RESEARCH

DESIGN
Dr. Arien Heryansyah
Faculty of Civil Engineering
UTM
CONTACT INFO...

Room : C09 - 214

Tel
: 07 - 550 31706

WHAT
DESIGN?

IS

RESEARCH

BASIC CONCEPT
Research design is the plan and structure of investigation so
conceived as to obtain answer to research questions.
I.A structure is the framework, organization or configuration
of elements of the structure related in specified ways. In short,
a structure is a paradigm or model of the relations among
variables of a study. The best way to specify a structure is to
write a mathematical equation that relates the parts of the
structure to each other.

II. The plan is the overall scheme or program of research. It

includes an outline of what the investigator will do from
writing the hypotheses and their operational implication
to the final analysis of data.
A research design express both the structure of the
research problem and the plan of investigation used to
obtain empirical evidence of the relations of the problem.

WHAT DOES
DESIGN DO?

RESEARCH

An adequate design suggests

-

How many observation should be made

Which variables are active and which are attribute

What type of statistical analysis to use

possible conclusion to be drawn from the analysis

TYPES OF RESEARCH
Design decisions depend on the purposes of study, the nature of
the problem, and the alternatives appropriate for its
investigation.
Design alternatives can be organized into several functional
categories.
-

Description

Historical

Correlational

Developmental

Experimental

Ex-post-facto

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Descriptive research is concerned with determining the nature
and degree of existing conditions. A study aimed at
describing systematically the current status of
phenomenon, situation, or any other area of interest is
termed descriptive research.
Example
1.

A public opinion survey to assess the pre-election status of

voter attitudes toward a one session school system.

2.

A report of exam score results in UTM.

Characteristics
I.

It is the accumulation of data base that is solely

descriptive. It does not necessarily seek or explain
relationship, make prediction, or get at meetings and
implication.

II.

May contain data on either one or more groups.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Modelling

Modelling involves developing physical, numerical, conceptual, or computerbased representations of systems.

Scientists build models to replicate systems in the real world through
simplification, to perform an experiment that cannot be done in the real world,
or to assemble several known ideas into a coherent whole to build and test
hypotheses.
Computer modelling is a relatively new scientific research method, but it is
based on the same principles as physical and conceptual modelling.

Experiment
Variables and indicators determination
Instrumentation and data collection

Flood Model

RESEARCH
PROBLEM FORMULATION

Objective:

To impart the skills on how to

formulate and structure a research
problem

Finding out

Application of the scientific

approaches to study a problem
Controlled inquiry concerning
a certain event or events

Problem
solving

What is Research?

Systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical

investigation of natural phenomena guided by
theory and hypothesis about the presumed
relations among such phenomena

Research Process
1

Problem Indentification

Reviewing Information

Data Collection

Analysis

Conclusions

Research is systematic, because it

follows certain steps that are logical
in order
Scientific method

Explaining/predicting
phenomena

Inductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning

Examples:
Definite
statement

The major focus of this research is to analyse ..

The central problem of this study is to predict ..
The principle goal of this study is to identify ..
Statement of the
Research Problem

Question form

Examples:
Is A related to B?
How are A and B related to C?
How A is related to B under condition C and D?

Case Study
Johor Flood, 2011
Monday January 31, 2011

Water levels in Johor rivers up, with three bursting

their banks
By AUSTIN CAMOENS and SHARIN SHAIK
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Water levels in Johor rivers are

rising dangerously, raising fears of a repeat of the
2006 floods that left the state inundated and with
damages worth millions in its wake.
The Meteorological Department warned late
Saturday afternoon of heavy rain over Muar,
Ledang, Segamat, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Mersing,
Kota Tinggi, Kulaijaya, here and in the Pontian
areas.
According to the Department of Irrigation and
Drainage Malaysia (DID) online river level data,
three in Johor burst their banks yesterday. Sungai
Muar, Sungai Benut and Sungai Mengkibol
overflowed at 5.50pm.

Saturday February 5, 2011

Adopt new ways to detect floods
MUAR: Deputy Prime
Muhyiddin Yassin has
Drainage and Irrigation
adopt new technologies,
satellite, to detect floods.

Minister Tan Sri

suggested that the
Department (DID)
including using the

The department could then tell the people to

make the necessary preparations before the
floods hit their areas, he told reporters when
visiting the SK Sungai Raya relief centre here
yesterday.
Besides that, the department should monitor
and measure the level of river water in floodprone areas on a regular basis.

Fish way

What to do if you cant think of

a topic?

Ask your supervisor, manager, friends, colleagues, customers,

clients or mother
Look at previous research work
Develop some of your previous research, or your practice at work
Relate it to your other interests
Think of a title
Start from a quote that engages you
Follow your hunches
Draw yourself a picture or diagram
Just start anywhere
Be prepared to change direction

STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING RESEARCH

An Overview
Developing skills in Research

Review Literature
Selecting and Defining Problem
Selecting Research Design and Procedure
Selecting a Sample
Selecting/Measuring Instruments
Collecting Data
Analyzing Data and Interpreting Results
Writing Research Report

STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH

Describing Research
Methodology

1. Research Design
2. Measurement
3. Sampling

Selecting and Defining a

Problem

4. Instrumentation

Collecting Data
Analyzing Data &
Interpreting Results

THE BODY OF A RESEARCH REPORT

The body of the report follows the preliminary information. The
body of the research report contains four logical divisions:
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Presentation and Analysis of Data
4. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations

THE BODY OF A RESEARCH REPORT (cont.)

1. INTRODUCTION
Statement of the Problem
Review of Related Literature
Statement of Hypotheses or Research Questions
Limitations
Definition of Terms

2. METHODOLOGY
Procedures for Collection and Treatment of Data
3. PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
Presentation of Data
Analysis of Data
4. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations