Departments › Electrical Engineering › Module VIII › Research Methods

Research Methods

Electrical Engineering · Level 6  ·  5 Chapters

Compiled by: Fredrick Okoth

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What Research Methods covers

A research study, from first question to final presentation, is built step by step in Research Methods at Electrical Engineering Level 6. Identifying the problem covers background information, variables, objectives, questions, significance and scope. A literature review uses keywords, sources and referencing guidelines. Methodology includes research designs, study population, sampling techniques, a proposal and a budget. Data work covers collection methods, cleaning, analysis tools and presentation, and the report outcome deals with discussing findings, conclusions, recommendations, referencing systems, appendices and presenting the report.

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Careers after Research Methods

Research Methods trains graduates to investigate a problem systematically and report it, a skill used in engineering projects and further study.

  • Engineering consulting firms in Nairobi - collect and analyse data, then present findings and recommendations to clients.
  • Technical report writing roles in Mombasa - write reports with references, appendices and clear conclusions.
  • Product testing sections of manufacturers in Eldoret - define the scope of a study, design the method and clean and analyse data.
  • Project planning offices in county governments in Kisumu - prepare a research proposal and budget and review literature before a project starts.
  • Postgraduate and further study in Nakuru - carry out a literature review, choose a research design and write up the study with proper referencing.

The unit's ethical guidance on referencing and data collection applies to each role, because every study rests on honest sources and careful data handling.

Chapters

1
Identify Research Problem
7 topics
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2
Conduct Literature Review
6 topics
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3
Develop Research Methodology
13 topics
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4
Analyse Collected Data
15 topics
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5
Prepare Research Report
10 topics
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What Research Methods covers: 26 main topics in 5 chapters

1. Identify Research Problem

  1. 1.1 Methods of Identifying Research Problem
  2. 1.2 Gathering Background Information
  3. 1.3 Research Variables
  4. 1.4 Research Objectives
  5. 1.5 Formulating Research Questions
  6. 1.6 Significance of Research
  7. 1.7 Establishment of Scope of Study

2. Conduct Literature Review

  1. 2.1 Sources of Literature Review
  2. 2.2 Keywords and Phrases
  3. 2.3 Ethical Research Guidelines on Referencing and Citation
  4. 2.4 Organization and Reporting of Collected Literature

3. Develop Research Methodology

  1. 3.1 Types of Research Designs
  2. 3.2 Identification of Study Population
  3. 3.3 Sampling Techniques
  4. 3.4 Research Proposal and Budget Preparation

4. Analyse Collected Data

  1. 4.1 Methods of Data Collection
  2. 4.2 Research Guidelines on Data Collection
  3. 4.3 Data Cleaning
  4. 4.4 Data Analysis Tools
  5. 4.5 Data Presentation

5. Prepare Research Report

  1. 5.1 Discussion of Research Findings
  2. 5.2 Drawing of Conclusions Based on Findings
  3. 5.3 Recommendations
  4. 5.4 Referencing Systems
  5. 5.5 Appendices
  6. 5.6 Research Report Presentation

Revise this unit

Exam-style questions 70 Written to CDACC standard, with answers Test yourself 200 Multiple-choice, one at a time Practise questions 93 Quick recall — check you know the facts
3 more for this unit
Oral exam preparation 47 What the assessor asks, and how to answer out loud Worked calculations 14 Step-by-step maths with the common mistakes Quick cards 984 Myth busters, skill tips and scenarios

Beyond the syllabus

Decision simulator 5 On site, what would you do? Workplace scenarios 20 Real site situations — what would you do? Turn this into income 36 Where this skill earns — what to charge, how to find clients

Other units in Module VIII