Ambo University Institute of

technology Department of
Computer science

Research Method & Seminar in

Computer Science (CS 705 )

Instructor: Mesfin Workineh

20181
 Outline
 Module Title: Research Method & Seminar in
Computer Science
 Module Code: CoSc 7005
 Credit Value: 2 [Link]/3ECTS
 Prerequisite(s): None
 Description of Module
− The course introduce research methodology and provide a skill in reviewing
published works and prepare review report in a selected area of Computer
Science.
 Learning Outcomes
 On successful completion of the module students
− aware of different research approaches
− able to select and adapt methodologies for pursuing their research
− prepared to design the research for their thesis project
− students will be able to critically review and discuss computer2
science articles.
 Outline
 Teaching Strategy
 Lecture
 Students critically and scientifically review published
papers, prepare well-written reports and present their findings
in a class.
 Method of Assessment
 class room activities  5%
 Assignment  10%
 Review report and presentation  10%
 Proposal development 50%
 Final exam  25%
 Module Requirements
 Every student should attend all classes.
 Students should submit and present their review report and
proposal as per schedule 3
 Students should take the final exam.
 Outline
 Reading Materials
 Mikael Berndtsson, Jörgen Hansson, B. Olsson and Björn
Lundell (2008): Thesis Projects: A Guide for Students in
Computer Science and Information Systems, 2nd Ed.
Springer-Verlag, London .
 Creswell. Research Design (2003): Qualitative, Quantitative
and Mixed Research Methods Approaches, 2nd Ed. Sage
Publications, London
 Gordon Rugg & Marian Petre(2007): A Gentle Guide to
Research Methods, Open University Press
 Any other research method books and online resources

4
 Outline
 Module Content
Introduction to scientific research
Research process
− Proposal development
− Conducting a research
• Data collection and Data Analysis
Research Design
Data collection and Analysis
Reporting research
Research Ethics 5
 Chapter 1: Introduction to scientific
research
 Objective
 Identify the two sources of knowledge
 Define the concept of research (what scientific research
is, how to plan and conduct scientific research)
 Explain the purpose of research
 Research Method and methodology
 Philosophy of research
6
 Lesson 1. Sources of Knowledge

Two major approaches to acquire knowledge:

• Unscientific knowledge/common sense
• Science

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1.1 Types of unscientific Sources of knowledge

• The method of tenacity - Automatic acceptance of

beliefs without exploring them.
E.g. 1. Black teff has high Fe content.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. Ethiopians have burned faces.

Problems:
- Knowledge by familiarity alone – no proof of its truth
- No means for correcting ideas which are proved to be
not true.

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 Cont’d …

• The method of Authority - Accepting information we

have been told by authority figure.
E.g. 1. Theft is skill if you are not caught red-handed

Problem:
• It is only useful and beneficial if the authority
figure is knowledgeable in the area.
• It also no means for correcting ideas which are
proved to be not true

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 Cont’d …

• The a prior method/deductive reasoning -

Reason and logic are the basic tools for a priori method.

E.g.1. Ayele’s family are tall.

Alemitu is in Ayele’s family
Therefore, Alemitu is tall.
False
conclusion from false premises.

E.g. 2. Human being is mortal

Alemu is a human being.
Therefore, Alemu is mortal.
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 Cont’d …

• Commonsense - Knowledge acquired from past

experience or from our perceptions of the world.

It is good for routines aspects of daily life but hinders to

widen our knowledge.

E.g. The price of teff increases if the rainy season fails.

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 1.2 Scientific method as a Source of knowledge

• Knowledge acquired systematically.

• i.e. evaluate observation by our bodily senses or
measuring devices.
• It is sometimes seen as a controlled extension of
commonsense knowledge.

• Science relies on information that is verifiable.

• Science differs from commonsense:

 uses conceptual schemes and theoretical structures.
 gives explanations or reasoning for different
observed phenomena. 12
 Scientific Research

How is it different from non-scientific research?

 Scientific research
• Focuses on solving problems and
• pursues a step-by-step logical, organized, and
rigorous method. i.e.
 identify the problems
 collect data
 analyze and
 draw valid conclusions
 Non-scientific research - based on experience and
intuition
13
 Cont’d …

Science:
• Systematically build theoretical structure
• Test them for internal consistency
• test empirically subject aspects of the phenomenon.

Logical steps in scientific research:

• Problem statement
• Tentative explanations
• Information gathering
• Test of hypothesis
• Make conclusions

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 Cont’d …

Expectations from scientific research:

• General rules drawn

• Objective evidences collected
• Testable statements made
• A skeptical attitude to all claims
• Creative, public and productive

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 Cont’d …

Limitations of scientific research:

• Cannot have answer for all questions

• Results cannot be applied everywhere

• Imperfection in the measurement devices

So,
The scope and limitations of your
work has to be clearly defined.

