Research Question

Discuss About The Research Methodology Strengths Weaknesses.

This report focuses on defining a particular research question based on the topic “System Dynamic Modelling of Energy System” which would help to demonstrate an individual motive behind undertaken the research project. The research question that has been chosen for this report will help to illustrate the benefits that will be achieved by applying dynamic system modelling in management systems. The research question also aims to illustrate the concept of dynamic system modelling for energy systems. Further, the discussions are presented in this report to present the methodology that will be followed for conducting the research.

The research question that has been chosen for this report is “What are the benefits of application of dynamic system modelling in energy systems?” as it would help to demonstrate the significance of dynamic system modelling in energy systems.

The concept of dynamic system modelling is used for analysing the behaviour of social systems such as industrial companies or even entire cities. The application of dynamic system modelling helps to achieve desired goals from energy systems (Harish & Kumar 2016). Hence, the research question that has been chosen for this report will help to demonstrate the benefits of applying dynamic system modelling. The aim of this research question is to explain the behaviour of energy systems upon implementation of dynamic changes through efficient system modelling. The most important and foremost significance of applying dynamic system modelling is to increase the efficiency of energy systems (Khare, Nema & Baredar 2016). The evolution of the dynamic systems is increasing rapidly and hence there is a need for suitable modelling strategy so that energy systems can be designed to be cost efficient.  

This section reflects upon the various theories and concepts that will be applied to gather results for the chosen research question. The approaches that will be implemented by the researcher for attaining the desired outcomes from the research are mentioned in this section. The discussions on philosophy that will be followed to complete the entire research are also presented in this section. Further, the approach that is suitable to execute the entire research is also delivered in this section so that the research can be completed error free and achieve desired outcomes. The sampling for data collection along with process of gathering data for analysis is also described in this section.

Research Question Definition

In any research project, basically there are three types of philosophies which can be applied to achieve the desired outcomes. The different types of research philosophies are positivism, realism and interpretivism which can utilized by researcher to determine the pathway for conducting the research (Taylor, Bogdan & DeVault 2015). Philosophy in research is define mainly to demonstrate the processes that have to be undertaken for achieving desired results from the research. It is necessary to align the research philosophy with the determined objectives such that evaluation of the research topic can be carried out successfully. The facts that are hidden in past researches or the gaps will be revealed with the help of appropriate philosophy so as to ensure success of the research. For this particular research question in context to the chosen topic, positivism philosophy will be selected so that the aim of the research is fulfilled by achieving the desired outcomes from the study.

The positivism philosophy relates to the factual knowledge that is gained through observation and financial application of theories that also includes measurement (Lewis 2015). In this philosophy, the role a researcher is limited to collection of data and interpreting them in an objective manner. The application of this philosophy is suitable as the findings from this study will be observable as well as quantifiable.

The implementation of suitable research approach is essential for conducting a research such that it is free of error and the gaps of previous research studies are fulfilled. Basically, there are two types of research approaches that is deductive or inductive which could be used for successful completion of the entire research (Flick 2015). The inductive research approach will be followed only if there is sufficient amount of available data while the deductive approach will be used where there is requirement for practical application of research theories. The details concept about data analysis will become available to the researcher will conducting the research by following deductive approach. The suitable approach that have to be implemented by the researcher will depend upon details of the chosen topic for this study. The selection of deductive approach will help the researcher to gain better analytical results from the study.

Research design is an essential element for explaining a research topic hence it is vital for a researcher to select a suitable one so that desired outcomes can be achieved from the research. There are three types of patterns being followed for academic research design from which a particular have to be chosen for identifying and collecting information about the benefits that will be achieved from dynamic system modelling for energy systems (Silverman 2016). For conducting the chosen study, descriptive design will be chosen so that the desired results can be gained from the research.

Research Methodology

In order to successfully conduct the research topic on system dynamic modelling of energy system accurate data collection procedure should have to be nominated by the researcher. Data collection is technique that is utilized for gathering information from different valid resources.  For getting a better analytical result from the research work the researcher must adopt professional data collection approach (Panneerselvam 2014). Not only collection of data rather analysis of that information is another important action that will be processed by the researcher.

