Research Methodology & IPR

Course Code: BTCS4801

Dr. Rajeev Kumar

SCSE, Galgotias University
What is research?
• Research can be defined as the search for knowledge or as
any systematic investigation to establish facts.
• The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English lays
down the meaning of research as “a careful investigation or
inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch
of knowledge”.
• In short, the search for knowledge through objective and
systematic method of finding solution to a problem is
research.
 Motivation of Research
1. Desire to get a Good Academic Profile
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved
problems
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative
work
4. Desire to be of service to society
5. Desire to get respectability.
RESEARCH PROCESS FLOW CHART
 Research Process Stages
1) Formulating the research problem 7) Execution of the project
2) Extensive literature survey 8) Analysis of data
3) Developing the hypothesis 9) Hypothesis testing
4) Preparing the research design 10) Generalization and
interpretation
5) Determining sample design
11) preparation of the report or
6) Collecting the data presentation of the results,
i.e., Thesis of conclusions reached
Criteria\ Characteristics of Good Research

•Systematic
•Logical
•Empirical
•Reductive
•Replicable
 Criteria\ Characteristics of Good Research
➢1. The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common concepts be used.
➢2. The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another
researcher to repeat the research for further advancement, keeping the continuity of what
has already been attained.
➢3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield results that are
as objective as possible.
➢4. The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in procedural design and
estimate their effects upon the findings.
➢5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the
methods of analysis used should be appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data
should be checked carefully.
➢6. Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the research and limited
to those for which the data provide an adequate basis.
➢7. Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good
reputation in research and is a person of integrity.
Problems Encountered by Researchers in India
1. The lack of a scientific training in the methodology of research
2. There is insufficient interaction between the university research
departments
3. There is lack of confidence that the information/data obtained will
not be misused.
4. There does not exist a code of conduct for researchers
5. Difficulty of adequate and timely secretarial assistance
6. Library management and functioning is not satisfactory at many
places
7. There is also the difficulty of timely availability of published data
8. The problem of conceptualization
Research problem
 Research problem
• In research process, the first and foremost step happens to
be that of selecting and properly defining a research
problem. Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all
the symptoms (presented to him or observed by him)
concerning a problem before he can diagnose correctly. To
define a problem correctly, a researcher must know: what a
problem is
• A research problem, in general, refers to some difficulty
which a researcher experiences in the context of either a
theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a
solution for the same.
 Components of Research problem
• There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or
the problem.
• There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants
nothing, one cannot have a problem.
• There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for
obtaining the objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that there
must be at least two means available to a researcher for if he has no
choice of means, he cannot have a problem.
• There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with
regard to the selection of alternatives. This means that research must
answer the question concerning the relative efficiency of the possible
alternatives.
• There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains
How to Define Research Problem
(i) Statement of the problem in a general way
(ii) Understanding the nature of the problem
(iii) Surveying the available literature
(iv) Developing the ideas through discussions
(v) Rephrasing the research problem into a working
proposition.
 Errors encountered by Researcher
Some common errors researchers may commit when selecting a research
problem:
• Vague Problem Statement
• Overly Broad or Narrow Problem
• Ignoring Relevance and Significance
• Lack of Originality
• Insufficient Literature Review
• Personal Bias
• Infeasible Problem
• Ignoring Ethical Considerations
• Underestimating Resources
 Examples
• Example:
• Vague Problem - "Improving Education"
• "Social media and its effects on mental health."

