Research Methodology

Mohd Khairi Bin Mohamed Nor

Nona Merry Merpati Mitan

Industrial Campus UTeM December 12, 2012

2

Outline

• Part 1: Research process

• Part 2: Writing a research proposal/report

3

Outline

• Part 1: Research process

What is research?

Research is systematic, because it follows certain steps that are logical in

order. These steps are:

•Understanding the nature of problem to be studied and identifying the

related area of knowledge.

•Reviewing literature to understand how others have approached or dealt

with the problem.

•Collecting data in an organized and controlled manner so as to arrive at

valid decisions.

•Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.

•Drawing conclusions and making generalizations.

4

Which of these can be

classified as research?

• Encik Samad prepared a paper on

“computer usage in secondary schools”

after reviewing literature on the subject

available in his university library and

called it a piece of research.

5

Which of these can be

classified as research?

• Encik Muthu says that he has researched

and completed a document which gives

information about the age, of his students,

their SPM results, their parents income and

distance of their schools from the District

Office.

6

Which of these can be

classified as research?

• Encik Lim participated in a workshop on

curriculum development and prepared

what he calls, a research report on the

curriculum for building technicians. He did

this through a literature survey on the

subject and by discussing with the

participants of the workshop.

7

Consider the following case

which is an example of research

• A general manager of a car producing

company was concerned with the

complaints received from the car users

that the car they produce have some

problems with rating sound at the dash

board and the rear passenger seat after

few thousand kilometers of driving.

8

• He obtained information from the company workers to

identify the various factors influencing the problem.

• He then formulated the problem and generated

guesses (hypotheses).

• He constructed a checklist and obtained requisite

information from a representative sample of cars.

• He analyzed the data thus collected, interpreted the

results in the light of his hypotheses and reached

conclusions.

9

• You will notice in the example above that

the researcher went through a sequence of

steps which were in order and thus

systematic.

• • Secondly, the researcher did not just jump

at the conclusions, but used a scientific

method of inquiry in reaching at conclusions.

• • The two important characteristics of

research are : it is systematic and secondly it

follows a scientific method of enquiry. 10

11

Research concepts

• A way of thinking.

• Hunting for facts or truth about a subject.

• Organized scientific investigation to solve

problems, test hypotheses, develop or invent

new products.

12

Research process

• Phase 1: Deciding what to research

• Phase 2: Planning a research study

• Phase 3: Conducting a research study

Research Process

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Phase PHASE I PHASE II PHASE III

Main task DECIDING

WHAT

(research

questions to

answer?)

PLANNING

HOW

(to gather evidence to

answer the research

question)

UNDERTAKING

COLLECTING

(the required

information)

Operational

steps/research

journey

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

13

Details Research Process

• Phase I: Deciding what to research

Step 1 Formulating a research problem

• Phase II: Planning a research study

Step 2 Conceptualising a research design

Step 3 Constructing an instrument for data collection

Step 4 Selecting a sample

Step 5 Writing a research proposal

• Phase III: Conducting a research study

Step 6 Collecting data

Step 7 Processing and displaying data

Step 8 Writing a research report 14

15

Proses Penyelidikan

Kenalpasti

masalah

Kajian

Literatur

Hipotesis,

Objektif dan

Skop

Reka Bentuk Analisis

Experimen

Penulisan

Interactions with Supervisors

• Relying heavily on our supervisor

– step by step supervision

• Relying everything on ourselves

– no interaction with supervisor

• Supervisor provides the initial basic

knowledge for the student and student

continue to develop new ideas on the subject

– then continue regular discussions with

supervisor to overcome research problems.

16

Supervisors and Students

Role of Supervisors

• Determine topic and scope.

• Confirm the research or project

proposal.

• Specify the correct literature to be

read by students.

• Provide the necessary hardware or

Laboratory apparatus.

• Verify whether proposed algorithm

or methodology is correct.

• Determine the results given are

enough or not.

• Read students thesis and feedback

the necessary modifications or

improvement

• Give the relevant marks and grades.

Role of Students • Write a research/project proposal

• Get relevant literature on the

research topic

• Study and formulate

(mathematical eqns., techniques,

etc.)

• Develop simulations (write

• programs)

• Develop hardware (if relevant)

• Carry out experiments

• Write a thesis

17

Outline

Part 2: Writing a research proposal/report

18

Writing report …

• Most crucial step.

• Communicate the findings to the readers.

• A badly written report can spoil all your

hard work you have done.

19

20

Format umum

Introduction (Pengenalan)

Methodology (Kaedah)

Results (Keputusan)

Analysis (Analisis)

Discussion (Perbincangan)

Conclusion (Kesimpulan)

Komponen tesis

1. Awalan

2. Abstrak dalam bahasa Melayu dan Inggeris

3. Pendahuluan

- Pernyataan Masalah

- Objektif

- Skop

4. Kajian Kepustakaan

5. Metodologi (Bahan dan Kaedah)

6. Hasil Kajian, Keputusan dan Perbincangan

7. Kesimpulan

8. Rujukan

9. Lampiran

21

Abstract

• Summary highlight of your own research.

