221RGE100:

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND IPR

SCIENTIFIC METHOD; ROLE OF HYPOTHESIS IN EXPERIMENT; UNITS

AND DIMENSIONS; DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES;
CONTROL IN EXPERIMENT

Faculty Submitted By,

Dr. Swarnalatha K HASNA F
College of Engineering , Trivandrum Reg No: TVE24CEHE03
M1 Hydraulics Engineering (2024-2025)
College of Engineering , Trivandrum
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 CONTENTS

❑INTRODUCTION
❑SCIENTIFIC METHOD
❑ ROLE OF HYPOTHESIS IN EXPERIMENT
❑UNITS AND DIMENSION
❑DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
❑ CONTROL IN EXPERIMENT

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 INTRODUCTION
• The scientific method is a structured approach to solving problems and
answering questions through observation, experimentation, and analysis.
• It allows scientists to test ideas, refine knowledge, and ensure that conclusions
• are reliable and reproducible
• It provides a clear and consistent framework for inquiry.
• Ensures objective and evidence-based decision-making.
• Drives progress in all areas of science, from biology to physics, psychology to
engineering.

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 SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• The scientific method is a systematic process involving steps like defining
questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing data.
• The scientific method is best thought of as an approach to the acquisition of
new knowledge.
• It is a set of research principles and methods that helps researchers obtain valid
results from their research studies.
• Scientific method deals with the general approach to research rather than the
content of specific research studies, it is applicable across various scientific
disciplines.
• Benefit of the scientific method is that it provides a set of clear and agreed
upon guidelines for gathering, evaluating, and reporting information in the
context of a research study.

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STEPS

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 MAKE AN OBSERVATION
• In the scientific method, observation is the initial process of gathering
information about a phenomenon or event, often sparking curiosity and
guiding the formulation of research questions.
• It involves noticing and recording details, which may be either descriptive
(qualitative) or measurable (quantitative).
• Observations are crucial because they provide the basis for hypothesizing and
designing experiments, allowing scientists to explore and understand the
underlying causes and effects in natural phenomena.

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 QUESTIONS
• After getting a research idea, perhaps from making observations of the world
around us, the next step in the research process involves translating that
research idea into an answerable question.
• It is important to formulate a research question that can be answered through
available scientific methods and procedures.

HYPOTHESIS
• Hypothesis is the prediction of what you think the outcome of your study will be
of the reason why the phenomena occurs.
• Hypothesis can take various forms, depending on the question being asked and
the type of study being conducted.
• A key feature of all hypotheses is that each must make a prediction. The
explanation should involve a prediction about the variables being studied.
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 CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT

• Testing the hypothesis by performing replicable experiments and

collecting resultant data is another fundamental step of the scientific
method.
• Effective experimentation requires careful planning, rigorous control,
and objective analysis to ensure reliable and valid results. By following
this structured approach, researchers can establish cause-and-effect
relationships, test hypotheses, and contribute to the advancement of
knowledge in their field.

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 ANALYZE DATA

• In this stage, data collected during the experiment is analyzed.

• The goal is to know whether the data proves the hypothesis or disproves it.
This involves:
i. Explaining the data gathered from the experiment.
ii. Observations, information and data are collected from the experiment.
iii. Use of pictorial representation via charts, graphs, etc.

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 CONCLUSIONS
• After analysing the data and determining whether the hypothesis is
supported or refuted based on the collected data. They also highlight the
significance of the findings, acknowledge any limitations, and suggest
areas for future research.
• It is important that researchers make only those conclusions that can be
supported by the data analyses.
• If the data does not prove or disprove the hypothesis, a new experiment
needs to be designed and conducted. Sometimes, new factors of the same
problem can be researched and studied

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 ROLE OF HYPOTHESIS IN EXPERIMENT
• The hypothesis provides a clear focus for the study and defines the research
question.
• It offers a testable prediction about the relationship between variables.
• The hypothesis specifies the independent and dependent variables involved in the
experiment.
• It serves as a foundation for designing experiments to support or refute the
hypothesis.
• Results are interpreted based on whether they support or contradict the hypothesis.
• If the hypothesis is refuted, it can lead to new hypotheses and further investigation.
• A clear hypothesis allows for objective testing and reduces bias in experimentation.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF HYPOTHESIS
1. It is a tentative proposition.
2. Its validity is unknown.
3. In most cases, it specifies a relationship between two or more
variables.
4. A hypothesis should be simple, specific and conceptually clear.
5. A hypothesis should be capable of verification.
6. A hypothesis should be related to the existing body of knowledge.

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 THE FUNCTIONS OF A HYPOTHESIS

• The formulation of a hypothesis provides a study with focus. It tells you

what specific aspects of a research problem to investigate.
• A hypothesis tells you what data to collect and what not to collect, thereby
providing focus to the study.
• As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis enhances objectivity
in a study.
• A hypothesis may enable you to add to the formulation of theory. It enables
you to conclude specifically what is true or what is false.

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS
Types of measurement scale:
i. Nominal scale
ii. Ordinal scale
iii. Interval scale
iv. Ratio scale

• Nominal scale :- A nominal scale is a type of measurement scale that

categorizes data into distinct groups or labels without implying any sort of order
or ranking. Nominal scale is the least powerful level of measurement. It indicates
no order or distance relationship and has no arithmetic origin.

