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Chapter-2:
• Writing Up:
– Document your research findings, methodology, and
insights. Write research papers, reports, or theses.
– Clearly communicate your contributions, limitations, and
future directions.
Overview of Current State Area in
Computing
• Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI):
• State-of-the-art AI refers to solutions that have achieved the best
documented, peer-reviewed results on specific problems using
reproducible benchmarks.
• In academia, the website Papers with Code curates over 3,600 state-
of-the-art benchmarks and nearly 40,000 papers across various
domains like computer vision, language, speech, music, and robotics.
• However, for real-world industry systems, the bar must be higher.
Applied AI should not only beat academic benchmarks but also be in
production at multiple companies.
• Real-world data and scalability are crucial factors in determining
whether an AI system is truly state-of-the-ar
Evaluating and Reviewing Research
Results
• Soft Computing:
• Soft computing encompasses techniques that handle
complex problems where traditional methods may fall
short.
• Key components of soft computing include:
– Fuzzy Logic (FL): Deals with uncertainty and imprecision.
– Machine Learning (ML): Utilizes algorithms to learn from data.
– Neural Networks (NN): Inspired by the human brain’s structure.
– Probabilistic Reasoning (PR): Models uncertainty using
probabilities.
– Evolutionary Computation (EC): Mimics natural evolution to
optimize solutions
Overview of Current State Area in
Computing
• Computer Technology Trends:
• The field of computing is constantly evolving. Some trends include:
–Quantum Computing: Exploring quantum bits (qubits) for faster
computation.
–Edge Computing: Processing data closer to the source (e.g., IoT
devices).
–AI and Machine Learning: Advancements in deep learning,
reinforcement learning, and natural language processing.
–Blockchain: Secure and decentralized data storage.
–Cybersecurity: Protecting against threats and vulnerabilities.
–Cloud Computing: Scalable and flexible infrastructure.
–Human-Computer Interaction: Enhancing user experiences.
–Biocomputing: Leveraging biological systems for computation
Actors, Roles and Relationship in
Research
• Actors:
– Actors refer to individuals or entities involved in research
processes.
– They can be practitioners, researchers, policymakers, community
members, or other stakeholders.
– These actors contribute their expertise, perspectives, and
resources to address complex sustainability problems.
• Roles of Actors:
– Data Supplier: This role is adopted by actors who originate from
the field. They provide essential data and information.
– Field Expert: Another role for field-based actors, who possess in-
depth knowledge of specific contexts or domains.
– Application Expert: Actors in this role apply research findings to
practical solutions.
Research Actors
Actors refer to individuals, groups, or organizations that
actively participate within a system of interest.
These actors play various roles and contribute to the
research process.
Here are some examples of research actors:
Donors: Individuals or entities providing financial support
for research projects.
Activists: Advocates who champion specific causes or issues
related to the research topic.
NGO Workers: Employees or volunteers from non-
governmental organizations involved in research initiatives.
Participatory Practitioners: Professionals who engage
directly with communities or stakeholders during research.
Research Actors
Researchers: Scientists, scholars, or experts conducting investigations
and collecting data.
Community Members: People living in the area of study who may be
affected by or contribute to the research.
Government Officials: Representatives from governmental bodies
who influence or regulate research activities.
Facilitators: Individuals who coordinate and manage research
processes.
Research Supervisors
• In research, supervisors are either academic staff or people
considered to have achieved distinction in a field of research
• You need at least two supervisors, with one designated as the
principal supervisor.
The role of your supervisors is to
• Assist and support you in your study
• Provide helpful feedback
• Ensure you stay on track
• For research supervisors, the role is assigned may include teaching
responsibilities, administrative committee, research development,
and the fundraising and writing tasks that can do the research
Research Examiner/Evaluator
• Evaluation research systematically assesses the worth or
merit of resources (time, money, effort) spent to achieve a
goal.
• It differs slightly from conventional social research
• Research evaluation involves assessing the quality,
credibility, and relevance of a research study or project.