• Cover briefly your introduction, objective, methodology

and conclusion.

• Include implication.

• Passive verbs and past tenses.

• The third person (he, she, they) should not be used.

• No abbreviations.

• Standard nomenclature.

• No citations.

22

Introduction

• Develop an outline (`chapterisation`).

• Try to make a link for each paragraph.

• Narrow down your idea.

• Remember the citation.

23

24

Objective(s)

• The goals you set out to attain your project.

• Inform a reader of what you want to achieve through your

project.

• Clearly and specifically.

Objectives should be listed under two headings:

1. Main objectives

2. Subobjectives

25

A Script for Writing Qualitative Objective(s)

The purpose of this (strategy of inquiry, such as ethnography, case study, or

other type) study is (was? will be?) to (understand? describe? develop?

discover?) the (central phenomenon being studied) for (the participants, such

as the individual, groups, organization) at (research site). At this stage in the

research, the (central phenomenon being studied) will be generally defined

as (provide a general definition).

26

A Script for Writing Quantitative Objective(s)

The purpose of this (experiment? survey?) study is (was? will be?) to test

the theory of (theory name) that (compares? relates?) the (independent

variable) to (dependent variable), controlling for (control variables) for

(participants) at (the research site). The independent variable(s) will be

defined as (provide a definition). The dependent variable(s) will be defined

as (provide a definition), and the control and intervening variable(s) will be

defined as (provide a definition).

27

Literature Review

• Integral part of the research process and

make valuable contribution to almost every

operational step.

• Time consuming

• Daunting

• Frustrating

• Rewarding

28

Literature Review (2)

•Functions:

a. It provides a theoretical background to your study.

b. It helps you to establish the links between what you are proposing to

examine and what has already been studied.

c. It enable you to show how your findings have contributed to the existing

body of knowledge in your profession. It helps you to integrate you research

findings into the existing body of knowledge.

29

Literature Review (3)

Help in four ways:

1.Bring clarity and focus to your research

problem.

2.Improving your research methodology.

3.Broadening your knowledge base in your

research area.

4.Enabling you to contextualize your findings.

30

How to review the literature? (4)

1. Searching the existing literatures in your area

of study.

2. Define your idea in as general terms as

possible by using general sources.

3. Search through the secondary sources.

4. Search through the primary sources.

5. Organize your notes.

31

Sources (5)

1. Books

2. Journals

3. Internet

32

Sources (6)

Journals

32

Internet resources (7)

Online journal

Internet resources (8)

Web Search Engine

Others

Literature Review (Previous studies)

Samples Types of brominated flame retardants Techniques Results References

ABS Decabromobiphenyl and tetrabromobisphenol-A Macro pyrolysis 10 ppb of Br dibenzofuran at 400 oC in

nitrogen atmosphere

R. Luijk and H. A. J.

Govers (1992)

[49]

Printed circuit board

wastes

Unknown Fixed bed reactor 72.3% of Br in product gas and mainly as

HBr and bromobenzene

Y. C. Chien, et al.

(2000) [53]

ABS Epoxy type flame retardant Pyrolysis at 450 oC with PP

and ironoxide-carbon

composite catalyst

FeC removed bromine compounds in oil. T. Bhaskar et al.

(2002) [54]

Electronic scrap Epoxy resin and brominated polystyrene Pyrolysis GC-MS at 450 oC

and 600 oC

1.4-5.2% Br-methane, 0.8-5% Br-

phenols, 0.1-1.6 Br2-phenols. 29-

70 (peak area/mass sample) of

Br2 styrene, 21-106 (peak

area/sample mass) of Br3 styrene.

M. Blaszó, et al.

(2002) [55]

ABS Epoxy type flame retardant Pyrolysis at 450 oC 7120 ppm and 6150 ppm in oil T. Bhaskar, et al.

(2003) [56]

ABS Epoxy type flame retardant Pyrolysis at 450 oC with PE,

PP, PS, PVC and/or

PET

1000-4000 ppm bromine in oil M. Brebu, et al. (2004)

[21]

HIPS DDO-Sb(5) Pyrolysis with calcium

hydroxide-carbon

composite sorbent

with PE, PP, PS,

PVDC and PET

1410 ppm decreased to 490 and 190 ppm

(or 7 mg to 3 mg and 1 mg)

T. Bhaskar et al.

(2006) [57]

HIPS DDO-Sb(5), DDO-Sb(0), DDE-Sb(5)

And DDE-Sb(0)

Pyrolysis with ammonia More than 90 wt% of initial bromine in

samples could be recovered.

