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Research Methods in Computer Science

This document provides an overview of key concepts in research methods for computer science. It defines research and different types of research. It also discusses important elements of the research process, including developing a conceptual framework, formulating hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results. The overall goal is to help readers understand research as a scientific method for acquiring new knowledge in their discipline.

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Candice Yee
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37 views22 pages

Research Methods in Computer Science

This document provides an overview of key concepts in research methods for computer science. It defines research and different types of research. It also discusses important elements of the research process, including developing a conceptual framework, formulating hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results. The overall goal is to help readers understand research as a scientific method for acquiring new knowledge in their discipline.

Uploaded by

Candice Yee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Methods in Computer

Science
Learning Objectives

Explain the purpose of research


Understand basic concepts in research (constructs,
relationship, indicators, research model, theory,
etc)
Understand research as a scientific method to
acquire knowledge
Acquire skill to formulate researchable research
problems
Identify major research problems in computer
science
Explain the different research approaches and
methods (Quantitative, qualitative and design
science)
Objective …

 Demonstrate skill to design data collection


instruments
 Able to collect data relevant to the research
problem
 Able to interpret data into meaningful
information
 Prepare research proposal
 Contribute new knowledge to your
discipline
Concepts, objectives and
Overview of research
Nature of Research

Gathering information from resources such


as books or magazines isn’t a research.
Research isn’t just transporting facts:
Merely transporting facts from one resource
to another doesn’t constitute research.
It only makes existing knowledge more
accessible.
No contribution to new knowledge
Research: A Definition

Research:
 Is an activity that contributes to the understanding of a
phenomenon [Kuhn, 1962; Lakatos, 1978]
 phenomenon: a set of behaviors of some entity(ies) that is
found interesting by a research community
 understanding: knowledge that allows prediction of the
behavior of some aspect of the phenomenon
 activities considered appropriate to the production of
understanding (knowledge) are the research methods and
techniques of a research community
Research …

 “Research is often described as an active, diligent,


and systematic process of inquiry aimed at
discovering, interpreting, and revising facts. This
intellectual investigation produces a greater
knowledge of events, behaviors, theories, and laws
and makes practical applications possible. The
term research is also used to describe a entire
collection of information about a particular
subject, and is usually associated with the output of
science and the scientific method.”
Types of Research

1. Basic Research
 itsmain purpose is the disclosure of fundamental
truths or principles
 Focuses the testing and development of theory

 To extend existing human understanding

 Has no immediate application to real world problems

Example -
 Physics is interested to understanding basic elements
that make up matter
 Systems theory
Cont’d

2. Applied research
Tosolve existing societal problems
Example - software automation like
 Developing a SW that convert word files
into database format
 doing payroll processing by a computer
 developing e-learning package to
enhance student learning
Theory
An abstraction about the behavior of the phenomena
that serve as a guide for future practice
E.g. communication theory, need hierarchy theory,
learning theory, etc
It is an association of two or more constructs
Theories are developed based on what is observed or
experienced, often times in the real world. 
You may think theory as an absolute truth, such as the
theory of gravity or the theory of relativity
Actually a changing phenomenon, especially in the soft
or social sciences with acquisition of new facts and
observe new relationship
Theory – Example

Learning theory has different theories


 Behavioral theory based on stimulus –response association
 It states that a behavior that is reward will have high
probability to be repeated while a behavior that is punished
will be diminished
 Its application for practice is that
 When students rewarded in the class for doing good, they will
retain and reapply that behaviour
 Punishment for late comer students will not repeat that behaviour
Constructs –vis- indicators

Constructs are abstract concepts which is not


measurable
 For example religion, vehicle, etc
Indicators are variables that can be measurable.
They are used to measure constructs
 For example vehicle can be represented by model,
manufacturing date, price, etc

Technology Acceptance Model

Perceived
usefulness
Technology
acceptance

Perceived ease
of use
Conceptual Framework

It is the researchers understanding of the Research


Problem
It contains variables and their relationship to be
investigated in the research
It serve as a guide for the research process
It is build from existing theory or prior experience of
the researcher
It is accepted or modified after the collected
empirical data is analyzed and interpreted
Technology Acceptance Model

Error
reduction
Software
acceptance

Graphical
interface
Hypothesis

It is the researchers guess or tentative solution about


the research problem which will be later proved
through the empirical data
It is the relationship between two variables in your
conceptual framework
For example:
 The database system will improve information access in the
organization
 Graphical user interface will increase software learnability
 etc
Definitions of Terms
Define each technical term as it is used in
relation to your research project.
 Resource – how is defined in the context of library and
computer system
This helps remove significant ambiguity from
the research itself by ensuring that reviewers,
while they may not agree with your definitions,
at least know what you’re talking about.
.
Metrics in Research

Metrics are measures used to represent the


variable
For example:
 a sex variable is measured by Male or Female

 Attitude is measured by likearte scale (Very


strongly disagree <->Strongly Agree)
 How do you measure CPU performance?

Clearly state how you measure your research


variable
Scales of variable measurement

There are four measurement scales


1. Nominal – which does not show magnitude like
male or famale
2. Ordinal – which measure magnitude but cannot
quantify difference e.g poor and rich
3. Interval - measures magnitude and the
difference between the two values
1. e.g age -- 10 years and 20 years
4. Scale – measures which has vales below zero
e.g temperature
Research as Scientific Method

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer


scientific questions by making observations and
doing experiments.
Scientific Process

1. Ask a Question or Define your Research


Problem
2. Undertake a literature review
3. Construct a Hypothesis
4. Collect empirical data
5. Test Your Hypothesis based on your
empirical data
6. Analyze Your Data
7. Draw a Conclusion and
8. Communicate Your Results
Know your Research Contributions

In what way(s) does your study add


significant contribution(s) to:
 Extant Theory?
 Relevant Practice?

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