• Studying Human Behavior

Specific Problem - "Investigating the Impact of Interactive Online Modules on High
School Students’

• Infeasible Problem - "Exploring the Entire History of Human Civilization" Feasible

Problem - "Investigating the Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Urbanization Trends in
the Last Three Decades“

• Narrow Problem: "Analyzing the Impact of Green Tea Consumption on the

Concentration Levels of College Students in a Single Geography Classroom"
 Selection of a Research Problem
• Is the problem relevant and important.
• Does the subject area suits to his interest.
• Does it contain originality and creativeness.
• Does the problem requires extension of knowledge.
• Is the problem feasible with respect to time and date required in its solution.
• Is the study reveal some new ideas.
• Is the study practically fulfill the objectives.
• Is the problem of investigation is too narrow or too broad.
 Defining the Research Problem
(a) Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the
statement of the problem, should be clearly defined.
(b) Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem
should be clearly stated.
(c) A straight forward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the
criteria for the selection of the problem) should be provided.
(d) The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must
also be considered by the researcher in defining the problem.
(e) The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to
be studied must be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.
Sources of Research Problem
• Published works
• Record of previous research.
• Discussion with learned person.
• Research abstracts, Research Bulletins, Research reports and
Dissertation abstracts.
• Conference proceedings and papers presented in technical sessions.
• Trend Reports.
Types of Research and Research Approaches
• Descriptive vs. Analytical
• Applied vs. Fundamental
• Quantitative vs. Qualitative
• Conceptual vs. Empirical
• Exploratory Research
• Experimental Research
• Case Study Research
• Longitudinal Research
 Approaches of Investigation of Solutions for
Research Problem
Choose the appropriate approach based on the nature of
the problem, available resources, and research goals. This
could involve experimental, theoretical, computational, or
mixed-method approaches.
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Interpretation
• Necessary Instrumentation
• Comparative Analysis
Effective literature studies approaches
• Effective literature study approaches are crucial
for conducting thorough and insightful research.
These approaches help researchers gather,
synthesize, and critically analyze existing
literature to contribute meaningfully to their
field of study.
 Types of literature survey resources:

1. Scholarly Journals 11. Library Catalogs

2. Books 12. Professional and Academic
3. Conference Proceedings Organizations
4. Theses and Dissertations 13. Online Blogs and Forums
5. Government and Institutional Reports 14. Educational Websites
6. Grey Literature 15. News and Media Outlets
7. Literature Reviews 16. Social Media
8. Online Databases 17. Audiovisual Resources
9. Digital Repositories 18. Reference Lists
10. Citation Indexes
 Effective literature studies approaches
1. Clearly Define Research Objectives 11. Thematic Analysis
2. Develop a Research Protocol 12. Compare and Contrast
3. Comprehensive Keyword Search 13. Identify Research Gaps
4. Select Reliable Sources 14. Write Critically and Objectively
5. Use Citation Management Tools 15. Build a Logical Structure
6. Create Inclusive Search Strings 16. Cite Effectively
7. Stay Up-to-Date 17. Quality over Quantity
8. Critical Reading and Evaluation 18. Regularly Review and Revise
9. Synthesize Key Findings 19. Seek Feedback
10. Concept Mapping 20. Stay Objective and Neutral
 Literature Review and Data Collection
• Data are observations and evidence regarding some
aspects of the problems/issue under study
• Reduces uncertainties in a decision making
• Data collection consists of arranging information from
reality in ordered manner
• Entering in recording systems to predicted and understood
social behaviour
Importance of Data Collection
• Provides sources of comparative data by which data
can be interpreted and evaluated against each other.
• Based on the data collection, data are presented and
analyzed.
• Suggests the type and method of data to obtain
desired information.
• Helps to takes ordered information from reality and
present in particular fashion for easy analysis.
 Types of
Data

Secondary Primary
data data

Internal External
Sources Sources
 Secondary sources
Provides secondary data already gathered by others.

Types:
➢ Internal secondary source
Available from in-house source like within the organization include
representative’s report, shipment records, accounting data etc.
➢ External secondary sources
Available from the sources outside the organization such as published
report, library, computer, data books, etc.
 Primary sources
• Provides primary data/first hand data/original data collected
by the researchers by hand.
• Obtained from families, representatives, organization, etc.
• Interviews, questionnaire, observation are the major tools
for collecting data from primary sources.
• Most authenticated, reliable and not published anywhere.
 Interview

