Research eResearch Majid yazdani saber mirzaei Definition research

Research & e-Research • Majid yazdani • saber mirzaei

Definition research. 1. a. the systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc, in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. b. an endeavor to discover new or collate old facts etc by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation. (definition from Oxford)

Definition • Research is NOT going to the library to collect existing information on a specific topic and writing a review of the material. • To consider a work as scientific research, we do use past and present knowledge to answer new questions

The Dimensions of Research Approaches • Basic research – Basic research (also called fundamental or pure research) has as its primary objective the advancement of knowledge and theoretical understanding of the relations among variables – It is conducted without any practical end in mind, although it may have unexpected results pointing to practical applications

The Dimensions of Research Approaches – basic research provides the foundation for further, sometimes applied research. – As there is no guarantee of shortterm practical gain – researchers often find it difficult to obtain funding for basic research

The Dimensions of Research Approaches • Applied research – Applied research is done to solve specific, practical questions; its primary aim is not to gain knowledge for its own sake. – It is almost always done on the basis of basic research. – Often, an academic institution such as a university will have a specific applied research program funded by an industrial partner interested in that program

Quantitative and Qualitative Research • Quantitative research is the systematic scientific investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships – The process of measurement is central to quantitative research , it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression

Quantitative and Qualitative Research • Qualitative research Collection and analysis of nonnumerical information via formal research methods • What is Qualitative Data? – Verbal • - interviews focus groups speeches – Written • - diaries - letters - books --

Quantitative vs Qualitative • Methodologies are fundamentally different • BUT not fundamentally opposed • Can be used in conjunction • Theory generation • Holistic • Interpretative • Text/ verbal • Unique = important • Hypothesis testing • Isolated and specific • Statistical • Numeric • Unique = outliers

Research forms • Exploratory research: a new problem can be structured and identified – is a type of research conducted because a problem has not been clearly defined. – Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection method and selection of subjects. – Exploratory research often relies on secondary research such as reviewing available literature and/or data …

Research forms • Constructive research: a (new) solution to a problem can be developed , is perhaps the most common computer science research method. – Some examples of artifacts are a programming language, an algorithm, a piece of software (eg, a compiler), a method (eg, for software development or for problem modeling).

Research forms – The artefact should solve a domain problem • A failed attempt is not a result. • The correctness of the solution should be properly validated. • The artefact can have practical relevance (eg, other people can use the software). • The artefact is not a scientific result. – The research should solve some related knowledge problems. • Types of knowledge advances: – Feasibility: How a previously unsolved problem can be solved. – Novelty: How a previously solved problem can be solved with a new (and promising) technique. – Improvement: How a previously solved problem can be solved in a better way than before. • The solutions to knowledge problems can have theoretical relevance.

Research forms

Research forms • Empirical research is any research that bases its findings on direct or indirect observation as its test of reality.

The Dialectic of Research – thesis This presents the original statement of an idea. However, 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.

Research process • Though step order may vary depending on the subject matter and researcher, the following steps are usually part of most formal research, both basic and applied – Formation of the topic – Hypothesis – Conceptual definitions – Operational definitions – Gathering of data – Analysis of data – Conclusion, revising of hypothesis

Research process • A common misunderstanding is that by this method a hypothesis can be proven. • A hypothesis can survive several rounds of scientific testing and be widely thought of as true but this is not the same as it having been proven.

Research process • A useful hypothesis allows prediction and within the accuracy of observation of the time, the prediction will be verified. • As the accuracy of observation improves with time, the hypothesis may no longer provide an accurate prediction. • In this case a new hypothesis will arise to challenge the old, maybe makes more accurate predictions than the old

Research process • Formation of the topic – Do I posses the skills necessary to complete this study? – Do I have access to the tools, lab, equipment, and target populations to complete this project? – Do I have the time and money necessary to complete this project? – Do I have the resources necessary to obtain sufficient data? – Do I have access to a professional in that field who will be willing and able to advise me in the research process?

Research process • Choose a research topic that interests you. . . – Find a study that has already been done and replicate it using new definitions of some of the variables in the study. – Find a study that has already been done and replicate it using additional moderator or control variables – Find an existing study and develop a different way to test the hypothesis – Follow an author’s suggestions for further research needed usually found at the end of an article – Choose a problem, analyze it, and invent a completely new study – Use a combination of the above techniques

Research process • REVIEW THE LITERATURE – To place the problem in the context of what is already known about the problem, – The researcher then uses this information to predict the outcome of the research or formulate a hypothesis.

