Research Methodologies in computer science -Chapter-1.pptx
- 1. Research Methods in Computer Science(CoSc3101) 1 Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of Research Senbeto K.
- 2. Unit contents • What is Research and not Research? • Scientific Research • Objectives, Motivations and Significance of Research • Requirements and Characteristics of Research • Types and Approaches of Research • Research Methods and Problem Solving • Effective Report Writing Principles and Criteria for Good Research • Evaluating and Reviewing Research Results • What is Research in Computing? 2
- 3. What is Research? • The word ‘Research’ consists of two words: Research = Re + Search →Re means again and again and… →Search means to find out something, examine closely & carefully, test & try… • It means to find again. Observes Again and again Collection of data Analysis of data Person Conclusions Phenomena
- 4. What is research? • Different definitions by different scholars in different discipline. → The systematic investigation and study of materials and resources in order to establish and reach at new conclusions. (Oxford dictionary). → “Scientific research is systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of natural phenomena guided by theory and hypotheses about the presumed relations among such phenomena.” (Kerlinger, 1986) 4
- 5. Research Definition … • Research means a systematic investigation or activity to gain new knowledge of the already existing facts • The systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc, in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. • It is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing and evaluating information to understand the world. • Systematic investigative process employed to increase or revise current knowledge by discovering new facts. • In general, Research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS.
- 6. • ORGANIZED: It use planned procedure, structure or method in going about doing research. It is a not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope. • SYSTEMATIC: use definite set of procedures and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results. • FINDING ANSWERS: is the end of all research. Research is successful when we find answers. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer. • QUESTIONS: are central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose. 6
- 7. • Research is an academic activity • Search for knowledge • An art of scientific investigation • Research comprises • Defining and redefining problems • Formulating hypothesis • Collecting, organizing and evaluating data • Making deductions and reaching conclusions • Carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis or not. 7
- 8. What is Not Research? • Research is not merely gathering information: Gathering information or facts from different sources, on a particular topic, is not the same as Research, rather the appropriate term should be information discovery or reference skill. • Research is not a sales pitch: A new improved product developed after years of “research” is rarely research. • Research is not the rearrangement of known knowledge: Rearranging known facts or information does not mean one has carried out the research. Rather, it can be called Facts organization or rearrangement. True research seeks to find solutions to problems.
- 9. What is Not Research? … • Research is not rummaging around for hard-to- find information: Searching through records in an office, library, or online to discover what one does not previously know is not research. Rather, It is better called an exercise in self-enlightenment. • Research is not transferring facts from one location to another: Research is not just transferring facts or information from different sources to one’s paper. Appropriately, this can be called Facts organization or facts summarization.
- 10. Scientific Research • Research conducted for the purpose of contributing towards science by the systematic collection, interpretation and evaluation of data in a planned manner • A researcher is the one who conducts this research. • Before beginning the scientific research, the researcher should determine the subject, do planning and specify the methodology.
- 11. Purposes of Research The main purposes of research are: 1. To acquire knowledge or to know about ‘something new’ (using basic or pure or fundamental research) 2. To find solution to the identified problem (using applied or action research) in a scientific and systematic way.
- 12. Objectives of Research • To discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. • To find out the truth which is hidden/has not been discovered as yet. • To gain familiarity with the phenomenon or to achieve new insights in to it. • To portray (reveal) accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group. 12
- 13. • To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else. • To test the hypothesis of casual relationships between variables. 13
- 14. Motivation in Research →What makes people to undertake research? The possible motives for doing research are: 1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits; 2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research; 3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work 4. Desire to serve society and design appropriate policies 5. Desire to get respectability. Many more factors such as directives of government, employment conditions, curiosity about new things, desire to understand causal relationships, social thinking and awakening, and the like may as well motivate people to perform research operations.
- 15. Significance of Research • Increased amount of research make progress possible. • Promote scientific thinking & development of logical habits of thinking & organization. • There is more information and knowledge to understand the world than before. • Necessary in allocation of recourses for optimum resource allocation. 15
- 16. • A means of livelihood • An outlet for new ideas & insights • The development of new styles & creative work • The generalizations of new theories • Fountain of knowledge • Important source of providing guidelines for solving different problems. 16
- 17. Significance of Research … • Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and organization. • To policy makers-research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our economic system. • To business practitioners-research help solving various operational and planning problems of business and industry. • To students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D. thesis-research may mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure. • To analysts and intellectuals-research may mean the generalizations of new theories.
