Research Methodology Lecture 2

Research Methodology Lecture 2

• Lecture objectives: Help move from deciding to do research to having a clear idea of what to do.

• Outline:

  • Choosing a topic. Considering issues relevant to choosing the right research area.
  • What to do if you can't think of a topic. Seeking hints and tips on developing ideas.
  • Focusing. Working from an initial idea to a feasible and relevant topic.
  • Supervisor and student expectations. Understanding the expectations of both parties.
  • Individual and group research. Factors to consider when working individually or in groups.
  • Keeping a research diary. Importance of recording feelings, experiences, thoughts, decisions, and ideas throughout the research process.

Lecture Objectives

• The purpose of the lecture is to help students move from deciding to do research to understanding what their research will entail.

Research Methods

• Research Methods: The ways in which research studies are designed and the processes by which data is analyzed. This involves collecting and analyzing data to answer research questions.

Why Undertake Research?

• Investigate existing situations or problems, provide solutions, explore/analyze broader issues, create/construct procedures/systems, explain new phenomena, generate new knowledge. It can combine multiple reasons.

Choosing a Topic

• Choosing the research topic is crucial.
• Key questions: What, How, Why?
• Eleven points to consider when choosing a topic.

Faculty and Domains

• A list of faculty members and their assigned domains (distributed cloud computing, computer networks, artificial intelligence, software engineering, natural language processing, computer vision, VR, sensing, computer science, computational intelligence, software engineering, deep learning).

How Much Choice You Have

• You may not have complete freedom in selecting your research topic. It may be determined by a supervisor, employer, or funder. There might be some scope to make the research more individual and to own it.

Your Motivation

• Ask yourself: Will you be motivated enough to work on the topic? Ask yourself if the topic will get you up early on a Sunday morning, or keep you working late on Friday evening.
• If the answer is no, modify your topic. Passion and dedication are vital.

Regulations and Expectations

• Understanding the written and unwritten expectations and regulations of the research field is critical. Be sure to follow the regulations of the appropriate field and institution.

Your Subject/Field and Previous Examples of Research Projects

• The research discipline's unwritten rules and expectations are important.
• There are usually examples of similar-sized research projects to learn from.

Size of Your Topic

• It's important to choose a topic of the right size.
• Not too large, not too small - manageable within available time, resources, and space.

The Time You Have Available

• For small-scale projects, it's essential to make the best use of the time available.
• Limit the amount of data collection.

More on Choice of Topic

• Cost of research.
• Available resources
• Need for support
• Access issues
• Choosing appropriate research methods.

What to do if you can't think of a topic

• Seek help from supervisors, instructors, friends, colleagues, family, etc.
• Review previous research work (literature review).
• Link the topic to other interests.
• Think of a title.
• Start with a quote.
• Draw a picture or diagram.

Spider Diagram

• A visual tool to brainstorm ideas and connections related to a main topic. Example provided.

Be Prepared to Change Direction

• Be prepared for changes in direction or domain if necessary, such as denied access to organization or lack of supervisor support.
• Having backup plans and flexibility is crucial.

Focusing

• Focus is not immediate, but can develop over time.
• Requires extensive reading, method consideration, and research design refinement.
• Many research projects don't fully focus until the data collection and analysis stages. Why focus is important.

Why Focus Your Research?

• Topics should be relevant to your needs.
• Should meet regulatory and expected standards.
• Produce research with feasibility in time, space, costs, and other practical constraints.

How to Focus Your Research

• Identify 2-3 core research questions.
• Define concepts, issues, and contexts.
• Develop a research outline or project proposal
• Explain ideas to non-specialists, refining your understanding.

Student and Supervisors Expectations

• Student Expectations of supervisors: Supervised well in advance, available when needed, friendly, supportive, provide constructive criticism, possess good knowledge of the research area, structure the tutorial for ease of idea exchange, exhibit sufficient interest, be involved in the student's success.
• Supervisor expectations of students: Students should be independent. Produce written work beyond first drafts. Have regular meetings. Be honest about progress. Follow advice. Be enthusiastic about the research.

Individual vs. Group Research

• Group Research:
  • Shares responsibility.
  • Specialization in aspects.
  • Team working experience.
  • Handles larger topics.
  • Provides immediate support network.
• Individual Research:
  • Sole ownership/responsibility for research.
  • Focused project.
  • Sole determination of quality.

Group Or Individual Research?

• Consider strengths, weaknesses, and preferences when selecting between group or individual research approaches.
• Think about whether working with a group would utilize your strengths, or if individual work would be best for your style and learning.

Key Issues for Group Researchers

• Leadership, meeting organization, record keeping, and progress tracking are among group research issues.
• Division of roles and tasks is crucial to the success of the project.
• Members should have clear roles in each project phase and some should specialize.

How to Start

• Locate and read articles related to your field.
• Read research studies that match your interests.
• Summarize the abstract first.
• Identify the research question and objectives.
• Understand reasons for setting/sample selection.
• Identify methods of data gathering.
• Pinpoint important findings.
• Avoid overemphasizing statistical analysis.
• Critically and objectively evaluate your sources.

Research Process

• Define research problem.
• Review concepts and theories.
• Review previous research findings. Define new concepts or theories.
• Formulate hypotheses.
• Design methods to test hypotheses.
• Collect data.
• Interpret data.
• Report findings (paper or thesis).

Research Process (Another View)

• Design a study, conduct a study, analyze the data, new research inspired, publish the article, peer review, submit for publication.

Keeping Your Research Diary

• Keeping a research diary is beneficial for any research project.
• A research diary should record progress, feelings, thoughts, insecurities, and insights daily.
• Use any format: paper, computer, tape.

This lecture aims to guide students from the initial decision to conduct research to formulating a clear research topic. Key areas include selecting a research area, focusing ideas into feasible topics, and understanding the roles of supervisors and students in the research process. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a research diary for tracking the research journey.