Research Method In Computer Science

Research Phases

Mulugeta A.

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Major Phases in the Research Process
 Selecting and defining the problem in need of
investigation
 Selecting a research design
 Collecting data
 Analyzing data
 Utilizing the Findings

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Research must be
 Purposeful: what do you want to be able to contribute?
 Targeted: Who are the audiences?
 Credible: consider sources of information, method of data
collection, personnel involved…
 Timely: Is the information needed?

Research is done to find solutions to real world

problems.
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Research Characteristics
 Originates with a question or problem.
 Requires clear articulation of a goal.
 Follows a specific plan or procedure.
 Often divides main problem into sub problems.
 Guided by specific problem, question, or hypothesis.
 Accepts certain critical assumptions.
 Requires collection and interpretation of data.
 Cyclical (helical) in nature.
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Research Cycle

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Research Problem
 A research problem, in general, refers to some
difficulty which a researcher faces (experiences) in
the context of both theoretical or practical
situation and wants to obtain a solution for the
same problem.
Identify problem

Evaluate

Formulate it to research problem

(broad/general)
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How do we choose a research Problem/topic?
 Career development
 Priority research areas
 Relevance
 Avoidance of duplication
 Feasibility
 Political acceptability
 Applicability
 Urgency of data needed
 Ethical acceptability
 Resource availability

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Sources of Research Problems/topic
 Observation
 Literature reviews
 Professional conferences
 Experts-Researcher and peer interaction
 Professional experience
 Inference from theory
 Technical and social changes
 Research priorities

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Research Problem…
 Factors guiding the selection of a Problem/topic:
 The possibility of the research
 The uniqueness of the research
 The scope of the research
 The profitability of the research
 The theoretical value of the research
 The practical value of the research
 The research topic should be specific and clear.
 The topic should indicate the WHO, WHY, WHERE
clearly. It is the focus of your research

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Cont.
 A good problem is usually a compromise between
conciseness and explicitness.
 Problem should be comprehensive enough to
indicate the nature of the research
 One good way to cut the length of problem/title is
to avoid words that add nothing to a reader's
understanding, such as "Studies on...,“
"Investigations...," or "Research on Some
Problems in...."

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Topic Selection : Generating, Evaluating & Selection
of Research Topic
 Research topic selection is the first step and one of the
most difficult in research undertaking
 Research topic selection involves:
 Generating research topic-Identifying the research topic
from different sources
 Evaluation and Selection -Each topic that is proposed for
research has to be judged according to certain guidelines
or criteria

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Generating Research Topic: Sources of Research
Topics/ Ideas
 Searching Literatures/Literature Review- A
research topic may emanate from the issue/gaps
in the literature, that leads to a need for the
study.
 Scanning the media-Keeping up to date with
items in the news can be a very rich source of
ideas.
 Discussion-Discussions with colleagues, friends
and research advisors; practitioners and
professional groups are all good sources of
possible project ideas.

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Cont.
 Looking Recent or Past Dissertations/Thesis-looking at past
projects also found to be useful way of generating research
ideas.
 In doing so, we may scan list of past project titles and/or
actual research project that captures our imagination and
hence, we can think of new ideas in the same general area
that will enable us to provide fresh insights.
 Personal Interest and Strength-Researchers own areas of
interest and/or areas likely to do well and, if possible, already
have some academic knowledge, may inspire their research
topics.
 Practical/Social Concerns-Research topics may arise from
experiencing issues/difficulties in our personal lives, current
practice in work setting or concerns in social problems.

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Evaluation and Selection of Research Topic-
 Before deciding on a research topic, each proposed topic
must be compared with all other options.
 The guidelines or criteria given below can help in the
process of selection of topic:
 Avoidance of Duplication- Investigate whether the topic
has been researched.
 If the topic has been researched, the results should be reviewed
to explore whether major questions that deserve further
investigation remain unanswered. If not, another topic should be
chosen.
 The question to be asked : Will your proposed research be able
to provide fresh insights into this topic?

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Cont.
 Relevance/Significance-The topic you choose should
be a priority problem
 Ask, "How does this project contribute to the literature, policy or
practice?"
 Consider how the study might address a topic that has yet to be
examined, extend the discussion by incorporating new elements, or
replicate (or repeat) a study in new situations or with new
participants.
 Political Acceptability -It is advisable to research a
topic that has the interest and support of the
authorities.
 This will facilitate the smooth conduct of the research and
increases the chance that the results of the study will be
implemented.
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 Feasibility of study-Consider the complexity of the
problem and the resources you will require to carry out the
study.
 Thought should be given first to personnel, time, equipment
and money that are locally available and/or sources available
at the national level
 The necessary question to be posed:
 Do you have, or can you develop within the project time frame,
the necessary research skills to undertake the topic?
 Is the research topic achievable within the financial resources
that are likely to be available?
 Are you reasonably certain of being able to gain access to data
you are likely to require for this topic?

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Cont.
 Urgency of data needed (timeliness)-How urgently are the results
needed for making a decision? Which research should be done first and
which can be done late? Will the project still be current when you
finish your project?
 Applicability of possible results and recommendations-Is it likely that
the possible results and recommendations from the study will be
applied?
 This will depend not only on the blessing of the authorities but also on the
availability of resources for implementing the recommendations.
 Interest to the researcher- Is the topic something with which you are
really fascinated? Does the research topic match your career goals?
 Ethical acceptability- We should always consider the possibility that we
may inflict harm on others while carrying out research.