Question-
Survey naire
Methods of
Collecting Data

Observat-
Case study ion
 Survey
• Term survey has two constituents, “ sur” which means
over and “ view” which means to see.
• Thus , word survey means to oversee i.e. to look over
something from high place.
• Systematic gathering of information from the people for
the purpose of understanding or predicting some aspect of
their behaviour
• Survey data are expressed in numbers or percentages
Types of surveys
• Census survey: Covers the survey of entire
population, very expensive and time and effort
consuming.
• Sample survey: It covers the study of a sample group
only which is a part of the population or unit, less
expensive and less time and effort consuming.
• Regular survey: It is conducted after regular intervals,
generally, the government uses it to obtain data about
economics problems etc.
 Types of Survey
• Official survey: Conducted by government to serve general or specific
information for formulating plans and policies.
• Non official survey: Conducted by non-government persons or agency.
• First survey: Conducted in area for the first time.
• Repetitive survey: conducted subsequent to first survey i.e. for second
or third time
• Open survey/public survey: Publicly available having general
importance.
• Confidential survey: The result of the survey is not made public.
Information is not revealed to the common people.
 Types of Survey
• Transaction / Follow-up Survey:
❖Getting customer feedback regarding a specific
transaction such as online shopping, purchase etc
❖A quality control tool
• Periodic Survey/Relationship surveys:
❖Measure the overall relationship the customer or other
stakeholder has with the organization
❖Done periodically
❖To access broad feelings toward products that whether it
improved over previous year or not
 Interview
• Technique to collect primary data.
• An oral method in which one person asks another person questions
designed to obtain answer related to the research problem.
Formats of Interview
➢Fixed – alternative item interview
✓Offers the respondents a choice among two or more alternatives.
✓Responses are limited to stated alternatives, for e.g. yes-no, agree
disagree
✓often a third alternative don’t know or undecided is added.
 Formats of Interview
➢ Open-end item
✓ lists only the main question.
✓ Permits to answer the question in the way respondent likes.
➢ Scale item
✓ scale is set of verbal items to each of which an individual responds by
expressing degree of agreement or disagreement or some other mode or
response
Ways of Interview
• Personal interview: Respondents are interviewed face-to-face
• Advantages
➢Good cooperation from participants
➢Illiterate participants can be reached
➢Interviewer can prescreen participants to ensure that he or she fits the
profile
• Disadvantages
➢Longer period needed in the field collecting data
➢Not all participants are available or accessible
➢Need for highly trained interviewer
 Ways of Interview
• Telephone interview: Interviewer phones to respondents and asks
them a series of questions
• Advantages
➢Lower costs than personal interview
➢Expanded geographic coverage without dramatic increase in cost
➢Use fewer but highly skilled interviewers
• Disadvantages
➢Sometimes many phone numbers are unlisted.
➢Some target groups are not available by phone
➢Responses may be less complete
 Mail Interview
• Questions are mailed to respondents. The respondents complete and return mail
to questionnaires.
• No verbal interaction between the researcher and the respondent
• Advantages
➢Mail surveys are low in cost
➢Provide convenience as the participants are able to work on the surveys at
their leisure
• Disadvantages of mails survey
➢low response rate
➢Another problem with self-administered surveys is three fold: assumptions
about the physical ability, literacy level and language ability of the respondents
 Electronic Methods
• In contrast to e-mails surveys, internet or web surveys use questionnaire which are
posted on the webpage.
• Respondents may be recruited over internet form potential respondent databases
through email
• Advantages
➢Short turnaround of results
➢Ability to do numerous surveys over time
➢Ability to attract participants who are otherwise difficult to reach
• Disadvantages
➢Recruiting the right sample is costly and time consuming
➢Unlike telephone and mail survey, no contact list exists
➢Technical and research skill is required to conduct the web survey
➢Converting survey to web page is sometimes expensive
 Comparison
Comparison basis Telephone Mail Personal
Interview

Comparative cost Same Same High

Facilities needed? No No Yes
Require training of questioner? Yes No Yes
Data-collection time Short Longer Longest
Response rate Good Poorest Very high
Require literate sample No Yes No
Participant prescreen Not possible Not possible Possible
Encourage response to sensitive topics? Somewhat Best Weak

