Research Methods

1. Research Methods Young-Kook HONG, Ph.D School of Geology and Mining, MUST

2. Content • Definition of research • Objectives of research 3. Motivation of research 4. Types of research 5. Research process 6. Stages of research project 7. Index of research report

3. 1. Definitions of Research “…the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.”

4. A search for Knowledge • Research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic • A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new factsin any branch of knowledge • Research is a systematic way of asking questions, a systematic method of inquiry for search of truth

5. 2.Objectives of Research To discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures To find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet

6. Objectives of Research 1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies); 2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies); 3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research studies); 4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).

7. 3. Motivation of Research • Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits; • Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research; • Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work; • Desire to be of service to society; Desire to get respectability.

8. 4. Types of Research 1) Descriptive and Analytical Research Descriptive : Description of the state of affairs as it exists as present Analytical : Analyze facts or information already available to make a critical evaluation of the material

9. Types of Research 2) Applied and Fundamental Research Applied : Finding a solution for an immediate problems facing a society or an industrial / business organization Fundamental : Generalization and formulation of a theory

10. Types of Research 3) Qualitative and Quantitative Research Qualitative : Concerned with qualitative phenomenon (characteristics) Quantitative : Concerned with quantitative phenomenon (number, amount)

11. Types of Research 4) Conceptual and Empirical Research Conceptual : Abstract idea or theory used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones Empirical : Experience, observation and data based research. Conclusions capable of being verified by observation and experiment. To get facts(data) to prove or disprove his/her a working hypothesis or guess

12. 5) Exploratory, Predictive, Descriptive, Explanatory researches Exploratory research Takes place where there is little or no prior knowledge of a phenomenon. This type of research attempts to gain some familiarity with the appropriate concepts and looks for patterns or ideas without any preconceived ideas or explanation. Predictive research Forecasts future phenomena, based on the interpretations suggested by explanatory research.

13. Descriptive research Describes a particular phenomenon, focusing upon the issue of what is happening, or how much of it has happened, rather than why it is happening. Explanatory research This type of research is involved in explaining why something happens, and assessing causal relationships between variables.

14. 5. Research Process 1) Formulating the research problem 2) Extensive literature survey 3) Developing the hypothesis 4) Preparing theresearch design 5) Determining sample design 6) Collecting the data 7) Execution of the project 8) Analysis of data 9) Hypothesis testing 10) Generalization and Interpretation 11) Preparation of report

15. Research Projects • Research begins with a problem. • This problem need not be Earth-shaking. • Identifying this problem can actually be the hardest part of research. • In general, good research projects should: • Address an important question. • Advance knowledge.

16. René Descartes (1596-1650) Galileo Galilei (1564-1642 ) Nikolaus Kopernikus (1473-1543) Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) These persons really changed our world… most remarkable Researchers

17. Classical scientific method • Observation of some phenomenon • Maybe systematic, occasional or accidental • Some idea of an explanation (hypothesis) • Induction, conjecture, intuition, guesswork • Usually informed by related work • Testing of the hypothesis • Test and revision cycle

18. Alfred Wegener’s Theory of Continental Drift Became Modern Plate Tectonics Wegener in Greenland about 1912 He froze to death there in 1930

19. Alfred Wegener became the “father of continental drift” by amassing considerable supporting evidence that the continents moved over time. Born: Germany, 1880 Ph.D: Astronomy Profession: Meteorologist and Greenland Explorer. Died:1930 In 1912, Wegener published his work in “The Origin of the Continents and Oceans”.

20. Earth

21. The Continental Drift (Hypothesis) • The puzzle piece fit of continents, fossil evidence, climate, rocks, and mountain ranges supports the hypothesis of continental drift. • Scientists were skeptical of continental drift because Wegener could not explain the mechanism for movement.

22. Wegener’s Hypothesis was : • That all the continents were once joined together in a single landmass and have since drifted apart…

23. The Steps in the Scientific Methodare: • 1. Observation • 2. Research Question • 3. Hypothesis • 4. Prediction • 5. Evidence and Experimentation 6. Theory • The most important step is the development of a testable hypothesis that will provide definitive evidence that proposed relationships are correct or that they are wrong.

