the car, when the AC
is switched on, after few thousand kilometers of usage”

• He talked to his technical crew and obtained various information
related to the AC system and other pertinent components to
identify the various factors influencing the problem.

• He then formulated the problem and generated guesses (hypotheses):
1.The cooling fan may be degraded so the fan blade may have changed the
shape
2.There can be electromagnetic interference between the electrical signals to
the AC system controlling unit and the sound system of the car
3.The AC pump may be degraded and the pumping mechanism giving out noise
4.The AC coil mound may be loosened and the unit vibrates at certain engine
frequencies (resonating)
5.………………
6..
7..
8..
9..

• After talking to a customer he obtained a car with the
problem. Then he asked his technical team to follow the
check list to identify the cause of the problem.

The technical team follow the checklist and finally
provided a report on their observations on each item
of the check list

Analyzing the list of Observations he determines
that the problem is loosening of the mounds of
the AC unit with time
Then he obtains several other cars with the
problem, followed the same procedure and
verified that his conclusion is correct

Then he prepared a detailed technical report and
forwarded to the Department of Automobile Design:
The report includes the problem, how he built up the
hypothesis, the technical observations and analysis,
conclusions regarding the problem and his suggestions
for the rectifications.
This is a Good Research Work

You will notice in the example above that
• First; The researcher went through a sequence of steps which were in order
and systematic.
• Second; The researcher did not just jump at the conclusions, but used a
scientific method of inquiry in reaching at conclusions.
• The two important characteristics of research are : it is systematic and
secondly it follows a scientific method of enquiry.
There is NO MAGIC in research

What is Research?
Research is the organized scientific investigation to understand the nature,
solve problems, test hypotheses or develop /discover /invent new findings /
products
The Research Methodology includes
• Understanding the nature of problem to be studied and identifying the related
knowledge.
• Reviewing literature to understand how others have approached or dealt with
the problem.
• Collecting data in an organized and controlled manner so as to arrive at valid
decisions.
• Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.
• Drawing conclusions and making generalizations.

This general systematic characteristic of research is
Summarized below.
Problem Identification
Reviewing Information
Data Collection
Analysis
Drawing Conclusions

High Quality Research!
• is based on the previous work.
• can be replicated (duplicated).
• can generalized to other settings.
• is based on some logical rationale and tied to a theory.
• is doable
• generates new questions or is cyclic in nature.
• is incremental.
• is an apolitical activity that should be undertaken purely for the
betterment of living beings

Then, what is bad research?
• The opposites of what have been discussed.
• Looking for something when it simply is not to be found.
• Plagiarizing other people’s work.
• Falsifying data to prove a point.
• Misrepresenting information and misleading participants.

The basic assumption of the
scientific method is that every
effect has a cause
Therefore Science can be
(and should be) questioned !!!

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ABBAS