What is Research, how many types of research?
- 1. Naveed Tariq (塔里克） “Fundamentals of Scientific Research” School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha By
- 2. Content… School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha What Is Research? General steps and Topic selection Literature review & Data collection Scientific Writing 01 02 03 04
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- 4. 1.1 Definition?? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Research “researcher” Search again and again A scientific approach of “answering a research question, solving a problem or generating new knowledge through a systematic and orderly collection, organization, and analysis of data”. “English dictionary” research is a “a careful investigation or inquiry especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge”. Redman and Moray define research as “a systematized effort to gain new knowledge”. Answering question Solving problem Gaining knowledge Derived from
- 5. An Example?? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha To know about “CSU” CSU Search on Internet Ask Graduated students Ask Faculty Ask Local people How CSU is?? How are the studies there?? How will I get admission??
- 6. 1.2 Types of Research. School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Types of Research Basic Research Qualitative Applied Quantitative Gain Knowledge, human welfare Solve practical problems, social and real life, human conditions Collecting and analyzing data, peoples perceptions Measuring quantity, comparing with past record, statistic Classify research on the basis of its purpose. Classify research on the basis of the method employed in research
- 7. 1.2.1 Examples. School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Basic Research Qualitative Applied Quantitative How to treat or cure COVID-19? Conducting a study to check the influence of teaching methods on students performance Research designed to find out how people feel or what they think about CSU? understand the amount of time a doctor takes to tend to a patient when the patient walks into the hospital
- 8. 1.3 Purpose of Research School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Why do we need to do research? The principal objective or purpose of research in any field of inquiry is to add to what is known about the phenomenon under the investigation through the application of scientific methods. Exploration Description Causal Explanation Prediction finding out about some previously unexamined phenomenon refers to the data based information- gathering activities to establish cause and- effect relationship between variables seeks to answer when and in what situations the event will occur,
- 9. 1.3 Purpose of Research School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Why do we need to do research? Some objectives Solving complex problems Save costs Improve human desires Investigate law of nature Make new discoveries
- 10. 1.4 Significance of Research School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Seeking answers to various social problems Base for policies in economic system Develop strategies and models in rural developmen t Source of livelihood Generalizin g new theories Make changes Why do we need to do research?
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- 12. 2.1 General steps???? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Identifying problem. Go with the problem and review some information Collecting data Analyses of data Drawing conclusion Check validity General steps……..
- 13. 2.2 How to select topic?? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Choose topic Read articles Collect materials Use citation database Find agreement and disagreement Choose topic Work with supervisor Ask experts Find from literature
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- 15. Main steps need to be followed…. School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central south University, Changsha Literature review Data collection & processing Writing (Thesis or Paper)
- 16. 3.1 How to search relevant materials?? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Before start searching… Look at your topic clearly Select best key words Search about alternative search words as well Make searching strategies Search strategies Keyword 1 Phrase (two or more words) Keyword 2 Keyword 1 Keyword 3 Keyword 2 Keyword 1 Search by… • Author name • Title
- 17. 3.1.1 Searching databases…. School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Types of materials to be collected Research Articles/papers Books Thesis Searching databases Web of science Relevant journal University library Research gate Google scholar
- 18. 3.1.2 How to store/keep data….. School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha My computer is unsafe, I am worried that I will lost my data….. Oh…….so sad Don’t worry…. Every problem has a solution…. Search for Mendeley Download Install Register with email…….
- 19. 3.1.3 How store/keep data….. School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha My computer is unsafe, I am worried that I will lost my data….. Double click on Mendeley Icon.. Click on file… Click on add files or add folder…. Select files and import to library OK……. I am ready to go further…….
- 20. 3.2 Literature review?? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha What is it???? A literature review is a list of books and journal articles on a specific topic, grouped by theme and evaluated with regard to your research… Identify connections, contradiction and gape in literature. connections let you feel for the agreed academic opinion on the topic. Contradiction show disagreement on the topic. Gap provide you a way to present your opinions.. Gaps also identify the area that are need further to be researched…
- 21. 3.2.1 How to read a Research Paper??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Structure of Research paper Title Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion/Conclusion
- 22. 3.2.1 How to read a Research Paper??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Open relevant paper “ ohh…….” Difficult to read…. Getting bore…. Demotivated…. Abstract Title Last paragraph of Intro Conclusion 5% Reading strategy 20-25% 10-15% 10% By following this strategy you will have enough idea about the paper. Then Follow the order of the paper
- 23. 3.3 How to collect and Process Data??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Usually depend upon nature of research Objective Conducting experiments Interviews and questionnaires Already published Reported Analysis: Techniques, software's
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- 25. How to write a Research Paper/Thesis??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Methods Results/Discussion Conclusion Introduction Abstract General Writing strategy
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- 27. How to write a methodology section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Methodology However, when you write a research article, people will be learning from you. Communicate information about a new procedure, a new method, or a new approach. Details for readers to replicate the work done and obtain similar results. Methodology Procedures Material and Methods Simulation Experimental
- 28. How to write methodology section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Methodology Language and Sentence Structure Academic writing: Present Past Passive How to make choice?? We/I collected the samples. active The samples were collected. passive When you report what you did, you don’t write ‘by us’ or ‘by me’ when changing the sentence from active to passive. You simply leave the agent out, creating an agentless passive. Example: (a) A flexible section is inserted in the pipe. Present Simple passive (b) A flexible section was inserted in the pipe. Past Simple passive (a) Uses the Present Simple tense to describe what is normally done or to describe a standard piece of equipment used in the research and (b) Uses the Past Simple tense to describe what you did yourself.
