COURSE SYLLABUS

DEPARTMENT : Diploma Information Technology (DIT)

COURSE TITLE : RESEARCH METHODS IN COMPUTING
NUMBER OF UNITS : 3 UNITS
COURSE PLACEMENT : THIRD YEAR, FIRSTSEMESTER
CLASS SCHEDULE : MONDAY,WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY (5:00 PM -6:00 PM)
TRAINER :

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims to introduce the basic ideas, concepts and principles of research methodology, the problem, methods of research,
Preparation of research instruments design to arrive at exact analysis and interpretation of data.

Course Objective:
Towards the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
 Show understanding on underlying concepts, principles and basic methods of research
 Demonstrate skills in utilizing research process
 Apply research process in constructing thesis proposal
 Conduct Group Participatory Action Research and Rapid Rural Appraisal System
 Defend Thesis Proposal to the Panel in examiners

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
 Explain stages in proposal writing
 Write a researchable proposal
 Explain data Collection and analysis methods
 Explain the difference between Computer Science research and research in other areas of study
 Write a project report
Course Outline and Timeframe
COURSE COVERAGE
WEEK TOPIC SUB-TOPIC
 Meaning of Research
 Objectives of Research
 Motivation in Research
 Types of Research
 Research Approaches
 Significance of Research
 Research Methodology : An Introduction  Research Methods Versus Methodology
1 -2  Research and Scientific Method
 Importance of Knowing How Research Is
 Research Methods Versus Methodology
 Research and Scientific Method
 Importance of knowing How Research
Methodology
 Criteria of Good Research
 Problems Encountered By Researchers

3  CAT 1 
Writing Continuous Assessment Test 1

Meaning of Research Design

Need for Research Design
 Research Design 
Features of a Good Design
4,5,6

Important Concepts Relating to Research
Design
 Different Research Designs
7 PRELIM EXAMINATION
8  Census and Sample Survey
 Sampling Design  Implications of a sample Survey
 Steps in Sample Design
 Criteria of selecting a sampling procedure
  Characteristics of a good sample design
 Different types of sample designs
 Measurement in Research
9  Measurement and Scaling Techniques  Measurement Scales
 Sources of Error in Measurement
 Census and Sample Survey
 Implications of a sample Survey
 Sampling Design
 Steps in Sample Design
10-11
 Criteria of selecting a sampling procedure
 Characteristics of a good sample design
 Different types of sample designs
 Measurement in research
 Measurement Scales
 Sources of error in Measurement
 Tests of sound Measurement
 Measurement and Scaling Techniques  Technique of Developing Measurement Tools
12-13
 Scaling
 Meaning of scaling
 Scale Classification Bases
 Important Scaling Techniques
 Scale Construction Techniques
14 MIDTERM EXAMINATION
14  Collection of Primary Data
 Collection of Secondary Data
 Selection of Appropriate Method for Data
 Methods of Data Collect and Analysis Collection
 Case study method
 Processing Operations
 Elements/types of analysis
 Statistics in Research
 Measures of central Tendency
  Measures of Dispersion
 Measures of Asymmetry ( skewness)
 Measures of Relationship
 Simple Regression Analysis
 Multiple Correlation and Regression
 Need for sampling
 Important Sampling Distributions
 What is a Hypothesis?
 Sampling Fundamentals and testing of Hypotheses  Basic Concepts Concerning Testing of
15
Hypotheses
 Procedure for Hypothesis Testing
 Tests of Hypotheses
 Important Parametric Tests
 Need for Sampling
16  Sampling Fundamentals And Testing of  Important Sampling Distributions
 What is a Hypothesis?
 What is a Hypothesis?
 Basic Concepts Concerning Testing of
 Testing of Hypotheses Hypotheses
17
 Procedure for Hypothesis Testing
 Tests of Hypothesis
 Important Parametric Tests
18  CAT 2  Writing Continuous Assessment Test 2
19  Prefatory items
1. Title page
2. Declaration
 Research Proposal and Research Report 3. Dedication
4. Acknowledgements
5. Table of contents and list of figures and
tables
6. List of abbreviations and acronyms
 7. Abstract
 Chapter One: Introduction
 Chapter Two: Literature Review
 Chapter Three: Research Methods
 Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Findings
 Chapter Five: Discussion ,Conclusion and
Recommendation
 Research Areas  Study of the major problem-area in relation to
20-21
Computing
22 FINAL EXAMINATION