Introduction to Research Methodology For Information Technology Students [cf. Martin Olivier 1997]

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Introduction to Research Methodology For
Information Technology Studentscf. Martin
Olivier 1997

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Introduction to Research Methodology

• Solving a Problem
• What is Research?
• Good research has as its ultimate aim the benefit
  of society.
• Research is an investigation to discover facts

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Introduction to Research Methodology

• High quality research is characterised by the
  following attributes
• It is based on the work of others
• It can be replicated
• It is generalisable to other settings
• It is based on some logical rationale and tied to
  theory
• It is doable!
• It generates new questions or is clinical in
  nature
• It is incremental

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Introduction to Research Methodology

• Strategies for conducting research
• Compile information on some topic where bits
  pieces have already been discovered (often by
  other researchers), but where the bits pieces
  have not yet been integrated into a single
  coherent body of knowledge.
• Solve a problem for which no known (or apparent)
  solution exists.
• Look with new eyes at existing knowledge (or
  standard ways of doing things). In other words,
  find a better solution for a problem that has
  previously been solved.

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Introduction to Research Methodology

• The steps in the research process
• Asking the question
• Finding the problem area
• Identifying the important factors
• Formulating an hypothesis
• Establishing present situation
• Testing the hypothesis
• Evaluating found solutions
• Asking new questions
• Adding new knowledge to body of knowledge

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Introduction to Research Methodology
Describe unsolved Aspects of problem Or
limitations
Identify Problem
Establish present situation
Your choice
Literature survey
Add new knowledge To body of knowledge
Literature survey and receptive mind
Find potential Solution(s)
Evaluate found solutions
Various research methods
Publish
Critical analysis
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Summary

• This lesson has provided an overview of
• What research constitutes,
• Culminating in the
• Research Cycle
• in relation to
• Information Technology.

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Next Steps

• Next we shall explore
• The tools for designing your project,
• Project design.

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Assignment

1. Find a number of academic journals from the
   library. Select ten papers with interesting
   titles from those journals. Read the abstracts
   from the journals and state the problem addressed
   by the paper. Briefly state why the research is
   of interest according to the abstract. (4 or 5
   sentences per paper should suffice).
2. Pick some research area which is of particular
   interest to you. Identify one or more
   interesting problems from this area and write the
   problems down. (These will be used in subsequent
   chapters). Start collecting background
   information about this area.
3. Submission date 16 February 2000, Part-time
   Students 18 February 2000