Research Methodology
M. Sc. Student
Prof. Dr. Ahmad K. Ahmad
Al Nahrain University / College of Engineering
Laser and Optoelectronics Engineering Department
Introduction:
MEANING OF RESEARCH:
Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge.
One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic.
Research is the art of scientific investigation.
Research is an academic activity and as such the term should
be used in a technical sense.
According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and
redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested
solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making
deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully
testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the
formulating hypothesis.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it
(studies with this object in view are termed exploratory or formulating
research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,
situation, or group (studies with this object in view are known as
descriptive research studies);
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which
it is associated with something else (studies with this object in view are
known as diagnostic research studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such
studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).
TYPES OF RESEARCH
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical:
Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding inquiries of different kinds.
• In social science and business research we quite often use the term Ex post facto
research for descriptive research studies.
• The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control over the
variables; he can only report what has happened or what is happening.
• The methods of research utilized in descriptive research are survey methods of all
kinds, including comparative and correlation methods.
analytical research,
• on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or information already
available and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material.
(ii) Applied vs. Fundamental:
Applied (or action) research:
• Aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an
industrial/business organization.
Fundamental (to basic or pure) research:
• Is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of a theory.
(iii) Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
Quantitative research
• is based on the measurement of quantity or amount.
Qualitative research,
• on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative phenomena, i.e., phenomena
relating to or involving quality or kind.
(iv) Conceptual vs. Empirical:
Conceptual research :
• is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory.
Empirical research :
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It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions that are capable of being
verified by observation or experiment. We also call it an experimental type of research.
(v) Some Other Types of Research:
• One-time research or longitudinal research. In the former case the research is confined
to a single period, whereas in the latter case, the research is carried on over several
periods.
• Field-setting research laboratory research or simulation research, depending upon the
environment in which it is to be carried out.
• Clinical or diagnostic research. Such research follows case-study methods or in-depth
approaches to reach the basic causal relations.
• Conclusion-oriented and decision-oriented. While doing conclusion-oriented
research, a researcher is free to pick up a problem, redesign the inquiry as he
proceeds, and is prepared to conceptualize as he wishes period.
• The exploratory research or it may be formalized.
• The objective of exploratory research is the development of hypotheses rather
than their testing, whereas formalized research studies are those with
substantial structure and with specific hypotheses to be tested.
• Historical research is that which utilizes historical sources like documents,
remains, etc. to study events or ideas of the past, including the philosophy of
persons and groups at any remote point in time.
Research Approaches
• Two basic approaches to research, viz., quantitative approach and the qualitative
approach .
• Quantitative approach sub-classified into inferential , experimental and simulation
approaches to research.
• Qualitative approach to research is concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes,
opinions and behavior.
Research Methods versus Methodology
• Research methods or techniques, thus, refer to the methods the researchers use in
performing research operations.
• Thus, when we talk of research methodology, we not only talk of the research
methods but also consider the logic behind the methods we use in the context of our
research study and explain why we are using a particular method or technique and
why we are not using others so that research results are capable of being evaluated
either by the researcher himself or by others.
The difference between methods and techniques of
data collection
• Research Process Flowchart
Research Process Guideline:
(1) formulating the research problem;
(2) extensive literature survey;
(3) developing the hypothesis;
(4) preparing the research design;
(5) determining sample design;
(6) collecting the data;
(7) execution of the project;
(8) analysis of data;
(9) hypothesis testing;
(10) generalizations and interpretation,
(11) preparation of the report or presentation of the results ,i.
e., formal write-up of conclusions reached.
1. Turn your idea into a research question
• Where do you start?
• Decide on a general area of interest
• Why does this area interest you?
• Answer the questions:
• What is your aim? (In general terms)
• What is your hypothesis? (In specific terms)
• Is your idea novel?
• Why does it matter?