24. •Observation: The coasts of Africa and South America fit together like pieces of a puzzle. • Research Question: Why do they fit together so precisely? • Hypothesis: They were part of a larger continent in the remote past that split apart somehow? • Prediction: If they were connected, the geology at corresponding positions along the coastline should correlate.

25. Evidence for continental drift Matching rock types

26. Rock Sequences Were Nearly the Same at Corresponding Points on Both Sides of the Atlantic South AmericaAfrica Sandstone Siltstone Sandstone Slate Granite Limestone Loess Sandstone Slate Granite One basic rule of geological processes is that the newest rock is on the top and the rocks get older layer by layer toward the bottom. The top layers are not identical because a lot has happened in the 80 million years they have been separated.

27. Evidence for continental drift Matching fossils

28. Evidence for continental drift Matching mountain ranges

29. Evidence for continental drift Matching glacier deposits 300 million years ago

30. Evidences for continental drift • Matching coastlines • Matching mountains • Matching rock types • Matching rock ages • Matching glacier deposits • Matching fossils… Wegener published his book “The Origin of the Continents and Oceans” in 1912

31. The Scientific Method Observation of data or information Associated with the continents Continental Drift Hypothesis Collection of data Not accepted Ocean basins Seafloor Spreading Hypothesis Mechanism for plate movement key Theory of Plate Tectonics

32. The ScientificMethod Science is self correcting… The history of science is littered with theories that were accepted; but, little by little, evidence accumulated that cast doubt on the original theory and pointed the way to a new, more comprehensive explanation.

33. Seafloor Topography During the late 1940s scientists were able to determine the depth of the ocean using a device called an echo sounder. Once ocean depths were determined, scientists used these data to create a topographic map of the sea floor that revealed vast mountain ranges, called mid-ocean ridges, that stretch for many miles deep below the ocean’s surface.

34. Earth

35. Sea Floor Spreading Evidence • Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews (1963) • Sea floor stripes record Earth’s magnetic polarity

37. Minerals in fresh lava record Earth’s magnetic signature Seafloor Spreading Theory

38. The Scientific Method Observation of data or information Associated with the continents Continental Drift Hypothesis Collection of data Not accepted Ocean basins Seafloor Spreading Hypothesis Mechanism for plate movement key Theory of Plate Tectonics

39. Cracked Egg Shell !

43. 6. Stages of a research project • Research planning • Library research (previous study) • Writing the literature review • Design of instruments • Data-collection • Data-analysis • Working out findings and discussion/ interpretation • Writing up

44. Scientific Method of Research • If the experiments prove the hypothesis to be true, it becomes a theory or law of nature. If the experiments prove the hypothesis to be false, the hypothesis must be rejected or modified. The scientific method used properly should give us predictive power (to understand phenomena which have not been tested).

45. Hypotheses Theories In an ideal world… Laws

46. Research Methods

47. The Process of Research Identify the Research Problem Review the Literature Discussion and Conclusions Interpret the Research Specify Research Purpose Analyze Data Collect Data

48. Steps in Research • Observation • Preliminary information gathering • Theory Formulation • Hypothesizing • Further Scientific Data Collection • Data Analysis • Deduction

49. 7. Index of research report Abstract • Introduction • Study area • Field work (Observation) • Sampling (Analysis) • Discussion (Interpretation) • Conclusion and Further study

50. What must be in a Report? • Abstract (short summary of project including conclusions) • Background and aims (what you’re trying to find out and why it’s important) • Literature review(of relevant previous research which you will build on or extend) • Research methods – plan and justification (what you did to meet the aims, and why it was a sensible approach) • Analysis& Interpretation (in detail, to convince sceptical readers and impress examiners: important tables, diagrams etc must be in the text, only details in appendix) • Results, conclusions, recommendations, limitations, further research • References (list works cited in text in alphabetical order) • Appendices – Ethics form, extra details for the reader