The document provides an introduction to research methods in aeronautical engineering, defining research and its methodology, with a focus on attributes such as purposive, systematic, objective, and rigorous. It outlines the purposes of research, including discovering knowledge, describing phenomena, and enabling predictions, while also noting characteristics of good research like a clearly defined purpose and ethical standards. Additionally, it highlights challenges faced in conducting research, such as lack of motivation and financial constraints.

1. Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
Unit : Research Methods

2. Topic : Introduction to Research Methods
Topic Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to;
Define the terms research and research methodology,
Explain the attributes of scientific research,
Explain the purpose of research,
Explain the characteristics of good research,

3. Introduction to Research Methods
• More than a set of skills, it is a way of thinking; examining critically the
various aspects of ones professional work.
• Research is a habit of questioning what you do, and a systematic
examination of the observed information to find answers to questions or to
solve problems

4. • The word research is composed of two syllables; re and search.
• Re- means again, anew or over again
• Search- means to ‘examine closely and carefully’, to ‘test and try’or to
‘probe’.
Research - therefore means a careful, systematic and patient investigation in
some field of knowledge to establish facts or principles.

5. Definitions
• Payton (1979) defines research as the process of looking for a specific
answer to a specific problem in an organized, objective and reliable way.
• Waltz and Bausell (1981) defines it as a systematic, formal, rigorous and
precise process employed to gain solutions to problems and or to discover
and interpret new facts and relationships.
• Kerlinger Fred has defined scientific research as systematic, controlled,
empirical and critical examination of natural phenomena guided by theory
and hypothesis about the presumed relations among such phenomena.

6. • Research is the process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data in
order to increase our understanding of a phenomena about which we are
interested or concerned (Leedy and Omrod, 2004).

7. Research Methodology:
• This is an overall action plan for research.
• It is the series of steps that connects a given set of research questions or gaps
in knowledge to the conclusions arrived at
• Research methods thus entails; selection of designs, data gathering,
sampling, sampling and research ethics utilized by researcher to answer
research questions.

8. Attributes of Research:
1. Purposive
• Any good research must have a definite aim or purpose. It must be focused
or otherwise fail to be systematic and directed.
2. Systematic
• A researcher should employ structured procedure from the beginning to the
end of research. The different steps cannot be taken in a haphazard way.
Some procedures must follow others.

9. 3. Objective / Empirical
• The conclusions drawn through the interpretation of data should be based on
facts from the actual data collected and not on researchers subjective or
emotional values.
4. Testable
• Scientific research blends itself to testing logically developed hypothesis to
see whether or not the data supports the proposed hypothesis.

10. 5. Rigorous
• A researcher must be scrupulous in ensuring that the procedures followed to
find answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and justified.
• Rigor therefore refers to the degree of carefulness and exactitude in research.
6. Replicable
• Results of the research or tests of hypothesis should be supported again and
again, when research is repeated in other similar circumstances.

11. 7. Generalizable
• This refers to the scope of applicability of research findings, that is the
research can be applied (generalized) to other affected institutions.
8. Precise
• Precision refers to how close the findings based on a sample are to the reality
e.g. the closer the findings are to the actual, the higher the precision level.

12. 9. Confidence
• Confidence refers to the probability that estimates are correct e.g. 100% is
perfect confidence, 80% - high and 20% low confidence levels.
10. Parsimonious
• This refers to the simplicity of explaining the phenomena.
• Being simple in explaining the outcomes of research is preferred to complex
research frameworks that consider unimaginable number of factors.

13. Why do we do Research?
Purpose of Research

14. 1. Discover new knowledge
• The main purpose of research is to discover new knowledge.
• This involves the discovery of new facts and their correct interpretation and
practical application.
• Although there are other sources of knowledge, research remains the most
efficient and reliable source of knowledge.

15. 2. Describe phenomena
• A major purpose of many studies is to describe and explore phenomena.
• Descriptive studies answers the questions what, who , when , where and
sometimes how.
4. Enable prediction
• Prediction is the ability to estimate phenomena A given Phenomena B . e.g.
researchers carefully predicting the occurrence of the lunar eclipse.

16. 3. Explain phenomena
• A researcher has an explanatory purpose if he/ she wishes to go beyond
description to explain the WHY? of a phenomena.
E.g. Why some town have higher crime rate than others.

17. 4. Exploration
• Much of social research is conducted to explore a topic, by providing
familiarity.
• For example, when examining a new interest area or where study is relatively
new or unstudied.

18. 5. Enable control
• Ability to predict with certainty allows researchers to develop solutions to
existing problems, e.g. developing vaccines or cures to control diseases.
6. To develop theory
• Researchers develop theories to try and explain certain phenomena through
conducting a series of studies to enable explanations.

19. 7. To test theory
• More researches are again further conducted to test the validity of existing
theories.
8. Involuntary research.
• This is undertaken by students or faculty as a requirement of their degrees or
professional advancements.

20. Characteristics of Good Research:
• Purpose clearly defined,
• Research process detailed,
• Research design thoroughly planned,
• High application of ethical standards,
• Limitations frankly revealed,
• Adequate analysis for decision making,
• Findings presented unambiguously,
• Conclusion justified,
• Researcher’s experience reflected.

21. Question:
What are some of the benefits of research in your area
of specialization?

22. Challenges of conducting research
- Lack of motivation
- Lack of self confidence
- Limited support
- Lack of experience
- Financial constraints
- Difficult in accessing literature review