SC312

Research Methodology for

Civil Engineers

Lesson 1 - 2014/15

11

Introduc)on*
Course'Objec,ve*

To*equip*students*with*principles*of*scien)c*research*
and*report*wri)ng*skills*

'*
Learning'Outcomes:*

Ability*to*formulate*research*problem,*objec)ves*and*
outline*research*method*and*design*
Develop*tool*for*data*collec)on*
Make*use*of*scien)c*and*quan)ta)ve*techniques*to*
analyze*data*
Write*a*report*

Introduc)on*
Course'Content'*

Meaning*of*research,*types*of*research,*research*process,*contents*and*
outputs**
Research*proposal:*Problem*formula)on,*research*problem*objec)ves*and*
hypothesis,*
Literature*review:*Necessity*for*literature*search,*structure*of*scien)c*
literature,*cita)on**
Research*methodology:*sampling,*data*collec)on*methods,*data*collec)on*
tool*
Experimental*research:*the*design*of*experiment,*the*design*of*apparatus,*
execu)on*of*experiments,**
Data*analysis*methods:*Analysis*of*experimental*data,*Analysis*of*non*
experimental*data,*Linear*programming*graphical*methods;*simplex*methods;*
decision*analysis,*transporta)on*
Report*Wri)ng:*types*of*report,*organiza)on*of*reports,*)tle,*abstract,*text,*
discussion*of*results,*conclusions,*recommenda)ons,*reference*nota)ons*

Delivery'Mode:'2*hour*lecture*+*1*hours*tutorial*per*week*

Why*learn*Research*Methodology*
To*become*bePer*researchers*ourselves*
Need*disciplinary*knowledge*
Can*get*involved*in*compe))ve*research*projects*

To*help*students*to*ini)ate*research*way*of*
thinking*and*to*acquire*research*skills*
Improves*mo)va)on*of*students*
Improves*reten)on*
Faculty*can*engage*students*bePer*
4

What'is'Research?*
Research*is:*
the* systema)c* process* of* collec)ng* and*
analyzing* informa)on* (data)* in* order* to*
increase* our* understanding* of* the*
phenomenon* about* which* we* are*
concerned*or*interested*

Research*
A*careful*systema)c*study*and*inves)ga)on*in*
some*eld*of*knowledge,*undertaken*to*
establish*facts*or*principles*
A*structured*inquiry*that*u)lizes*acceptable*
scien)c*methodology*to*solve*problems*and*
creates*new*knowledge*that*is*generally*
applicable*
6

Research*
A*systema)c*inves)ga)on*to*nd*answers*to*a*
problem*
A*systema)c*process*of*inquiry*in*order*to*discover,*
interpret*or*revise*facts,*events,*behaviors,*or*
theories,*or*to*make*prac)cal*applica)ons*with*the*
help*of*such*facts,*laws*or*theories*
The*term*"research"*is*also*used*to*describe*the*
collec)on*of*informa)on*about*a*par)cular*subject,*
and*is*usually*associated*with*the*output*of*science*
and*the*scien)c*method.*
7

What*is*Research?..*
Research*is*a*careful*and*systema)c*process*of*
inquiry*to*nd*answers*to*problem'of'interest.*
Research*include:*use*of*facts,'use'of'theories,'
data'(fact)'analysis,'sampling,'doing*an*
experiment,*going*to*library*to*read*up*on*a*topic*
To*do*research*is*to*inves,gate'the'problem'
systema,cally'and'thoroughly'
Goal*of*research*is*to*solve*problem'of'interest*

Research*as*a*Way*of*Thinking*
It*is*a*habit:*
of*ques)oning*what*you*do*
of*systema)cally*examining*observed*informa)on*
to*nd*answers*
of*using*methods*tested*for*validity*and*reliability*

Research*as*a*Process*
Research*is*one*of*the*ways*to*nd*answers*to*
your*ques)ons.*However,*the*process*has*to*
sa)sfy*the*following:*
Should*be*within*a*framework*of*a*set*of*
principles*of*one*of*the*approaches*of*research*
Must*use*procedures,*methods*and*techniques*
which*have*been*tested*for*their*validity*and*
reliability*
Must*be*designed*to*be*unbiased*and*objec)ve*
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Research*Characteris)cs*
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Originates*with*a*ques)on*or*problem.*
Requires*clear*ar)cula)on*of*a*goal.*
Follows*a*specic*plan*or*procedure.*
Oben*divides*main*problem*into*subcproblems.*
Guided*by*specic*problem,*ques)on,*or*
hypothesis.*
6. Accepts*certain*cri)cal*assump)ons.*
7. Requires*collec)on*and*interpreta)on*of*data.*
8. Cyclical*(helical)*in*nature.*
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Characteris)cs*of*Research*
Controlled*

