Research Methods

Arif Ur
Rahman
Latex Installation – Any
Issues?

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 The Research Process

Chapter 1 - Introduction
FORMULATION PHASE
Cyclic and dynamic iteration

Chapter 2 - Literature review

Chapter 3 – Methodology DESIGN AND EXCUTION PHASE

Chapter 4 - Data analysis

ANALYTICAL PHASE
Chapter 5- Discussion

Chapter 6- Conclusion

References

Appendix
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Classification of research

Dimensions (on which we classify)
• The purpose of doing research

• The intended uses of doing research

• How it handles time

• The research (data collection) techniques used in it

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The Purpose of
Research

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The Purpose of Research

Why are you doing research?
• My boss told me to do so
• It was a class assignment
• I was curious
• ….
• As many reasons as researchers


Purposes of research may be organized into
three groups based on what the researcher is
trying to accomplish

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The Purpose of Research

Three main groups
• Explore a new topic – Exploratory research
• Describe a phenomenon – Descriptive research
• Explain why something occurs – Explanatory research


Studies may have multiple purposes (e.g.
both to explore and to describe) but one
purpose usually dominates.

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Purpose of research

Exploratory Research

Exploring a new topic

Initial research conducted to clarify the
nature of the problem

Formulate more precise questions that future
research can answer

Addresses the “what” question

Difficult to conduct because there are few
guidelines to follow.

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Purpose of research

Descriptive research

Descriptive research presents a picture of
the specific details of a situation,
phenomenon, social setting, or relationship

Characteristics of a population or
phenomenon

Answers to who, what, when, where, and
how questions

Examples
• Labor Force Surveys, Population Census, and
Educational Census
• Most of the social research is descriptive

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Purpose of research

Explanatory research

The desire to know “why”

Builds on exploratory and descriptive research
and goes on to identify the reasons for
something that occurs.

Looks for causes and reasons - Determine which
of several explanations is best

Determine the accuracy of the theory; test a
theory’s predictions or principle.

Example
• Descriptive research may discover that 10 percent of the parents
abuse their children, whereas the explanatory researcher is more
interested in learning why parents abuse their children.
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Example

Carry out a study to find out what
percentage of graduate students arrive late
for classes


Carry out a study to determine the causes of
late arrival of graduate students

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What about Computer
Science/Engineering?

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Constructive Research

Develops solutions to a problem

The most common computer science
research method

“Construct” is often used to refer to the new
contribution being developed

Construct can be a new:
• Theory, algorithm, model, software, or a framework

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The Uses of
Research

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The Uses of Research

Some researchers focus on using research to
advance the knowledge, whereas others use
it to solve specific problems


Basic and Applied research

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Uses of Research

Basic vs Applied Research


Basic research
• Type of research that may have limited direct
applications and is mostly conducted for the purpose of
acquiring knowledge
• Also known as fundamental or pure research
• Driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific
question.
• The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge ,
not to create or invent something.
• There is no direct commercial value to the discoveries
that result from basic research.

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Uses of Research

Basic vs Applied Research


Generates new ideas, principles and theories, which may
not be immediately utilized; though are the foundations of
modern progress and development in different fields.


Today’s computers could not exist without the pure research
in mathematics conducted over a century ago, for which
there was no known practical application at that time.


Examples of Basic research
• How did the universe begin?
• What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of?
• What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly?
• How does the memory system work
• How are language skills developed

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Uses of Research

Basic vs Applied Research


Applied research
• Designed to solve practical problems of the modern
world, rather than to acquire knowledge for
knowledge's sake.
• Intended to bring about some direct benefit to
humankind

Examples
• Improve agricultural crop production
• Treat or cure a specific disease
• Improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or
modes of transportation

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Uses of Research

The gray zone


The distinction between basic and applied
research isn't always clear

It sometimes depends on your perspective
or point of view

One way:

How long will it be before some

practical application results from the
research ?
Ashok Gadgil

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Uses of Research

The gray zone


If a practical use is only a few years away,
then the work can be defined as strictly
applied research.


If a practical use is still 20-50 years away,
then the work is somewhat applied and
somewhat basic in nature.


If a practical use cannot be envisioned in
the foreseeable future, then the work can be
described as purely basic research.
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Uses of Research

The gray zone


Example
• A fair amount of research has been underway on
developing fusion reactors to provide a controlled
energy source for cities
• There is a clear applied goal to this work, yet there are
so many technical obstacles to overcome that it may be
another 30 to 50 years before we see a functional
fusion reactor in use.
• The development of fusion energy could be regarded as
both basic and applied research.