39
 Plagiarism Analysis
• There are various approaches to analyzing plagiarism:
• Text Comparison Software: Utilize plagiarism detection tools like Turnitin,
Grammarly, and ithenticate that compare the submitted text against databases of
existing content to identify similarities.
• Manual Comparison: Conduct a side-by-side analysis of the suspected plagiarized
content and its potential source to identify direct copying or paraphrasing.
• Citation Examination: Scrutinize the citations and references in the document to
check if sources have been appropriately credited and cited.
• Semantic Analysis: Look beyond literal text matching and assess the overall
meaning and structure of sentences to detect disguised plagiarism.
• Writing Style Analysis: Evaluate changes in writing style, vocabulary, tone, or
formatting that may indicate portions of text copied from another source.
 Plagiarism Analysis
• Online Search: Manually search for specific phrases or sentences online to
identify potential sources of copied content.
• Cross-Reference with Databases: Compare the document with academic
databases, journals, and published materials to spot unauthorized use of
others' work.
• Peer Review: In academic and research settings, peer reviewers can help
identify potential instances of plagiarism by recognizing unattributed content.
• Pattern Recognition: Identify recurring patterns in sentence structure,
keywords, or ideas that might indicate similarities with existing sources.
• Quotation Verification: Ensure that quoted material is accurately presented
and properly cited to prevent inadvertent plagiarism.
• Synonym Checks: Search for synonyms of key phrases to uncover instances
where authors have replaced words to evade direct matching.
 Plagiarism Analysis
• Historical Record Analysis: Review historical drafts or versions of the
document to detect changes or additions that could suggest copied
content.
• Expert Assessment: Seek input from subject matter experts to identify
content that deviates from the author's usual style or knowledge.
• Language Analysis: Analyze linguistic nuances, idiomatic expressions, or
grammatical inconsistencies that might reveal copied content.
• Google Reverse Image Search: For visual content, use reverse image search
engines to locate instances of image plagiarism.
• Digital Forensics: Employ digital forensics techniques to uncover hidden
metadata or traces of copying in electronic documents.
• Statistical Analysis: Apply statistical tools to analyze word frequency,
sentence length, or other patterns that may indicate copied content.
 Plagiarism Analysis
• Contextual Assessment: Consider the context of the suspected
plagiarism, the author's credibility, and the likelihood of accidental
similarity.
• Plagiarism Detection Services: Engage third-party services that
specialize in plagiarism detection and offer in-depth analysis.
• Combination Approach: Employ multiple methods in tandem for a
more comprehensive and accurate plagiarism analysis.
 Research Ethics
• Informed Consent: Obtain clear and voluntary agreement from
participants, explaining the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of
the study.
• Confidentiality: Safeguard participants' privacy by keeping their
personal information and data confidential.
• Minimization of Harm: Take measures to minimize physical,
psychological, or emotional harm to participants during the research.
• Objectivity and Integrity: Conduct research honestly, transparently,
and without manipulating data or results.
• Respect for Participants: Treat participants with dignity, avoiding
coercion, discrimination, or exploitation.
 Research Ethics
• Avoidance of Bias: Strive to remain unbiased in design, execution,
and reporting to ensure research accuracy.
• Responsible Authorship: Credit individuals who significantly
contributed as authors, avoid plagiarism and guest authorship.
• Data Management: Handle data securely, maintaining accuracy,
confidentiality, and appropriate retention.
• Compliance with Regulations: Adhere to legal and institutional
research ethics guidelines and approvals.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Declare any personal or financial
interests that could affect research objectivity.
• Publication Ethics: Publish findings transparently, with proper
citation, accurate reporting, and avoidance of duplication.
 Research Ethics
• Responsibility to Society: Conduct research that benefits
society, addresses needs, and contributes positively.
• Maintain Credibility: Uphold ethical standards to ensure the
integrity and credibility of research outcomes.
 Effective Technical Writing
• Audience Understanding
• Clarity and Direct Language
• Conciseness and Eliminating Redundancy
• Organizational Structure
• Visual Aids and Illustrations
• Consistency in Terminology and Style
• Precise Terminology and Definitions
• Avoiding Ambiguity
XYZ journal

