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Transcript of BY DR. TEMTIM ASSEFA JANUARY, 2015 Research Methods in Computer Science.
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BY
DR. TEMTIM ASSEFAJANUARY, 2015
Research Methods in Computer Science
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Learning Objectives
Explain the purpose of researchUnderstand 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)
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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 proposalContribute new knowledge to your
discipline
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Concepts, objectives and Overview of research
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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
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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
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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.”
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Types of Research
1. Basic Research its main 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
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Cont’d
2. Applied research To solve 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
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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
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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
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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
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Technology Acceptance Model
Perceived usefulness
Perceived ease of use
Technology acceptance
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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 processIt 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
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Technology Acceptance Model
Error reduction
Graphical interface
Software acceptance
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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
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Research Model
Real World
Theory
Knowledge
Experiment Results
Inference Scope
Reliability{
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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.
.
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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
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Scales of variable measurement
There are four measurement scales1. Nominal – which does not show
magnitude like male or famale2. 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 years4. Scale – measures which has vales below
zero e.g temperature
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Research as Scientific Method
The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments.
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Scientific Process
1. Ask a Question or Define your Research Problem
2. Undertake a literature review3. Construct a Hypothesis4. Collect empirical data 5. Test Your Hypothesis based on your
empirical data6. Analyze Your Data 7. Draw a Conclusion and 8. Communicate Your Results
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Selecting the topic
Is it interesting?Is it multi-disciplinary?Is it feasible?Is it too personal?Is there potential for original
contribution?
“find the gap”
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Formulating the research question
Ontology: nature of phenomenaEpistemology: theory of knowledge; how to
arrive at some valid knowledgeResearch objectivesSources for devising questions
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Ontological perspectives
What aspects of social realityWhat kinds of entities/phenomena do you
wish to investigate?Examples:
Individuals Institutions Systems Attitudes Behaviours
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Epistemological perspectives
Positivist – constructs objective truthInterpretive – constructs subjective
truth Design Science – creates new artifacts
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4.2 Quantitative Research Methods
Uses deductive method of knowledge acquisition
Intends to falsifies an existing theory Tries to generate objective, generalizable
knowledge Accepts objectivity of knowledge
Uses a standard measurement instruments The researcher is independent in the process
of knowledge constructionIntends with prediction and controlling
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Qualitative methods
Tries to build theory from bits of data Follows inductive method of knowledge
acquisitionIt believes that there are as many knowledge
as the number of peopleIt accepts justified true believe rather the
mechanistic objective knowledge
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Step 4: Design a Study
Quantitative Qualitative
•Explanation, prediction•Test/Modify theories•Known variables•Large sample•Standardized instruments•Deductive
Explanation, descriptionBuild theoriesUnknown variablesSmall sampleObservations, interviewsInductive
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Design Science
Deals with the ‘design’ of artificial artifacts (i.e., IT artifacts) and creating something new that does not yet exist.
design is both a process (set of activities) of ‘creating something new’ and a product (i.e., the artifact that results out of this process)
Main outputs are either constructs, models, methods (algorithms), or instantiations (algorithm codes), or a combination thereof
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Design research outputsConstructs
conceptual vocabulary of a problem/solution domain
Methods algorithms and practices to perform a specific
taskModels
a set of propositions or statements expressing relationships among constructs
abstractions and representations
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Outputs …
Instantiations constitute the realization of constructs, models and
methods in a working system implemented and prototype systems Algorithmic codes with target language software
Better theories - artifact construction
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Partnership-seminar -
Reactive and Proactive paradigms
“Reactive” approaches take the world as a stable environment governed by laws that need to be discovered by scientists (i.e. are descriptive in nature)
“Proactive” approaches aim at developing ways to achieve human goals (i.e. are prescriptive or constructive)
The distinction between the two: natural vs. artificial phenomena
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Know your Research Contributions
In what way(s) does your study add significant contribution(s) to: Extant Theory? Relevant Practice?
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Categories of CS Research
Research in CS including IS and AI can be grouped as follows: The study of what is possible
Including both mathematical and less rigorous forms of theorising.
The study of existing (naturally occurring) Including information processing systems E.g.
animals, societies, brains, minds, .... Research involving creation of new
useful information processing systems, and research directly related to engineering applications.
The creation and evaluation of tools, Including formalisms and techniques to support all
these activities.