Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬

 What is Research
 Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and aimed at discovering, interpreting,
and revising human knowledge on different aspects of
the world.
Research can use the scientific methods.
● From Latin Scientia means knowledge
● Builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the
world we live in.
● Occasionally and interesting and dangerous idea.
 What is the Scientific Method?
● Formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses
● Systematic
– observation,
– measurement
– experiment

Research is Destructive
 Science seeks to replace old ideas with measurably better ideas.
 This is not always popular with closed systems.
– Widget makers (predefined product)
– Many religions (predefined world)
Things that are not obvious
 Research exposes the world
 Investigate for the purpose of
– Discovering something new
– Interpreting something not understood
– Revising something wrong or incomplete
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬

 What is Computer Science Research?

 A human activity based on the intellectual investigation of aspects of the world related to the
discipline of Computer Science for the purpose of discovering new knowledge, interpreting
existing knowledge or revising erroneous or incomplete knowledge
 What is Computer Science?
 The systematic study of computing systems and computation.
 The body of knowledge resulting from this discipline contains theories for understanding
– computing systems and methods.
– design methodology,
– algorithms, and tools.
– methods for the testing of concepts.
– methods of analysis and verification; and
– knowledge representation and implementation.
 Is Computer Science a Science?
 Yes, but we sometimes go astray
 Sample of 400 computer science papers published before 1995
– 50% of those proposing models or hypotheses did not test them.
– In other fields of science, the fraction of papers with untested hypotheses was about 10%.
● Caution:
– Our failure to test more allowed many unsound ideas to be tried in practice and lowered the
credibility of our field as a science.
 The processes of research
 Not an exact science
 Can be very messy
– many important discoveries are made in very unscientific, even improbable ways.
 Formal treatment of research
– prepares you for a result when and if it appears.
– be ready to observe the unexpected and unwelcome
 The Serendipity Effect
● Serendipity is the effect of discovering something interesting, whilst looking
for something else entirely.
– A completely unintended but fortunate discovery.
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
– X-rays, silly putty and Uranus were all chance discoveries.

 Anecdote: Prussian Blue

● The first modern, artificially manufactured color was Prussian blue.
● Discovered by accident by the color maker Diesbach of Berlin in about 1704.
● Diesbach accidentally formed the blue pigment when experimenting with the oxidation of iron.
● They were looking for a shade of red
 The Research Question
● A question that guides your research
● Characteristics
– State the main concepts
– Is neutral (debatable)
– Clear and specific
● The question should
– Define the research
– Guide your inquiries
– Frame your arguments
– Be likely to produce your “contributions”
 Thinking about the question
 What is the problem you are attempting to address?
 What is the unsolved problem that your research will attempt to resolve?
– What?
– Why?
– Where?
– When?
– Who?
– How?
 Is the Question Reasonable?
 What is the context of the question?
 Is the question significant?
 What is everyone else doing?
 Is there a point of attack on the problem?
 Do I like the question?
– Am I curious about it enough to pursue it?
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
● Can it be done in the length of time I am willing to spend on it?

 Example Proto-Questions.
● Is there an algorithm that can solve X?
– Can something be done at all?
● How can this X be improved…?
– Can something be made better?
● Why does X work?
– Why does this give the right answer?
● What is the explanation for the phenomenon demonstrated by X?
– What are the theoretical underpinnings of this
● Can we apply the technique of Y to X to get Z?
– Can we nail several things together and get something new?
 State a goal
● This is a description of the prize!
● Answers the “nature” of the answer to your research question
● does not actually answer the question.
● This statement will let you know when you are done.
 Form a plan
● A research plan normally contains
– Review of how others have addressed it.
● Sometimes called a literature review.
– Reasoning as to why the question is significant.
– The methods you intend to apply to the problem.
● Called approach
– The resources you will need.
– The Timetable you intend to follow.
– The Milestones you will reach.
 Formulate experiments and hypotheses
● Experiment
– Set of actions to be performed and observations made
● Hypothesis
– A statement as to what you think will happen in the experiment
– The lucky/informed/brilliant/horrible guess
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
– Turns into your thesis statement

