Forging new generations of engineers

Introduction to Research

“Basic research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing?”

– Werner von Braunfather of the United States space

program

What is Research?

Research is the systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

“We undertake research when we wish to explore an idea, probe an issue, solve a problem, or make an argument that compels us to turn to outside help.”

– MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

5th Edition by Joseph Gibaldi

There are two types of research:

Types of Research

• Primary Researchgenerating original information

• Secondary Researchgathering information that has already been generated

Primary Research

• Is original research

• Generates up-to-date information

• Includes methods such as observation, experiments, surveys, and interviews

• Analyzes, synthesizes, and evaluates all information and data

Primary Research

Advantages:

• Is directly applicable to the need

• Can result in extremely detailed, accurate, and relevant information or data

• Can result in new information that cannot be found in secondary sources

• Results in expert knowledge

Primary Research

Disadvantages:

• Is time consuming

• Requires extensive planning

• Can be expensive

• May depend on the participation of unreliable sources for results

Secondary Research• Requires searching information that other

researchers have already collected, analyzed, and reported

• Includes published works: books, journals, magazines, newspapers

• Includes unpublished works: business reports, operating manuals, masters theses, doctoral dissertations, web pages

• Is the most commonly conducted type of research

Secondary Research

Advantages:

• Requires less time and little to no cost in comparison to primary research

• Helps the researcher to either focus or expand his/her scope

• Elicits a sense of credibility and authority in that it shows others that the researcher has done his/her homework

Secondary Research

Disadvantages:

• The researcher may have to sift through a tremendous amount of information.

• Not all information sources are valid (i.e., internet web pages).

Secondary Research Sources

Research Libraries

• Support faculty and students in their research efforts in college/university libraries

• Have extensive collections of books and periodicals

• Contain theses, dissertations, and other useful unpublished works

Secondary Research Sources

Books

• One of the most reliable published sources.

• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) has replaced the card catalog in most libraries.

• Browsing library shelves may result in new sources.

• Interlibrary loans result in more materials.

Secondary Research Sources

Magazines

• Magazine Databases include ProQuest, Electric Library, and others.

• Excellent related graphics may be discovered.

Secondary Research Sources

Reference Works

• Indexes – guides to newspapers, magazines, and journals

• Bibliographies – related publications

• Collections of Abstracts – journal articles

• Guides to Research – American Library Association’s Guide to Reference Books

Secondary Research Sources

Reference Works

• Dictionaries – The Oxford English Dictionary, Webster’s Dictionary

• Encyclopedias

• Biographical sources – Who’s Who

• Yearbooks – Britannica Book of the Year

Secondary Research Sources

Reference Works

• Atlases – map collections

• Gazetteers – geographic information

• Statistical data sources – Statistical Abstract of the United States

• Almanacs – good for statistics

• Books of quotations

Secondary Research Sources

Newspapers

• ProQuest

• Electric Library

• Microfiche

Secondary Research Sources

Multimedia

• Films

• Videos/DVDs

• Audiotapes

Secondary Research Sources

Internet Web Pages

• Search Engines: Google, Yahoo

• Associations, Organizations, Businesses

• Government Agencies

• Public Institutions: Museums, Libraries

• Note: Anyone can invent information and put it on the internet.

Research Techniques

1. Define and list your topic, project, or problem.

2. Identify key words of the topic.

3. Identify all resources with which you are familiar that may provide information.

4. Use the Internet to conduct quick keyword searches and record the URL addresses.

Research Techniques

5. Use what you’ve learned thus far to check libraries for books, periodicals, journals, and other reference works.

6. Contact schools, companies, and organizations in your local area to identify persons who are knowledgeable in your research topic.

7. Assemble your list of resources, and begin systematically exploring them.

Evaluating Information

The quality of any source should be evaluated before using and citing its information.

It is up to the researcher to differentiate between fact, opinion, and propaganda.

Legitimately published sources contain the most reputable information.