• How will patients or service users benefit from your research? Consult
colleagues and other researchers
https://youtu.be/ex4FaIaOjlA
2. Review the Literature
• It is essential that existing sources of evidence, especially systematic reviews are
considered carefully before undertaking research.
• Research that duplicates other work unnecessarily or which is not of sufficient
quality to contribute something useful to the existing knowledge is in itself unethical.
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How to search literature
Discuss with your supervisor or mentor
Then work out a search strategy to decide on your plan of action
Start reading: use reading lists, texts, journals, abstracts, etc.
Internet search engines may be helpful but beware of incomplete
information
3. Design the Study and Develop Methods
Participant Involvement
involving participants or their representatives wherever possible in the design,
conduct, analysis, and reporting of research.
Survey Design
Do you know what is the most appropriate survey method for your research project?
What method will give you the most useful data for the project you are working on?
Sampling
What method of sampling will give you the most useful data for the project you are
working on?
Statistical Issues
Are you familiar with the statistics you may need to use?
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
Which research method is most appropriate to your research project? Do you know
the difference between quantitative and qualitative research methods?
• Questionnaire Design
Do you know how to design a questionnaire for survey research?
• Collaboration
Have you considered collaborating with other researchers?
• Intellectual Property
What is ‘Intellectual Property’ and what does it mean to a researcher?
4. Writing your research proposal
Starting your research proposal
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First talk about your research proposal with your supervisor. Your supervisor will advise you on
writing your research proposal.
The researcher has a responsibility for developing proposals that are scientifically sound and ethical.
No two proposals are the same, but they will all have a similar structure:
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title
abstract/summary
background or rationale of the project
aims/objectives
experimental design and methods
ethical considerations
benefits of the study
resources and costs
CONTENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
•Introduction. It is also sometimes termed as 'need for study' or 'abstract'. ...
•Review of literature. It refers to all sources of scientific evidence about the topic of
interest.
•Aims and objectives. ...
•Research design and method. ...
•Ethical considerations. ...
•Budget. ...
•Appendices. ...
•Citations.
5. Issues About Funding
6. Obtain Ethical and Trust approval?
The Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC)
Research Ethics Committees (RECs) have been working to standard operating procedures
since 1st March 2004, and the COREC website gives people access to comprehensive and upto-date information on the REC system in the UK
7. Collect and collate the data
❍ Researchers bear the day-to-day responsibility for the conduct of research in terms of:
• Ensuring that research follows the agreed protocol (or proposal).
• Making sure that participants receive appropriate care while involved in research.
• Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of clinical and other records and data generated by
the research.
• Reporting any failures in these respects, any adverse drug reactions and other events, or
suspected misconduct through the appropriate systems.
❍ Data collected in the course of research must be retained for an appropriate period to allow further
analysis by the original or other research teams subject to consent, and to support monitoring
of good research practice by regulatory and other authorities.
Data Protection
• Data Protection Act stipulates that the appropriate use and protection of patient
data is paramount in the research setting.
• All those involved in research must be aware of their legal and ethical duties,
particularly in terms of ensuring confidentiality of personal information about living
or deceased participants.
• When collecting and storing data on human participants, the following should be
considered:
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Identities should be disguised by use of codes (do not use initials!)
Any details should be anonymized
Use of patient-identifiable information should be avoided unless necessary
If unavoidable, only minimum necessary patient-identifiable information should be used
Access to patient-identifiable information should be on a strict need to know basis. Need-
8. Analyse the data and interpret findings
Quantitative Data Analysis
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Quantitative research techniques generate a mass of numbers that need to be summarized,
described, and analyzed.
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Characteristics of the data may be described and explored by drawing graphs and charts, doing
cross-tabulations and calculating means and standard deviations.
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Further analysis will build on these initial findings, seeking patterns and relationships in the data
by comparing means, exploring correlations, performing multiple regressions, or analyses of variance.
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Advanced modeling techniques may eventually be used to build sophisticated explanations of
how the data addresses the original question.
