Chapter One

The Nature and Scope

of
Research
 What is Research?

• Research is a diligent enquiry and careful search

for new knowledge through systematic, scientific
and analytical approach in any branch of
knowledge.
• The search of new knowledge also helps to accept,
reject or modify existing facts or knowledge.

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 What is Research?

• A methodology behind any research is the correct

sequence of protocols.
• These protocols can vary slightly between scientific
disciplines, but all follow the same basic structure
• Three Attributes of Research-
• New,
• Unique,
• Innovative,
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THE SCIENTIFIC DEFINITION
Research must be systematic and follow a series of
steps and a rigid standard protocols.
These rules are broadly similar but may vary
slightly between the different fields of science and
technology.

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 Other Definitions

1. Research is the application of human

intelligence to problems whose solutions are not
available immediately”- Hertz
2. Research is creative and original intellectual
activity carried out in library, laboratory or in
the field in the light of previous knowledge”-
Klopsteg

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 Aims of Research

The general Aims of Research are:

To Answer the un answered questions or to solve unsolved problems
Observe and Describe
Predict the phenomenon Causes and proving or Determining the
Causes
Explain or Explore the phenomenon
Develop the New knowledge
Extend or Reject the existing knowledge and create New knowledge
Develop the domain & gain new knowledge
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 Elements of Research
Scientific or Technological Research Elements are:
1. Characterization - How to understand a phenomenon
2. Hypothesis and Theory - The research questions before performing
research. Often based on earlier research
3. Prediction
Reasoning and logic on cause, effect relationship for future repetition
4. Observation or Experimentation
[Body is the biggest lab for research]
• Testing characterizations, hypothesis, theory and predictions
• Understanding a phenomenon better & Drawing Conclusions
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 Characteristics of Research
Research originates with a question or a problem
1. Clear articulation of a goal Clear, unambiguous, critical,
precisely and grammatically complete & correct sentence with
intellectual honesty and relevance
2. Specific plan for proceeding
3. Divide and Conquer
4. Specific research problem, question or hypothesis- Research is
guided by problem, question or hypothesis
 A hypothesis is a logical supposition, a reasonable guess, an educated
conjecture. It provides a tentative explanation for a phenomenon under
investigation.
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Contd…

Note: Hypothesis is not unique. ( Eg. Enter into your

Home; switch on Bulb and no light. At this point
you construct a series of guesses-hypotheses- to
explain Bulbs failure )
5. Research is by its nature , cyclical or, more
exactly helical

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 The Dialectic of Research
• Thesis
This presents the original statement of an idea. Very few research
contributions can claim total originality. Most borrow ideas from
previous work, even if that research has been conducted in another
discipline.
• Antithesis
This presents an argument to challenge a previous thesis. Typically, this
argument may draw upon new sources of evidence and is typically of
progress within a field.
• Synthesis
This seeks to form a new argument from existing sources. Typically, a
synthesis might resolve the apparent contradiction between a thesis and an
antithesis.
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 Model of Arguments

1. Proof by Demonstration
2. Empiricism: Hypothesis generation,
Identification of Methods, Collecting data,
Analysis, Result compilation, Conclusion
3. Mathematical Proof: If you have dissatisfaction
with empirical testing techniques then try it.

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 When IT OR Computer Research is to be
conducted?

The question refers to the feasibility of research

assignment/project/Idea:
• The research topic should be researchable
• The research problem should be new
• The expected research result should be
ACHIEVABLE AND SIGNIFICANT.