Establishing*causality*

Rigorous*

Methods*and*procedures*used*need*to*be*relevant,*appropriate*and*
jus)ed*

Systema)c*

Certain*sequence*has*to*be*followed.*Can*not*be*in*a*haphazard*way.*

Valid*and*Veriable*

Results*are*correct*and*repeatable*

Empirical*

Conclusions*drawn*are*based*on*hard*evidence*

Cri)cal*Scru)ny*

Methods,*procedures*and*results*must*withstand*cri)cal*scru)ny*by*
others*

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The*Aims*of*Research*

To*describe*about*a*phenomena*
To*predict*about*something*in*the*future*
To*explain*about*solu)on*of*problems*
To*interpret*what*is*being*inves)gated*

13

Final'Year'Project*
To* undertake* independent,* original* and*
cri)cal* research* on* a* Civil* Engineering* topic*
and* to* communicate* the* research* problem,*
objec)ves,*methodology,*analysis,*results*and*
conclusions* eec)vely* both* orally* and*
through*the*produc)on*of*a*Report*

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Research*
But,'what'is'the'intellectual'essence'of'research?*
Ques,ons*
the*incompleteness*of*accrued*knowledge.*
the*quest*for*new*knowledge.*

Deep'Reec,on'and'Discovery*
garner*knowledge*
observe*connec)ons*
use*logic*and*known*principles*

Output*

Ques)ons*that*were*not*asked*before*
Observa)ons*that*were*not*made*before*
Interpreta)ons*and*Meanings*that*were*not*derived*before*
Solu)ons*and*Methodologies*that*were*not*developed*before*

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Types*of*research*
'Three*View*Points*
Applica)on*
Pure*
Applied*

Objec)ves*
Descrip)ve *
Correla)ve* *

*
*

*Exploratory*
*Explanatory*

*Qualita)ve*

Inquiry*Mode*
Quan)ta)ve*

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Categories*of*Research*
By*purpose:**
Basic/fundamental/pure*research**
Applied*research**

By*)me:**
Crosscsec)onal**
Longitudinal**

By*methodology:**
Quan)ta)ve*vs.*Qualita)ve**
Exploratory*vs.*Experimental**
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Types*of*Research*(other*view)*
Data*Sources*
Primary*(Survey,*Experimental,*Simulated)*
Secondary'(Published,*Survey)*

Data*types*
Textual'(Literature,*Archives,*Reports)*
Numerical*(Scales,*Ordered/Semicordered/
Random,*Organized/Unorganized)*
'Visual'(Graphs,*Maps,*Diagrams)*

Research*Methods*(see*next*slide)*
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Types*of*Research**
Research*Method*
Descrip)ve*
Exis)ng*data*type*
Imaginary*data*type'*

LanguagecLogicalcAnaly)cal*
Interpreta)onal*Commentaries*
Case*Studies'*

Mathema)calcSymboliccAnaly)cal**
NumericalcAnaly)cal*
Sta)s)cal/Simula)oncbased*
Arithme)c*

19

What*is*Scien)c*Inquiry?*
Scien)c*inquiry*is*a*term*that*encompasses*a*variety*
of*techniques*that*scien)sts*use*to*explore*the*natural*
world*and*propose*explana)ons*based*on*the*evidence*
they*nd.*
The*objec)ve*of*scien)c*inquiry*is*to*nd*and*to*
characterize*the*paPerns*as*resulted*from*the**
explora)on.*
Scien)c*inquiry*is*founded*on*experiment*and*
observa)ons*as*opposed*to*purely*ra)onal*or*isolated*
logical*thought.*
Scien)c*Inquiry*can*enrich*our*understanding*of*
science*

20

Why*Scien)c*Inquiry*?*
It*will*make*you*more*knowledgeable*about*
something.*
You*will*be*able*to*explain*about*something*
more*thorough*
It*will*make*you*a*more*literate*and*cultured*
person.*
It*will*provide*you*more*ideas*

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Ac)vi)es*in*Scien)c*Inquiry*
Making*observa)ons*
Posing*ques)ons*
Finding*out*what*is*already*known*
Planning*inves)ga)ons*
Reviewing*past*knowledge*in*light*of*
experimental*evidence*
Using*tools*to*gather,*analyze,*and*interpret*data*
Proposing*explana)ons*
Communica)ng*the*results.*

22

Research*Process*(Methodology)*
Eight*Step*Model*
Formula)ng*a*research*problem*(Deciding)*
Conceptualizing*the*research*design*
Construc)ng*an*instrument*for*data*collec)on*
(Planning)*
Selec)ng*a*sample*
Wri)ng*a*research*proposal*
Collec)ng*data*
Processing*Data*(Doing)*
Wri)ng*a*research*report*
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Research*Process*
Formula)ng*a*research*problem*(Deciding)*
Decide*what*you*want*to*nd*out*about?*
Reviewing*the*literature*
Iden)fying*variables*
construc)ng*hypotheses*

