RM5151 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND IPR

UNIT I RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION 6

Meaning of research problem- Sources of research problem, criteria characteristics of a good research problem, errors in
selecting a research problem, scope and objectives of research problem. Approaches of investigation of solutions for research
problem, data collection, analysis, interpretation, necessary instrumentations
UNIT II LITERATURE REVIEW 6
Effective literature studies approaches, analysis, plagiarism, and research ethics.
UNIT III TECHNICALWRITING /PRESENTATION 6
Effective technical writing, how to write report, paper, developing a research proposal, format of research proposal, a
presentation and assessment by a review committee.
UNIT IV INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) 6
Nature of Intellectual Property: Patents, Designs, Trade and Copyright. Process of Patenting and Development: technological
research, innovation, patenting, development. International Scenario: International cooperation on Intellectual Property.
Procedure for grants of patents, Patenting under PCT.
UNIT V INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) 6
Patent Rights: Scope of Patent Rights. Licensing and transfer of technology. Patent information and databases. Geographical
Indications. New Developments in IPR: Administration of Patent System, IPR of Biological Systems, Computer Software etc.
Traditional knowledge Case Studies, IPR and IITs.
TOTAL: 30 PERIODS
 UNIT I
Meaning of research problem- Sources of research
problem, criteria characteristics of a good research
problem, errors in selecting a research problem,
scope and objectives of research problem.
Approaches of investigation of solutions for research
problem, data collection, analysis, interpretation,
necessary instrumentations
• Academic Research is defined as fixing a problem and
the process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting
information to solve the problem thereof .
• But to qualify as good research, the process must have
certain characteristics and properties called SMART in
general: The main characteristics for good quality
research is listed below:
• S-Specific
M-Measurable
A-Attainable/Achievable
R-Realistic
T-Time bound
 WHY UNDERTAKE RESEARCH?

• To investigate some existing situation or problem.

• To provide solutions to a problem.
• To explore and analyse more general issues.
• To construct or create a new procedure or system.
• To explain a new phenomenon.
• To generate new knowledge.
Sources of research Problem
1. Field exposure
2. Brain storming session
3. Critical appraisal of literature: reading
journals, periodicals, news letters and
books, Govt industry reports,
dissertation/thesis, electronic databases.
4. Consultation with executive experts, guide
or senior who has experience and can tell
you what are the challenging field on
which you can conduct research.
 Sources of research Problem contd…

5) Intuition
6) Folklore - the traditional stories and culture of a group of people
7) Personal experience
8) Social issues
9) Attending scientific platforms like seminars, conferences,
workshop, symposium, training programs, skill development programs.
10) Academic experience: class room lecture or discussion
 7 Basic Steps in Formulating a Research
Problem
The quality & relevancy of your research work completely depends on formulating
/ selecting a research problem.

1. Identify the Broad Study Area

2. Dissect the Broad Study Area into Subareas
3. Mark-up your Interest
4. Study Research Questions
5. Set Out Objectives
6. Assess your Objectives
7. Check Back
 Characteristics of Research
1. The problem can be stated clearly and concisely (it addresses directly or
indirectly some real problem in the world).
2. The problem generates research questions (it generates new questions
or is cyclical in nature. leading to novelty. in a way that it has the potential
to suggest directions for future research).
3. It is grounded in theory (it is based on some logical rationale and tied to
theory. it is incremental).
4. It relates to one or more academic fields of study
5. It has a base in the research literature
 Characteristics of Research contd…

6. It has potential significance/importance (useful for the concerned

people in a particular field).
7. It is doable within the time frame, budget (it can be replicated and
doable . whatever you conclude on the basis of your findings is correct
and valid and verifiable by you and others).
8. Sufficient data are available or can be obtained
9. Invites more complex designs / more variables
10. Does not carry ethical or moral impediments: (while working with
animal models).
Errors in selecting research problem:
1) The opposites of what have been discussed.
2) Looking for something when it simply is not
to be found.
3) Plagiarizing other people’s work.
4) Falsifying data to prove a point.
5) Misrepresenting information and misleading
participants.
Scope and objectives of research problem
HOW TO READ RESEARCH

1. Locate and read a few articles from within a field you are
comfortable with.
2. Read studies that are of interest to you.
3. Read the abstract first.
4. Identify the research question and objectives.
5. Why did the researcher(s) choose a particular setting or
sample?
6. What were the methods chosen to collect data?
7. What were the most important findings?
8. Do not be over-concerned with statistical analysis.
9. Be critical but objective.
Characteristics of a Good
Research Question

