Course title: Research Methods in Computer Science

Course code: COSC4123

Credit hours: 2 ECTS: 3 Contact hrs: 2 Lab hrs: 0 Tutorial hrs: 0

Prerequisite: None

Course category: Compulsory

Year: IV Semester: I

Course Description

The course focuses on the study of current methods and techniques in computer science research. The
major topics includes research in computing, proposal preparation, using resources to conduct research,
writing research papers and making presentations, ethical issues. The instructional methods and
techniques include traditional lectures with some assignments, student presentations and group problem
solving.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

 Describe computing research methods

 Develop effective research proposal
 Conduct research effectively in computer related fields
 Appropriately use resources to conduct research
 Organize and prepare technical papers, thesis and presentations
 Work and cooperate effectively with other research workers on a computing research
 Aware of the research ethics and other related issues
COURSE OUTLINE

Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of Research (5 hrs)

1.1. What is Research and not Research?

1.2. Scientific Research
1.3. Objectives, Motivations and Significance of Research

1.4. Requirements and Characteristics of Research

1.5. Types and Approaches of Research

1.6. Research Methods and Problem Solving

1.7. Effective Report Writing Principles and Criteria for Good Research

1.8. Evaluating and Reviewing Research Results

1.9. What is Research in Computing?

Chapter 2: Processes in Conducting Research (6 hrs)

2.1. Overview of Current State of the Art Areas and Techniques in Computing
 2.2. Actors, Roles and Relationship
2.2.1. The Student

2.2.2. The Supervisor

2.2.3. The Examiner/Evaluator

2.3. The Process

2.3.1. Developing Research Proposal

2.3.2. Developing Problem Description

2.3.3. Following the Objectives

2.3.4. Presenting and Analyzing the Data
2.3.5. Drawing Conclusion and Identifying Future Work
2.3.6. Presenting and Defending Orally
2.3.7. Preparing Final Research Documentation (Thesis)

2.4. Proposal Preparation

2.4.1. Choosing a Subject Area

2.4.2. Choosing a Problem within the Subject Area

2.4.3. Quality Assurance of Initial Ideas

2.4.4. Write Research Proposal

2.4.5. Sample and More Acceptable Research Proposal Structure

2.4.6. Research Proposal Check-list

2.5. Literature Reviews

2.5.1. Importance and Roles of Literature Review

2.5.2. Skills and Keys to Effective Literature Review

2.5.3. Literature Sources (Journals, Conference Proceedings, Books, Reports, Thesis, etc)

2.5.4. Literature Review Writing

2.6. Assessment Criteria

Chapter 3: Resources to Conduct Research (5 hrs)

3.1. Digital Libraries (IEEE, ACM, Science Direct, Springer, etc.)

3.2. Documentation Tools (Ex: Latex) and Language Skill

3.3. Team Work

3.4. Datasets

3.5. Simulation, Experimental or Visualization Tools

Chapter 4: Writing Research Papers and Making Presentations (6 hrs)

 4.1. Structure of Good Quality Papers, Citations and References
4.2. Making Excellent Presentation

4.3. How to Write Good Quality Thesis and Papers (Journal and Conferences)

Chapter 5: Research Ethics (4 hrs)

5.1. Ethical Issues in Research

5.2. Plagiarism, Falsification, Fabrication

5.3. Academic Honesty Related Issues – Ex. Misleading Authorship
5.4. Other Ethical Issues in Computing

Chapter 6: Data Collection and Analysis (6 hrs)

6.1 Data Collection (primary and secondary data)
6.2 Analysis of Data with case studies
Assessment methods

Assignment/quizzes 20 %

Research report 20

Mid semester examination 20%

Final examination 40%

Text books and References

General textbooks are not suitable for this course, but there are a growing number of research papers
research published in quality journals such as IEEE and ACM that explore models, frameworks as well as
contents in Computing Research Methods to help students to become an expert in computing.

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 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH (5 HRS)

Over the years, the word “research” has been used to mean different things by different people, in
different contexts.

1.1 WHAT IS RESEARCH AND 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.

 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.

 Research is not an insurmountable task and a waste of time:

it has been discovered that many people, especially students, see research as a difficult subject and task,
and this can be a result of poor training in schools. If students can be trained on how to properly carry
out research and how it can be applied, it would encourage and inspire them to carry out true research
without seeing it as a burden.

 Research is not just for a specific group of people:

many people assume research is for aloof individuals who seclude themselves in laboratories or
libraries. Any rational or conscientious Individual would be able to carry out proper research if given
the right tools as research is a practical endeavour.

 Research is not merely done to gain marks, and thereafter abandoned:

It is imperative to note that after carrying out the process of research, it has to be published in an appropriate journal. It
should not be abandoned or stored somewhere hidden. A research work not published cannot be referred to as true
research.
Furthermore, Carrying out the formal activities associated with research such as, collecting information, organizing it,
and referencing statements do not add up to true research. If the essence of research, which is the interpretation of data
is not carried out, then genuine research is not done.
So, what is Research? Generally, research is the organized and systematic method of finding answers to questions. It is
systematic because it is a process broken up into clear steps that lead to conclusions and it is organized because there is
a planned structure or method used to conclude.

