Unit I

Research Methodology and Biostatistics

  • Presented by: Dr. R. Senthilkumar

  • Department: Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences

  • Established under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956; approved by AICTE, COA, and BCI, New Delhi

Unit I: Introduction to Research Methodology

Key Topics:

  • Definition and Purpose of Research

  • Types of Research

  • Steps in the Research Process

  • Criteria for Good Research

  • Research Ethics:

    • Importance and Guidelines

    • Major Ethical Issues

    • Ethics Committees

    • Publication Ethics

    • Academic Integrity

    • Avoiding Plagiarism and Plagiarism Detection Tools

  • Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright Issues

  • Identification and Formulation of Research Problems

What is Research?

  • Defined as a careful investigation aimed at discovering new facts in any branch of knowledge.

  • Redman and Mory: "Research is a systematic effort to gain new knowledge."

Why Conduct Research?

  • Reasons for conducting research include:

    • Pursuit of a research degree with related benefits

    • Facing challenges in solving unresolved problems

    • Gaining intellectual joy from creative work

    • Serving society and gaining respectability

    • Meeting governmental directives and employment conditions

    • Validating intuition and improving methods

    • Responding to job demands and opportunities for publication or patenting.

Selecting a Research Subject

  1. Based on an innovative idea

  2. Influenced by personal experience

  3. Backed by extensive reading

  4. Emphasis on originality

Characteristics of Robust Research Design

  • A comprehensive plan outlining:

    • Information sources relevant to the research problem

    • Strategies for data gathering and analysis

    • Time and budget constraints, as these influence research feasibility.

General Characteristics of Research

  • Systematic: All steps are interrelated.

  • Logical: Consistent with logic principles.

  • Empirical: Based on observable evidence.

  • Objective: Addresses research questions accurately.

  • Replicable: Capable of being reproduced.

  • Transmittable: Easily communicated.

  • Involves Quality Control: Focused on accurate measurements.

Defining Research Objectives

  • Keep objectives simple; complexity adds difficulty.

  • Utilize resources such as senior colleagues and experienced researchers for guidance.

Conducting a Literature Search

  • Validate originality by investigating existing literature

  • Analyze articles and references

  • Identify gaps and obsolete measurements

  • Formulate study objectives.

Steps Involved in Research

  1. Choose a subject

  2. Conduct a literature survey

  3. Define and formulate specific objectives

  4. Prepare a synopsis

  5. Procure suitable materials/applications

  6. Design experimental setup

  7. Conduct preliminary experiments

  8. Execute the project with accurate data collection

  9. Analyze data and address errors

  10. Hypothesis testing

  11. Present results and discussion

  12. Generalize, interpret, and draw conclusions

  13. Prepare the project report or thesis.

The Research Process Overview

  1. Identify a general problem/question

  2. Conduct a literature review

  3. Specify questions/hypotheses

  4. Determine methodology/design

  5. Collect data

  6. Analyze/present data

  7. Interpret findings.

Research Article Writing Guidelines

  • Identify suitable journals and obtain author instructions

  • Structure the article with appropriate sections (Title, Abstract, Introduction, etc.) ensuring clarity and cohesiveness.

Key Points on Authorship and Ethics

  • Ensure all authors contributed significantly to the study.

  • Avoid plagiarism, adhere to ethical research practices.

Guidelines for Effective Research Reporting

  • Include:

    • Introduction and statement of the problem

    • Review of relevant literature

    • Statement of hypothesis/objectives

    • Description of research design and methods

    • Error analysis

    • Results with presentations and discussions

    • Conclusions and implications

    • Future research suggestions and acknowledgments.

Categories of Research

  1. Application:

    • Pure Research: General theory formation

    • Applied Research: Problem-solving in real-world contexts

  2. Inquiry Mode:

    • Quantitative: Numerical measurements

    • Qualitative: Understanding perceptions and experiences

Details on Research Methodologies

  • Qualitative vs. Quantitative:

    • Qualitative focuses on understanding phenomena through participants' perspectives and involves researcher immersion.

    • Quantitative relies on measurement and statistical analysis, favoring detached observation and logic.

    • Mixed methods can offer a comprehensive approach leveraging both perspectives.

Plagiarism Explanation and Prevention

  • Plagiarism defined: Presenting someone else's work as one’s own.

  • Common forms include complete, copy-paste, word switch, and self-plagiarism.

  • Strategies to prevent plagiarism:

    • Proper citations and references

    • Use of paraphrasing

    • Employ anti-plagiarism software (e.g., Turnitin).

Importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

  • IPR encompasses rights related to creations of the mind.

  • Key types include copyright, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.

    • Awareness of IPR laws and relevant treaties is crucial for compliance

    • Individual laws govern different intellectual protections in India.

Conclusion on Ethical Conduct in Research

  • Training in research ethics is vital for identifying potential misconduct and ethical dilemmas.

  • Continuous evaluation by Research Ethics Committees (RECs) is necessary for maintaining adherence to ethical standards.

  • Ensuring transparency aligns with the ethical responsibility towards all stakeholders in research.