- 18. Requirements and Characteristics of Research Has EIGHT distinct characteristics: 1. Originates with a question or problem. 2. Requires clear articulation of a goal. 3. Follows a specific plan or procedure. 4. Often divides main problem into sub-problems. 5. Guided by specific problem, question, or hypothesis. 6. Accepts certain critical assumptions. 7. Requires collection and interpretation of data. 8. Cyclical (helical) in nature.
- 19. Types of Research Based on purpose • Applied research • Basic/pure research Based on Research Approaches • Quantitative Research • Qualitative Research • Mixed Specific Research objective • Exploratory Research • Descriptive Research • Analytical Research
- 20. Types of Research • Other classifications of research in terms of the following: • Design: Experimental vs. Non Experimental • The type of data used in the research: Primary vs. Secondary • Field of study: Natural , social, educational, behavioral, health science etc. 20
- 21. Basic research Vs. Applied research • Basic/pure research • Also called fundamental research • Aimed for the advancement of knowledge and theoretical understanding of relations among variables. • It mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of a theory. • Examples:- research relating to pure mathematics like Driving Formulas. And research carried out to make generalization about human behavior. • basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base of applications • achieve a better and more detailed understanding of a research subject or phenomenon. • Basic research is knowledge-specific, theory oriented. 21
- 22. Basic research Vs. Applied research … • Applied Research • Also called action research • Designed to find solution for real life problem of the modern world rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge sake. • find solutions for every day problems like cure illness, improve power efficiency of mobiles develop innovative technologies, improve academic performance etc. • It is about testing theories generated by pure/basic research and applying them to real situation • Aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or any industrial/business organization. • Applied research is solution-driven, practical oriented, action oriented • Evaluation--- >>action----->>social impact 22
- 23. Based Research Approaches (Data Analysis) A. Quantitative Research • Based on the measurement or amount • It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. • Collects quantifiable data from participants; analyzes these numbers using statistics • The emphasis is on collecting and analyzing numerical data; • It concentrates on measuring the scale, range, frequency etc. of phenomena. • Although harder to design initially, is usually highly detailed and structured and results can be easily collated and presented statistically. 23
- 24. Based Research Approaches (Data Analysis)… B. Qualitative Research: • Concerned with qualitative phenomenon/ related to quality or kind. • Concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. • involves examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a research subject, e.g. values, attitudes, perceptions. Example: • discovering the underlying motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose. • research designed to find out how people feel or what they think about a particular subject or institution • Although this type of research can be easier to start, it can be often difficult to interpret and present the findings 24
- 25. Based Research Approaches (Data Analysis)… C. Mixed Approach: • is a procedure for collecting, analyzing, and “mixing” both quantitative and qualitative research methods in a single study to understand a research problem. • It helps to: • successfully explain social events & r/ships in their full complexity, • better understand the context and reality in breadth & depth, • obtain a variety of information on the same issue, • use the strength of each of the qul&qut approaches to overcome the deficiencies of the other, • achieve a higher degree of validity and reliability 25
- 26. When to Use Mixed Methods Designs • When both quantitative and qualitative data, together, provide a better understanding of your research problem than either type by itself • When one type of research (qualitative or quantitative) is not enough to address the research problem or answer the research questions • To incorporate a qualitative component into quantitative study • To build from one phase of a study to another • Explore qualitatively then develop an instrument • Follow-up a quantitative study qualitatively to obtain more detailed information 26
- 27. Specific Research objective a. Descriptive research: • The goal of descriptive research is to describe some aspects of given phenomenon. • Used to identify and classify characteristics of particular individual, situation, or group • Means of discovering new meaning, describing what exists, determining the frequency, with which something occur, and categorizing information • Has no control over the variables, can only report what has happened & what is happening. • E.g. Who are the main consumers of apple phone products? • Finding the most frequent disease affect the children • Involves research methods such as: Surveys, Correlation studies, Observation studies, Case studies 27
- 28. b. Exploratory research: • Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a situation or phenomenon. • Conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined • undertaken with the aim of clarifying ambiguous problems • not intended to provide conclusive evidence, but helps us to have a better understanding of the problem. • Is undertaken when few or no previous studies exist • Exploratory research design does not aim to provide the final and conclusive answers to the research questions, but merely explores the research topic • Eg. to explain why stressful living results in heart attacks; or how technology affects children’s level of academic achievement, how Covid-19 affect can be treated 28