• It encompasses critical examination of the research
methods, data, and results to determine validity, reliability,
and usefulness.
• Scientific Potential: Evaluates the prospects for scientific progress.
What contributions can the research make to
Processes
– Identify the Research Question: Begin by understanding the
research question or problem addressed by the study.
– Assess the Study Design: Evaluate whether the study design aligns
with the research question and is likely to yield reliable results.
– Evaluate the Sample: Consider the adequacy of the participant
sample and its representativeness.
– Review Data Collection Methods: Scrutinize the validity and
reliability of data collection methods.
– Examine Statistical Analysis: Assess the appropriateness of
statistical methods used.
– Assess Conclusions: Evaluate whether the data support the study’s
conclusions.
– Consider Limitations: Reflect on any biases or confounding factors
that may have influenced the results.
Cont…
Methods for Evaluating Research:
• Peer Review: Experts review studies before
publication to ensure accuracy and relevance.
• Critical Appraisal: Systematically assess study
quality based on specific criteria.
• Replication: Repeating a study to validate findings
and identify errors.
• Meta-analysis: Combining results from multiple
studies for a comprehensive understanding
Research Processes
Research Processes
Here are the key steps in the research process:-
1. Identify the Research Question or Problem: Begin by pinpointing a
specific problem or question that requires investigation.
• The research question should be relevant, specific, and focused on a
particular area of interest.
2. Conduct a Literature Review: After identifying the research question,
review existing research and literature related to the topic.
This step helps identify gaps in knowledge and ensures that your
research doesn’t duplicate previous work.
3. Formulate a Hypothesis or Research Objectives: Based on the
research question and literature review, create a hypothesis (a testable
statement) or set specific research objectives.
• These objectives guide your research efforts.
Research Process
4. Design a Research Plan and Methodology:
Develop a research plan that outlines how you’ll collect and analyze data.
Specify details such as sample size, data collection methods, and data analysis
techniques.
5. Collect and Analyze Data:
Execute your research plan by collecting data using methods like surveys,
interviews, observations, or experiments.
Analyze the data, clean it, apply statistical techniques, and interpret the results.
Research Process
6. Interpret the Findings and Draw Conclusions:
After analyzing the data, interpret the findings.
Assess the validity and reliability of the results, determine
whether the hypothesis was supported, and consider any
limitations.
Discuss the implications of your findings.
7. Communicate the Results:
Finally, share your research outcomes through a research
report, presentation, or publication.
The report should cover the research question, literature
review, methodology, data analysis, findings, conclusions,
and recommendations for further research
Literature Review
• A literature review in research is a comprehensive
analysis of existing scholarly literature related to a
specific topic or research question.
• It involves examining various sources,
including books, articles, academic papers,
conference proceedings, and dissertations.
The Purpose of Literature review
Provide Context:
• A literature review sets the stage by offering background information and context
for your research.
• It helps readers understand the existing knowledge and theories related to your
topic.
Identify Gaps and Trends:
• By reviewing relevant studies, you can identify gaps, trends, and areas where
further research is needed.
• This informs your own research and helps you contribute to the field.
.
The Purpose of LR …..
Compare and Contrast: A literature review compares
your study with other research that has been
conducted.
• It highlights similarities, differences, and areas
where your work adds value.
Acknowledge Conflicting Views:
• It’s essential to acknowledge differing viewpoints
and conflicting evidence within the literature.
• A well-rounded review considers various
perspectives
Literature Sources
• Different types of literature sources:
1.Primary Sources: These are original materials
created by researchers, authors, or artists. Examples
include:
– Theses and dissertations
– Scholarly journal articles
– Original artwork
– Speeches
– Letters
Literature Sources
2. Secondary Sources: These provide descriptions or
summaries by someone other than the original creator.
Examples include:
– Articles in professional journals
– Some government reports
– Symposia and conference proceedings
3. Tertiary Sources: These are based on secondary sources and
provide overviews or compilations. Examples include:
– Textbooks
– Encyclopedias
– Handbooks
End of Chapter !
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