 Activities to Follow
● What are your assumptions
● Collect, record and interpret data
– Sometimes a “black art”
● What data do I need?
● What does it mean?
● Avoid the temptation to “avoid interpretation”
● Remember
– Research doesn’t happen in straight lines
● The chances of you being right are small for any given experiment/hypothesis pair.
 The Thesis Statement
● What are your assumptions
● Collect, record and interpret data
– Sometimes a black art
● What data do I need?
● What does it mean?
● Avoid the temptation to avoid interpretation
● Remember
– Research doesn’t happen in straight lines
● The chances of you being right are small for any given experiment/hypothesis pair.
 Contributions
● Your research should produce something new, these are your contributions
● Your contributions flow from the answers to your research question and are (often) encapsulated in
your thesis statement
● Contributions are put in the context of existing scientific literature (current practice)

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 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬

 Lecture 2: The Research Process

 Research Process: Phases and Steps
● The Research Process is made up of 3 phases and 8 steps:

Phase 1: DECIDING what to research

Step 1: Formulating a research problem

Phase 2: PLANNING a research study

Step 2: Conceptualizing a research design

Step 3: Constructing an instrument for data collection
Step 4: Selecting a sample
Step 5: Writing a research proposal
● The research process is made up of 3 phases and 8 steps:

Phase 3: CONDUCTING a research study

Step 6: Collecting data

Step 7: Processing and displaying data
Step 8: Writing a research report
 Phase 1: DECIDING what to do
Step 1: Formulating a research problem
● Most important step, because the following steps are influenced by the research problem
● What do you want to find out about?
• Have you got sufficient funds to do the research?
• Have you got the time available to conduct the study?
• Have you got knowledge of relevant disciplines?
• Do you have sufficient knowledge of skills needed?
Phase 2: PLANNING a Research Study
Step 2: Conceptualizing a research design
● What you find depends on how it was found
● Select an appropriate research design:
• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Mixed methods
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
● The design has to be:
• Valid
• Workable
• Manageable
● Be aware of its strengths and weaknesses
Step 3: Constructing an instrument for data collection
● How will you collect your data?
• Construct a research instrument or research tool to collect data (interview schedules,
questionnaires, notes on observations, diaries, interview guides,)
• Or use secondary data (information already collected for other purposes)
• Do a pre-testing of your research tool (pilot study)
Step 4: Selecting a sample
● Who will take part in your research?
• Select appropriate sample/participants to represent the study population
• Avoid bias
• Random / probability samples
• Non-random / nonprobability samples
• Be aware of strengths and weaknesses of different sampling methods
Step 5: Writing a research proposal
● Write a detailed plan about your research:
• What are you proposing to do?
• How you plan to proceed?
• Why you select the proposed strategy?
 Phase 3: CONDUCTING a Research Study
Step 6: Collecting data
● Doing the data gathering using one or more data collection method, such as:
• Conducting interviews
• Mailing out questionnaires
• Conducting nominal/focus groups discussions
• Making an observation
● Be aware of ethical issues!
Step 7: Processing and displaying data
● What did you find how?
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
• Analyzing the data depends on the type of information and how to communicate the
findings
• Distinguish between
• Descriptive
• Quantitative (statistical procedures)
• Qualitative (narrative, content analysis)
• Attitudinal
Step 8: Writing a research report
● What have you done? What conclusions have you drawn from the findings?
• Different format for quantitative and qualitative research
• Structure using main themes of study
• Use academic conventions
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬

Q.1. Multiple Choice Questions:

1. A research plan normally contains
a) Review of how others have addressed it c) The resources you will need
b) The Milestones you will reach d) All of the Above
2. Set of actions to be performed and observations made
a) Called approach b) Experiment c) Hypothesis d) Thesis
3. CONDUCTING a research study
a) Collecting data c) The resources you will need
b) Writing a research report d) All of the Above
4. Select an appropriate research design:
a) Quantitative b) Qualitative c) Mixed methods d) All of the above
5. Doing the data gathering using one or more data collection method, such as:
a) Writing a research report b) Collecting data c) Non-random d) Random
6. DECIDING what to research
a) Making an observation c) Use academic conventions
b) Formulating a research problem d) Both A and B

Q.2 Define and Explain the Following:

1. What is Phase 2: PLANNING a research study?

Step 2: Conceptualizing a research design
Step 3: Constructing an instrument for data collection
Step 4: Selecting a sample
Step 5: Writing a research proposal

