Research Process

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RESEARCH PROCESS

Pr

Profofesessosor D. Nr D. N. P.. P. MuMurtrthyhy

Division of Mechanical Engineering Division of Mechanical Engineering

The University of Queensland The University of Queensland

Brisbane, Q 4072, Australia Brisbane, Q 4072, Australia

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RESEARCH

CATEGORISATION

•• Basic ResearchBasic Research

•• Pre-competitive Strategic ResearchPre-competitive Strategic Research •• Applied ResearchApplied Research

•• Development ResearchDevelopment Research •• Industrial ResearchIndustrial Research

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BASIC RESEARCH

•• Basic research is defined as Basic research is defined as experimentalexperimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the

to acquire new knowledge of the

underlying foundations of phenomena underlying foundations of phenomena

and observable facts, with the expectation and observable facts, with the expectation of return in the long term form from the of return in the long term form from the overall effort into basic research.

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PRE-COMPETITIVE

STRATEGIC RESEARCH

•• Pre-competitive strategic research isPre-competitive strategic research is

experimental or theoretical work undertaken experimental or theoretical work undertaken with an applied goal ultimately in mind, but with an applied goal ultimately in mind, but which is to be realised in the medium term. It which is to be realised in the medium term. It differs from basic research in terms of research differs from basic research in terms of research objectives and time frame and usually aims to objectives and time frame and usually aims to help secure medium-term competitive

help secure medium-term competitive advantages.

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APPLIED RESEARCH

•• Applied research is defined as workApplied research is defined as work carried out for the advancement of carried out for the advancement of knowledge with a specific practical knowledge with a specific practical application in view and with the

application in view and with the

expectation that the research results will expectation that the research results will be of value in the short to medium term. be of value in the short to medium term.

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RESEARCH STRATEGIES

[Re [Reismismanan (19(1988)88)]] •• RippleRipple •• EmbeddingEmbedding •• BridgingBridging

•• Transfer of technologyTransfer of technology •• Creative applicationCreative application •• StructuringStructuring

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AVAILABLE / NEW

KNOWLEDGE

Available knowledge based on past

Available knowledge based on past researchresearch

New

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((aa) ) RRiipppplle e pprroocceessss ((bb) ) TThhe e eemmbbeeddddiinng g pprroocceessss

(c) The bridging process (c) The bridging process

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(d) The transfer of

(d) The transfer of technologytechnology _{(e) The creative application process}_{(e) The creative application process}

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RESEARCH STRATEGIES

•• RippleRipple: an extension of previous: an extension of previous

theoretical or applied type of research in theoretical or applied type of research in a given

a given discipline or sub-discipline.discipline or sub-discipline. •• EmbeddingEmbedding: the development of more: the development of more

generalised formulation or a more global generalised formulation or a more global theory by embedding several known

theory by embedding several known models or theories

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RESEARCH STRATEGIES

•• BridgingBridging: the bridging of known models: the bridging of known models or theories resulting from the growth of or theories resulting from the growth of the contributing and/or some

the contributing and/or some initiallyinitially unrelated field of knowledge.

unrelated field of knowledge.

•• Transfer of technologyTransfer of technology: : the the use use of of what what isis known in one discipline to model problem known in one discipline to model problem domains falling in some other, perhaps

domains falling in some other, perhaps disparate, discipline.

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RESEARCH STRATEGIES

•• Creative applicationCreative application: the direct (: the direct ( not not analogous

analogous) application of a known) application of a known

methodology to a problem or research methodology to a problem or research question that was not previously so

question that was not previously so addressed.

addressed.

•• StructuringStructuring: the process of organisation: the process of organisation and documentation of the organisational and documentation of the organisational phenomena in the form of models.

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RESEARCH STRATEGIES

•• Statistical modellingStatistical modelling: models that arise: models that arise from analyses performed on empirically from analyses performed on empirically obtained data. These models arise from obtained data. These models arise from statistical manipulations such as

statistical manipulations such as

regression or cluster analysis rather than regression or cluster analysis rather than on logical derivations based on various on logical derivations based on various assumptions.

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Di

Divevergrgenent t didiscscipiplilinenes, s, spspececiaialilititieses, , susub-b-, , susub-b-didiscsc. . CCononvevergrgenent t gogoalals, s, prproboblelemsms, , tatasksks.s. DISCIPLINE ORIENTED GROWTH

DISCIPLINE ORIENTED GROWTH

A A B B 1 1 MISSION ORIENTED MISSION ORIENTED GROWTH GROWTH 2 2 3 3 5 5 4 4

Disciplinary branching effect

Disciplinary branching effect Interdisciplinary crystallisationInterdisciplinary crystallisation effect

effect

Knowledge growth as combination of disciplinary branching and

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Level 5. STATEMENTS Level 5. STATEMENTS

Theory, inference, explanations, judgement Theory, inference, explanations, judgement

Level 4. MODEL TO STATEMENT Level 4. MODEL TO STATEMENT Verification technique, algorithms, rules Verification technique, algorithms, rules of reasoning

of reasoning

Level 3. MODELS Level 3. MODELS

Representation of reality in the model Representation of reality in the model

Level 2. REALITY TO MODEL Level 2. REALITY TO MODEL

Conditions of similarity, approximation, Conditions of similarity, approximation, assumptions of modelling

assumptions of modelling

Level 1. REALITY Level 1. REALITY

Empirical data on reality, perceptions, Empirical data on reality, perceptions, description

description

Levels of knowledge (adapted from Mehrez et al. Levels of knowledge (adapted from Mehrez et al.