Research is only successful if we find answers, whether we like these answers or not. Development research is focused
on relevant, useful, and important questions. If there are no questions, there can be no research.

Ultimately, there is no endpoint when it comes to defining or describing the term research, that is, research begets
more research.

This means that research involves a circle, in which one study produces additional studies. One can come across
problems that need resolving, while exploring a topic, and so the process begins again.

1.2. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

What Is Scientific Research?

There are many ways to define research. research includes gathering, organizing, and implementing
information in order to understand, explain, or prove a theory or a topic. Even though research is vital in
both scientific and non-scientific fields, one of the most relevant and comprehensive types of research is
scientific research.

What Are the Types of Scientific Research?

There are many different types of scientific research, from quantitative and qualitative, to mixed and
explanatory research. Since it can be classified in numerous ways, the classification mainly depends on
the research method, data collection techniques, and of course, the research problem.

Here are some of the most basic types of scientific research:

Quantitative and Qualitative Research

The main distinction of scientific research is between quantitative and qualitative research.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research, like the name implies, includes studies based on numbers. Quantitative methods
can either imply counting or measuring some type of data. Since this type of scientific research is
numeric, its aim is to evaluate the “when,” “where,” and “what” of the research topic or question. It’s
mainly expressed in numbers, statistics, and graphs. Quantitative data collection methods include surveys,
experiments, and observations. It basically measures numerical data in order to discover patterns.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research focuses on the quality of the data, rather than the quantity. This is a type of
exploratory and descriptive research, which is why qualitative methods include case studies, interviews,
focus groups, literature reviews, and similar.

As opposed to quantitative research, qualitative research aims to investigate the “why” and the “how” of
the decision-making process. It’s achieved through organizing, interpreting, and summarizing data.
 Mixed Research

Mixed research uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The mixed method is
valuable because it enhances the strengths and diminishes the weaknesses of both quantitative and
qualitative research.

Classification Research

Classification research seeks to organize units of data into categories, as well as to demonstrate the
difference between those relationships.

What Are the 5 Steps of the Scientific Method?

There are many ways to go about a scientifically based research project. Here’s how researchers and
scientists usually conduct research:

1. Ask a Question
No matter the topic, every type of scientific research has to start with a question, whether it’s “why,” “how,” or
“what.” Therefore, the first step is to identify the research problem apart from which field you’re publishing, arts and
humanities, natural science, psychology, etc.

At the very beginning of your research, you are also allowed to make predictions regarding the topic. The prediction
can be based on existing theories and knowledge or your own theories.

2. Do Background Research
After you decide what type of information your research study will be based on, the next step is to do background
research. This is where you will make an overview of the previously published literature on the topic that you’re
interested in. At this point, you’re supposed to gather enough resources and literature to use as references. The more
evidence you have, the better chances of proving your theory.

3. Construct a Hypothesis and Collect Data

One of the most significant aspects of conducting your own quantitative research is coming up with a hypothesis that
the entire research project will be about. This step includes specifying the purpose of your research, devising a
framework research design, and outlining specific research questions.

When it comes to qualitative research, the next step would be to collect data. This can be done through interviews,
focus groups, surveys, secondary research, or observation.

4. Test Your Theory

Once you have constructed your hypothesis and collected all the data, it’s finally time to test your theory. You can
select the research method that will help you achieve your goal most efficiently. Depending on whether you have
chosen quantitative research or qualitative research, or even a mixed method, the next step is to do a study. This can
take the form of an interview, a case study, a focus group, a questionnaire, etc.
 5. Evaluate the Results and Make a Conclusion

The final step of your scientific research is to assess the results of your work. Once you have proven, interpreted, or
classified the data at hand, you need to come to a conclusion and report your findings. Even if your predictions were
incorrect, you could still draw conclusions from your research.

1.3. OBJECTIVES, MOTIVATIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

Objectives of Research:

The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. The main
aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet. Though each
research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling into a number of follow
broad groupings:

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

2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group

3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something
else

4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.

Motivation in Research

What makes people to undertake research? This is a question of fundamental importance. The possible motives for
doing research may be either one or more of the following:

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 be of service to society;

5. Desire to get respectability.

However, this is not an exhaustive list of factors motivating people to undertake research studies. 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 (or at times compel) people perform
research operations.

1.4. REQUIREMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

Why Research Is Necessary and Valuable /

1. It's a tool for building knowledge and facilitating learning.

 2. It's a means to understand issues and increase public awareness.

3. It helps us succeed in business.

4. It allows us to disprove lies and support truths.

5. It is a means to find, gauge, and seize opportunities.

6. It promotes a love of and confidence in reading, writing, analyzing, and sharing valuable information.

7. It provides nourishment and exercise for the mind.

Characteristics of research process:

 Research is circular,

that is, it has a point to begin and a point to end like every process it requires direction and this can be achieved
through a meaningful statement of hypothesis.

 Research is systematic or procedural.

