Introduction to Research

Methods in CS
Leslie G. Agbulos
Instructor
What is Research?
What is Research?
What is Research?
What is Research?
What is Research?
 What is Research?

Systematic investigative process

employed to increase or revise current
knowledge by discovering new facts.
two general categories:
(1) Basic research
(2) Applied research

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/research.html

Computer Science Research

 to understand computing activities, through

mathematical, algorithmic and/or heuristic rendering.
 generation of new knowledge in the form of fact, law,
theorem, etc.
 For example, a Computer Scientist can study different data
structures to know why they perform differently in different
environments. He may then go further to propose various
algorithms for implementing these data structures as well as
those required for manipulating them (e.g. search, sort).
 the development of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) which
results from computer science research.
 Why to Research? Who Need
Research?
When you think of a researcher….
 Why to Research? Who Need
Research?
When you think of a researcher….
Why Must Must I Do the Research?

Motivation
Contribution to the area
Current and pertinent problem
Target reward
Any other reason?
Why to Research? Who Need
Research?

In this ‘Age of Information’

How to find the information
How to evaluate it
How to report it clearly and
accurately
How to improve it
How to make money out of it
‘Researching Skills’

In this ‘Age of Information’ Searching skills

How to find the right information

How to evaluate it Reviewing skills

How to report it clearly and

accurately Writing skills

How to develop/improve it Engineering/Scientific

skills

How to make money out of it

Business skills
Characteristics of research

It demands a clear statement of the

problem
It requires a plan
 It builds on existing data, using both
positive and negative findings
New data should be collected as required
and be organized in such a way that they
answer the research question(s)
Research Methods versus
Methodology
Research methods may be understood as all
those methods/techniques that are used for
conduction of research.
Research methods or techniques* - refer to
the methods the researchers use in
performing research operations.
Research techniques refer to the behaviour
and instruments we use in performing
research operations
Research Methods versus
Methodology
Research Methods versus
Methodology

Research methodology is a way

to systematically solve the
research problem