● Although methods used can vary greatly, the following steps are, common in quantitative data
analysis:
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Identifying a data entry and analysis manager (e.g., SPSS http://www.spss.com)
Reviewing data (e.g., surveys, questionnaires, etc) for completeness
Coding data
Conducting Data Entry
Analysing Data (e.g., sample descriptives, other statistical tests).
9. Implications of your research for clinical practice and identifying how findings could be
put into practice
10. Report on the Study and Disseminate Findings
What's the next step after the data has been collected, analysed and interpreted?
Writing up Research
What do you need to consider when writing up your research? In what style will you write up research?
● A research report is a carefully structured piece that clearly states the purpose, findings and
relevance of research activity.
● A report may be written for a range of reasons and for a variety of audiences, therefore its length,
style and detail tend to vary greatly.
● Research reports are usually produced for such groups as service users, multi-disciplinary
colleagues, and fellow professionals and as a result of commissioned research.
● The publication Presenting and Disseminating Research by Jane Schober and Andy Farrington
for Trent Focus, contains comprehensive information on the following topics:
Qualitative Data Analysis
Qualitative data analysis describes and summarizes the mass of words generated by interviews or observational
data.
● It allows researchers to seek relationships between various themes that have been identified or related behaviour
or ideas to the biographical characteristics of respondents.
● Implications for policy or practice may be derived from the data, or interpretation sought of puzzling findings from
previous studies.
● Ultimately theory could be developed and tested using advanced analytical techniques.
● Although methods of analysis can vary greatly (e.g., Grounded Theory, Discourse Analysis ) the following steps
are typical for qualitative data analysis: behavior
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❍ Familiarisation with the data through repeated reading, listening etc.
❍ Transcription of interview etc. material.
❍ Organisation and indexing of data for easy retrieval and identification (e.g. by hand or computerized
programmes suchas NUD*IST, Nvivo)
❍ Anonymising of sensitive data.
❍ Coding (may be called indexing).
❍ Identification of themes.
❍ Development of provisional categories.
❍ Exploration of relationships between categories.
❍ Refinement of themes and categories.
❍ Development of theory and incorporation of pre-existing knowledge.
Interpreting Data
● The last step of data analysis consists of interpreting the findings to see whether they support
your initial study hypotheses, theory or research questions.
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Data interpretation methods vary greatly depending on the theoretical focus (i.e., Qualitative
or Quantitative research) and methods (e.g., Multiple Regression, Grounded Theory).
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You should seek further advice for this step from:
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Your supervisor/Other experts within your organization
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Computer Package Manuals (e.g., SPSS, NUD*IST) and methodology books
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An Introduction to Using Statistics in Research
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The material in Section 3 of this flowchart on statistics and sampling issues
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Visit RDDirect for a list of websites containing relevant information n statistics
❍ First section: "Writing up a Research Project" includes:
■ The research report
■ The research dissertation
■ Common features of research reports and dissertations
Second section: "Contents of a written report" includes:
❍ Layout
❍ Specific guidelines on dissertations by literature review
❍ Producing a short report or executive summary from a main study
● For those completing a thesis, Writing Research Theses or Dissertations covers important aspects
of academic writing. (NOTE: Please check with your own institution for specific requirements.)
● For more general tips on writing academic papers, we recommend the following:
● Effective Writing taken from a PowerPoint presentation on Writing for Publication produced by the
University of Loughborough.
● Writing Academic Papers by Rob Newell,
Disseminating Research
Are you writing up your research for publication? Have you chosen how and where to publish your
results?
● A PowerPoint presentation written by Theo Raynor and Jonathan Silcock, School of
Healthcare Studies, University of Leeds. This presentation is excellent and a very comprehensive
guide.
● Further extracts taken from the publication Presenting and Disseminating Research by Jane
Schober and Andy Farrington for Trent Focus, provide information in the section 'Dissemination
research outcomes' on the following topics:
❍ Strategies for local, national and international dissemination of research
❍ Publication
❍ Tips on getting published
● The Writing/Publishing Research section of the RDDirect website also offers links to further
information on aspects of submitting articles for publication in medical journals.
