DECO3008

Design ComputingPreparatory Honours Research

KCDCC

Mike RosenmanRm 279

mike@arch.usyd.edu.auhttp://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~mike

Aim of Unit

● present overview of design computing research

● explain what is research

● explain how to write a research proposal

KCDCC

Research

● what is research

● components of research

● types of research

KCDCC

Fekete A. (2008). INFO4990: Information Technology Research Methods, Overview of Research: Definition and Process

http://www.cs.usyd.edu.au/~info4990/2007s1/lectures/ResearchOverview.pdf

What is Research

KCDCC

an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/ResearchMethods/RM_1_01.html

● systematic● because there is a definite set of procedures and steps which you will follow

● organized● there is a structure or method in going about doing research

● finding answers● is the end of all research

● questions● are central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use

What is Research

KCDCC

A formal, systematic application ofthe scientific approach

to the study of a problemto discover new information or

expand and verify existing knowledge

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~aged885/Glossary/GLOSSARY.htm#R

What is Research

KCDCC

“Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigationand aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revisinghuman knowledge on different aspects of the world.

Research can use the scientific method, but need not do so.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research

Academic Research

KCDCC

● question must be new / interesting

● community of researchers● must advance collective knowledge of this community

● existing literature● critical understanding

● evaluation by peers

Scope of Research

KCDCC

● Honours / M.Phil / PhD

● attempting too much● not Nobel Prize

● limit scope● according to degree● what is achievable

Research Questions

KCDCC

● all research must address questions● relevant to a particular area

● each area has own questions● what happens?● why does it happen?● how can this be done?● how can it be done better?

Claims

KCDCC

● all research makes claims● re contribution / significance

● depends on area

Claims and Argument

KCDCC

● this system/approach leads to better performance

● this behaviour is explained by this theory

● this is what happens

Common Mistakes

KCDCC

● collecting data● this is not research

● no questions

● no evaluation

● development is not research

● the BIG questions

Common Mistakes

KCDCC

● generalising from simple examples

● generalising from too few examples

● using one’s own perceptions as facts

● not providing evidence / references

●the method is NOT the research

Negative Results

KCDCC

● happens● doesn’t do what claimed● doesn’t reveal anything

● may still be able to claim something● disprove hypothesis

● difficult to publish

● may have little impact

Components of Research

KCDCC

● Aim● objectives● research questions

● Motivation● why doing this● significance

● Background● what the field is● scope● state-of-the-art/ literature review

● Method / Approach● which method / technology● why / what gives you

● Implementation / Results● case studies

● Conclusions / Future Work● how claims validated● extensibility● where to now

● References

Components of Research

KCDCC

● Acknowledgements● Summary● Introduction

● Aim● Motivation / Significance● Scope

● Background● Method / Approach● Implementation● Results● Conclusions / Future work● References● (Appendices)

Types of Research

KCDCC

● Qualitative● to gain insight into areas of interest● explore perceptions and attitudes● gain an understanding● may determine what will be measured in subsequent quantitative research

● Quantitative● numerical data● explain or predict ● doesn’t yield reasons behind behaviour● statistical

Types of Research

KCDCC

● Descriptive● describes what exists● interpretation● e.g. public opinion polls

● Relational● looks at the relation between things● e.g. relation between male & female behaviour

● Causal● whether something affects something

Types of Research

KCDCC

● Basic / Fundamental / Pure● theory generation● implies that provides foundation for further research● long-term● no practical ends in mind

● Applied● problems in real contexts● often builds on basic research● just as rigorous

Research Process

KCDCC

● Select an area of interest

● Read the literature● state-of-the-art

● Identify a question● gap in current knowledge● hypothesis / claims

● Envisage the outcome● create a scenario –case study

● Choose appropriate methods● approach● algorithms / systems● evaluation

● Write up the report● argument● conclusions

Research Questions

KCDCC

● Selecting● curiosity● new technology affords new possibilities

● Suitability● can the question be answered?● suitable scope● in time

● Refinement● may start broad then narrow

Robust Planning

KCDCC

● Risk-driven planning● don’t make plan where if something goes wrong you end up with failure● e.g. can’t get software / doesn’t work● check early

● Safe goals● start simple – then expand

● Plan to finish early