| Research Methods Week 1: Introduction to the Module and Basic Concepts of Scientific Research |
Introduction
• Dr. Paul Craig
– Information Visualization
– Human Computer Interaction
– Bioinformatics
• Research projects
– MSc (distinction), PhD, NSF,
Scottish Enterprise, Conacyt
etc
paulspapers.com
| Course Overview |
| • The Research Process (2 lectures) • Reading and Reviewing (4 lectures) • Presenting (4 lectures) • Experimental methods (8 lectures) • Writing (2lectures) • Review of legal, ethical, social and professional issues (2 lectures) • Introduction to Commercial Issues (2 lectures) |
Learning outcomesClassification And Types Of Burns
A. Critically evaluate scholarly work including their own
work in terms of its contribution to the field of
computer science;
B. Conduct and critically analyse experimental work in
computer science;
C. Demonstrate a critical awareness of legal, ethical,
social and professional issues in computer science;
D. Communicate effectively the skills to structure, write
and deliver formal presentations such as technical
and research reports, adhering to relevant codes of
practice.
| Assessments |
| • Assessment 1: Continuous Assessment (Learning Outcomes A and B) 15% • Assignment 2: Project Proposal (Learning Outcomes A, B and D) 30% • Assessment 3. Pilot Study and Project Write-up (All learning Outcomes) 55% |
Assessment 2: Project Proposal
• Marks will be awarded for the following.
– 0-20 Literature Review (Knowledge and
Understanding of Concepts and Literature)
– 0-20 Problem Statement with research question
– 0-20 Motivation with critical reflection
– 0-20 Research Methodology
– 0-10 Expected Outcomes and Contributions
– 0-10 Quality of writing, expression of ideas, logical
and critical arguments, and conformity to conventions
of academic writing (references etc).
Assessment 3 Pilot Study and Project
Write-up (All learning Outcomes)
• Marks will be awarded for the following.
– 0-20 Analysis of empirical data
– 0-20 Conclusions and findings
– 0-20 Discussion
– 0-20 Quality of writing, expression of ideas,
logical and critical arguments, and
– conformity to conventions of referencing
– 0-20 Oral Presentation
| The Research Process |
| How a research or technical project should be conducted. |
Overview
• What is Scientific
Research?
• Key Concepts
• Types of Project
• Types of Scientific
Research
• Research Approaches
• The Scientific Method
• Project Management
• Conclusions
| What is Scientific Research? |
| • Types of Research • Definitions • Intellectual Rigor and Scholarship |
Types of Research
• Scientific Research
– Natural world, empirical
• Research in the Humanities
– Primarily critical, or speculative, and has a
significant historical element. History, Law,
Literature, Philosophy etc.
• Artistic Research
– Centered in the arts, action based
Research
noun
1. the systematic investigation into and study of materials
and sources in order to establish facts and reach new
conclusions.
verb
1. investigate systematically.
Definition
“Creative work undertaken on a systematic
basis in order to increase the stock of
knowledge, including knowledge of man,
culture and society, and the use of this stock of
knowledge to devise new applications.”
OED 2002
Also research?
Intellectual Rigor
• Uniform principles, consistency.
• Convictions in proportion to valid evidence
• Quality control of information
• Appropriate standard of accuracy and
skepticism.
Truth? Reality?
Truth? Reality?
Research Includes
• Review or synthesize existing knowledge
• Investigate existing situations or problems
• Provide solutions to problems
• Explore and analyze more general issues
• Construct or create new procedures or systems
• Explain new phenomenon
• Generate new knowledge
• …or a combination of any of the above!
(Collis & Hussey, 2003)
Computer Science Research
• All science is either physics or stamp collecting
(E. Rutherford)
– We study artifacts produced by humans
• Computer science is no more about computers
than astronomy is about telescopes.
(E. Dijkstra)
– Computer science, Computer Engineering,
Informatics, Software Engineering
Origins of Computer Science Research
• Mathematical
– Turing machines
– Algorithmic Complexity
• Engineering
– Moore’s law
– Compiler optimization
• Social Sciences
– Critical systems (lives at stake)
– Ubiquitous Computing
“Hard” Sciences
“Soft” Sciences
Science Engineering
Economics
Psychology
Sociology
Computer Science
Research
Exercise
• Science, Engineering, Sociology, Psychology, or
Economics?
| Key Concepts |
| • Hypothesis • Theory • Contribution to Human Knowledge • Scientific Method • Dissemination |
Hypothesis
A hypothesis attempts to answer questions by
putting forth a plausible explanation that has yet
to be rigorously tested.
Hypotheses
‘The use of Photorealistic Avatars has the
potential to increase empathy in a blendedlearning environment’
(Benitez Saucedo 2014)
‘An increase of atmospheric CO2 would cause
global warming’
(IPCC)
Hypotheses
“As an animated overview is capable of
representing more data by utilising a third
display dimension (time), it is conceived that
such a view will be capable of representing a
larger number of potentially interesting (and
unsuspected) patterns [in large-scale time-series
data] therefore increasing the users capacity to
extract relevant knowledge from [that] data.”