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 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬

 Lecture 3: Reviewing the Literature

 Function of Literature Review
● A literature review is an integral part of the research process
● Providing a theoretical background to a study:
• Bringing clarity and focus to the research problem
• Improving research methodology
• Broadening knowledge base in the research area of interest
• Contextualizing findings by integrating with the exiting body of knowledge
 How to Review the Literature
● Start with broad area of interest if research problem is not known and narrow down
● Focused around the research problem
• What is already known in the area?
• What is not known or what are the gaps in the existing body of knowledge?
• What questions have remained unanswered?
• Are there any areas of professional conflict?
• What theories have been put forward relevant to the area of research?
● Focused around the research problem
• What suggestions have been made for further research?
• What research strategies have been employed by others undertaking similar research?
 Four Steps of Doing a Literature Review
Step 1: Searching for the existing literature in the area of interest
Step 2: Reviewing the selected literature
Step 3: Developing a theoretical framework
Step 4: Developing a conceptual framework
 Step 1: Searching for Existing Literature
● Set parameters for the search
● Compile a reading list
● Start with:
• Books
• Journals
• Conference papers
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
• The Internet

 Step 2: Reviewing Selected Literature

● Read existing literature and examine critically:
• Note whether the knowledge relevant to a theoretical framework has been confirmed
beyond doubt
• Note the theories put forward, the criticisms of these and their basis, the methodologies
adopted (study design procedures, etc.) and the criticisms of them
● Read existing literature and examine critically:
• Examine to what extent the findings can be generalized to other situations
• sample size and its characteristics, measurement
● Read existing literature and examine critically:
• Notice where there are significant differences of opinion among researchers, giving an
opinion about their validity in addition to putting forward a position with reasons
• Ascertain the areas in which little or nothing is known – the gaps that exist in the body of
knowledge
 Steps 3 & 4: Developing Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks
● Theoretical frameworks
• Find the roots of the problem you want to investigate in a number of theories.
• Read with focus in mind
• Sort information into main themes and theories
● Theoretical frameworks
• Literature fits in two categories:
• Universal or general
• More specific
● Conceptual framework is the basis of enquiry and stems from the theoretical framework
Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks
● The theoretical framework consists of the theories or issues in which your study is embedded.
● The conceptual framework describes the aspects you selected from the theoretical framework
to become the basis of your enquiry.
 How to Write a Literature Review
● Write about the literature reviewed to provide a theoretical background and contextualise findings
to existing body of literature:
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
• Describe various theories
• Specify gaps in the existing knowledge area
• Write about recent advances in the area of study
• State current trends
 Writing a Literature Review
● Thematic, based on the main theme of enquiry
● Following a logical order
● Arguments referenced with supporting evidence from the existing literature
● Use academic referencing style

Lecture 3 Exercise:
Q.1 Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Find the roots of the problem you want to investigate in a number of theories.

a) Theoretical frameworks b) Reviewing c) Searching d) Developing

2. Providing a theoretical background to a study

a) Focused on the research problem c) Reviewing the selected literature

b) Improving research methodology d) Read with focus in mind

3. Literature fits in two categories:

a) Universal or general b) More specific c) Framework d) both a and b

Q.2. True or false

1. The conceptual framework consists of the theories or issues in which your study is embedded.
2. The theoretical framework describes the aspects you selected from the theoretical framework.

Explain the Following:

1. Write the Two Steps of Doing a Literature Review
Step 1: Searching for the existing literature in the area of interest
Step 2: Reviewing the selected literature
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
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 Lecture 4 : Formulating a Research Problem

● The certain aim of this chapter is to detail the process of problem formulation.
● The specific process that you are likely to adopt depends upon:
• Your expertise in research methodology
• Your knowledge of the subject area
• Your understanding of the issues to be examined
• The extent to which the focus of your study is
• predetermined

The Research Problem

● A research problem can be any question that you want to answer and any assumption or assertion that
you want to challenge or investigate.
● Potential research questions may occur to us on a regular basis, but the process of formulating them
in a meaning way is not at all an easy task
● First identify and then specify a research problem might seem like research tasks that ought to be
easy and quickly accomplished. However, such is often not the case
● It is essential for the problem you formulate to be accurate in terms of the procedures required be
undertaken

