deco3008 design computing preparatory honours research kcdcc mike rosenman rm 279...
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DECO3008
Design ComputingPreparatory Honours Research
KCDCC
Mike RosenmanRm 279
[email protected]://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