It is a structural process and must therefore, follow laid down rules and regulations for it's conduct. It must be done in
an objective manner where various steps are religiously followed.
 Research is logica,
it follows a system that employs logic at many points. The discussion in the view of related literature can only be
meaningful if they are made to be logical in nature. Logic also helps to check the validity of the conclusion drawn as
well as the generalization in the context of external validity.

 Research is empirical data are essential tools for any research procedures.
It is the collection and analysis of data that identify research and empirical process. All statement must be backed by
facts and figures. There should be a reason for every assertion or conclusion. What cannot be explained or defended
should not be dragged into the write up.

 Research emphasizes the application if the principle of generalization to arrive at conclusion.

This helps in the prediction of future occurrence. Just like statistics which employs the use of samples to draw
conclusion about a population, research can generalize about an industry by the use of a case study involving just a
member of the industry.
 Knowledge from research is replicable and transmittable.
Because it is recorded generalized and elicited, research is less transitory in nature than the products of other problem
solving processes. Thus other researchers and investigators may use the result of one research to build upon the
research result of another immediately a research is published. It's result are open for reference by other authors. This
is the principle applied in the view of related literature which is found in chapter two of every research project.

 Research is reductive.
When a researcher applies analytic procedures to the data he has collected, he reduces the confusion of individual
event and objective to more understandable categories of concept. This process of reduction is part of the attempt to
translate from reality to an abstract or conceptual state in order to understand the relationship between events an
attempt to predict how these relationships might operate in another context.
1.5. TYPES AND APPROACHES OF RESEARCH

What is Research Approaches ?

Research approaches can be defined as the collection of procedures and plans that decide the overall
process of research. Research approach decides the methods for data collection, analysis, and
interpretation. The concept of research approach is followed in the entire research process. There are
many factors the selection of research approach, such as, research objective, experience of research, and
the audience of research study.

Types of Research Approaches

Research approaches can be of two types, i.e., qualitative and quantitative.

THREE COMPONENTS INVOLVED IN AN APPROACH

1.6. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Research Methods

What is the method?

Surveys are a popular method of collecting primary data. The broad area of survey research encompasses
any measurement procedures that involve asking questions of respondents. They are a flexible tool, which
can produce both qualitative and quantitative information depending on how they are structured and
analyzed. In this section we focus on the quantitative use of surveys, and in later sections we explore, the
more qualitative use of survey methods.

Types of method

 Quantitative (Explained before)

 Qualitative (Explained before)
 1.7. EFFECTIVE REPORT WRITING PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA FOR GOOD RESEARCH

Report writing differs from person to person depending on personality, imaginative and creative abilities, experience,
and training. However, most researchers agree that following general principles must be kept in mind to produce a
better research report. These principles are often called as qualities or requirements of a good report.

1. Selectiveness:
It is important to exclude the matter, which is known to all. Only necessary contents should be included to save time,
costs, and energy. However, care should be taken that the vital points should not be missed.

2. Comprehensiveness:
Report must be complete. It must include all the necessary contents. In short, it must contain enough detail to covey
meaning.

3. Cost Consideration:
It must be prepared within the budgeted amount. It should not result into excessive costs.

4. Accuracy:
As far as possible, research report must be prepared carefully. It must be free from spelling mistakes and grammatical
errors.

5. Objectivity:

Report must be free from personal bias, i.e., it must be free from one’s personal liking and disliking. The report must
be prepared for impersonal needs. The facts must be stated boldly. It must reveal the bitter truth. It must suit the
objectives and must meet expectations of the relevant audience/readers.
6. Clarity:

The report must reveal the facts clearly. Contents and conclusions drawn must be free from ambiguities. In short,
outcomes must convey clear-cut implications.

7. Preciseness:

Research report must not be unnecessarily lengthy. It must contain only necessary parts with adequate description.

8. Simplicity:

A report must be simple to understand. Unnecessary technical words or terminologies (jargons) should be avoided.

9. Proper Language:
The researcher must use a suitable language. Language should be selected as per its target users.

10. Reliability:
Research report must be reliable. Manager can trust on it. He can be convinced to decide on the basis of research
reposts.
 11. Proper Format:

An ideal repost is one, which must be prepared as per commonly used format. One must comply with the
contemporary practices; completely a new format should not be used.

12. Attractive:
Report must be attractive in all the important regards like size, colour, paper quality, etc. Similarly, it should use
liberally the charts, diagrams, figures, illustrations, pictures, and multiple colours.

1.8. EVALUATING AND REVIEWING RESEARCH RESULTS

1.9. WHAT IS RESEARCH IN COMPUTING?

Some areas of research are theoretical and involve developing and analyzing new algorithms and techniques, while
some are more applied and involve experiments, design, implementation, and testing. In any case, research is an
enterprise of intellectual exploration that seeks to advance our field.
Research Computing (RC) is a new program that aims to support computational biomedical research by
providing advanced cyberinfrastructure and expertise in data analysis at the scale.

It is related to high performance computing, cloud architecture, scientific programming and big data
solutions.

End