 The Importance of Formulating a Research Problem

● The formulation of a research problem is the first and most important step of the research process.
● If one wants to solve a problem, one must know what the problem is.
● A large part of the problem lies in knowing what one is trying to do.
● The ways you formulate a problem determine almost every step you will follow, i.e., it determines:
• The type of study design that can be used
• The type of sampling strategy that can be employed
• The research instrument that can be used or developed
• The type of analysis that can be undertaken
 Considerations in Selecting a Research Problem
● When selecting a research problem/topic there are a number of considerations to keep in mind, such
as:
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
• Interest: It should be the most important consideration in selecting a research problem.
• Magnitude: It should have sufficient knowledge about the research process to be able to
visualize the work involved in completing the proposed study.
● When selecting a research problem/topic there are a number of considerations to keep in mind, such
as:
• Measurement of concepts: Make sure that you know how to measure the used concept in your
research problem and what is the meaning of that measurement. Do not use a concept that you
are not sure how to measure.
● Level of expertise: Make sure you have an adequate level of expertise for the task you are
proposing.
● Relevance: Select a topic that is of relevance to you as a professional. Ensure that your study makes
a contribution to the existing body of knowledge and bridges current gaps
● Availability of data: If your topic requires a data from secondary sources (office record, client,
records, reports,...) before finalizing your topic make sure that these data are available and in the
format you want.
• Ethical issues: An important consideration in formulating a research problem is the ethical
issues involved.
 Steps in the Formulation of a Research Problem
● The steps in the formulation of a research problem are the most crucial part of your research work on
which the quality of the entire work depends:
• Step 1 : Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you. Asked yourself, what is it that
really interest you as a professional?
• Step 2 : Divide the broad area into subareas
● The steps in the formulation of a research problem are the most crucial part of your research work
on which the quality of the entire work depends:
• Step 3 : Select what is of most interest to you.
 It is neither advisable nor feasible to study all subareas.
 Select issues or subareas about which you are passionate.
● The steps in the formulation of a research problem are the most crucial part of your research work
on which the quality of the entire work depends:
• Step 4 : Raise research questions: What…? Why…? How…?...
• Step 5 : Formulate your objectives by doing this research work
• Step 6 : Assess the formulated objectives
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
● The steps in the formulation of a research problem are the most crucial part of your research work
on which the quality of the entire work depends:
• Step 7 : Double-check:
 Go back and give final consideration to whether or not you are sufficiently interested
in the study
 Ask yourself, am I really enthusiastic about this study?
● The steps in the formulation of a research problem are the most crucial part of your research work
on which the quality of the entire work depends:
• Step 7 : Double-check:
 Do I really have enough resources to undertake this research work?
 Answer these questions thoughtfully and realistically.
 Formulation of the Objectives
● Objectives are the goals you set out to reach in your study.
● Objectives inform a reader of what you want to achieve through the study, it is extremely
important to word them clearly and specifically.
● Objectives should be listed under two headings:
• Main objectives
• Sub objectives
● It is a statement of the association and relationships that you seek to discover or establish.
● Characteristics of the objectives: Clear and Complete
● Identify the main variables to be correlated
● Identify the direction of the relationship
 Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬

Lecture 4 : Exercise
1. The specific process that you are likely to adopt depends upon:

a) The formulation of a research problem b) Your expertise in research methodology

b) Divide the broad area into subareas d) Your knowledge of the subject area

2. The ways you formulate a problem determine almost every step you will follow, i.e., it determines:

a) The type of study design that can be used c) Divide the broad area into subareas

b) Your knowledge of the subject area d) predetermined

3. Ethical issues: An important consideration in formulating a research problem is the ethical issues involved.

a) Framework issue b) Ethical issue c) Theoretical issue d) Research Method

4. Make sure you have an adequate level of expertise for the task you are proposing.

a) Level of expertise b) Relevance c) Availability of Data d) Measurement of Concepts

5. Objectives should be listed under two headings:

a) Main objectives b) Sub objectives c) categories d) Both a and b

True or False:
1. Measurement It should be the most important consideration in selecting a research problem.
2. Magnitude It should have sufficient knowledge about the research process to be able to visualize the work
involved in completing the proposed study.
Research Methodology‫منهاج البهث‬
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