Research Methodology Lecture 2 PDF

Research Methodology LECTURE 2 Outline Choose a topic: The issues to bear in mind deciding what you are going to research What to do if you can’t think of a topic: Some hints and tips on how to develop one Focusing: How to get from your initial idea to something that is feasible and relevant Sup...

Research Methodology LECTURE 2 Outline Choose a topic: The issues to bear in mind deciding what you are going to research What to do if you can’t think of a topic: Some hints and tips on how to develop one Focusing: How to get from your initial idea to something that is feasible and relevant Supervisor and student: expectations of both Individual and group research: The different factors to bear in mind if you are going to be researching with others Keeping a research diary: Make up your mind now to record your feelings, experience, decisions and ideas as you undertake your research project Lecture Objectives The purpose of this lecture is to help you to move from the position of having decided to do a piece of research to having a good idea of what you are going to do Research Methods Research Methods: The ways in which research studies are designed and the procedures by which data is analyzed. Collecting and analyzing data to come up with answers to various questions of your interest. Why Undertake Research? To investigate some existing situation or problem. To provide solutions to a problem. To explore and analyze more general issues. To construct or create a new procedure or system. To explain a new phenomenon. To generate new knowledge. A combination of two or more of any of the above. Choosing a Topic Choosing a Topic Choosing your research topic is probably the most important decision you have to make in doing research. ◦ What? ◦ How? ◦ Why? There are 11 points you need to keep in your mind while making this choice. Faculty Domain Faculty Domain Dr. Sheheryar Malik Distributed Cloud Computing Dr. Jasim Saeed Computer Networks Dr. Ayesha Kashif Artificial Intelligence Dr. Muhammad Adnan Software Engineering, AI Dr. Aumme Hani Natural Language Processing Dr. Muhammad Awais Sattar Computer Vision, VR, Sensing Dr. Madeeha Fatima Computer Science Dr. Adnan Khan Computational Intelligence Dr. Muhammad Yaseen Software Engineering Dr. Jamal Uddin Deep Learning Dr. Saman Riaz AI 1 - How much choice you have You may not, of course, have much choice in what you do. The general area of your research may be determined by your supervisor, employer or funder Even in these cases, you likely have some scope for making the project more interesting or relevant to your own concerns 2 - Your motivation Ask yourself: ◦ Will it get me out bed early on a rainy Sunday morning? ◦ Will I want to work on it on Friday evening? If your answer is no change or modify your research topic! Passion and drive are important! 3 - Regulations and expectations Important to understand the written regulations and unwritten expectations which apply on your research Will you be provided with a copy of the relevant rules and regulations? Read these regulations, question anything you are not clear about, and follow them 4 - Your subject or field of Study & Previous examples of Research Projects Many unwritten rules and expectations will have to do with the particular discipline or subject area you are working in Whatever subject you are studying, there are likely to be previous examples of similar sized research projects 5 - Size of your topic One of the key skills in choosing a topic is to be able to pick one of the right size ◦ Not too big, not too small ◦ Do-able within the time, space and resources available 6 - The time you have available For small scale projects you need to make the best possible use of the time Limit the extent of any data collection More on choice of topic.. 7 - The cost of research 8 - The resources you have available 9 - Your need for support 10 - Access issues 11 - Methods for research What to do if you can’t think of a topic? Ask your supervisor/instructor, friends, colleagues, family etc. Look at previous research work (literature review) Extend some of your previous research works Relate it to your other interests Think of a title Start from a quote that engages you Draw yourself a picture or a diagram Spider diagram Spider diagram Be prepared to change direction Changing directions/domain may become some necessary, such as denied access to organization, supervisor is not helping, spent too much time but didn't find any research problem etc.. Having flexibility and a plan B is a very good idea Remember, it’s ok to change! Lots of people change their research areas or focus Focusing What do we mean by focusing? Once you have chosen a topic you need to focus it and refine it Focusing is not an immediate process, it may come over a time You need to do a lot of reading, thinking about methods you will use and refining your research design Many research projects are not finally focused until data collection and analysis Why focus your research? To ensure it is relevant to your need To ensure it meets the regulations and expectations To produce a project that is feasible within the time, space, costs and other practical constraints affecting you How to focus your research? Identify your research questions (2-3) Define the key concepts, issues, and contexts? Sketch a research outline or project proposal Trying it out on a non-specialist: explaining your topic in simple language Student and Supervisors Expectations What students expect from their supervisors? To be supervised To read their work well in advance To be available when needed To be friendly, open and supportive To be constructively critical To have good knowledge of their research area To structure the tutorial so that it is easy to exchange ideas To have sufficient interest in their research To be sufficiently involved in their success What supervisors expect from their students? To be independent To produce written work that is not just a first draft To have regular meetings To be honest when reporting upon their progress To follow the advice that they give To be excited about their work, able to surprise them and fun to be with! Individual VS. Group Research Group Research Enables you to share responsibility Let you specialize in aspects of the work which you are best suited Provides you with useful experience of team working Allows you to take on larger-scale topics Provides you with a ready-made support network Maybe essential for certain kind of research Individual Research Gives you sole ownership of the research Means that you are wholly responsible for its progress and success May result in a more focused project Is of an overall quality determined by you alone Means that you have to carry out all elements of the research process Group or individual? Your choice of whether to do individual or group research should be made based on the following awareness: ◦ What are your strengths and weaknesses? ◦ Preferences and hates? Would they be better accommodated within the support network of a group or would be better advised to work largely on your own? Key issues for group researchers Does the group need and have a leader? Who is responsible for organizing meetings? Keeping records? Chasing progress? How is responsible for the different roles and tasks shared among the group? Will everyone have role in each phase, will some specialize in particular phases? How to start 1. Locate and read a few articles from within a field you are comfortable with. 2. Read studies that are of interest to you. 3. Read the abstract first. 4. Identify the research question and objectives. 5. Why did the researcher(s) choose a particular setting or 6. sample? 7. What were the methods chosen to collect data? 8. What were the most important findings? 9. Do not be over-concerned with statistical analysis. 10. Be critical but objective. Research Process Research Process (Another view) Keeping your Research Diary Research Diary Whatever kind of research project, you may find it a good idea to keep a research diary Record your progress, feelings, thoughts, insecurities and insights, day by day as your research continues Variety of format: paper, computer or tape Divide it to your liking