• Sufficient time should exist

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 cont’d…

• The data and resources to the research problem

should be easily available.
• The methods and procedures of data collection
and analysis should be manageable.
• The research problem should be technologically,
financially and operationally feasible.
• Optimum administrative facilities with minimum
discomfort.
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Technological and Economic Values of the Research

• Skills and Knowledge These skills go far beyond

the “nuts and bolts” of IT & computing systems and
programming
• Business Applications technical consulting,
software development
• Societal Impact Respect and leadership
• Financial Value Highly paid
• Job Outlook High demand of man power
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 Types of Research Studies
The different types of research studies can be classified as;
 1. Reporting
A reporting study may be made only to provide an account or
summation of some data or to generate some statistics.
 2. Descriptive
A descriptive study tries to discover answers to the questions
who, what, when, where and sometimes, how. The researcher
attempts to describe or define a subject, often by creating a
profile of a group of problems, people, or events.

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 cont’d…
3. Explanatory
An explanatory study goes beyond description and attempts to
explain the reasons for the phenomenon that the descriptive study
only observed.
4. Predictive
If we can provide a plausible(reasonable) explanation for an event
after it has occurred, it is desirable to be able to predict when and
in what situations the event will occur. A predictive study is just as
rooted in theory as explanation. This type of study often calls for a
high order of inference making. E.g.. Earth Quake, Virus Attack

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Types of Research in IT & CS
Two general categories of research: Basic research and Applied research.
Basic Research: Core
Also known as pure research, it is usually conducted to develop principles,
theories and models and is used to expand the limits of knowledge.
Applied Research: Action research
Also known as Action research, development research, empirical research
conducted when decisions must be made about a specific real life problem.
Applied research has a problem-solving emphasis.
Therefore basic research tries to extend the knowledge in a given field and
applied research tries to solve problems.
Applied research is directed much more to making immediate scientific or
managerial decisions. 17
 Types of Applied Research:

• Based on Technique (Methods)

1. Experimental,
2. Survey and Observation.
• Based on Purpose (Function)
  1) Exploratory,
2) Descriptive
3) Causal.
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 Contd…Technique (Methods)
• Experimental: (or controlled experiment):
A researcher would at first create two matched groups as
similar as possible to test his/her hypothesis. One group is
considered as the experimental group, while the other would be
designated as the control group. The experimental group is the
one on which the tests are conducted.
• Survey (Case study): It represents a comprehensive description
and explanation of many components of a given social system
• Observation: The researcher seeks to become a member of the
social event or group under study.

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 Contd… Purpose (Function):
1. Exploratory Research:
New Idea floating Research
E.g.- Adoption Strategy of Cloud Computing
• It is an initial research conducted to clarify and define the nature
of an ambiguous problem.
• It is conducted to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to
achieve new insights into it.
• The researcher aims at formulating more precise questions
that future research can answer, and discovering new insights.

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 Contd...
• It may be the first stage in the sequence of studies. Its result may not be
used as conclusive evidence to determine a particular course of action.
• It is usually conducted with the assumption that subsequent research will be
required to provide conclusive evidence.
• It uses qualitative data and tends to be more open using range of
evidence and discovering new issues.
• Techniques in Exploratory Research
• Experience survey
• Secondary data analysis
• Case study
• Pilot survey

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 Contd...
• Descriptive Research:
• It attempts to give answer to questions like who, what, when,
where, how.
• Unlike exploratory research, descriptive studies are based on
some previous understanding of the nature of the problem. Its
purpose is to describe the state of affairs, as it exists at
present.
• The researcher has no control over the variables, but only
reports what has happened or what is happening.
• He/She does not cover “ Why”
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 Contd..

• Causal Research:
• To identify the cause-effect relationship between
variables where the research problem has already
been narrowly defined.
• Ex: Relationship between fertilizers application
and land productivity.
• Ex: Price of Software and Quality

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 Other types of Research
Studies
1. Quantitative Vs. Qualitative Research:
• Quantitative research is based on the measurement of
quantitative figure or quantity or amount. i.e., it is applicable to
phenomenon that can be expressed numerically.
• Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon,
i.e., phenomenon relating to or involving quality or kind.
• Ex: All kinds of motivation research, all kinds of attitude research
or opinion research are different qualitative research studies. It is
particularly important in behavioral sciences where the underlying
motive is to discover the underlying motive of human behavior.

