Fundamentals of Engineering Research: Definition and Process

Posted on Feb 7, 2026 in Psychology and Sociology

Meaning of Research

Research refers to a careful, well-defined (or redefined), objective, and systematic method of search for knowledge, or formulation of a theory that is driven by inquisitiveness for that which is unknown and useful on a particular aspect so as to make an original contribution to expand the existing knowledge base.

Research involves formulation of a hypothesis or proposition of solutions, data analysis, and deductions; and ascertaining whether the conclusions fit the hypothesis.
Research is a process of creating, or formulating knowledge that does not yet exist. Thus, research is an art of scientific investigation.

Objectives of Engineering Research

The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling into a number of broad groupings:

Exploratory or Formulative Research Studies: To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.
Descriptive Research Studies: To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or a group.
Diagnostic Research Studies: To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else.
Hypothesis-Testing Research Studies: To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.

The objectives of engineering research include:

To solve new and important problems. Since the conclusion at the end of one’s research outcome has to be new, the conclusion is unknown when starting.
Research objectives can sometimes be convoluted and difficult to follow. Knowing where and how to find different types of information helps one solve engineering problems, in both academic and professional careers.
Lack of investigation into engineering guidelines, standards, and best practices results in failures with severe repercussions. As an engineer, the ability to conduct thorough and accurate research while clearly communicating the results is extremely important in decision-making.
The main aim of research is to apply scientific approaches to seek answers to open questions, although each research study is particularly suited for a certain approach.
The objectives of engineering research should be to develop new theoretical or applied knowledge and not necessarily limited to obtaining abilities to achieve the desired result.
The objectives should be framed such that in the event of not being able to achieve the desired result being sought, one can fall back to understanding why it is not possible, because that is also a contribution toward ongoing research in solving that problem.

Motivation in Engineering Research

The possible motives may result from one or more of the following desires:

Studies have shown that intrinsic motivations like interest, challenge, learning, meaning, and purpose are linked to strong creative performance.
Extrinsic motivating factors like rewards for good work include money, fame, awards, praise, and status. These are very strong motivators but may block creativity. For example, a research outcome may enable obtaining a patent, which is a good way to become rich and famous.
Influences from others like competition, collaboration, commitment, and encouragement are also motivating factors in research. For example: “My friends are all doing research, and so should I,” or, “A person that I dislike is doing well, and I want to do better.”
Personal motivation in solving unsolved problems, intellectual joy, service to community, and respectability are all driving factors.

The following factors would be a mix of extrinsic and intrinsic aspects:

Wanting to do better than what has been achieved in the world.
Improve the state of the art in technology.
Contribute to the improvement of society.
Fulfillment of the historical legacy in the immediate socio-cultural context.

Several other factors like government directives, funding opportunities in certain areas, and terms of employment can motivate people to get involved in engineering research.

Types of Engineering Research

Descriptive Versus Analytical

Descriptive research includes comparative and correlational methods, and fact-finding inquiries, to effectively describe the present state of art. The researcher holds no control over the variables; rather, they only report as it is.
Descriptive research also includes attempts to determine causes even though the variables cannot be controlled.
On the contrary, in analytical research, already available facts are utilized for analysis and critical evaluation. Some research studies can be both descriptive and analytical.

Applied Versus Fundamental

Research can either be applied research or fundamental (basic or pure) research. Applied research seeks to solve an immediate problem facing the organization, whereas fundamental research is concerned with generalizations and formulation of a theory.
Research concerning natural phenomena or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
Research to identify social or economic trends, or those that find out whether certain communications will be read and understood are examples of applied research.
The primary objective of applied research is to determine a solution for compelling problems in actual practice, while basic research is aimed at seeking information which could have a broad base of applications in the medium to long term.

Quantitative Versus Qualitative

Quantitative research uses statistical observations of a sufficiently large number of representative cases to draw any conclusions.
While qualitative researchers rely on a few non-representative cases or verbal narrative in behavioral studies, such as clustering effect in intersections in Transportation engineering, to make a proposition.