Presentation for Conferences or Seminars
Are you presenting your research findings to an audience? If so, what kind of audience?
● RDLearning has a list of potentially relevant conferences and seminars
● Reporting Scientific Data contains information on producing posters and making oral
presentations
● Section "Dissemination research outcomes" in Presenting and Disseminating Research by Jane
Schober and Andy Farrington for Trent Focus, provide information on the following topics:
❍ Types of presentation
❍ Tips on presenting at a conference
❍ The abstract and usual abstract guidelines
● For more general tips on presentation skills we recommend A PowerPoint show on Presentation
skills: material extracted from presentation prepared by Adrian Turrell, ScHaRR, University of
Sheffield
❍ Presentation Skills
❍ Human Nature and Dynamics (1)
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Human Nature and Dynamics (2)
Poor Presentations
Coping with Nerves
Verbals and Non-verbals
Preparing the Presentation
Planning the Presentation
Why Rehearse?
The Opening
The Intro
The Close
The End
Responding to Questions
1. Formulating the research problem:
There are two types of research problems, viz., those which relate to states of nature and
those which relate to relationships between variables.
2. 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.
3. Development of working hypotheses:
After extensive literature survey, researcher should state in clear terms the working
hypothesis or hypotheses.
Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or
empirical consequences.
4. 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.
Research purposes may be grouped into four categories, viz.,
(i) Exploration, (ii) Description, (iii) Diagnosis, and (iv) Experimentation.
There are several research designs, such as, experimental and non-experimental hypothesis testing.
• Experimental designs can be either
 Informal designs (such as before-and-after without control, after-only with control, before-andafter with control)
 Formal designs (such as completely randomized design, randomized block design, Latin square
design, simple and complex factorial designs), out of which the researcher must select one for his
own project.
5. Determining sample design:
All the items under consideration in any field of inquiry constitute a ‘universe’ or ‘population’.
A complete enumeration of all the items in the ‘population’ is known as a census inquiry.
A brief mention of the important sample designs is as follows:
(i) Deliberate sampling: Deliberate sampling is also known as purposive or non-probability sampling.
(ii) Simple random sampling:
This type of sampling is also known as chance sampling or probability sampling where each and every item in the population
has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample and each one of the possible samples, in case of finite universe, has the same
probability of being selected.
(iii) Systematic sampling: In some instances the most practical way of sampling is to select every 15th name on a list, every
10th house on one side of a street and so on.
(iv) Stratified sampling: If the population from which a sample is to be drawn does not constitute a homogeneous group, then
stratified sampling technique is applied so as to obtain a representative sample.
(v) Quota sampling:
In stratified sampling the cost of taking random samples from individual strata is often so expensive that interviewers are
simply given quota to be filled from different strata, the actual selection of items for sample being left to the interviewer’s
judgment.
(vii) Multi-stage sampling:
This is a further development of the idea of cluster sampling.
(viii) Sequential sampling:
This is somewhat a complex sample design where the ultimate size of the sample is not
fixed in advance but is determined according to mathematical decisions on the basis of
information yielded as survey progresses.
6. Collecting the data:
Data can be collected by any one or more of the following ways:
(i) By observation
(ii) Through personal interview
(iii) Through telephone interviews
(iv) By mailing of questionnaires
(v) Through schedules
7. Execution of the project:
8. Data Analysis:
Requires a number of closely related operations such as establishment of:
o Categories
o Coding
o Editing
o Tabulation
o Analysis work after tabulation is generally based on the computation of various
percentages, coefficients, etc., by applying various well defined statistical formulae.
9. Hypothesis-testing:
o Various tests, such as Chi square test, t-test, F-test, have been developed by
statisticians for the purpose.
o Hypothesis-testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or in rejecting it.
10. Generalisations and interpretation
11. Preparation of the report or the thesis
Research Design
overall research design into the following parts:
(a) the sampling design .