• The work that will not be undertaken is

described as the delimitations of the
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research.
 Lesson 2. Definition and purpose of research

What Research Is Not

• Research isn’t information gathering:
– Gathering information from resources such as books or
magazines isn’t research.
– No contribution to new knowledge.
• Research isn’t the transportation of facts:
– Merely transporting facts from one resource to another
doesn’t constitute research.
– No contribution to new knowledge although this might
make existing knowledge more accessible.
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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Defined

What Research Is
• Research is:
“…the systematic process of collecting and analyzing
information (data) in order to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon about which we are
concerned or interested.”

Research must be systematic and follow a series of steps

and a rigid standard protocol.

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Defined

What Research Is
• Research is:

 Attempt to achieve systematically and with the support

of data the answer to a question, the resolution to a
problem, or the greater understanding of a
phenomenon

 Generation of new information and testing of ideas

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Defined

What Research Is
Definition by WHO:
Research is a quest for knowledge through diligent
search or investigation or experimentation aimed at
the discovery and interpretation of new knowledge.
Definition by Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:
A careful investigation or inquiry specially through
search for new facts in any branch of knowledge

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Defined

In general we learn from the definition:

• All scientific research
 Are systematic - follows a clear procedure so that
the experiment can be replicated and the results
verified.
 impartial, objective, empirical and logical
 has a goal, repeated and refined experimentation
gradually reaching an answer.

• Scientific research leads to the development of

generalizations, principles or theories, resulting in to
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some extent in prediction and control of events.
 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Defined

Distinctive features of scientific research:

• systematic – the research process is ordered,
planned and disciplined
 Logical- induction/deduction
 Reductive – generalisation
• Controlled – confidence in research outcomes
 Replicable methodology
• Empirical – putting beliefs, ideas, or assumptions to
a test ; it is evidence based and
• Critical – many truths are tentative and are subject to
change as a result of subsequent research.

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Purpose

• The purpose of research is problem solving and acquiring

new knowledge.
• It also reduces the complexity of problems.
• In short, research is used for the purposes of:
 Describing phenomena
 Gives more elaboration on initial exploratory research
 explaining phenomena
 Connect cause and effect
 predicting phenomena
 Predicting crime pattern in Oromiya region
 controlling phenomena
 Security breaches
 Comparing phenomena
 On-premise Vs Cloud computing
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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Purpose

• Description – pictorial account of the phenomenon being studied.

 It is the first step to do in scientific research.

 It find answers to the questions “what, who and where”.

• E.g 1. Study on Migration of an on-premise application to the Cloud

 What are the consequences of the migration?–has to be described
first before testing
 how existing systems should be plugged into the Cloud.

• E.g. 2. Study on critical failure factors for ERP implementation.

 What are the critical failure factors for ERP implementation? – it
has to be described first.

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Purpose

• Explanation – exploring the causes of the occurrence of certain

event.
 It find answers to the questions “why”.

E.g. 1 Why technology adoption rate in developing country is

lower than developed country?

E.g. 2 Why MVC is more popular than other architectural pattern

to implement web based application?

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Purpose

• Prediction – generalizing about what will happen in the

future.

• E.g.
 The Success and reliability analysis of ERP implementation in
Ambo University show that the University is capable to implement
any other software. – generalization based on collected
data/observation.

 The capability of Ambo University to ERP implementation, it will

let the University to implement Cloud technology successfully –
prediction from past works

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Purpose

• Control – intervene and subsequently observe an

expected result.

• E.g. Students are susceptible for myopia if they are

watching television for more than 2 hr/day.
 intervention of the researcher
 Showing that the research was not done without
aim

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 Lesson 2. Scientific Research -Purpose

• Comparison – explore whether two or more groups are

similar or different on a certain behavior or vice versa.
• Example:
 Is there gender difference in terms of level of participation in
politics?
 Is the prevalence of myopia for children watching television
from near distance different from these watching at distance?
 Is there a relationship between low frequency of active reading
and myopia? 28
 Characteristics of scientific research

• Is directed toward the solution of a problem;

• Is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence;
• Demands accurate observation and description;
• Gathers information from primary or secondary sources.
• Follow carefully designed procedures, always applying
rigorous analysis.
• Requires expertise
• Requires patience and unhurried activity
• Carefully recorded and reported
• Sometimes requires courage
• Emphasizes in the development of generalizations,
principles and theories.
• Strives to be objective and logical. 29
 Characteristics of scientific research

• Aim
• Rigorous
• Testability
• Replicability
• Precision and Confidence
• Objectivity
• Generalizability
• Parsimony

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 Characteristics of scientific research

• Aim
The purpose of scientific research is clear – problem
solving.
E.g - Cloud readiness assessment model for HEIs
- design Cost effective referral management system

Research begins with a problem.