(1988)). (1988)).

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PROBLEM SOLVING

•• The methodology for research (basic orThe methodology for research (basic or applied) and industrial problem solving applied) and industrial problem solving are very similar.

are very similar.

•• Problem solving and research activityProblem solving and research activity

have received a lot of attention and there have received a lot of attention and there is a vast literature on both topics.

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PROBLEM SOLVING

METHODOLOGY

Step 1:

Step 1: Problem Identification/RecogniProblem Identification/Recognitiontion Step 2: Problem Formulation

Step 2: Problem Formulation

Step 3: Methodology for solution Step 3: Methodology for solution

-- AnaAnalyticlytical (Mal (Matheathematimatical mcal modeodellinglling)) -- ExpExperimerimentaental invol involvinlving data cg data colleollectioctionn

Step 4: Interpretation of Solution Step 4: Interpretation of Solution

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ATTRIBUTES OF A RESEARCHER

•• Open minded [not to pre-judge]Open minded [not to pre-judge]

•• GooGood at thd at thinkinking -ing --- DiDiffefferenrent typt types of es of thinking is needed [See, next slide]

thinking is needed [See, next slide]

•• Well Well organiorganised -sed --- efficefficient ient use use of tiof time anme andd resource; proper planning etc

resource; proper planning etc •• Patience and dedicationPatience and dedication

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TYPES OF THINKING

•• Deductive & Inductive ThinkingDeductive & Inductive Thinking •• Scientific ThinkingScientific Thinking

•• Creative & Innovative ThinkingCreative & Innovative Thinking •• Lateral ThinkingLateral Thinking

•• Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

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PROBLEM RECOGNITION

•• Research ProblemResearch Problem

–

– Critical evaluation of current literatureCritical evaluation of current literature

–

– Shortcoming and topics for new researchShortcoming and topics for new research

–

– Extending and generalisingExtending and generalising

•• Industry ProblemsIndustry Problems

–

– For improvementFor improvement

–

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PROBLEM FORMULATION

•• Starts with a vague and becomes moreStarts with a vague and becomes more structured with better understanding structured with better understanding •• ScScopope -e --- nanarrrrow ow to bto broroadad

•• Contribution of the solutionContribution of the solution

–

– Minor / MajorMinor / Major

•• Framework needed for studyFramework needed for study •• Resource implicationsResource implications

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PROBLEM SOLUTION

•• Methodology neededMethodology needed

•• Relevant earlier literatureRelevant earlier literature

•• Techniques to generate solutionsTechniques to generate solutions

–

– e.g., Brainstorminge.g., Brainstorming

–

– [creative and lateral thinking][creative and lateral thinking]

•• Evaluation of solutionsEvaluation of solutions

–

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SOME THOUGHTS

•• RESEARCH [Masters / Doctoral]RESEARCH [Masters / Doctoral]

–

– Define the field for studyDefine the field for study

–

– Review of the relevant literatureReview of the relevant literature

–

– Define one or more topics for investigationDefine one or more topics for investigation

–

– Background needed for deeper studyBackground needed for deeper study

–

– Carry out researchCarry out research

–

– RepoReport rrt reseaesearch rch findfindings ings ---- thesthesis,is, conference and journal publications conference and journal publications

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SOME THOUGHTS

•• RESEARCH [Masters / Doctoral]RESEARCH [Masters / Doctoral]

–

– Student gets exposed to the different stagesStudent gets exposed to the different stages of problem solving methodology

of problem solving methodology

–

– Better understanding of the different typesBetter understanding of the different types of thinking process needed

of thinking process needed

–

– Do some general reading on research,Do some general reading on research, thinking, problem solving

thinking, problem solving

–

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SOME THOUGHTS

•• INDUSTRY CASE STUDIESINDUSTRY CASE STUDIES

–

– Understanding of the overall businessUnderstanding of the overall business

–

– Defining problems for study and rankingDefining problems for study and ranking them in terms of importance

them in terms of importance

–

– Framework needed for the study of aFramework needed for the study of a problem [It can vary!]

problem [It can vary!]

–

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SOME THOUGHTS

•• INDUSTRY CASE STUDIESINDUSTRY CASE STUDIES

–

– Data to be collectedData to be collected

–

– Data analysisData analysis

–

– Alternate solutions to the problemAlternate solutions to the problem

–

– Ranking the solutionsRanking the solutions

–

– Implementation aspectsImplementation aspects

–