•No of Paper cited in year 2023 = 100

•No of paper published in previous 2 year
2022 and 2021= 500

•IF= 100/500
 Effective Technical Writing
• Proper Citation and Referencing
• Proofreading and Editing
• Providing Context
• Balancing Technical Detail
• Iterative Revision Process
• Seeking Audience Feedback
What is a Research Paper?

Document of scientific findings.

Scientific papers are the heart of the
scientific community.
❖ A research paper is an expanded essay that presents ones
interpretation or evaluation or an argument.

❖ When anyone write’s a research paper they build upon what

they know about the subject and what other experts know.

❖ A research paper involves surveying a field of knowledge in

order to find the best possible information in that field.
What are the areas in which one can
publish a research papers?
• Science
• Arts
• Humanities
• Religion
• Management
• Language etc.
 What is the essence of a science
publication?
• Science is
• Public
• Objective
• Predictive
• Reproducible
• Systematic
• Cumulative
• Publication makes this possible
• Final step in discovery
 Web of Science
• Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED): Covers a wide range of
scientific disciplines including natural sciences, physics, chemistry, biology,
mathematics, and more.
• Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI): Covers social sciences disciplines such as
psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and more.
• Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI): Covers arts and humanities disciplines
including literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, and more.
• Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI): Includes emerging research areas and
journals to provide a broader coverage of scholarly content.
• Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI): Indexes conference proceedings
across various fields, allowing researchers to access academic content from
conferences.
Various Indexing Agencies
• PubMed
• Scopus
• Web of Science
• Google Scholar
• IEEE Xplore
• ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)
Technical Report Writing
• Abstract Report
• Synopsis
• Research Plan Proposal
• Project report
• Thesis and Dissertation
• Research Article
 Effective technical writing
• Clarity and simplicity • Avoiding ambiguity
• Audience consideration • Step-by-step instructions
• Structured organization • Avoiding repetition
• Grammatical accuracy • User-centric approach
• Visual aids
• Editing and revising
• Consistent formatting
• Testing and proofreading
• Descriptive headings
• Use of white space • Concise language
• Citing sources
Key Section of Research Article
• Title and Abstract
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgments
• Appendices
Technical Report Writing
•Preliminary Pages
•Main Text
•End Matter
 Why Research Report
A research report is a formal account of how a research project was
conducted and what it found out. With it, people interested in the
project can:
• Read about the project’s aims, methods and findings.
• Assess the quality of the project.
• Provide feedback to the project’s researchers on what they like or
dislike about the project.
• Incorporate aspects of the project’s methods or findings into their
own work or thinking.
 Types of research report

Three of the most common types of research report are

• Technical reports
• Manuscripts for journal articles
• Thesis and dissertations.
 Common structure for a technical report
• Cover page with title and author(s) details
• Contents page
• Summary or abstract
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results (or Findings)
• Discussion and conclusions
• References
• Appendices
 Common writing errors in research reports
• Writing lacks clarity. Sentences not easily understood
• Key information not provided (e.g., sample sizes, context for the research
project)
• Most important findings not highlighted
• Trivial information highlighted in tables and graphs • Page numbers not
inserted
• Information not presented in a clear, logical sequence
• No blank line or indented text used to mark new paragraphs
• Symbols and abbreviations used in the text are not explained
• Tables not self-explanatory
• Table and figure titles are too long or do not clearly describe what the
table or figure contains.
• Figures difficult to understand (e.g., too complex).
• Numerous spelling and grammatical errors.
• Starting a new line for each sentence (i.e. using one-sentence
paragraphs).
• References in text and reference list are incorrectly formatted.
Source: pmfias.com
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