Scribd
Upload
11 views22 pages

Lecture 01

This document serves as an introduction to research methodology, particularly in the context of computer science. It outlines the structure of the module, defines research, discusses its constituents, and differentiates between types of research. Additionally, it highlights the importance of research in advancing knowledge and understanding within the field of computer science.

Uploaded by

nabihak909
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views22 pages

Lecture 01

This document serves as an introduction to research methodology, particularly in the context of computer science. It outlines the structure of the module, defines research, discusses its constituents, and differentiates between types of research. Additionally, it highlights the importance of research in advancing knowledge and understanding within the field of computer science.

Uploaded by

nabihak909
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

An Introduction to Research and Scientific


Paper Reading and Writing

Prof. Dr. Salman Qadri


Institute of Computing (IoC)
Salman.qadri@mnsuam.edu.pk
Structure of this module
1. What is research?
2. Research in Computer Science
3. Research within MS/
4. Reading Papers
5. Publishing
6. Writing a Research Paper
7. Organization of a Paper
8. Structuring the Writing Process
Why are you attending this course?
• Get an understanding of what research is.
• Learn about the methods used in research.
• Learn best practices and get useful advice.
• Get inspiration for your PhD and for your future career.
• Participate actively, and learn through practice.
What is Research?
Definition of research
By Merriam-Webster:

1. Careful or diligent search.


2. Studious inquiry or examination; especially: investigation or
experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of
facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new
facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories
or laws.
3. The collecting of information about a particular subject.
Constituents of research
• Defining, redefining, and/or formalizing problems.
• Formulating hypotheses.
• Suggesting solutions or solution approaches.
• Collecting and analyzing data.
• Experimenting.
• Eventually validating the hypotheses and/or deducing new
conclusions.
• Deriving new knowledge and/or formulating new theories.

Research is not just coming up with a problem and solving it,


but devising methodologies for its solution.
What else is NOT research?
The following is not research :
• playing with technology;
• developing code;
• deploying standard or commercial technology;
• doing what others have already done.

However, each of these can be done as part of research.


Keywords associated to research
• Culture: Research is a culture, which requires continuous
nourishment and practice through quest for innovation.

• Attitude: Requires hard work, dedication, perseverance, and


an appropriate attitude.

• Motivation: Research planning cannot really follow a


“scheduled” approach.

• Dignity: Not everyone has to do research, and research


should not be pursued for glorification.
Why are we doing research?
• Meaningful and long-lasting contributions towards the
advancement of mankind and society.
• Attain a higher level of understanding of fundamental
concepts.
• Intellectual satisfaction provided by doing something
innovative and creative.
• Enjoy the challenges of solving unsolved problems.
• Degrees, financial benefit, and respect all come along the way.
How is research done?
The scientific method
Pose
the 3. Deduce
ques
ti
on 2. Formulate consequences
1. Existing
theories and hypotheses and make
observations predictions

6. Selection
among
competing
theories

4. Tests, new
5. Old theory observations,
confirmed or and proofs
new theory Consistency achieved
proposed
Different types of research - 1
• Descriptive
• surveys, comparative and correlational methods
• Analytical
• analyze and critically evaluate information
• Applied
• address practical problems and solutions that can be implemented for
near-term benefits
• Fundamental
• generalization and formulation of theories
Different types of research - 2
• Quantitative
• numerical results are used to validate claims
• Qualitative
• comparative development of usage patterns and experiences

• Conceptual
• relies on abstract ideas or theories
• Empirical
• relies on experience and observations
Additional types of research
• Combinations of two or more of the previous types
• Diagnosis or sensitivity studies
• Exploratory
• Decision-oriented
• Laboratory research
• Historical
• Discovery of a unique phenomenon
Research in Computer
Science
Research in Computer Science
• We want to look into the specific aspects of Computer
Science research.
• We need first to understand:
• what CS is,
• what the different branches of CS are, and …
• how they differ.
What is computer science?
1. The discipline of Computing is the systematic study of algorithmic processes
that describe and transform information: their theory, analysis, design,
efficiency, implementation, and application
[P.J. Denning, 1989].
1. Computer Science is the study of phenomena related to computers [Newell,
Perlis and Simon, 1967].
2. Computer Science is the study of information structures [Wegner,
1968, Curriculum 68].
3. Computer Science is the study and management of c o m p l e x i t y
[Dijkstra, 1969].
4. Computer Science is the mechanization of abstraction [Aho and
Ullman 1992].
1. Computer Science is a field of study that is concerned with theoretical and
applied disciplines in the development and use of computers for information
storage and processing, mathematics, logic, science, and many other areas
[M.S.Mahoney 1992].
Science vs. technology

Research

Developm
ent
Science

Techn
ology

[Gordana Dodic-Crnkovic. Scientific Methods in Computer Science. Proc.


of the Conference for the Promotion of Research in IT. 2002]
Branches of Computer Science
Very broadly, we distinguish between:
• theoretical CS
• empirical (or experimental) CS

Both branches have in common modeling:


• To study a phenomenon, it must be simplified.
• Irrelevant features are abstracted away, and only the
relevant ones are modeled.
• Theoretical ground helps identifying the relevant features.
• Using the model, we can predict observable/measurable
consequences of given changes.
Crucial questions in modeling
• How to model?
• What to take into account? What to neglect?
• What formalism/language to use in modeling?
• Does the model serve its purpose?
• Do we have the right level of abstraction/resolution?
• How does behavior of the model differ from expectation?
• How does the model differ from “reality”?
• Are the results obtained through the model valid?
• How does a new model behave wrt an old one?
Theoretical Computer Science
• Adheres to the traditions of logic and mathematics.
• Builds theories as logical systems with the aim of deriving/proving theorems.
• Relies on models and levels of abstraction.
• CS theories do not compete with each other to explain the nature of information.
• New theories do not aim at reconciling theory with experimental results.
• The basic model of computation is not questioned.
• Theoretical results are judged by:
• the insights they reveal about computing models
• their utility for computing, and/or
• their ease of application
• Central topics are:
• design and analysis of algorithms
• understanding the limits of computation
• distillation of knowledge acquired through conceptualization, modeling, and analysis
Empirical Computer Science
• The field of inquiry is the nature of information processes.
• Experiments used for the following activities:
• for theory testing and explanation
• where theory and deductive analysis fail
• to unearth new phenomena that need explanation
• to help derive theories from observation
• Experiments are made essentially in every area of CS.
• In HCI and software engineering, experiments need to
involve also humans.
Research within a MS

You might also like