M. Brebu et al. (2007)

[45]

Table 1-2 The previous studies on the pyrolysis of bromine containing plastics

35

Previous studies

36

The presence of brominated compounds in the liquid products of pyrolysis is

highly undesirable. Some efforts to debromination of plastics have been done

by Fe-C catalyst [54] and Ca-C sorbent [57] and atmosphere modification with

ammonia [45].

There are a lot of investigations of diantimony trioxide in brominated flame

retardants [44-51] but no report exist on synergistic effect of diantimony trioxide

in bromine containing high impact polystyrene with presence of polyolefins

such as PE, PP and PS.

Methodology

• Procedures:

Clear and concise.

• Equipment/Tools:

Specification, manufacturer series, capacity

and software.

• Materials:

Specify all materials involved in your

research, amount (if necessary with the

manufacturer series).

37

38

Example of Experimental

setup

Residue: XRD

Liquid: GC-FID,GC-AED, GC-MSD

Gas: GC-TCD

Materials :

- Polycarbonate (PC)

- CD and DVD disks

- Vegetable cooking oil (VCO)

450 0C

5 0C/min

Temperature program

RT

Example of design process

39

Product Discovery

Product Development

Product Support

Project Planning

Product Definition

Conceptual Design

40

Results and Discussion

Methods of communicating and displaying analyzed

data:

1. Text

2. Tables

3. Graphs

4. Statistical measures

• Never fabricate data.

• Validity and reliability of data.

• Consistent (uniform) – Units: measurements; numbering: section/sub-

sections; referencing.

• All Figures & Tables must be referred to as close as possible in Text.

41

Discussion (Text)

• Should be thematic;

• follow a logical progression of thought; in order to your methodology.

• written around various themes of your report;

• findings should be integrated into the literature citing references – using an

acceptable system of citation;

• layout should be attractive and please to the eye.

42

Discussion (Tables)

Tables present large amounts of detailed information in a small space*.

A table has five parts:

Table X.Y: Attitudes towards uranium mining by age

The Chicago Manual of Style (1993:21) in Ranjit Kumar, 2011.

Attitude towards

uranium mining

Age of respondent Total

< 25 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+

Strongly

favourable

Favourable

Uncertain

Unfavourable

Strongly

unfavourable

Total

Source: ……Hypothetical data Supplementary notes

43

Graph

0

2

4

6

8

10

60 120 180 240 300

Degradation time , min

Vo

lum

e o

f li

qu

id p

rod

uct

, m

L

DVD

VCO

DVD/VCO exp

DVD/VCO average

Figure X.Y. Cumulative volume of liquid product from DVD

44

Statistical measures

• Use of statistical measures is dependent upon

the type of data collected,

your knowledge of statistics,

the purpose of communicating the findings, and

the knowledge base in statistics of your readership.

Discussion (Figures)

- Clear, following the sequencing.

- Related to text (proper location).

45

Ethical Issue

• Personal disclosure.

• Authenticity.

• Credibility.

46

References

Consistent (uniform).

Follow the standard.

For internet sources, do not forget to put retrieve date.

Four referencing system according to Butcher*:

1. The short-title system;

2. The author-date system;

3. The reference by number system;

4. The author-number system.

* Butcher in Ranjit Kumar, 2011

47

48

Present tense when referring to previously published work.

Past tense when referring to your present results (Normally, we go back & forth

between the Present & Past tenses).

ABSTRACT

Past tense because you described what you did & what you found.

INTRODUCTION/DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Present tense if you refer to previously published work.

RESULTS

Past tense if refer to Tabs & Figs (Ideas should be presented in Present tense).

Tips to use grammatical tenses*

*Kamaruzaman Jusoff, 2012

49

References:

1.Mohd Noor, M. Jailani. , Mohd Nopiah, Z. and Mohd Ihsan. A. K. A.,

2004, Kaedah Penyelidikan Kejuruteraan, Malaysia, Thomson.

2.Kumar, R., 2011, Research Methodology: A step-by-step guide for

beginners, Singapore, Sage.

3.Creswell, J. W., Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed

Methods Approaches (3rd edn), 2009, USA, Sage.

4.Jusoff, K., High Impact/IF Journal Writing Workshop: Made Easy.

AKEPT-KPT/UTHM Writing High Impact Journal Workshop, 26-27

September 2012, Johor, Malaysia.

5.Khalid, M. B., Kursus Kaedah Penyelidikan UTM, 26 March 2003,

UTM, Malaysia.

50

51

Problem statement

Objective

52

53

Thank you

54

Types of tables

test

55

Jadual

Jadual X.X: Peratus Ketumpatan, untuk sampel

No. Sampel Peratus (%)

56

Research

1. Research: a way of thinking

2. Research process

3. Reviewing literature

4. Formulating research problem

5. Identifying variable

6. Constructing hypothesis

7. Writing a research report