CIEN 3282:

Civil Engineering Project 1

Research
Meaning of Research
Types of Research
Academic Disciplines
of Research and Examples
of Research Papers

Prepared by:
Climacosa, Lucky Nichole M.
Encio, Ralph Joshua
Francisco, Joseph A.
Magpayo, Patrick Jay M.

Engr. Catherine C. Bombita

Research Adviser

Research
Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in
order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
It comprises creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase
the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use
of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications." It is used to establish or confirm
facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support
theorems, or develop new theories. A research project may also be an expansion on past
work in the field. To test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments, research
may replicate elements of prior projects, or the project as a whole. The primary purposes
of basic research (as opposed to applied research) are documentation, discovery,
interpretation, or the research and development (R&D) of methods and systems for the
advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on epistemologies,
which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences. There are
several forms of research: scientific, humanities, artistic, economic, social, business,
marketing, practitioner research, life, technological, etc.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Research

Research gives you a solid foundation for a starting point. The advantages of many
research designs include simple structures and flexibility. Disadvantages include the lack
of shown causation, instrument reactivity, and the placebo effect. Basically, the
effectiveness of research depends on the appropriateness of the approach or the methods
that would be used to accomplish the study. Below are examples of common research
methods and their advantages/disadvantages.

Method

Advantages

Disadvantages

Mail: Low cost; ability to show text and

graphics

Mail: Slow; low response rate

Telephone: Moderate cost; ability to

screen select
Surveys

respondents meeting desired criteria

Telephone: Cannot show stimuli;

can only ask a limited number of
questions; question answer options
have to be repeated

Mall intercept: More expensive than

Mall intercept: Able to reach more
most other survey research (but less
potential respondents; able to precostly than focus groups and
screen respondents for desired criteria
experiments).
Online: Conditional branching, fast,
limited data entry

Online: Respondents often fail to

read instructions

Experimentat
ion

Able to eliminate extraneous influences

Expensive; difficult to set up; limited
and identify causes of choice and/or
information collected in one setting
behavior

Observation

Consumer is in natural environment

Focus Groups

Flexible method to gauge consumer

response to entirely new products and
questions; issues of interest to
respondents can be identified without
specific prior knowledge of specific
questions to ask

In-Depth
Interviews

Able to explore consumer feelings in

depth; more independent than focus
groups

Cannot get at consumers thoughts;

labor intensive and expensive
Expensive; unable to generalize
from small sample size; respondents
are vulnerable to social influence so
that answers are not independent

Expensive; small sample size;

unable to generalize

Useful in assessing topics about which

respondents are not comfortable talking
Techniques or motivations of which they may not be
consciously aware.

Cumbersome

Able to pinpoint responses to stimuli

Physiological over time (and thus identify good and
Measures bad parts of ads); able to gauge feelings
of which respondents may not be aware

Expensive; cumbersome

Projective

Online
Research

Scanner
Data

Able to take advantage of existing data

(e.g., search engine queries; click
Lack of respondent willingness to
stream sequences); conditional
follow instructions; concerns about
branching; able to customize questions;
privacy; possible response bias
recording is usually automatic; often toward those more technically savvy
fast
Access to data may be expensive;
Able to identify which variables (e.g., does not get at opinions, attitudes,
sales, shelf placement, coupons) affect and feelings underlying behavior;
generally only available for
behaviors such as purchase, brand
frequently purchased items
switching

