What is Research?

1. What is Research?

2. Research • Word has a broad spectrum of meanings • “Research this topic on ….” • “Years of research has produced a new ….”

3. What Research is Not • Not mere information gathering • Computer Crime • XML for Web Pages • Not the mere transportation of facts from one location to the next • Computer Crime and Digital Signatures • XML versus HTML • Not merely rummaging for information

4. What Research Is • Originates with a question or a problem. • makes a difference, worthy, relevant • leads to new knowledge • builds on relevant existing knowledge • A clear articulation of a goal • What problem to you intend to solve? • And how do you propose to solve it?

5. What Research Is • Follows a specific plan or procedure • how you will reach your goal • Usually divided into manageable sub-problems • guided by a hypothesis • accepts certain critical assumptions • grounded in objective reality • the collection and interpretation of data

6. Scientific Research • Science is an objective, logical, and systematic method of analyzing phenomena, devised to permit the accumulation of reliable knowledge.. • Premises of science are • empiricism • objectivity • control • The product of science is knowledge

7. Scientific Research • The search for knowledge, with an open mind, to establish novel facts, usually using a scientific method. • basic research (as opposed to applied research) is discovering, interpreting, and the developing methods and systems for the advancement of knowledge in a given area. • Scientific Method: systematically observe, formulate hypotheses, define concepts, gather/analyze data, test/revise hypotheses, repeat, formulate theories, examines their logical consistency and subjects them to further empirical test.

8. What is Good Research? • Purpose clearly defined - scope, limitations are fully specified • Process detailed - can be repeated and except when secrecy is imposed reveal the sources of data and means by which they were obtained • Design thoroughly planned - make as objective as possible

9. What is Good Research? • High ethical standards applied • Limitations frankly revealed - there are very few perfect designs • adequate analysis - data classified to clearly reveal findings, probability of error should be estimated • findings presented unambiguously • conclusions justified

10. Research Life Cycle

11. Research Life Cycle • Definition • Exploratory research defines a new problem, new constraints, new opportunity, or a new approach. • This initial research must be guided by hypotheses that will later be further instantiated and specified. • Initial Solutions • Initial algorithms, designs, theorems, programs are developed. • Evaluation of Initial Solutions • Initial solutions are evaluated and refined in isolation. • Comparison of Solutions • Solutions are compared to one another and also to ideal solutions. • Technology Transfer • Best approaches are transferred to users.

12. Possible Research Results • a definition of a problem or task • a unit for solving a problem, performing a task • identification of factors influencing the cost, effectiveness, or applicability of a unit (and relative importance of the factors) • development of an ideal model • a finished unit that can be distributed to users • measurement of some properties of a unit: run time, chip area, representation requirements, • reliability, usability, etc. • identification of problems and shortcomings in a unit. • a demonstration that one unit is better than another. • a definition, demonstration or analysis of a tradeoff • a generative (explanatory) theory for some set of units

13. Possible Research Methods • writing programs • developing systems • developing architectures • developing content architectures (ontologies, knowledge bases, class libraries, graphics toolboxes, etc.) • measuring properties of units • finding and proving theorems • analyzing and consolidating previous research results • interviewing experts, customers • performing experiments, surveys, observations • Importing/adapting techniques and results from other fields • measuring and predicting constraints • writing papers, monographs, and textbooks

14. Research Project Phases • An individual research project (such as a Ph.D. dissertation) follows a lifecycle related to the research life cycle: • Choose research question/problem; formulate hypotheses • Determine current state of knowledge • Apply appropriate methods to produce research results • To verify the hypotheses • To evaluate the proposed solutions • Write up research results • Research is not complete until it is written up!

15. A Research Project Checklist (I) • Are ideas clear and consistent? • Is the problem worthy of investigation? • Does the project have appropriate scope? • What is the hypothesis • What are the specific research questions? • What would disprove the hypothesis? • What are the assumptions and are they “sensible”?

16. A Research Project Checklist (II) • Has the work/plan been critically assessed? Are you convinced that it is sound science? • What forms of evidence are to be used? • How are outcomes to be evaluated? Why are the selected methods appropriate or reasonable for verifying the hypothesis or evaluating the proposed solutions? • What are the likely weaknesses of your solutions?

17. A Research Project Checklist (III) • Is there a written research plan? • Have milestones, timelines, and deadlines been identified? • Do the deadlines leave enough time to receive feedback on the drafts and to allow colleagues to contribute? • Has the literature been adequately explored? Once the work is done – and your perspective has changed – does in need to be explored again?