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (cntd..)
• Ordinal scale :- The lowest level of the ordered scale that is commonly used in
the ordinal scale. The ordinal scale places events in order, but there is no attempt to
make the intervals of the scale equal in terms of some rule. It permits ranking items
from highest to lowest.
• Interval scale :- Interval scales provide more powerful measurement than ordinal
scales. In addition, an interval scale uses a unit of measurement that enables the
individuals or responses to be placed at equally spaced intervals in relation to the
spread of the variable. Celsius and Fahrenheit scales are examples of an interval
scale.
• Ratio scale :- Ratio scale represents the actual amounts of variables. Measures of
physical dimensions such as weight, height, distance, etc. are examples. Generally,
all statistical techniques are usable with ratio scales and all manipulations that one
can carry out with real numbers can also be carried out with ratio scale values.

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 DIMENSIONS OF RESEARCH
Four dimensions:
• Use
• Purpose
• Time
• Data collection

USE OF RESEARCH
➢ Applied Research:- Focuses on solving practical problems or addressing
real-world issues.
➢ Theoretical Research:- Aims to develop or test theoretical frameworks and
concepts.
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DIMENSIONS OF RESEARCH (cntd..)

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

• Exploratory Research: Explores a new phenomenon, identifies

research questions, or investigates emerging issues
• Descriptive Research: Describes characteristics, patterns, or trends
within a population or phenomenon.-
• Explanatory Research: Seeks to explain relationships, causes, or
effects between variables

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 DIMENSIONS OF RESEARCH (cntd..)
TIME
• Cross-Sectional Research :- In this type of study, researchers observe at one
point in time. Cross-sectional studies are simpler and less costly than longitudinal
studies.
• Longitudinal Research :- Longitudinal researchers examine features of people or
other units at more than one point in time. Longitudinal studies can be very costly
and complex

DATA COLLECTION
• Quantitative Research:- Collects numerical data, often using surveys,
experiments, or statistical analysis.
• Qualitative Research:- Collects non-numerical data, often using interviews,
observations, or content analysis.
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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
VARIABLES
• In research, variables are any characteristics that can take on different values,
such as height, age, temperature, or test scores.
• For research purposes Researchers often manipulate or measure independent
and dependent variables in studies to test cause-and-effect relationships.
• Two types of variables which have been using for research purposes is:
1.Dependent variables
2.Independent variables

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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

• An independent variable is the variable you manipulate or vary in an

experimental study to explore its effects.
• It’s called “independent” because it’s not influenced by any other variables in the
study.
• Independent variables are also called:
1. Explanatory variables (they explain an event or outcome)
2. Predictor variables (they can be used to predict the value of a dependent
variable).
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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)

TYPES OF INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

► There are two main types of independent variables.

1. Experimental independent variables can be directly manipulated

by researchers.
2. Subject variables cannot be manipulated by researchers, but they
can be used to group research subjects categorically.

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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)

TYPES OF INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)

EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES
• In experiments, we manipulate independent variables directly to see how
they affect our dependent variable. The independent variable is usually
applied at different levels to see how the outcomes differ.
• We can apply just two levels in order to find out if an independent
variable has an effect at all.
• We can also apply multiple levels to find out how the independent
variable affects the dependent variable

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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)

TYPES OF INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)

SUBJECT VARIABLES
• Subject variables are characteristics that vary across participants, and they
can’t be manipulated by researchers.
• For example, gender identity, race, income, and education are all important
subject variables that social researchers treat as independent variables.
• It’s not possible to randomly assign these to participants, since these are
characteristics of already existing groups. Instead, we can create a research
design where we compare the outcomes of groups of participants with
characteristics.

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DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (cntd..)
DEPENDENT VARIABLES
• A dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable
manipulation.
• It’s the outcome we are interested in measuring, and it “depends” on our independent
variable. Dependent variables are also called:
*Response variables (they respond to a change in another variable)
*Outcome variables (they represent the outcome you want to measure)
• The dependent variable is what we record after we have manipulated the independent
variable. We use this measurement data to check whether and to what extent our
independent variable influences the dependent variable by conducting statistical
analyses.
• Based on our findings, we can estimate the degree to which the independent variable
variation drives changes in the dependent variable.
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 CONTROL IN EXPERIMENTS
• In experiments, researchers manipulate independent variables to test their
effects on dependent variables.
• In a controlled experiment, all variables other than the independent variable
are controlled or held constant so they don’t influence the dependent variable.
• While conducting an experiment, a control is an element that remains
unchanged or unaffected by other variables.
• It is used as a benchmark or a point of comparison against which other test
results are measured.

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 CONTROL IN EXPERIMENTS (cntd..)

• Controls are typically used in science experiments, researches, cosmetic

testing and medication testing.
• For example, when a new type of medicine is tested, the group that
receives the medication is called the “experimented group".
• By comparing the impact on those who take the medicine to those who
don’t, scientists can observe and measure the effects the new medication

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 REFERENCES

1. "Research Methods in Psychology" by John J. Shaughnessy, Eugene B.

Zechmeister, and Jeanne S. Zechmeister
2. "Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research" by Donald T.
Campbell and Julian C. Stanley
3. "The Experimental Design Book" by David J. Grove and Gary M. Zuk
4. Wikipedia
5. Google scholar

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