introduction to research methods

05/02/23 2UD 614 - Urban Design Research Methods

Lecture (01) Introduction

Research Method Definition

Method is:

‘A way of doing anything, especially according to a regular plan’

Research is :Well organized, Systematic ,Data based, objective oriented, scientific inquiry .

or Investigation in to a specific problem undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it.



Research Method Significance

The main purpose of research is solving the problems of society.

Following a research method is an ensured way to reach the required results with high efficiency in an orderly and organized way.

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Research Purpose

• Review or synthesize existing knowledge.• Investigate existing situations or problems• Provide solutions to problems• Explore and analyze more general issues• Construct or create new procedures or systems• Explain new phenomenon• Generate new knowledge• …or a combination of any of the above!




Science

Science is: Using controlled methods, scientists collect observable evidence of natural or social phenomena, record measurable data relating to the observations, and analyze this information to construct theoretical explanations of how things work .

Note:Scientists are also expected to publish their information so other scientists can do similar experiments to double check their conclusions .




Scientific fields are commonly classified along two major lines:

1 .Natural science

Which study natural phenomena (including biological life)

2 .Social sciences

Which study human behavior and societies

3 .Mathematics Note:

These groupings are empirical sciences, which means the knowledge must be based on observable phenomena and capable of being tested for its validity .

Science Classification




Science Vs. Knowledge

Knowledge is :The familiarity with information acquired from different sources of work, study, public culture, society and family.

Science is:The information and facts that is well thought out and based on the evidence (the study - experiments - Sample Measurement - Statistics - .....), with condition of sureness without inclinations or personal whims.




The scientific method is:

the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate (that is, reliable, consistent and non-arbitrary) representation.

Scientific Method




As a famous scientist once said:

"Smart scientisits (like smart lawyers) can come up with very good explanations for mistaken

points of view”.




The scientific community consists of the total body of scientists, its relationships and

interactions .

It is normally divided into "sub-communities" each working on a particular field within

science.

Scientific Community

Are often used to describe scientific hypotheses or conclusions which, while perhaps legitimate in themselves, are believed to be

used to support a position that is seen as not legitimately justified by the totality of evidence.. There also can be an element of political or

ideological bias on all sides of such debates. Sometimes, research may be characterized as "bad science", research that is well-

intentioned but is seen as incorrect, obsolete, incomplete, or over-simplified expositions of scientific ideas. The term "

scientific misconduct" refers to situations such as where researchers have intentionally misrepresented their published data or have

purposely given credit for a discovery to the wrong person.



Pseudoscience, fringe science, and junk science

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_misconduct