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Research Methodology Lecture1
Research Methodology Lecture1
Research Methodology Lecture1
Research
Methodology
Lecture No. 1
Dr. Akhtar Hussain Jalbani
Recommended Readings
Dawson, Catherine, 2002, Practical
Research Methods, New Delhi, UBS
Publishers Distributors.
Kothari, C.R.,1985, Research MethodologyMethods and Techniques, New Delhi, Wiley
Eastern Limited.
Kumar, Ranjit, 2005, Research MethodologyA Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners,
(2nd.ed.),Singapore, Pearson Education.
How to Research. By Loraine Blaxter
Lecture notes.
What is Research?
Re + Search
Re = Again, Anew or Over again
Search = To examine closely and carefully
Research is a careful, systematic, patient study and
investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken
to establish facts or principles.
Research is a structured enquiry that utilizes
acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems
and create new knowledge that is generally
applicable.
Research is a process of collecting, analyzing and
interpreting information to answer questions.
A combination of investigation of past work and effort
in the present that will help others in the future.
Finding or developing something new that changes
the world.
Characteristics of Research
Systematic (A logical sequence of steps)
Valid and Verifiable (Your findings are
correct and may be verified by you and
others)
Empirical (Conclusion drawn are based on
evidence collected from real life
experiences or observations)
Critical (The process of investigation must
be foolproof and free from drawbacks)
Types of Research
Research can be classified from three
perspectives:
application of research study
objectives in undertaking the research
inquiry mode employed
Descriptive
Correlational
Explanatory
Exploratory
Scope of Research
Varies by level of work
Ph.D. students contribution expected at
world level; e.g.
background investigation on all past work
make meaningful addition to world knowledge
Researchers at universities
Post-Doctoral students
Faculty members
Researchers in industry
Research scientists
Many other technical workers
Undergraduate students
Research Process
(Methodology)
Initial Idea
Background Investigation
Refinement of Idea
Core Work
Investigation and Development
Documentation
Prototype (if appropriate)
Evaluation
Identification of Future Work
Presentation
Ask questions
Is something missing here?
Can this be done in a better way?
Is there a need for a new approach?
Research Process
Background Investigation
Given an idea, need to determine:
Has this work been done previously?
What similar work has been done leading up to
this point?
How is any previous work distinguished from
what Im planning to do?
What group of people will be positively impacted
by the research?
Tools
Literature Review using library resources (e.g.
online databases such as ACM and IEEE, popular
magazines)
WWW search
Research Process
Refinement of Idea
Based on background investigation,
need to refine idea
Issues:
Precision focus on precisely identifying:
Problem
Possible solutions (plural!)
Do the work
Experimentation (scientific process)
Develop opinions
Look for better ways of solving problem
Can you generalize?
Can you develop a framework?
Discuss, brainstorm
Reevaluate as you proceed
Look for improvements, changes to your original ideas
Process
Work regularly
Easier to keep going if have a commitment
to a regular work time
Helps you keep your past work in mind
Research Process
Core Work, Documentation
Need to document as you go
Dont want to lose any information
Research Process
Core Work, Prototype
Need to demonstrate the merit of
your ideas
If work is non-theoretical, do this
through a developed system
No need to build the entire system
Just need to demonstrate the value of
the core ideas
Quantitative
Test your prototype
What improvements exist over currently available
alternative?
How much of an improvement do you see?
Qualitative
What can you do now that couldnt be done before?
What are the benefits of your solution?
Research Process
Identification of Future Work
Helps you organize any future efforts
Helps others build on your work
Sources:
What you excluded in your idea
refinement
New problems that have surfaced during
your work
Example
my Masters project
an example for each of you
choose a CS subject youre interested in
think of a problem or issue you see in that area
refine your interest to a possible project that
involves one or more ways of solving that problem
outline the steps youd take to do the project work
and test your ideas
what is your hypothetical conclusion?
how would you evaluate the quality of your
solution?
Resources
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/mit.resear
ch.how.to/mit.research.how.to.html
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu
.edu/user/mleone/web/how-to.html
http://www.honors.ucr.edu/research.
htm
http://www.utexas.edu/research/eure
ka/resources/why/index.php