WHY RESEARCH?& RELATED QUESTIONS

Dr. Bhaswat S. ChakrabortySr. VP & Chair, R&D Core Committee

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd.1

CONTENTS What is Research? Purpose of Research Research: Science, Humanities, Engg Research Methodologies Trends & Funding Fruits of Research Concluding Remarks

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WHAT IS RESEARCH? A view on reality A systematic investigation of a theory or

hypothesis

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“In much of society, research means to investigate something you do not know or understand.” 

– Neil Armstrong

“Imagination is the highest form of research.”

– Albert Einstein

PURPOSE OF RESEARCHTo find a relationship among variablesTo define cause and effectTo bring evidence for or against a

hypothesisTo build or formulate something...

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SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH BEFORE 19TH CENTURY No clear distinction between scientists and

philosophers of science. Philosophical issues was discussed by scientists having different ideals of science, e.g.:

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Realism (science aims at making true theories about the structure of the world)

Instrumtalism (science aims at making models useful to account for observations and making predictions for some practical purpose, rather than in more absolute or ideal terms)

Inductivism (knowledge from observations) vs. hypothetical-deductive view of science

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH (AFTER 19TH CENTURY)

Logical positivismTo construct knowledge through induction and

deduction: ”the hypothetical-deductive method”

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Medical Marvels

RESEARCH: SCIENCE & ARTS

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“Indeed, I would feel that an appreciation of the arts in a conscious, disciplined way might help one to do science better.”

– Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

THEORY Generalizing or conducive thinking Often rational and scientific Could be relating to humanities, economics

or spirituality or any other domain...

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RESEARCH (SCIENTIFIC) QUESTIONS• Is the new drug superior to existing one?• Distribution of dead load of a bridge – properly

done?• How was the universe created?• Is one one race superior in intellect than another?• Does behavioural therapy work in mental diseases?• What would be the simplest route of synthesis for

cyanocobalamin?• ... 11

HYPOTHESIS Basically an assertion Research is done to either prove it or to reject it To explain something

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“Research comprises "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.”

OECD (2002)

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Observations ➔ Scientific Questions ➔

Hypotheses ➔ Variables ➔ Hypothesis Testing ➔ Models ➔ Laws ➔ Theories

Does not answer all questions Unbiased

Unlike dogma or belief Falsifiable

One can prove it wrong

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FALSIFIABLE (TESTABLE)

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Are all swans are white?

Since it is logically possible to falsify it by observing a single black swan

Thus this hypothesis is falsifiable

THE EXPERIMENTAL METHOD• The Experimental Method is usually considered

the most scientific of all methods, the “method of choice”

• The main problem with all other non-experimental methods is investigators have less control over the situation and its components

• The Experimental Method exerts the most control

on data collection and interpretation15

RESEARCH METHODS Research methods produce new knowledge or

deepen understanding of a topic or issue Three main forms (may overlap): Exploratory research

Identify and define a problem or question Constructive research

Tests theories and proposes solutions to a problem or question

Empirical research Tests the feasibility of a solution using empirical

evidence16

RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES

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RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Characterized by the collection and analysis of

textual data Surveys, interviews, focus groups Conversational analyses Observations

What is occurring?

Why does something occur?

19Borrego M. (2009). J Engineering Education, 98:53-66

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Descriptive Statistics Examining Relationships between and among

Various Indicators Explicit Use of Theory

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Borrego M. (2009). J Engineering Education, 98:53-66

MIXED METHOD OF RESEARCH A mixed methods study involves the

collection or analysis of Both quantitative and/or qualitative data In a single study In which the data are collected concurrently or

sequentially Involve the integration of the data at one or

more stages in the process of research

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Creswell et al. (2003), In Handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioral research, eds. A.Tashakkori & Teddlie, p. 212

22Borrego M. (2009). J Engineering Education, 98:53-66

FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN RESEARCH1. Systematic – research process

2. Logical – induction/deduction

3. Empirical – evidence based

4. Reductive – generalisation

5. Replicable – methodology

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FRUITS OF PHARMACEUTICAL & MEDICAL RESEARCH

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RECENT FRUITS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

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Human Genome Discoveries Biggest area of the future is be preventive medicine; by

understanding the genetic causes and links to disease we can do wonders in preventing disease

HPV (causing cervical cancer) vaccination Anti-smoking laws and campaigns reduce public

smoking Battlefield Medicine (2001-present)

Improvements in trauma care have reduced mortality from gun assaults from 16% in 1964 to just 5% today

Better Clot-Busting Drugs Fibrinolytic clot dissolving medications like tPA

RECENT FRUITS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH..

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Treatment of HIV/AIDS: Combination drugs HIV declined from being a feared and inexorably fatal

disease to a somewhat manageable chronic disease Drug-eluting stents

Improve the success of angioplasty in treating coronary artery disease

Stem cell research Laboratory breakthroughs and clinical advances

Minimally invasive and robotic surgery Can remove kidneys through a single incision in the

patient's navel, no scarring.. Online health knowledge and the patient education

revolution

AS A RESULT OF RESEARCH.. 1959 – Computer 1964 – Music synthesizer 1969 – Smoke detector 1972 – Electronic ignition in Cars 1973 – MRI 1973 – Mobile phone 1978 – GPS 1981 – Scanning tunneling

microscope (STM) 1984 – DNA Fingerprinting 1985 – Polymerase chain reaction

(PCR) 1987 – PROZAC 1988 – B-2 Bomber 1990 – Antilock brakes 29

1991 – Digital Camera System 1992 – Wi-Fi patent 1994 – Channel Tunnel 1994 – Web browser 1995 – Teledyne Ryan Tier II Plus

Spy Drone 1997 – Portable defibrillator 1998 – MP3 Player 2003 – Spaceship One 2005 – Google maps 2007 – Apple iPhone 2008 – Large hardon Collider 2010 – Burj Khalifa, 828 meters 2011 – Mars Curiosity & Sky Crane

CONCLUDING REMARKS Research is perhaps one of the highest functions of human

mind Well fed and happy babies explore naturally! Modern societies are built on the result/process of research While discovering breakthrough technologies is one of the main

aims of research, many social improvements have/will also come through research

There has to be sustainable and increasing funding support for all meaningful research

Why would you research? Career? Have to answer a big question? Passion or Curiosity? Giving back to the society? Fun?.....

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH

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