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The Research Process

Research is an extremely cyclic process.
• Later stages might need a review of earlier work.

• This isn’t a weakness of the process but is part of the

built-in error correction machinery.

• Because of the cyclic nature of research, it can be

difficult to determine where to start and when to stop.

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 Non Scientific Ways

Non-scientific research based on hunches,
experience and intuition


Non-Scientific ways of obtaining knowledge
• Common Sense: That which is self-evident
• Instinct: Something you just know or sense
• Authority: Established belief based on prominence or
importance of source

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Non Scientific Ways

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Scientific Method

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Scientific
Method

Galileo Galilei – (1564 - 1642)


Italian physicist,
mathematician, astronomer,
and philosopher


The scientific method is
popularly attributed to Galileo
who, in 1590, dropped iron balls
of two different weights off the
Leaning Tower of Pisa.
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Scientific Method

He wanted to test his
hypothesis that the forces
acting on a falling object were
independent of the object's
weight.


He was correct and so refuted
the previously held belief that
heavier objects would fall
faster than light objects.

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 Scientific Method

The steps he took:
• Observation,
• Hypothesis generation,
• Testing of the hypothesis
• and Refutation or Acceptance of
the original hypothesis

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Scientific Method

The Scientific Method is a logical

and systematic approach or
process to problem solving.

It involves a series of steps that

are used to investigate a
research question.

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 Scientific Methods - Steps

Define the research question

Research the problem

State the hypothesis

Experiment to test Hypothesis


Collect and Record Data

Analyze Data
If needed, Do more

Draw Conclusions investigation


Determine Limitations

Communicate/Report Results
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 First What
Question What does
does the
the scientist
scientist want
want
Question to
to learn
learn more
more about?
about?

Then

Research
Research Gathering
Gathering of
of information
information

Scientific Method Next

An Overview An
An “Educated”
“Educated” guess
guess of
of an
an
Hypothesis
Hypothesis answer
answer to
to the
the question
question

Then
Written
Written and
and carefully
carefully
Procedure/
Procedure/ followed
followed step-by-step
step-by-step
Experiment
Experiment experiment
experiment designed
designed to
to test
test
the
the hypothesis
hypothesis
Next

Information
Information collected
collected during
during
Data
Data the experiment
the experiment

And And

Written
Written description
description of
of what
what
Analysis
Analysis was
was noticed
noticed during
during the
the
experiment
experiment

Finally

Was
Was the
the hypothesis
hypothesis correct
correct
Conclusion
Conclusion or
or incorrect?
incorrect?

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Scientific Method – Other
Representations

Hypothesis

(Experiments)
Procedures
(Conclusions)
Findings

Scientific
Method

Data
(Results)

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Here is another
example of how the
steps may go….

Even though we
show the scientific
method as a series
of steps, keep in
mind that new
information or
thinking might
cause a scientist to
back up and repeat
steps at any point
during the process.

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Step 1 – Problem/Question

Define the research question


A question occurs to or is posed to the researcher for
which that researcher has no answer.
• This doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t already have an
answer.


The question needs to be converted to an
appropriate problem statement like that documented
in a research proposal.


Research question can also arise from observation
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Step 2 – Research/Review

Gather information related to the problem

Read, observe, measure, take samples, etc

Perform literature review
• The available literature is reviewed to determine if
there is already a solution to the problem.
- Existing solutions do not always explain new observations.
- The existing solution might require some revision or even
be discarded.

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 Example of a Literature
Review
• Hand, C. "A Survey of 3D Interaction Techniques". Computer
Graphics Forum, 16(5): 269-281. (Dec 1997)

• Recent gains in the performance of 3D graphics hardware and

rendering systems have not been matched by a corresponding
improvement in our knowledge of how to interact with the virtual
environments we create; therefore there is a need to examine these
further if we are to improve the overall quality of our interactive 3D
systems. This paper examines some of the interaction techniques
which have been developed for object manipulation, navigation and
application control in 3D virtual environments. The use of both
mouse-based techniques and 3D input devices is considered, along
with the role of feedback and some aspects of tools and widgets.