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 Cont’d…
2. Conceptual Vs. Empirical research:
This classification is similar to the fundamental Vs. applied
research.
• Conceptual research is related to some abstract or theory, it is
conducted by philosophers to develop new ideas or reinterpret the
existing ones.
• Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone,
without due regard to system or theory. It is data base research or
also called experimental research, coming up with conclusions,
which are capable of being verified by observations or experiments.

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 Logic in Research

• Logic in Research: research is usually conducted in two

modes, i.e.,
• Inductive reasoning approach
• “Particular to General”, Ex: to know whether a patient is
suffering from malaria the physician uses a drop of the blood
of the patient and concludes that the patient is suffering from
malaria. i.e., a generalization of the disease throughout the
body is made on the basis of the single drop of the blood
(sample). To induce is to draw a conclusion from one or more
particular facts or pieces of evidence.
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 Cont’d…
• Deductive reasoning approach
• “General to particular”, It involves studying the entire population
(census) for drawing conclusions. Deduction is the form of
inference that purports to be conclusive- the conclusion must
necessary follow from the reasons given.
• The way a logical conclusion can be drawn from the following
statements would make the concept clear.
E.g.. 1. All regular employees can be trusted.
2. John is a regular employee
• Conclusion: John can be trusted.
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 What is Research Topic ,
Research Title & Research Paper,
• Research topic is the broader area you will be investigating
• It is given by your professor or chosen by yourself.
• It is time consuming activity.
• It presents the broad area of investigation like Agile in Software Engineering.
• Research paper title-> The formulation of the narrowed area of your investigation.
• Research paper -> A research paper is an entirely new work that you create by
consulting several sources to answer a research question.
• The paper is a synthesis of your interpretation and evaluation of the information
you discover, with complete documentation of where these discoveries came from.
“IT IS NOT a summary of an article or book or a collection of summaries of articles or
books. “

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 Contd….Research Paper
• What a research paper is?
• The research paper synthesizes your discoveries about a topic and your judgment,
interpretation, and evaluation of those discoveries. 
• What a research paper is NOT:
• A summary of an article or a book (or other source material) is NOT a research
paper. 
• The ideas of others, repeated uncritically, do NOT make a research paper. 
• A series of quotations, no matter how skillfully put together, does NOT make a
research paper. 
• Copying or accepting another person's work without acknowledging it, whether the
work is published or unpublished, professional or amateur, in NOT research. IT IS
PLAGIARISM. pp. 2-5, Roth
• Give E.g.. of research titles
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 Types of Research paper 
1. Academic paper (also called scholarly paper), which is
published in academic journals and contains original research
results or reviews/evaluates existing results
2. Term paper, written by high school or college students.
Ideally, a term paper is an academic paper.
• Academic writing has its objective in the increase of
knowledge and the understanding of a particular phenomenon.
3. Thesis or dissertation, a document submitted in support of a
candidature for a degree or professional qualification, presenting
the author's research and findings
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 What is Abstract?

• A self-contained, short, and powerful statement that

describes a larger work.
• An original document rather than an excerpted passage.
• It contains keywords found in the larger work
• Sometimes it is also known as summary of your research
“either proposed research” or “completed research”
• An abstract is a concise single paragraph summary of
completed work or work in progress or proposed work.
• Components vary according to discipline;
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 Cont’d…
• Domain Background, Problem statement or research gap,
Purpose/General Objective, Scope, Methods, Results,
Conclusion
• [Size vary for RESEARCH PAPER and
THESIS/DISSERTATION]
• It is a GIST(the general and important information) in
which a reader can learn the rationale behind the study, general
approach to the problem, pertinent results, and important
conclusions or new questions in a minute or less time.
• The ideal summary size is 200 words or less for a research paper.
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 Why Write an Abstract?
• Abstracts have always served the function of "selling" your
work
• For selection and indexing.
• Therefore, abstracts should contain keywords and phrases that
allow for easy searching.
• Selection? To quickly decide whether it is worth their time to
read it. [Accept/Refuse]
• Indexing? Besides selection, the other main purpose of the
abstract is for indexing. Most article databases in the online
catalog of the library enable you to search abstracts. [Springer]
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 Other Considerations
• An abstract must be a fully self-contained, capsule description of the paper.
It must make sense all by itself.
Some points to consider include:
• Meet the word count limitation.
• An abstract word limit of 150 to 250 words is common for R. Paper.
• Key words and phrases that quickly identify the content and focus of the
work.
• Clear, concise, and powerful language.
• Some publications request "keywords". These have two purposes. They are
used to facilitate keyword index searches,
• REVISE, REVISE, REVISE…..
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 Keywords