(b) the observational design .
(c) the statistical design .
(d) the operational design which deals with the techniques by which the procedures specified
in the sampling, statistical and observational designs can be carried out.
NEED FOR RESEARCH DESIGN
Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research
operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible yielding maximal information
with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.
FEATURES OF A GOOD DESIGN
 A research design appropriate for a particular research problem,
 Usually involves the consideration of the following factors:
(i) the means of obtaining information;
(ii) the availability and skills of the researcher and his staff, if any.
(iii) the objective of the problem to be studied.
(iv) the nature of the problem to be studied.
(v) the availability of time and money for the research work.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS RELATING TO RESEARCH DESIGN
1. Dependent and independent variables:
A concept which can take on different Quantitative values is called a variable. As such the
concepts like weight, height, income are all examples of variables. Qualitative phenomena
(or the attributes) are also quantified on the basis of the presence or absence of the
concerning attribute(s).
For instance, if we say that height depends upon age, then height is a dependent variable and
age is an independent variable.
2.Extraneous variable: Independent variables
3.Control: One important characteristic of a good research design is to minimize the influence or
effect of extraneous variable(s).
4.Confounded relationship: When the dependent variable is not free from the influence of
extraneous variable(s), the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is
said to be confounded by an extraneous variable(s).
5.Research hypothesis: When a prediction or a hypothesized relationship is to be tested by
scientific methods, it is termed as research hypothesis. The research hypothesis is a predictive
statement that relates an independent variable to a dependent variable.
6.Experimental and non-experimental hypothesis-testing research:
When the purpose of research is to test a research hypothesis, it is termed as hypothesistesting research. It can be of the experimental design or of the non-experimental design.
7. Experimental and control groups:
In an experimental hypothesis-testing research when a group is exposed to usual conditions, it
is termed a ‘control group’, but when the group is exposed to some novel or special condition, it
is termed an ‘experimental group’.
8. Treatments:
The different conditions under which experimental and control groups are put are usually
referred to as ‘treatments’.
9. Experiment:
The process of examining the truth of a statistical hypothesis, relating to some research
problem, is known as an experiment.
10. Experimental unit(s):
The pre-determined plots or the blocks, where different treatments are used, are known
as experimental units. Such experimental units must be selected (defined) very carefully.
Scientific writing usually follows a standard formal structure
IMRD (for Introduction-Methods-Results-Discussion):
Abstract: A brief summary of the other sections, typically 100-200 words. Includes motivation,
question, hypothesis, method, and major conclusions. (See our Abstract guide for more detail.)
Introduction: Motivation for the research, literature review of previous relevant studies
(background), question(s) addressed by the present research, and hypotheses to be tested.
Materials and Methods: Summary of the technical information necessary to repeat the
experiments. Includes experimental design, materials, and protocols.
Results: An objective review of the experimental results. In other words, what happened when
the methods were performed? Frequently includes figures/tables/etc. to present the data.
Discussion/Conclusions (sometimes included at the end of Results section): addresses the
question: “do the results support the hypothesis?” Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of
the experiment, summarizes the implications of the results, and proposes further research that
might clarify or supplement the findings.
Works cited: APA format is acceptable in most classroom settings. Every journal has its own
formatting style; refer to specific journals for models.
Scientific paper structure:
Key parts
• 1. Title and Abstract: Attract the
reader’s attention ...
• 2. Introduction: Introduce the reader
to your work ...
• 3. Materials and Methods: Tell the
reader what you did and how you did it
...
• 4. Results: Show the reader what you
saw ...
• 5. Discussion: Walk the reader
through what your results mean and
how they affect the field ...
The structure of scientific research writing. Crafting a well-organized and effective scientific
paper is crucial for communicating your research findings to the scientific community. Here are
some key aspects to consider:
Title and Abstract:
o Title: Your title should be concise and specific, capturing the essence of your study.
o Abstract: This section provides a summary of your entire article. It should succinctly convey
the purpose, methods, results, and significance of your research.
