Research Methods in Computer Science

Chapter 1- Introduction
Meaning of Research
 Re-search
 Research is an organized and systematic way of finding
answers to questions

 Is an academic activity of
 Search for knowledge
 Scientific investigation

 In an academic context, research is used to refer to the

activity of a diligent and systematic inquiry or
investigation in an area, with the objective of discovering
or revising facts, theories, applications etc.
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 Scientific Research
Employs systematic observation and rational processes to
create new knowledge

Based on logical relationships not just beliefs.

Involves an explanation of the methods used to collect and

analyze data; explanation to “why the results are meaningful?”

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What Research is Not
 Research is not mere information gathering

 Research is not mere transportation of facts from one

location to another.
 Research is not merely rummaging for information

 Research is not a catchword, used to get attention

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What True Research is?
 Research is a procedure by which we attempt to find
systematically, and with the support of demonstrable
fact, the answer to a question or the resolution of a
problem.

 Has EIGHT distinct characteristics:

Originates with a question

Demands a clear articulation of a goal

Requires a specific plan of procedure

Usually divides the principal problem into more

manageable sub problems

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What True Research is?
Is tentatively guided by research questions, or
hypotheses.

Accepts certain critical assumptions.

Will countenance (allow) only hard, measurable data

in attempting to resolve the problem that initiated the
research.

By its nature, circular; or, more exactly, helical

(Spiral).

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(1) Originates with a question or problem
Originates with a question in the mind of the
researcher.
The world is filled with unanswered questions, unresolved
problems

Things that cause us to wonder, to speculate, to ask questions

Igniting a chain reaction that terminates in the research

process

Inquisitive mind is the beginning of research

Do not know, do not understand.

Why? What’s the cause of that? What does it all mean?

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(2) Requires clear articulation of a goal
 Cannot proceed without a clear articulation of a
goal.
 A clear, unambiguous statement of the problem.

 An exercise in intellectual honesty.

 Must set forth in a grammatically complete sentence

exactly what the ultimate goal of the research

 Basic for the success.

 Without it, research is on shaky(Unsatable) ground.

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(3) Requires a specific plan for proceeding
 Requires a specific plan of procedure.
 Not an excursion into happy expectation, a carefully
planned attack, search-and-discover mission explicitly
planned.

 Logically designed.

 Any existent data that address themselves will be used

 Cannot be postponed.

 Procrastination (delaying) has no place in the agenda

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(4) Divides the principal problem into subproblems
Dividing it into more manageable subareas.
 Whole is composed of the sum of its parts.

 We break down much more frequently than we realize.

 To proceed logically, should closely inspect the principal problem,

soon cause the appropriate, necessary sub-problems to float
naturally.

 Many researchers take neither the time nor the trouble to isolate
the lesser problems, their research projects become cumbersome
(hard to handle) and unwieldy (difficult to handle).

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(5) Guided by specific questions or hypothesis
Seeks direction through appropriate hypotheses based
upon obvious assumptions.
Each of the sub-problems is then viewed through a construct
called a hypothesis.

Logical supposition, reasonable guess, an educated

conjecture.

Direct your thinking to the possible source of facts that will aid
in resolving the research problem.

Natural working of the human mind.

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(5) Guided by specific questions or hypothesis…
Example: table lamp.
Find the switch. You turn it. No light.
Begin to construct a series of reasonable guesses.
1. The bulb has burned out.
2. The lamp is not plugged into the wall outlet.

3. A late afternoon thunderstorm interrupted the

electrical service.

4. The wire from the lamp to the wall outlet is defective.

5. You forgot to pay your electric bill.

These hypotheses provide a direction for exploration.

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(6) Accepts critical assumptions
Assumptions are equivalent to axioms in geometry

Assumptions as bedrock upon which the research

rest
Essential that others know

Vitally important in judging the quality of the

research

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(7) Requires collection and interpretation of data
 Deals with facts and their meaning.
Next step is to collect whatever facts seem appropriate
and to organize them in meaningful ways so that they can
be interpreted.

Collection of data, not necessarily appropriate for

interpretation.

These are potentially meaningful.

The significance of the data depends upon the way in

which the human brain extracts meaning from those data.

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(7) Requires collection and interpretation of data…
 Unprocessed, are worthless in research.
Become a travesty (something that can be joked about).

 Data demands interpretation.

 No rule, no formula, that will lead the researcher unerringly

(accurately) to the correct interpretation.

 Subjective: entirely upon the logical mind, inductive reasoning

skill, objectivity of the researcher.

 Different minds frequently see different meanings in the

same set of facts.
An axiom of interpretation that all researchers must recognize.

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(8) Research is, by its nature, cyclical or, more exactly, helical
Is circular
 The research process follows a cycle and begins simply and follows
logical, developmental steps.
1. A questioning mind observes a particular situation and asks, Why?
What caused that? How come? (Subjective origin of research.)