(Craig 2006)
Hypotheses
• Plausible mechanism
• Reasonable assumptions
• Yet to be tested
X ? Y
Theory
• A theory has already undergone extensive testing
by various scientists and is generally accepted as
being an accurate explanation of an observation.
• A theory provides an explanatory framework for
some observation, and from the assumptions of
the explanation follows a number of possible
hypotheses that can be tested in order to provide
support for, or challenge, the theory.
Theories
• Big bang
Theories
• Graph theory
Theories
• Computational complexity theory
Human Knowledge and Research
Human Knowledge
Discovered Undiscovered
Research
Significant practical application
Human Knowledge and Research
Human Knowledge and Research
Human Knowledge and Research
Scientific Method
• To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry
must be based on empirical and measurable
evidence subject to specific principles of
reasoning. The Scientific method aims to
improve objectivity and remove bias..
cont..
Dissemination
• Publication of results.
• Because science builds on previous
knowledge, it consistently improves our
understanding of the world.
• Thesis, Dissertations, Scientific Reports,
Patents..
cont..
| Types of Project |
| • Academic Qualifications • Academic Projects • Technical Projects |
Academic Qualifications
• Degree Project
– Demonstrate mastery of course material.
• MSc
– Applying an existing technique or methodology in a new problem area.
– Relevant to practical objectives (justification).
• PhD
– Develop a new technique or methodology.
– Non-trivial contribution to knowledge.
– Demonstrate mastery of research area. Become a world expert.
Specialization
PhD
MSc
Degree
School
Area of Study
Level of Expertise/
Specialization
Specialization
PhD
MSc
Degree
School
I know almost
everything about
almost nothing
Projects
• Research Project
• Significant contribution to knowledge.
• Relevant to practical objectives (justification).
• Sometimes related to a call for funding (environmental, ecological,
infrastructure).
• Other requirements..
• Commercial and Industrial Projects
• Relevant to immediate or near term practical objectives.
• Depend on company objectives.
• More emphasis on financial considerations and project
management.
| Types of Scientific Research |
| • Exploratory • Descriptive • Analytical • Predictive |
Exploratory
• Few or no previous studies
exist.
– case studies
– observation
– reviews of previous related
studies and data
• Looking for patterns,
hypothesis and ideas. “Play is the highest form of research”
Descriptive
• Used to identify and
classify the elements or
characteristics of a subject
– E.g. days lost to industrial
action
– Quantitative techniques are
most often used to collect,
analyse and summarise
data.
Analytical
• Analytical research often
extends the Descriptive
approach to suggest or
explain why or how
something is happening
– e.g. underlying causes of
industrial action.
– Locating and identifying the
different factors (or
variables) involved.
Predictive
• To speculate intelligently on
future possibilities
– e.g. predicting when and
where future industrial action
might take place
– based on close analysis of
available evidence of cause
and effect
| Research Approaches |
| • Quantitative/Qualitative • Applied/Basic • Deductive/Inductive * Many research projects combine a number of approaches |
Quantitative – Qualitative
– Emphasis on collecting
and analyzing numerical
data. Scale, frequency
etc.
– Can be hard to find
measurable quantities.
– More structured.
– Results are easier to
collate, analyze and
present.
– More subjective.
Personal values,
attitudes, perceptions.
– Easy to collect results.
– Harder to analyze and
present.
Quantitative – Qualitative
– Numbers
– Measure, count, analyze,
graph
– Opinions, attitudes,
perspectives
– Interview, focus group,
recording
“The interface is
horrible”
The compression
algorithm has a
Weissman score of 6.5.
Quantitative – Qualitative
• Reasoning
– Deduction
– Objectivity
– Causation
• Questions
– Pre-specified
– Outcome-oriented
• Analysis
– Numerical estimation
– Statistical Inference
• Reasoning
– Induction
– Subjectivity
– Meaning
• Questions
– Open Ended
– Process-Oriented
• Analysis
– Narrative description
– Constant comparison
Hearsay
• Rumor, what someone
said or heard.
• Not written down.
• Doesn’t adhere to any
principle of scientific rigor.
• Highly subjective.
Hearsay is not Scientific!
Deductive – Inductive
– Particular deduced from
the general
– Particular situations to
infer broad ideas
General Ideas
Particular
Situation
General Ideas
Particular
Situation
Deductive – Inductive
• Deductive • Inductive
Theory
Hypothesis
Observation
Confirmation
Theory
Tentative
Hypothesis
Observation
Pattern
Deductive – Inductive
• Deductive • Inductive
Theory
Hypothesis
Observation
Confirmation
Theory
Tentative
Hypothesis
Observation
Pattern
Basic – Applied
• Improve knowledge
generally
• No particular applied
purpose in mind at the
outset.
– e.g. dolly the sheep,
higgs boson
• Apply its findings to a
particular situation.
– e.g. channel tunnel, drug
discovery
Exercise
• Cloning a sheep, basic or applied?
Exercise
• Cloning a sheep, basic or applied?
Don’t we already have
enough sheep!
Next Week..
• The Scientific Method
Labs