Introduction:
The introduction sets the stage for your study. Here, you introduce the reader to your work by
providing background information and explaining why you investigated the research question.
Clearly state your research objectives and hypotheses.
Materials and Methods:
In this section, describe the materials, equipment, and methods you used to conduct your
research.
Be precise and provide enough detail so that other scientists can replicate your experiments.
Results:
o Present your findings in a clear and organized manner.
o Use tables, figures, and graphs to illustrate your data.
o Avoid interpretation at this stage; simply report what you observed.
Discussion:
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Interpret your results and discuss their implications.
Relate your findings to existing literature and theories.
Address any limitations or uncertainties in your study.
Consider future research directions.
Conclusion:
o Summarize your key findings and their significance.
o Mention any follow-up research you plan to undertake.
Remember, scientific writing should be factual, concise, and evidence-based. However,
creativity is not off-limits. Craft your paper in a way that communicates your science effectively
while maintaining clarity and precision1 2. If you'd like to explore this topic further, there are
excellent resources available, including online courses and writing guides
Features of scientific writing
• 1. Precision Scientific writing relies on unequivocal
accuracy, as the mission of a scientific document is to
provide relevant and factual information to the scientific
community. ...
• 2. Clarity Scientific writers typically write for their peers,
but even scientists expect clarity in the writing. ...
• 3. Peer reviews ...
• 4. Primary audience ...
• 5. Formal language ...
• 6. Organization ...
• 7. Awareness of existing scientific literature ...
• 7 Features of Scientific Writing (Plus Definition and Tips)
Scientific research writing has distinct features that set it apart from other forms of writing.
Let's explore these characteristics:
1. Precision:
- Objectivity: Scientific papers maintain an objective viewpoint, focusing on presenting and analyzing
facts rather than personal opinions.
- Thoroughness: Authors provide detailed information to ensure readers thoroughly understand the
subject.
- Exact language: Scientific writing minimizes figurative or imaginative language, using words and
phrases that convey literal meanings.
2. Clarity:
- Scientific writers aim for clarity even. They explain uncommon terms and summarize results in a way
that anyone can understand.
- The use of the metric system ensures consistency and readability for a global audience.
3. Peer Reviews:
- Some scientific documents include peer-reviewed changes or information directly within the
document. Peer review ensures rigorous scrutiny and validation by experts in the field.
Remember, scientific writing serves as a crucial means of communicating research findings to the
scientific community, and adhering to these features ensures effective communication and credibility.
What is a literature review?
A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an
overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and
gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation
topic.
There are five key steps to writing a literature review:
1. Search for relevant literature.
2. Evaluate sources.
3. Identify themes, debates, and gaps.
4. Outline the structure.
5. Write your literature review.
A literature review is a comprehensive survey of scholarly sources related to a specific topic.
It serves several crucial purposes:
1. Demonstrating Familiarity:
By reviewing existing literature, you showcase your understanding of the topic and its
scholarly context.
2. Theoretical Framework and Methodology:
A literature review helps you develop a theoretical framework and choose appropriate
research methods for your own work.
3. Positioning Your Research:
It situates your research within the broader landscape of other studies, allowing you to
highlight your unique contribution.
4. Identifying Gaps and Debates:
You can identify gaps in existing research or contribute to ongoing debates.
5. Evaluating Current Knowledge:
It demonstrates your awareness of scholarly discussions around your chosen subject.
Now, let's break down the process into five key steps:
1. Search for Relevant Literature: Begin by exploring scholarly articles, books, and other relevant
sources. Use academic databases, libraries, and search engines to find material related to your topic.
2. Evaluate and Select Sources: Assess the quality, relevance, and credibility of each source. Consider
factors like the author's credentials, publication date, and methodology.
3. Identify Themes, Debates, and Gaps: Group similar sources together based on common themes or
topics. Note any disagreements or gaps in the existing research.