ETHICAL

SIGNIFICANT

CLEAR

FEASIBLE
 Significance of Research

•Doubt is often better than overconfidence as

doubt leads to enquiry and enquiry leads to
invention”
• Research inculcates scientific and inductive
thinking that promotes development of logical
thinking
Elements of Research Methodology
• Defining objective
• Reviewing Literature
• Formulating Hypothesis
• Designing sample
• Collecting data
• Analyzing of data
• Arriving at conclusions
Steps in Research
1. Observation
2. Preliminary information gathering
3. Theory Formulation
4. Hypothesizing
5. Further Scientific Data Collection
6. Data Analysis
7. Deduction

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Stages of the Scientific Method
Question Identified

Steps within
Hypothesis Formed the research
process

Research Plan

Data Collected

Results Analyzed

Conclusions
 Steps in Conducting Research
• Specific steps guide the research process
• Number of steps is indeterminate
• Various steps may be combined
• Order of steps may vary somewhat
• Importance of specific steps is variable
• “12 Steps of Research”
 12 Steps of Research

1. Identify the research question

2. Initial review of literature
3. Distilling the question to a researchable problem
4. Continued review of literature
5. Formulation of hypothesis
6. Determining the basic research approach
7. Identifying the population and sample
8. Designing the data collection plan
9. Selecting or developing data collection instruments
10. Choosing the method of data analysis
11. Implementing the research plan
12. Interpreting the results
Selecting the topic/ Problem

1. Significance/relevance: Is this an important

problem for nurses/nursing practice? Is it
timely?
2. Gaps: What is already known about the topic?
Have others already examined this issue? Is
more research needed?
3. Interest: Is this something you would like to
explore further?
Research is communication
The greatest ideas are worthless if you keep them to yourself

Your papers and talks

Crystalise your ideas
Communicate them to others
Get feedback
Build relationships
(And garner research brownie points)
What to put into research
1. Motivation (20%)
2. Your key idea (80%)
3. There is no 3
Explain the problems to be encountered by
researchers in India
• Lack Of Scientific Training
• Insufficient Interaction:
There Is No Proper Interaction Between Researchers And The Business
Establishments And Government Institutions.
• Lack Of Confidence:
Most Of The Business Establishments Are Of The Opinion That The
Researchers Can Misuse The Data Provided By Them.
• Lack Of Code Of Conduct:
• The Outlook Of The Researcher/ Research Student:
All Students Before Being Selected By The Guide Interact With Their
Senior Students. They Already Finding Difficulty With Research And
Tells The Hardships They Suffer Or Suffered. This Changes The Outlook
Of The Student
• Lack Of Availability Or Access To Literature Needed
• Copying data +Plagiarism
• Higher Cost of Publishing
• Manipulation of data
• Lack of availability of sponsors
• No availability of permission to do research in specific
centres
 Research Topic: The broad general area expected
to investigate. It is a broad idea or concept from
which many problems may be delineated.

Research Problem: A situation or circumstance

that requires a solution to be described, explained, or
predicted. It is an unsatisfactory situation that wants
you to confront.

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 If there is a knowledge gap in an area that
need to be investigated, the research problem
identifies this gap. Where as the research topic is
simply a broad area of interest, the research
problem identifies what is problematic about that
topic.

Research Statement: A statement specifies

exactly what is being studied.
 The research statement should include six elements:

 Information about the research topic that provoked the

study
 The scope of the problem (e.g. how many people are
affected by it)
 Why it is important to study the problem.
 How nursing science would be influenced by the study
 General characteristics of the population of interest
 The overall goal or aim of the study or the question to
be answered

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Your researchable idea can be generated from many sources:

•You may have a particular area of interest that you have been thinking for quite some time, and would
like to pursue further.
•You may have generated your idea while discussing this issue with your colleagues/peers or in a
seminar.
•You might have been reading journals, books or magazines on issues relating to teaching and learning
in higher education
•Further reflection on our general interest, discussion with colleagues and teachers, whatever we read,
and many such circumstances will facilitate focusing on the choice of our topic of research.
• Your interest is important where you have burning desire to add value.
•Your skills, background knowledge versus your interest and societal need.
•Level and type of research-Under-graduate, Graduate student etc or just research
•Availability of resources including Experienced Supervisor or Co-investigator,
facilities/funds/Data/instrument among others
•Identification and if applicable quantification of research of research problems-Existing gaps to be filled
based on perceived ideals/expected reality and what obtains currently.
•SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound) nature of desired objectives of the
research TOPIC.
•Anticipated applicability of research outcomes in addressing societal needs.
When you are selecting a research problem following characteristics of a
good research question should be kept in mind:

If you remember FINER MAPS, you can frame a good research question

1. F -Feasible and Fundable

2. I -Interesting and Impactful
3. N -Novel
4. E -Ethical
5. R -Relevant and Replicable
6. M -Manageable
7. A -Appropriate
8. P -Publishable
9. S -can be done in a Systematic and Scientific way