Conceptual vs. Empirical

Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
On the other hand, empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions capable of being verified by observation or experiment. We can also call it as experimental type of research.
In such research, it is necessary to get facts firsthand, at their source, and actively to go about doing certain things to stimulate the production of desired information.
In such research, the researcher must first provide himself with a working hypothesis or guess as to the probable results. He then works to get enough facts (data) to prove or disprove his hypothesis.
He then sets up experimental designs which he thinks will manipulate the persons or the materials concerned so as to bring forth the desired information.
Such research is thus characterized by the experimenter’s control over the variables under study and his deliberate manipulation of one of them to study its effects.
Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect other variables in some way. Evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is today considered to be the most powerful support possible for a given hypothesis.

Engineering Research Process

The research process consists of a series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out research and the desired sequencing of these steps. The activities overlap continuously rather than following a strictly prescribed sequence.

Formulating the Research Problem: There are two types of research problems: those which relate to states of nature and those which relate to relationships between variables. At the very outset, the researcher must single out the problem he wants to study, i.e., he must decide the general area of interest or aspect of a subject-matter that he would like to inquire into.
Extensive Literature Survey: Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written down. It is compulsory for a research worker writing a thesis for a Ph.D. degree to write a synopsis of the topic and submit it to the necessary Committee or the Research Board for approval. At this juncture, the researcher should undertake an extensive literature survey connected with the problem.
Development of Working Hypotheses: After an extensive literature survey, the researcher should state in clear terms the working hypothesis or hypotheses. A working hypothesis is a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences. The hypothesis should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in hand because it has to be tested. The role of the hypothesis is to guide the researcher by delimiting the area of research and to keep him on the right track. It sharpens his thinking and focuses attention on the more important facets of the problem.
Preparing the Research Design: The research problem having been formulated in clear-cut terms, the researcher will be required to prepare a research design, i.e., he will have to state the conceptual structure within which research would be conducted. The preparation of such a design facilitates research to be as efficient as possible, yielding maximal information. In other words, the function of research design is to provide for the collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time, and money.
Determining Sample Design: The researcher must decide the way of selecting a sample, or what is popularly known as the sample design. A sample design is a definite plan determined before any data are actually collected for obtaining a sample from a given population. Sampling can be done by choosing a particular unit, random unit selection, systematic pattern, homogenous group (stratified sampling), quota, cluster or area, multi-stages, and sequential.
Collecting the Data: In dealing with any real-life problem, it is often found that data at hand are inadequate, and hence, it becomes necessary to collect appropriate data. There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ considerably in context of money costs, time, and other resources at the disposal of the researcher. Primary data can be collected either through experiment or through survey. If the researcher conducts an experiment, he observes some quantitative measurements, or the data, with the help of which he examines the truth contained in his hypothesis. But in the case of a survey, data can be collected by any one or more of the following ways: by observation, through personal interview, through telephonic interview, by mailing the questionnaire, etc.
Execution of the Project: This is a very important step in the research process. If the execution of the project proceeds on correct lines, the data to be collected would be adequate and dependable. The researcher should see that the project is executed in a systematic manner and in time. A careful watch should be kept for unanticipated factors in order to keep the survey as much realistic as possible.
Analysis of Data: After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task of analyzing them. The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as establishment of categories, the application of these categories to raw data through coding, tabulation, and then drawing statistical inferences. The unwieldy data should necessarily be condensed into a few manageable groups and tables for further analysis. Thus, the researcher should classify the raw data into some purposeful and usable categories.
Hypothesis-Testing: After analyzing the data as stated above, the researcher is in a position to test the hypotheses, if any, he had formulated earlier. “Do the facts support the hypotheses or they happen to be contrary?” This is the usual question which should be answered while testing hypotheses. Various tests, such as Chi-square test, t-test, F-test, have been developed by statisticians for the purpose. The hypotheses may be tested through the use of one or more of such tests, depending upon the nature and object of research inquiry. Hypothesis-testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or in rejecting it.
Generalizations and Interpretation: If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be possible for the researcher to arrive at generalization, i.e., to build a theory. As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its ability to arrive at certain generalizations.