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Research*Process*
Conceptualizing*the*Research*Design*
Research*Design*
study*design*
sampling*
measurement*

Selec)ng*a*study*Design*
Experimental*or*noncexperimental*
Before*and*aber*study*
Status*Study*
Trend*study*

25

Research*Process*
Construc)ng*an*instrument*for*data*collec)on*
Selec)ng*a*method*of*data*collec)on*
Primary*Sources*
Observa)on*
Interview*
Ques)onnaire*

Secondary*Sources*
Publica)ons*
Earlier*Research*
Mass*Media*

26

Research*Process*
Construc)ng*an*instrument*for*data*collec)on*
Collec)ng*using*aotudinal*scales*
Open*ended*and*closed*ended*ques)ons*

27

Research*Process*
Construc)ng*an*instrument*for*data*collec)on*
Establishing*the*validity*and*reliability*of*your*
research*instrument*
Types*of*validity*
Based*on*sta)s)cal*procedures*
How*good*an*indicator*it*is*
By*comparison*

28

Research*Process*
Construc)ng*an*instrument*for*data*collec)on*
Establishing*the*validity*and*reliability*of*your*
research*instrument*
Reliability*
Ability*of*the*instrument*to*
produce*consistent*measurement*
Test*and*rectest*

29

Research*Process*
Selec)ng*a*sample*
A*tradeco*between*accuracy*and*resources*
Probability*and*sta)s)cs*concept*
True*value*Vs*es)mate*
Sample*size*
Inference*

30

Research*Process*
Wri)ng*a*research*proposal*
Content*and*format*
Opera)onal*plan*to*obtain*answers*to*
research*ques)ons*

31

Research*Process*
Collec)ng*Data*
Variables*to*be*sampled*
Procedures*
Loca)on*
Sampling*interval*
Ethical*issues*

32

Research*Process*
Processing*and*Displaying*Data*
Edi)ng*
Coding*
Framework*and*methods*of*analysis*of*data*
Sta)s)cs*and*computers*
Output*formats,*types*of*graphs,*tables*etc.*

33

Research*Process*
Wri)ng*a*research*report*
Communicates*the*ndings*to*the*supervisor,*
general*public,*peers*etc.*
Referencing*
Bibliography*
Introduc)on*
Methodology*or*Methods*
Results*and*Discussion*
Conclusions*
34

General*Model*of*Scien)c*Inquiry*

35

Output*of*Each*Step*
State*General*Problem*

Statement*that*stated*general*problems*
Example:*Will*the*universe*expand*forever?*

Conduct*Literature*Search*

List*all*related*literatures*to*the*problems*stated*
Underline*all*theories,*techniques,*methods,*ndings*
and*so*forth*that*others*have*found*
Cri)cally*analyze*all*the*weaknesses,*strengths,*
similari)es,*dissimilari)es*among*those*theories,*
techniques,*ndings*above.*
Summarize*all*those*literatures*(make*annotated*
bibliographies)*

36

Output*of*Each*Step*
State*Specic*Problem*
Statement*of*general*problem*to*specic*problem*
Example:*What*are*the*factors*that*cause*the*
universe*expanded?*

Design*Methodology*
List*all*steps*to*be*taken*in*order*to*answer*those*
stated*problems*
Establish*the*seong*of*experiment*
Provide*all*necessary*means,*tools,*instruments*
Dene*the*object,*variables,*etc*
37

Output*of*Each*Step*
Gather*Data*
Organize*data*in*tables,*graphics*

Analyze*Data*
Interpret*the*organized,*and*processed*data*

Report*the*Results*

38

Basic*Skills*of*Scien)c*Inquiry*
Observing*
Classifying*and*sequencing*
Communica)ng*
Measuring*
Predic)ng*
Hypothesizing*
Inferring*
Dening,*controlling,*and*manipula)ng*variable*in*
experimenta)on*
Designing,*construc)ng*and*interpre)ng*models*
Interpre)ng,*analyzing*and*evalua)ng*data*

39

Uses*of*Scien)c*Inquiry*
Make*connec)ons*with*world*situa)ons*
To*encourage*more*ac)ve*problem*solving*
approach*to*learning*and*thinking*
To*apply*math*skills*
Review*what*is*already*known*in*light*of*
experimental*evidence*
Propose*answers,*explana)ons*and*
predic)ons*
Use*tools*to*gather,*analyze*and*interpret*data*
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Categories*of*Research*Methods*
Quan)ta)ve:*answers*are*found*through*
numerical*data**

Field*&*lab*experiments**
Surveys**
Formal*methods*(e.g.*mathema)cal*modelling)**

Qualita)ve:*answers*are*found*through*textual*
data**
Ac)on*research**
Case*studies**
Grounded*theory**
Ethnography**

41

Research*Methods**

42

Research*process*onion*(Saunders*et#al.,#
2003,#p.#83)*

43

Deduc)ve*and*Induc)ve*Approaches*

44