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Exercise
 Identify three possible research topics
 Given the parameters, compare and contrast the
research topics

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 Formulating Research Problem
 Research problem can be any thing that a researcher finds
unsatisfactory or unsettling, a state of affairs that needs to be changed
 It involves the areas of concern to researchers, conditions to be improved,
difficulties to be eliminated, questions to be answered
 Whether a problem requires research depends on three conditions:
 There should be a perceived difference or discrepancy between
what it is and what it should be;
 The reason(s) for this difference should be unclear (so that it makes
sense to develop a research question); and
 There should be more than one possible and plausible answer to the
question (or solution to the problem).
 This research problem of a study begins to become clear when the
researcher, asks “What is the need for this study?” or “What problem
influenced the need to undertake this study?”
 Cont.
 Hence, after identifying, evaluating and selecting the research
topic/problem, the next major section in a research process is formulating
the “statement of the problem”
 Why is it important to state and define the problem well?- Because a
clear statement of the problem:
 Is the foundation for the further development of the research proposal
(research objectives, methodology, work plan, etc);
 Enables the researcher to systematically point out why the research on
the problem should be undertaken and what you hope to achieve with
results.
 Points to be considered for justifying the selected research problem
 Being a current and existing problem which needs solution
 Being a problem which concerns the academics or gaps in literature
 Being a problem which concerns the planners, policy makers ,
practitioners and the communities at large
 Cont.
 Information to be included in the statement of a problem
 A more detailed description of the nature of the problem
 basic description of the research problem
 the discrepancy between what is and what should be

 An analysis of the major factors that may influence the problem and
a convincing argument that available knowledge is insufficient to
answer a certain question and to update the previous knowledge.
 A brief description of any solutions that have been tried in the
past, how well they have worked, and why further research is
needed.
 A description of the type of information expected to result from the
project and how this information will be used to help solve the
problem
Research Question /Hypothesis formulation
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 What is the impacts of e-banking on customers satisfaction in
comparison to traditional mortar and brick banking service?
 Does increment of customers satisfaction in banking service is related
to e-banking?
 Hypothesis
 Ho: There is no relationship between customers satisfaction in e-
banking than ordinary banking and demographic characteristics
 Ha: There is relationship between customers satisfaction in e-banking
than ordinary banking and demographic characteristics
 Ho: There is no significant difference between branch visits after e-
banking and before e-banking
 Ha: There is significant difference between branch visits after e-
banking and before e-banking

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Exercise
 Formulate research problems for the identified research
topic
 Develop research question and hypotheses for topic you
have specified statement of the problem

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Formulating Research Objectives
 A research objective is a statement that clearly depicts
the goal to be achieved by research project
 It summarizes what is to be achieved by the study

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Why Should Research Objectives Be Developed?
 The formulation of objectives will help you to:
 Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials);
 Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly necessary
for understanding and solving the problem you have
identified
 Organize the study in clearly defined parts or phases
 So the explicit formulation of study objectives is an
essential step in planning of study.
 It is said that "a question well-stated is a question half
answered" but a question that is poorly stated or
unstated is unlikely to be answered at all.

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When Should the Objective of a Research Problem be
Prepared?
 After the statement of the problem is developed
 Before the methodology for the study is planned
 Objectives:
 Show the precise goal of the study,
 Guide development of the research methodology
 Orient the collection, analysis and interpretation of data

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What are the characteristics of good objectives?
 Cover the different aspects of the problem and its
contributing factors in a coherent way and in
logical sequence.
 Are clearly expressed in measurable terms.
 Are realistic considering local conditions.
 Meet the purpose of the study
 Defined in operational terms that are specific enough to be
measured.

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How should objectives be stated?
 Objective should be stated using "action verbs" that are
specific enough to be measured.
 Examples:-
 To determine
 To compare
 To verify
 To establish
 To calculate
 To describe
 To find out

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How should objectives be stated?...
 Avoid the use of vague non action verbs such as:-
 To appreciate
 To understand
 To believe

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What Formats can be Used for Stating Research
Objectives?

 Research objectives can be stated as:-

 Questions: "The objective of this study are to answer the
followings…"
 Positive sentences: "The objectives of this study are to
determine…."
 Hypothesis: "The objective of the study is to verify the
following hypothesis.."

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Types of Research Objectives

 General objectives: states what researchers expect

to achieve by the study in general term.
 Example: in study on “Determining the Status of ICT
usage In Ethiopian Primary Education”
 General objective: To assess “current level of ICT usage in
Ethiopian primary education”

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Cont.
 Specific Objectives:
 Measurable statements on the specific questions to be answered.
 Are more specific
 Related to the research problem situation.
 Indicate the variable to be examined and measured
 Should specify what you will do in your study, where and for
what purpose
 Example
 To determine the level of ICT usage in the study area
 To identify the factors associated with ICT usage in the study area

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Exercise
 Select topic for mini-proposal development
 Formulate statement of the problems of the selected
topic
 formulate research question/hypothesis for the selected
topic
 Formulate both general and specific objectives for the
selected topic

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 End of Chapter 2

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