The Robert Gordon University

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INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH RESEARCH METHODS

• The Robert Gordon University
• School of Engineering
• Dr. Mohamed Amish

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MSc Handbook

• Introduction to Research
• MSc Project Components
• Thesis
• Poster
• Presentation

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• Introduction to Research

• A research is a process of investigation, it is a
• systematic study that can help solve practical
• problems and increase knowledge.
• The purpose of research is to
• Review existing knowledge
• Investigate existing situations or problems
• Provide solutions to problems
• Construct or create new procedures
• Explore and analyse other issues
• Generate new knowledge.

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Research Types

• Exploratory
• Descriptive
• Analytical
• Predictive.

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Exploratory Research

• Used when few or no previous studies exist. The
  aim is to look for patterns, hypotheses or ideas
  that can be tested and will form the basis for
  further research.
• Typical research techniques would include case
  studies, observation and reviews of previous
  related studies and data.

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Descriptive Research

• Used to identify and classify the elements or
• characteristics of a subject.
• Quantitative techniques are most often used to
  collect, analyse and summarise data.

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Analytical Research

• Extends the descriptive approach to suggest or
  explain why and how something is happening.
• An important feature of this type of research is
  in locating and identifying the different factors
  (variables) involved.

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Predictive Research

• The aim of predictive research is to speculate
  intelligently on future possibilities, based on
  close analysis of available evidence of cause and
  effect.

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Research Approach

• Quantitative (deductive)
• Qualitative (inductive)
• Applied / Basic
• Combination of any of the above.

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Quantitative Approach
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Qualitative Approach
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Research Process
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Research Idea

• It should not have been answered already by
  previous research
• It must not be too broad or general (although you
  will focus it even more later on in the process)
  
• It ought to be a question that needs to be
  answered (i.e. the answer will be useful to
  people)
• It must be a question that can be answered.

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Hypothesis and focused question

• A hypothesis is an idea or suggestion that is
  based on known fact and is used as a basis for
  further investigation. It is based on the
  findings of previous research, gained from the
  literature review and perhaps previous work
  experience with the subject.

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Literature Review

• A good literature review comprises
• a comprehensive survey of existing relevant work
• a detailed review of the best (most important)
  contributions
• a critical comparison of these contributions
• a synthesis of new knowledge from existing work.

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Data Collection Procedure

• You should include the materials used in
• your study. For example, if you undertake
• experimental study, you would describe here the
  details of the experiment, the materials used and
  what factors were held constant.

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Analysing Data
Choose a method that is in harmony with the
parameters you have set and with the type of data
collected.

• Example Statistical Analysis
• Descriptive (charts, tables)
• Comparative (similarities and differences)
• Relationships (correlation, regression)
• Multivariate (principal components, factor and
  cluster analysis).

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Database Management

• Using the database principles for
• Research data
• A place to store the data
• A tool to manage the data
• A tool to analyse the data.
• Reports / papers / thesis
• A place to store our writing
• A tool to help in layout presentation
• A tool to manage and format list of references.

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Interpretation of results

• Finally, after presenting the results, you are in
  a position to evaluate and interpret their
  implications, especially with respect to your
  original hypothesis. It is useful to note how
  your study applies to the on going development of
  theory.