There are two different research sources available for the researcher such as primary and secondary and after analysing the details of the research topic that is system dynamic modelling of energy system the most suitable data source will be nominated by the researcher for collecting valid as well as valuable information. For gathering effective and efficient result from the sources, to conduct the research work or outlining the details of system dynamic modelling of the energy system it is necessary for the researcher to collect raw data (Choy 2014).  The primary data sources are helpful for collecting raw data that are effective to collect the details of the research topic. For successful data collection through primary sources the three aspects those are to be considered include clarification, validity and reliability.  On the other hand in case of secondary data collection the sources that are generally used as sources include books, journals, blogs etc. Moreover, it can be said that literature sources are the secondary sources used for collecting information. Secondary data has the ability to widen the topic of system dynamic modelling of energy system.  The secondary data can be gathered from both the online and offline sources.

For this particular research topic “system dynamic modelling of energy system” primary data sources will be nominated by the researcher.  Primary sources those are going to be used include interview and survey questionnaire.

The main aim of the research is to make dynamic modelling for designing an energy system. In order to define and conduct the details of this research the most suitable data technique is required to be nominated by the researcher. Quantitative and qualitative are the two different data techniques available and among these two techniques for this particular research topic the researcher will use the quantitative data technique (Dang & Pheng 2015). Along with the practical application field the theoretical concept are also required to be add-on for successful accomplishment of the research topic. On order to give a better description to the readers and recording the narrative information the qualitative data technique is very much effective. Thus, for this research topic the research will use qualitative technique instead of quantitative data. 

Research Philosophy

However, for this research topic the researcher will use quantitative data technique for collecting and analysing the topic in depth.

The sample and population defines the total number of people who will be either directly or indirectly involved to the research work. The research work even positively or negatively impacted by these involves people (Bhandari et al. 2014). The question answer sessions conducted for gathering information from the participants are the total number of population for the research work. Though, in order to select the participants also certain specifications will be considered by the researcher.

For this particular research the people who are working for energy system development companies are nominated as the participants of the survey. The total sample size for the survey will be 50 among them 25 will be employees and the rest of the 25 people will be managers. 

While conducting the research work it is necessary for the researchers to maintain certain ethical aspects such as proper application of data (Pfenninger, Hawkes & Keirstead 2014).  For this research to keep the research within academic boundaries the commercial applications are absolutely avoided. Besides this, external influences and pressures to the participants will be avoided.

The participants who are interested to take part will be only considered and no such external influence will be applied on them. However, the bias nature of the participants may affect the result thus reliability is a limitation for the research topic. In addition to this, less time and budget are the other limitations that interrupt the research work.

Conclusion

From the discussions carried out in this report, it can concluded that there is a requirement for application of system dynamic modelling for increasing efficiency of energy systems. It has been identified that it is necessary to align the research philosophy with the determined objectives such that evaluation of the research topic can be carried out successfully. The facts that are hidden in past researches or the gaps will be revealed with the help of appropriate philosophy so as to ensure success of the research. The selection of deductive approach will help the researcher to gain better analytical results from the study.

References

Bhandari, B., Poudel, S. R., Lee, K. T., & Ahn, S. H. 2014. Mathematical modeling of hybrid renewable energy system: A review on small hydro-solar-wind power generation. international journal of precision civil engineering and manufacturing-green technology, 1(2), 157-173.

Choy, L. T. 2014. The strengths and weaknesses of research methodology: Comparison and complimentary between qualitative and quantitative approaches. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19(4), 99-104.

Dang, G., & Pheng, L. S. 2015. Research methodology. In Infrastructure Investments in Developing Economies (pp. 135-155). Springer, Singapore.

Flick, U. 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner’s guide to doing a research project. Sage.

Gou, B., Na, W., & Diong, B. 2016. Fuel cells: dynamic modeling and control with power electronics applications. CRC press.

Harish, V. S. K. V., & Kumar, A. 2016. A review on modeling and simulation of building energy systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 56, 1272-1292.

Khare, V., Nema, S., & Baredar, P. 2016. Solar–wind hybrid renewable energy system: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 58, 23-33.

Lewis, S. 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Healthcare promotion practice, 16(4), 473-475.

Panneerselvam, R. 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..

Pfenninger, S., Hawkes, A., & Keirstead, J. 2014. Energy systems modeling for twenty-first century energy challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 33, 74-86.

Silverman, D. (Ed.). 2016. Qualitative research. Sage.

Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., & DeVault, M. 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.