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 Example of a Literature
Review
• Hand, C. "A Survey of 3D Interaction Techniques". Computer
Graphics Forum, 16(5): 269-281. (Dec 1997)
Rationale / Logical basis
• Recent gains in the performance of 3D graphics hardware and
rendering systems have not been matched by a corresponding
improvement in our knowledge of how to interact with the virtual
environments we create; therefore there is a need to examine these
further if we are to improve the overall quality of our interactive 3D
systems. This paper examines some of the interaction techniques
which have been developed for object manipulation, navigation and
application control in 3D virtual environments. The use of both
mouse-based techniques and 3D input devices is considered, along
with the role of feedback and some aspects of tools and widgets.

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 Example of a Literature
Review
• Hand, C. "A Survey of 3D Interaction Techniques". Computer
Graphics Forum, 16(5): 269-281. (Dec 1997)
Scope
• Recent gains in the performance of 3D graphics hardware and
rendering systems have not been matched by a corresponding
improvement in our knowledge of how to interact with the virtual
environments we create; therefore there is a need to examine these
further if we are to improve the overall quality of our interactive 3D
systems. This paper examines some of the interaction techniques
which have been developed for object manipulation, navigation and
application control in 3D virtual environments. The use of both
mouse-based techniques and 3D input devices is considered, along
with the role of feedback and some aspects of tools and widgets.

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Step 2 – Research / Review

It’s possible that the literature review has
yielded a solution to the proposed problem.
• This means that you haven’t really done research.


On the other hand, if the literature review
turns up nothing, then additional research
activities are justified.

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 Step 3 -Hypothesis

Predict a possible answer to the
problem or question.

The researcher generates
intermediate hypotheses to
describe a solution to the problem.

This is at best a temporary solution
since there is as yet no evidence to
support either the acceptance or
rejection of these hypotheses.

Example: If soil temperatures rise,
then plant growth will increase.
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 Step 4 – Experiment

Testing the hypothesis


Design experiments
• Variables - Factors that can be
changed
• Controlled Variables - all the
variables that remain constant

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Step 4 - Experiment

Manipulated Variable - (also called the
Independent Variable) - factor in an
experiment that a scientist purposely
changes


Responding Variable- (also called the
Dependent Variable) - the outcome or
results, factor in an experiment that may
change because of the manipulated
variable….what a scientist wants to observe

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 Step 4 - Experiment

Example?
• We want to find out whether people complete
operations faster with a colored or a black and white
user interface.
• Do experiments and note time of operation – What are
different variables?
 Independent Variable – Interface type: colored or
black and white
 Dependent Variable – Time to complete
operation
 Controlled Variables – Text or icons on the
interface, the font size etc.

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Step 5 – Data

9/15/2011
collection

Data - observations and
measurements made in an
experiment
 Type of recorded data
 Quantitative- observations that involve
measurements/numbers; i.e. 3 days, 4 g, 13 sec,
8 liters

 Qualitative - observations that do not involve

numbers, are of a descriptive nature i.e. white
maggots covered the meat, leaves were all drying

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 Step 6 – Data Analysis

Examine data tables,
charts, and graphs

Look for trends, patterns,
and averages

What does the data show?

Put your data into words

45

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Step 7 -
Conclusions

The data will either support the
hypotheses or they won’t.

Include a statement that accepts
or rejects the hypothesis.
 This may lead the researcher to cycle back to an
earlier step in the process and begin again with a new
hypothesis.

 Thisis one of the self-correcting mechanisms

associated with the scientific method.

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 Step 8 - Limitations

Scientists look for possible flaws in
their research

They look for faulty (inaccurate) data

They look for experimental error

They decide on the validity of their
results

They make suggestions for
improvement or raise new questions

Make recommendations for further
study

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 Step 9 – Communicate
Findings

Communication is an
essential part of science

Scientists report their results
in journals, on the internet,
or at conferences

This allows their
experiments to be evaluated
and repeated

Scientists can build on
previous work of other
scientists
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Think you can name all
the steps? Collect Data
5

1
Problem/Question 6
Analyze Data
2 Research/ 7
Review Conclusion
8
Limitations
3 Formulate a
Hypothesis
9 Communicate
4
Experiment the Results

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 Communicate Findings

Research Papers
• Conferences
• Journals


Dissertation / Thesis

Books

Book Reviews

Book Section / Chapter

Blogs

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 Paper Styles

IEEE Two Columns Format
• References are numbered – numbered in citation-order


Springer Format
• Single Column, References may not be numbered in citation
order.

American Psychological Association (APA)
Format
• They do not use numbers for citations – instead use author
names and publication year.

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Discussion

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