- 29. c. Analytical research: • In analytical research, the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material. • Involves critical thinking skills and the evaluation of facts and information relative to the research being conducted. • A variety of people including students, doctors and psychologists use analytical research during studies to find the most relevant information. 29
- 30. Theory and Hypothesis • Theory is a generalized thinking or a conclusion of something, which is a result of an analysis. • The statements concern only a single relationship between variables=a law. • However a number of laws are tied together in a more general set of statements, which is called theory. • theory refers to a comprehensive explanation of an important feature of nature supported by facts gathered over time. Theories aren't likely to change. • A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation. • E.g. In physics, no one has ever seen an electron. • stating that everything is made of atoms 30
- 31. Theory and Hypothesis… • Hypothesis is an educated guess that provides a suggested solution based on evidence. • Hypothesis is merely an idea or a concept, which is not scientifically analyzed. • These are the assumptions made by scientists before an investigation. • However, once the hypotheses are analyzed and proved to be correct, they are recognized as theories. • theory can be used as a tool to understand, explain and make predictions about a concept. 31
- 32. Theory and Hypothesis… • Usually, a research is preceded by a hypothesis. When a problem arises, scientists usually make a hypothesis around the problem. • Then, they apply various research methodologies in order to find out whether the hypothesis is correct or not. If the research gives a positive result, there is a possibility for the hypothesis to become a theory. • Examples: • Attending more lectures leads to better exam results. • If I water plants daily they will grow faster. • Turning off your phone makes it charge faster. 32
- 33. Theory and Hypothesis… • The language of hypotheses always discusses variables, or the elements that you’re testing. Variables can be objects, events, concepts, etc.—whatever is observable. • There are two types of variables: independent and dependent. • Independent variables are the ones that you change for your experiment, whereas • Dependent variables are the ones that you can only observe. • In the second example above: • independent variable is how often we water the plants and • dependent variable is how well they grow. 33
- 34. Research Methods and Problem Solving • Research methods are methods/techniques that are used for conduction of research. • It refer to the instruments we use in performing research operations such as • making observations, • recording data, • methods for data collection, • techniques of processing data and the like. • Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. • It includes Research methods, techniques, logics behind methods 34
- 35. Criteria for Good Research • Good research is systematic: the research is structured with specified steps t and well defined set of rules. • Good research is logical: the research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning and the logical process of induction and deduction where a research study generalizable in the sense that the findings can be applied to other settings and populations beyond the sample studied. • Induction is the process of reasoning from a part to the whole • deduction is the process of reasoning from some general premise to specific. • Good research is empirical: It implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of a real situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external validity to research results. 35
- 36. Criteria for Good Research … • Good research is replicable: research results to be verified by replicating the study (transparent or available to other researchers to test the study’s findings) • Good research is Valid and Reliable: the accuracy and correctness of the research findings. To ensure validity, researchers must use appropriate research instruments, collect reliable data, and analyze the data using sound statistical techniques. • Good research is free from personal, political, or ideological biases. To ensure objectivity, researchers must use objective research instruments, collect data in a neutral and unbiased manner, and analyze the data using sound statistical techniques. 36
- 37. Criteria for Good Research … • Good research acknowledges previous research on the topic. • Good research acknowledges its limitations and provides suggestions for future research. • Good research is ethical. • Some of the most common violations of research ethics include: o Falsification – This involves the manipulation or omission of data or findings. o Fabrication – This involves making up data or results and presenting these as accurate. o Plagiarism – This refers to the use of another person’s work without giving due credit. 37
- 38. Research in Computing (CS/IT/IS/SE) • Problem identification and motivation • Objectives of a solution • Design and development • Demonstration • Evaluation and Communication 38
- 39. The Scientific Approach • The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence. 39
- 40. Steps of a Scientific method 1. Problem description /Question 2. Observation/Research 3. Formulate a Hypothesis 4. Experiment 5. Collect and Analyze Results 6. Conclusion 7. Communicate the Results 40
- 41. 1. Problem/Question: Develop a question or problem that can be solved through experimentation 2. Observation/Research: Make observations and research your topic of interest. 3. Formulate a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer to the problem or question. • Example: If soil temperatures rise, then plant growth will increase 41
- 42. 4. Experiment: Develop and follow a procedure. • Include a detailed materials list. The outcome must be measurable (quantifiable). 5. Collect and Analyze Results: • Modify the procedure if needed. • Confirm the results by retesting. • Include tables, graphs, and photographs. 42
- 43. 6. Conclusion: Include a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis. • Make recommendations for further study and possible improvements to the procedure. 7. Communicate the Results: Be prepared to present the project to an audience. • Expect questions from the audience. 43
- 44. THANK YOU!! 44