Types of Research
According to Purpose
Predictive/Prognostic it has the purpose to determine the future operation of
the variables under investigation with the aim of controlling or redirecting such for the
better.
Directive it determines what should be done based on the findings.
Illuminative it is concerned with the interaction of the components of the
variable being investigated.
According to Goal
Basic/Pure it is done for the development of theories and principles. It is
conducted for intellectual pleasure of learning.
Applied the application of pure research. This is testing the efficiency of theories
and principles.
According to the Levels of Investigation
Exploratory the researcher studies the variables pertinent to a specific situation.
Descriptive the researcher studies the relationships of the variables.
Experimental the researcher studies the effects of the variables on each other.
According to the Type of Analysis
Analytic Approach the researcher attempts to identify and isolate the
components of the research situation.
Holistic Approach this begins with the total situation, focusing attention on the
system first and on its internal relationships.
According to Scope
Action Research this involves the application of the steps of the scientific
method in the classroom problems. This type of research is done on a very limited scope
to solve a particular problem which is not so big.
According to the Choice of Answers to Problems
Evaluation Research All possible courses of action are specified and identified
and the researcher.
Developmental Research the focus is on finding or developing a more suitable
instrument or process than has been available.
According to Statistical Content
Quantitative/Statistical Research is one in which inferential statistics are
utilized to determine the results of the study.
Qualitative Research this is research in which the use of the quantity or statistics
is practically not utilize.
According to Time Element
Historical describes what was.

Descriptive describes what is.

Experimental describes what will be.
Academic Disciplines of Researches
A few academic disciplines for which researches are written are mentioned with
some sample project/feasibility studies below.
Art Disciplines
These disciplines consists of different fields of fine arts and liberal arts including
painting, music, film, classic literature and music among the most popular ones on which
research is conducted. The researcher can use empirical approach to conduct surveys of
public opinion; conversely he or she can use the non-empirical approach to perform
analysis on application and theory of literature, music etc.
Examples:
Blind Construction: Mixed Media
Diana Dewi, Jennifer Kittleson, and Wendy Hagedorn
Apparel and Textile Design
Embodying Social Advocacy
Samantha Mitchell, Megan Brumbill, Christine Mccullough, Mary McGorey, and Janelle
Orser
Theatre

Science Disciplines
The scientific disciplines of medicine, mechanics, physics, and cellular biology are
just a few sciences on which researchers use the empirical modes to perform first hand
research both in the field as well as in the laboratory. The applications of these areas of
sciences are endless and apt for students who prefer to spend time in labs.
Examples:
Blue Energy: Electricity
Electrodialysis
Jan Willem Post
Environmental Technology

Production

from

Salinity

Gradients

by

Reverse

Stem Cells for Neurovascular Repair in Stroke

Kazutaka Shinozuka, Travis Dailey, Naoki Tajiri, Hiroto Ishikawa, Dae Won Kim, Mibel Pabon,
Sandra Acosta, Yuji Kaneko, and Cesar V Borlongan
Biology

The Discipline of Philosophy

The discipline of philosophy does not have much application in the practical field
directly, but indirectly philosophy has had a great impact on virtually all the aspects of
human praxis throughout the history. A person can create a theoretical dissertation based
on analytical or dialectical contemplating, metaphysical interpretation and hundreds of
hours of reading, not including pre acquired knowledge.
Examples:
Orthodox Synarchy: From Ancient Hellenic
Cosmism
Ivan G. Gromoff and Olga D. Kourakinaphilosophy
Philosophy

Philosophy

To

The

Russian

A Curriculum to Equip Lay Pastoral Candidates for Service in the Pennsylvania

Conference
James Richard Wibberding
Theology

The Discipline of History

The opportunities for a dissertation in this subject are spread far and wide. A
student can create a dissertation through the theoretical approach of compiling data from
archives, public courthouses and from societies of history. For a more practical approach, a
student can participate in archaeological expeditions or interview participants of past
battles. The possibilities for this area in dissertation writing are endless.

Example:
Apparitional Economies: Spectral Imagery in the Antebellum Imagination
Holly F. Osborn
Economic History

The Disciplines of Humanities

The study of this area might start with researching in the library, but its practical
applications are not limited to it. A student has the opportunity to go out in the field and
observe the different cultures and societies, interview people and compile case studies
from real life experiences.
Examples:
The Tony Hawk Learning Project
Lauren Silberman and Elisabeth Hayes
Psychology

Online Social
Learning
Lydia Mbati
Social Science

Media

Applications

for

Constructivism

and

Observational