Research process • To do an effective literature review: – locate all current (within the last 2 -3 years) pertinent publications – summarize and record the content of each – perform a critical review of the major works to identify the merits and weaknesses of each element theoretical perspective, definitions, research designs, methods, instruments, data analysis, and conclusions

Research process • FORM THE HYPOTHESIS – Hypotheses are statements that predict a relationship between two or more variables that can be tested. • Conceptual definition – A conceptual definition : in which a specific concept is defined as a measurable occurrence. – It is mostly used in fields of philosophy, psychology, and communication studies.

Research process • Operational definition – description of something (such as a variable, term or object) in terms of the specific process or set of validation tests used to determine its presence and quantity – Properties described in this manner must be publicly ( persons other than the definer can independently measure) – every day illustration of an operational definition is defining a cake in terms of how it is prepared and baked

Research process • Gathering of data – Nominal data • Nominal data are categorical data where the order of the categories is arbitrary. • example : race/ethnicity has values 1=White, 2=Hispanic, 3=American Indian, 4=Black, 5=Other. • Certain statistical concepts are meaningless for nominal data. (mean and standard deviation are for race/ethnicity. ) – Ordinal data • are categorical data where there is a logical ordering to the categories. example : 1=Strongly disagree; 2=Disagree; 3=Neutral; 4=Agree; 5=Strongly agree.

Research process – Interval data • is continuous data where differences are interpretable, but where there is no "natural" zero. example : temperature in Fahrenheit degrees. – Ratio data • are continuous data where both differences and ratios are interpretable. Ratio data has a natural zero

Research process • Analysis of data – There are many different ways to analyze data: some are simple and some are complex. – The most important thing you do is to choose a method that is in harmony with the parameters you have set and with the kind of data you have collected.

Research process Formation of the topic Conclusion, revising of hypothesis • REVIEW THE LITERATURE Analysis of data Hypothesis Gathering of data Conceptual definitions Operational definitions

Research process

Research methods used by computer scientists • Case study • Experiments • Mathematical models • simulations • Statistical data analysis • Statistical surveys

e-Research

Introduction • The Net has changed fundamental aspects of our life. – “Our Age of Anxiety is, in great part, the result of trying to do today’s jobs with yesterday’s tools. ” Marshall Mc. Luhan • E-research does not preclude nor does it obsolete the older methods. • The e-researcher realizes that a Netbased focus provides a new “frame”.

What Does the “e” Mean? • Only a few years ago “e” (as in email) meant a tool that was primarily text-based operated. • the “e” prefix means the activity takes place on a high speed, digital network.

Educational Research Activities & E-Research • Distribution and retrieval of text-based surveys. • Open ended or structured text-based interviews conducted via email or computer-mediated conferencing. • Focus groups using real time Net-based video or audio conferencing. • Analysis of Web logs and other tracking tools for measurement and synthesis of online activities.

Educational Research Activities & E-Research • Net-based telephone interviews. • Analysis of text transcripts of learning or social activities. • Analysis of social behavior in virtual reality environments. • Online assessment and/or evaluation of performance or knowledge.

The Special Task of e-Research • E-research helps us to convert data into information. • E-researchers provide and create tools for analysis and conceptual understanding. • E-research also utilizes the distributed data and information processing. • E-research permits the exploration of new fields of knowledge.

Scope of e-Research

Qualities of the e-Researcher

Qualities of the e-Researcher • Efficacy has long been associated with competence and accomplishment. • The effective e-researcher has to have the confidence and willingness.

Qualities of the e-Researcher • Mental models of how the Internet works and the way that various organizations and resources function and communicate on the network are also needed to be an effective eresearcher.

Qualities of the e-Researcher • Access is perhaps the most obvious pre-requisite of skillful Internet use. • types of access – some related to the speed – others related to the capacity

Qualities of the e-Researcher • Mastery of appropriate terminology is important in any field and especially so when the field is expanding and new terms are routinely introduced. • There are many useful terminology reference

Summary • The Net provides us with new tools for research, as well as the exploration of new fields of knowledge. • Research has many characteristics and qualities, the most important of these qualities is quality itself. – It is systematic, transparent, and publicly available. • the e-researcher must also have a set of research skills. – Internet skills (self-efficacy, mental models… – research skills (problem statement, literature review….

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