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- 30. How to write Result’s section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Results To address what you obtained… This section reports your comments on what you found or observed. Results Figure s Texts Tables Results of your work can be given in graphs, tables, equations or images. Why text ? Results do not speak for themselves; if they did, the tables or graphs of your results would be enough. Because
- 31. How to write Result’s section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Other Reasons Some of your results may be more interesting or significant than others, and it is difficult to communicate this in a table or graph. It is essential to relate your results to the aim(s) of the research. In some cases you may want to offer background information to explain why a particular result occurred, or to compare your results with those of other researchers Your results may be problematic because of unsuccessful experiments, so you need to explain in text. Most Important one “communicate your own understanding and interpretation of the results to your readers. Emphasis of the figures A title which summarizes what the figure is about Details of results or models shown in the figure or supplementa ry to the figure. Description of the units or statistical notation included.
- 32. How to write Result’s section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Basic writing techniques Sequence Causality Quantity Frequency
- 33. How to write Results section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha 1. Sequence language You need to be able to describe the order and time sequence of what you did and found in a very precise way Time sequence means how long each step took and where it occurred in the sequence. Don’t use “then” and “next”. “Groups of words and phrases that communicate sequence”. 1. Before you began observing your results: “It was apparent beforehand that a reduction in temperature would be a desirable outcome”. 2. First result you are describing “At the beginning the temperature was stable, as predicted” 3. Only tell about order in which events occurred “The temperature increased to 49°C and then dropped to 30°C’. An example: “Variations occurred in temperature”
- 34. How to write Results section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha 1.Sequence language “Groups of words and phrases that communicate sequence”. 4. (only) a short period of time between two events “The temperature increased to 49°C but soon dropped to 30°C”. 5. The period of time between events was long. “The temperature increased to 49°C and later dropped to 30°C”. 6. Events occurred at the same time or almost at the same time “The temperature dropped sharply when we reduced the pressure” 7. Marks the end of the sequence of events “At the end there was a noticeable drop in temperature” An example: “Variations occurred in temperature”
- 35. How to write Results section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha 2.Frequency language It is also important to communicate clearly how often a particular event or result occurred. If a particular result occurred on every occasion a test was carried out, then it is a very reliable result; if it sometimes occurred when the test was carried out, that is a less reliable result. In the Results, if you write x occurred without a frequency modifier, your readers may not be able to compare their results with yours. An example: “an employ want to meet his Boss on Monday morning” whether he should look for him in the office or not?? If he “Always” go to office on Monday morning Generally, regularly, often, some times, occasionally, rarely, hardly ever , never etc
- 36. How to write Results section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha 3. Quantity language Words have surprising power, and can encourage people to form strong An example1: Someone says to you “come and meet my neighbor, he spent 10 years in prison for a murder” An example 2: Someone says to you “come and meet my neighbor, he donate 10 million dollars to poor people” Frightening A kind person
- 37. How to write Results section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha 3. Quantity language You can express this result in two ways 1. Strong result “ as many as 50% people were diagnosed positive” 2. Weak result “ only 50% of people were diagnosed positive” Quantity language can be used to replace numbers (many) or it can be used to comment on numbers (as many as 45). An example: “Percentage of COVID- positive cases was 50% ” in April 2020 1. Words or phrases which make the size/quantity look big “a considerable rise in COVID positive cases was observed in July-2020” 2. Words or phrases which make the size/quantity look small “barely 15% of positive cases was recorded in September 2020” 3. Emphasize how big/small/high/low the size/ quantity is: “the number of diagnosed people in December 2020 was even higher/ even lower than predicted” 4. To communicate that the size/quantity is similar/close to another “ Almost half/Almost all infected people were recovered in January-2021” 5. To say something about the quantity but you do not want to commit yourself to an interpretation of how big or small it was: “ some of the infected people remained in March 2021”
- 38. How to write Results section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha 4. Causality When you describe your results, you may want to indicate the relationships or connections between the events that you observed Sometimes you may be able to state clearly that one event caused another but you do not have proof of the causal connection between them An example: “ x produced y ” Or “x originated y” Subject “x” is caused, Object “y’’ is the effect 1. Clear/strong causal connection (cause, produce, be due to). 2. Partial cause (be a factor in, contribute to) 3. Weak causal connection ( be related to, link). My fever is “due to” walking in Rain Example: A person walking in rain gets cold. Later he feel fever. Some one ask him the reason of his “Fever”
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- 40. How to write Discussion’s section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Discussions Discussion Redraft introduction Emphasize key element Avoid unnecessary repetitions Evidence the gap Reverse of Introduction (from broader to narrow) section Discussion move from narrow to broader The Discussion looks back at the points made in the Introduction on the basis of the information in the central report section. Scientific writing: In results and discussion section you often focus to give possible reason, an obvious interpretation or probable implication by Using “Modal Verbs”. may, might, could, can, should, ought to, need to, have to and must. An example: The drop in pressure must have been due to a crack in the pipe.
- 41. How to write Conclusion’s section??? School of Automation, Central south University, Changsha Conclusion Reference to the main purpose of the study. Explanation of findings. Limitations of the study. Implications of the study. Recommendations for future research or application. Writing • Present tense • Demonstrate • Indicate • Avoid MODAL VERBS (discussed previously) An example: “ Influence of strict behaviors on students learning” Results demonstrate/indicate that strict behavior of teacher decrease learning skills of students
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