– This problem need not be Earth-shaking.
– Address only an important question.
– Remember that the Aim is to advance knowledge.

• Sources of problems: Observation, literature reviews, professional

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conferences, etc.
 Characteristics of scientific research

• Rigorous
 Based on good theoretical base and sound
methodology
 Careful and thorough
E.g all parameters which affect the design of the
structure must be considered
• Testability
 Test theoretical model by simulation or experiment
 Analysis of performance parameter against design
parameter

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 Characteristics of scientific research

• Replicability
 The same relationship stands repeatedly under the same
design parameters
• Precision and Confidence
 Precision refers to closeness of the findings to reality
 Confidence refers to the probability that our estimations are
correct
• Objectivity
 Conclusions drawn from the analysis of data must be
objective
 Proven from trend in data
 Supported by theoretical model

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 Characteristics of scientific research

• Generalizability
 Scope of applicability
 The wider, the better
• Parsimony
 Simplicity in explaining the phenomena or problem
 Assumptions are critical
 Minimize the dependant variable

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 Research method and methodology

• Research Methods are the techniques/ procedures used to collect

and analyse data.
E.g. surveys, interviews, observations, Focus group discussion,
Ethnography, etc.
• Research methodology –
• A research methodology is a strategy of inquiry which moves from
the underlying philosophical assumptions to research design and
data collection
• A theory and analysis of how research does or should proceed, Or
• Discussions of how research is done, or should be done, and the
critical analysis of methods of research
 It involves the researchers assumptions

Assumptions are those things that the researcher is

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taking for granted.
 Lesson 3. Major Paradigms in Research

• A paradigm is a way of looking at the world.

• The four major paradigms are

 Positivist
 Constructivist
 Realism
 Pragmatist

• It is composed of certain philosophical assumptions that

guide and direct thinking and action.

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 Lesson 3. Major Paradigms in Research

• To define a paradigm there are four basic belief systems

which characterized by the following questions:
1. The axiological question asks, “What is the nature
of ethics?”
2. The ontological question asks, “What is the nature
of reality?”
3. The epistemological question asks, “What is the
nature of knowledge and the
• relationship between the knower and the would be
known?”
4. The methodological question asks, “How can the
knower go about obtaining the desired knowledge and
understandings?” 37
 Lesson 3. Philosophy of Research

 philosophical issues need to be considered for research

paradigm:
1. Ontology issue:- studies nature of reality/truth
 The way we are looking at the world
2. Epistemological issues:
• Epistemology – studies the nature of knowledge
and the process by which knowledge is acquired
and validated.
• relation between knower and would be known
3. Methodology – concerned with how we come to know.
• Approach to systematic inquiry
4. Axiology :- nature of ethical behavior
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 Lesson 3. Philosophy of Research

Major philosophical issues about knowledge:

1. Epistemological issues:
2. Methodology
• The difference of the two is that
 the former involves the philosophy of how we come to
know and
 the later involves the practice of knowing something.
 Example:
 The area of a circle is - Πr2 –Epistemological
 To arrive at the area of a circle, sum the areas of piece of
rectangles inscribed in a circle.
 Methodology
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Lesson 3. Basic beliefs associated with major Research paradigm

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 Philosophy – cont’d …

• Positivism and post positivism

• Positivism – believing that the goal of knowledge is
simply to describe the phenomena that we experience.

Three tents of positivism:

 Scientific attention should be restricted to observable
facts.
 The method of the physical sciences should also be
applied to the social sciences.
 Science is objective and value free.

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 Philosophy – cont’d …

• Post–positivism – believing that scientific reasoning and

common sense reasoning are essentially the same process.
• Post-positivists believe that everyone of us construct our
view of the world based on our perception of it.
• It is hard to believe that scientists in the same field would
perfectly see the reality as it is.
 As a human being, scientists are inherently biased by
their cultural experiences, worldviews, etc.
• The difference between positivism and post-positivism is
not in kind but it is in terms of degree. 42
End of Unit 1

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 Discussion

1. Raise a point of discussion on sources of knowledge

(unscientific/scientific)
2. Raise a point of discussion on philosophical
perspectives

Assignment

1. Discusses research paradigms?

2. Explain
a) Descriptive research
b) Explanatory
c) Exploratory
d) Predictive research
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