lecture 01 - research methods

Research Methods

Dr.Haitham A. El-Ghareeb

Information Systems DepartmentFaculty of Computers and Information Sciences

Mansoura University

[email protected]

September 24, 2012

Dr.Haitham A. El-Ghareeb (CIS) Data Structures and Algorithms - 2012 September 24, 2012 1 / 21

http://csimu.mans.edu.eg

Course Description

This course is an introduction to research methods in computer science. Itexplains the skills needed to successfully complete a research project incomputer and information sciences, exposes students to ways of thinkingabout research, and teaches general skills for writing and experimentation.



Course Syllabus

The Process of Research

Writing a Research Proposal

Reading and Assessing Literature

Writing and Web Skills

Empirical Research

Tools for Experiments

Ethics, Plagiarism, and copyright

Research Management

Presentations



Course Page

https://sites.google.com/a/helghareeb.net/courses/2012-2013/research



Text Book



Labs

LatexSource: Wikibooks contributors: LATEX, Wikibooks, 2008.



Grading

10 Marks Labs

10 Marks Midterm

5 Marks Oral Exam

75 Marks Final examination



Introduction and Overview

Puropose of Research: answer questions and acquire new knowledge.

Research is the primary tool used in virtually all areas of science toexpand the fronteirs of knowledge.

Research is frequently used for:I describing a thing or eventI discovering relationship between phenomenaI prediction



Research Shared Characteristics

Research among different fields and sciences, share certain characteristics:

Testing

Hypotheses

Careful Observation and Measurement

Systematic Evaluation of Data

Drawing Valid Conclusions



Types of Research

Two of the most common types of research are:correlational research andexperimental research.

Correlational research: Goal is to determine whether two or morevariables are related. For example, a researcher may be interested indetermining whether age is related to weight. If a correlation betweentwo variables is strong enough, knowing about one variable allows aresearcher to make a prediction about the other variable. However,correlationor relationshipbetween two things does not necessarilymean that one thing caused the other. To draw a cause-and-effectconclusion, researchers must use experimental research.



Types of Research (cont.)

Experimental research: involves comparing two groups on oneoutcome measure to test some hypothesis regarding causation. If aresearcher is interested in the effects of a new medication onheadaches, the researcher would randomly divide a group of peoplewith headaches into two groups. One of the groups, the experimentalgroup, would receive the new medication being tested. The othergroup, the control group, would receive a placebo medication (i.e., amedication containing a harmless substance, such as sugar, that hasno physiological effects). After receiving the medications, both groupswould be compared to see whether people in the experimental grouphad fewer headaches than people in the control group.



Overview of Science and Scientific Methods

Science can be defined as a methodological and systematic approachto the acquisition of new knowledge.

The defining characteristic of scientific research is: Scientific Method

The development of the scientific method is usually credited to RogerBacon

Galilei played an important role in formulating the scientific method



Scientific Method Characteristics

Scientific Method is Characterized by the following elements:

Empirical approach

Observations

Questions

Hypotheses

Experiments

Analyses

Conclusions

Replication



Empirical Approach

The scientific method is firmly based on the empirical approach.

Empirical approach is an evidence-based approach that relies on directobservation and experimentation

Contrast this approach to decision making with the way that mostnonscientific decisions are made in our daily lives.

We may often reach conclusions or make decisions that are notnecessarily based on data, but rather on opinions, speculation, and ahope for the best.



Observations

Observation refers to two distinct conceptsbeing aware of the worldaround us and making careful measurements.

Observations of the world around us often give rise to the questionsthat are addressed through scientific research.

For example, the Newtonian observation.

Observation means more than just observing the world around us toget ideas for research.

Observation also refers to the process of making careful and accuratemeasurements, which is a distinguishing feature of well-conductedscientific investigations.

An important aspect of measurement is an operational definition.Researchers define key concepts and terms in the context of theirresearch.



Questions

After getting a research idea, perhaps from making observations of theworld around us, the next step in the research process involves translatingthat research idea into an answerable question.



Hypotheses

The next step in the scientific method is coming up with ahypothesis, which is simply an educatedand testableguess about theanswer to your research question.

A hypothesis is often described as an attempt by the researcher toexplain the phenomenon of interest.

Two types of hypotheses are: null hypothesis and the alternate (orexperimental) hypothesis.

I null hypothesis always predicts that there will be no differencesbetween the groups being studied.

I alternate hypothesis predicts that there will be a difference between thegroups.



Experiments

involves actually conducting the experiment (or research study).

For example, if the study involves investigating the effects of exerciseon levels of cholesterol, the researcher would design and conduct astudy that would attempt to address that question.

Researcher would collect data on the levels of the study participantsby using an accurate and reliable measurement device.

Then, the researcher would compare the levels of the two groups tosee if experiment had any effects.



Analyses

After conducting the study and gathering the data, the next step involvesanalyzing the data, which generally calls for the use of statistical tech-niques.



Conclusions

After analyzing the data and determining whether to reject the null hy-pothesis, the researcher is now in a position to draw some conclusionsabout the results of the study.



Replication

Replication essentially means conducting the same research study a secondtime with another group of participants to see whether the same resultsare obtained.



lecture 01 - research methods

Education