2. One question becomes formally stated as a problem. (beginning of

research.)

3. The problem is divided into several simpler, more specific sub-

problems.

4. Preliminary data are gathered that appear to bear on the problem.

5. The data seem to point to a tentative solution of the problem. A guess

is made; a hypothesis or guiding question is formed.
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(8) Research is, by its nature, cyclical or, more exactly, helical…
6. Data are collected, processed, and interpreted.

7. A discovery is made; a conclusion is reached.

8. The tentative hypothesis is either supported by the data

or is not supported; the question is either answered
(partially or completely) or not answered.

9. The cycle is complete.

This is the format of all researches.

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 What is the purpose of a research?
Why do we do researches?

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Major Purposes of Research
A research can be undertaken for two different
purposes:

To solve a currently existing problem (applied research)

 To contribute to the general body of knowledge in a

particular area of interest (basic/fundamental research)

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Objective of Research
 To discover answers to questions through the application of scientific
procedures

 To find out the truth which is hidden and has not been discovered yet

 To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it

 To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,

situation or a group

 To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it

is associated with something else

 To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables

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 What motivates a research?

Significance of Research

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Motivation in Research
 What makes people undertake research?
 Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits

 Desire to solve a challenge in solving the unsolved problems

 Desire to design appropriate policies

 Desire to contribute to the existing stock of knowledge

 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work

 Desire to be of service to society

 Directives of government

 Curiosity about new things, etc…

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Significance of Research
 Research is the fountain of knowledge and an important source for providing
guidelines for solving different business, governmental and social problems.
Therefore,
 To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the generalizations of new
theories;

 To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for new ideas and
insights;

 To those students who are to write a thesis, it is a way to attain a high position
in the social structure;

 To professionals in research methodology, it is a source of livelihood;

 To literary men and women, research may mean the development of new styles
and creative work.

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Significance of Research…
 Increased amount of research make progress possible

 Research inculcates scientific thinking and promotes the

development of logical habits of thinking and organization

 Complexity in business and government is increasing

 There is more information and knowledge to understand the

world than before

 Multi disciplinary professions have become common

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Significance of Research…
 Research is both enjoyable and frustrating
 Enjoyment comes from considering a specific problem or subject field

 Frustration comes from discovering that it is not possible to do all that is

intended to at the start of the investigation

 The research topic may be imposed on the student

 The research must be completed within a given time period

 Funds of experiments, travel, postage, and so on may be limited or even

non-existent

 The results of the research must be presented in a specific manner

 The student may be assigned to an academic supervisor who is not

interested in.

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 Types of Research

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Based on Purpose
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical:
Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding
enquiries such as Ex post facto where the researcher has
no control over the variables so he/she can only report
what has happened.

Analytical research is using of facts already available

then analyze these to make a critical evaluation.

(your research is expected to be of more analytical)

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Based on Purpose…
(ii) Applied vs. Fundamental (Basic):
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate
problem facing a society or an industrial/business
organization.
 Developing a SW that convert word files into database format

 Innovating new way in doing payroll processing by a computer

 Developing a program that copy's files from a computer to a mobile

phone

(Given the filed that we are in, your research is expected to be more of applied)

Fundamental research is mainly concerned with

generalizations and with the formulation of a theory
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Based on Approach and Method
(iii) Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of
amount/quantity
Qualitative research is concerned with quality or kind
(your research can follow both or either )

(iv) Conceptual vs. Empirical:

Conceptual research is used by philosophers to develop
new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones

Empirical research is data-based research which can be

verified by observation or experiment.

(as a masters work, your research is expected to be more of empirical)

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Based on Approach and Method…
(V) Behavioral Vs Design research (IT related)
Design Science
 Studies artificial objects or phenomena designed to meet certain
goals
(most likely your work will fall under this category)

Behavioral
 Studies the decision processes and communication strategies
within and between organisms in a social system (IT users vs IT
artifacts)

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Based on Approach and Method…
Design Science Research Framework

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Fig.1 Design Science Research Framework (Hevner et.al 2004)
Based on Approach and Method…
(vi) Some Other Types of Research:

Based on Time => one-time research or longitudinal

research

Based on the environment=> field-setting research or

laboratory research or simulation research

Based on orientation=> conclusion-oriented and

decision-oriented

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Expected Problems Encountered by Researchers
 The lack of a scientific training in research methodology;

 Insufficient interaction between concerned bodies;

 Research studies overlapping one another;

 Inexistence of code of conduct for researchers;

 The difficulty of adequate and timely ICT know-how;

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Expected Problems Encountered by Researchers…
 Unsatisfactory Library services and functioning;

 Difficulty of timely availability of published data;

 Ethical concerns;

 Approval by authorities;

 Lack of cooperation, etc....

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