Generally, doing research means conducting systematic method involving conceptualizing and explicitly defining a problem, formulating research questions or hypothesis, acquiring data or information, analyzing the data and making inferences that culminate to conclusions that may be in form of solutions to the original problems.
Engineering research is crucial since it offers solutions to challenges or problems affecting mankind. Generally this research entail application of mathematical and scientific principles for improvement of existing engineering systems as well as creation of new ones. In this regard, scientific research and method involves conducting experiments, measurements, computations, development of theories and modelling. Engineering research is based on relevant specific scientific methods employed in practical application of science on natural resources, artificial products, infrastructure, technical and social services.
The focus of an engineering research on services and processes is usually to come up with a new way to perform, execute, and conduct work efficiently. It is through innovations, creativity, and application of engineering knowledge that make things to happen. Majority of present services in the world, products or processes have an element of engineering involved. Engineering research may be applied in concept conceptualization, design and development that pave way for a long full filling and healthy lives of mankind. By applying engineering resources, engineering research methods, research engineers formulate and develop solutions to the world challenges.
There are a number of recognized sources of engineering knowledge that may be inter-connected in one way or the other. These sources may be linked together using a continuous circular line, and is illustrated in Figure 1.1 and explained in the subsequent parts (i) to (ix):
Figure 1.1. Inter-connected sources of knowledge in engineering research
(i) Knowledge from technology: This is knowledge gained from the design, use or application of certain technologies.
(ii) Tenacity: The knowledge gained by tenacity means gaining some ideas and beliefs because they have previously been accepted as facts for a long time by communities. Thus, the knowledge by tenacity is based on people’s habits of continuous knowledge transfer and belief.
(iii)Rationalism: The view and philosophy that knowledge is from reason and logic. This recognizes the fact that knowledge and truth is gained through a structured logic that must be reasoned out.
(iv)Empiricism: This is often used by natural scientists, whose meaning is “knowledge is based on experience". This knowledge is said to be ‘tentative and probabilistic’, and is subject to continuous revision. Empirical research, including experiments and validation of the findings, measurement tools, guidelines and the scientific methods
(v) Experience: Knowledge is gained through certain practices in life for instance a farmer, after growing a particular crop for many years under different systems of irrigation, may draw a conclusion that the crop does best when a sprinkler irrigation is used. This conclusion is developed based on the fact that yields per unit area and its quality are higher for the crop grown under the sprinkler irrigation system compared to other systems of irrigation.
(vi)Tradition: This source of knowledge is acquired through inherited culture and practices. Culture is a system adopted of rules, norms, standards and values of how things should be done. Through socialization and dissemination of cultural knowledge in society, passing this knowledge to new generation is mainly done by parents, peers, adults, teachers and the clergy and is considered to represent truth in knowledge acceptable to the beliefs.
(vii) Intuition: Intuition refers to the perception or insight into phenomena by instinct. It is the ability to gain new knowledge without rational process.
(viii) Professionals and persons in authority: This is knowledge from an ex