• Technical terms
• Key terms
• Searching elements for plagiarism
• Maximum 5 to 10 words covering whole document

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 Introduction

• Your introduction must not exceed two pages in a

full length research paper.
• The purpose of an introduction is to acquaint the
reader with the rationale behind the work, with the
intention of defending it.
• It places your work in a theoretical context, and
enables the reader to understand and appreciate
your objectives.
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 The Literature Search
• The literature review is based on the assumption that knowledge accumulates, and
that we learn from and build on what others have done.
• Goals:
• Establish credibility.
• A good review increases the reader's confidence in the researcher's professional
competence, ability, and background.
• To show the path of prior research and how a current project is linked to it.
• To integrate and summarize what is known in an area. Pulls together and
synthesizes different results.
• Provides a taxonomy and indicates directions for future research.
• To learn from others and stimulate new ideas. Helps other and future researchers
to not "reinvent the wheel."
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 Types of Literature Reviews:
• Self-study reviews - increase reader's confidence in the
researcher as well as the researcher's confidence in his/herself.
• Context reviews - place the current project in the big picture
• Historical reviews - trace the development of an issue over
time
• Theoretical reviews - compare how different theories address
an issue.
• Methodological reviews - point out how methodology varies
by study.

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 Facts…

• To make your research more credible will be to

support them with other works which have spoken
about the same topic that you have for your research.
• Review of literature mainly focuses on secondary
sources of data/information.
• Secondary sources of information are useful in
exploratory research. The search may involve
conceptual literature, trade literature or published
statistics.
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 Role of Review of Literature

• Helps in Defining the problem in the best way

• Idea generation
• Finding out the newness, uniqueness, innovativeness
• Diluting the ambiguity,
• Limiting the scope
• Evaluate the secondary sources of data and researches
• Best Place Library
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 Outline of the Research
Paper:
• Title Page - authors' names and affiliation here; contact information for "corresponding" author
• Abstract; Keywords
• Introduction
• Review of the Literature
• The Current Study
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Directions for Future Research
• References and/or Endnotes
• Appendices

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 HOW TO WRITE
CITATIONS
Brief idea about citation/reference writing is given here but more details will be studied in
Chapters ahead
• For a Journal article:
• Author’s name, the year of publication, the article title, the journal name, the volume and
edition, the page numbers
• Example
• Russell, S. (1997). Rationality and Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence, vol. 94, pp. 57-77.
• For a book
• Author’s name, Year of Publication, book title, the publishers name and Place/town of
publication.
• Example
• Russell, S. and Norvig, P. (1995). Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Prentice Hall
International, Maryland, USA

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 Contd…
• For a chapter from a book
• Author's name, the year of publication, the chapter's title, the
editors' names and the book's title, the page numbers of the
chapter, the publishers name and place/town of publication.
• For a Thesis/Dissertation from a book
• Author's name, the year of publication, the title of
thesis/dissertation, PhD / Master Thesis/Dissertation, School of
Computer Science, University of Rajasthan
• Some of the main citation/ reference standards are APA, IEEE,
Chicago
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END OF CHAPTER
ONE
THANK YOU!!