4. Outline Your Literature Review's Structure: Organize your review logically. You might choose a
chronological approach (discussing studies in order of publication) or a thematic approach (grouping
studies by themes).
5. Write Your Literature Review: Synthesize the information from various sources. Analyze, critique,
and summarize each study. Be sure to provide a clear picture of the current state of knowledge on
your subject.
Remember, a good literature review goes beyond mere summarization—it critically evaluates and
synthesizes existing research.
Speedy Citations: Reference Management Software Solutions for Your Research
1. Mendeley If you're in a technical or scientific field, Mendeley is an excellent option for you.
2. Flowcite Flowcite helps researchers manage every aspect of academic writing, including
research, reference management, collaborative writing, annotating, editing, and publishing.
3. RefWorks RefWorks is an exceptional reference management software program.
4. Zotero.
5. EndNote.
6. Citationsy.
When it comes to managing your research references and citations, there are several excellent tools available. Let me
introduce a few of them:
1. Zotero: A powerful and free tool that assists you in collecting, organizing, annotating, citing, and sharing research. It’s
available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and iOS. Zotero automatically detects research materials as you browse the web, allowing
you to save articles, preprints, news stories, and books. You can organize your research using collections, tags, and saved
searches. Additionally, Zotero generates references and bibliographies for various citation styles, making it convenient for
academic writing. It also offers optional data synchronization across devices, collaborative features, and complete control
over your data1.
2. Mendeley: Another popular reference management software, Mendeley allows you to search over 100 million crosspublisher articles. It’s particularly useful for researchers in technical and scientific fields. With Mendeley, you can create a free
account, access your library from anywhere, and collaborate with others. It’s a comprehensive tool for reference
management and collaboration2.
3. EndNote: EndNote is a robust program for managing and publishing bibliographies, citations, and references. It’s widely
used by researchers and academics. If you need a feature-rich solution, EndNote is worth exploring3.
4. RefWorks: RefWorks is exceptional reference management software. It streamlines the process of creating bibliographies
and managing citations. If you’re working on manuscripts or theses, RefWorks can be a valuable companion4.
5. Flowcite: Flowcite is an all-in-one platform that covers academic writing, reference management, collaborative writing,
annotating, editing, and publishing. It’s designed to enhance your research workflow4.
Remember to choose the tool that best aligns with your specific needs and preferences. Happy organizing!
Scientific research publishing is a crucial aspect of advancing knowledge and sharing discoveries. Here are some avenues for
publishing scientific research:
1. Scientific Research Publishing (SCIRP):
• SCIRP is an academic publisher with over 200 open-access journals covering various fields in science, technology, and
medicine. They also publish academic books and conference proceedings.
• If you’re looking to disseminate your research, consider exploring SCIRP’s journals.
2. Steps to Publish Your Research:
• Choosing a Journal: Select a reputable journal that aligns with your research topic.
• Writing Your Paper: Craft a well-structured manuscript.
• Making Your Submission: Follow the submission guidelines of the chosen journal.
• Navigating Peer Review: Be prepared for constructive feedback during the peer review process.
• The Production Process: Once accepted, your paper undergoes production (formatting, proofreading, etc.) before
publication.
3. Elsevier’s 7 Steps to Publishing in a Scientific Journal:
• Before You Submit:
o Ensure your research is of high quality.
o Avoid common pitfalls.
• Choosing the Right Journal: Consider the scope, audience, and impact factor.
• Preparing Your Manuscript: Follow the journal’s guidelines.
• Submitting Your Manuscript: Submit online and provide all required information.
• Peer Review Process: Be patient and address reviewers’ comments.
• Revisions and Acceptance: Revise as needed based on feedback.
• Publication: Your paper is published after acceptance.
4. Preliminary Considerations for Successful Publishing:
• Why and What of Scientific Research and Publishing:
o Authors must make several decisions to create a solid foundation for successful scientific article publishing.
o Consider factors such as research significance, target audience, and ethical considerations