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ACADEMIC PROGRAMME: BSCS COMPUTER SCIENCE
COURSE CODE AND TITLE: BSCS 305: COMPUTING RESEARCH METHODS
LECTURER’S NAME: PHILIP BTTOK
LECTURER’S CONTACTS: Phone No.: 0723683409 Email:
[email protected] RESEARCH CONCEPT
Expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
i. Understand the sources of knowledge
ii. Understand the types of research
iii. Understand philosophies of research
Introduction
Research is important in this century than ever before
Many issues that have come up:
o Climate change
o Data explosion
o Internet of things (IoT)
o Security of information
o This class will cover the meaning of research, sources of knowledge, and the
relationship between research, science, and theory
Definition of Research
To research is to carry out a diligent inquiry or a critical examination of a given
phenomenon
It involves a critical analysis of existing conclusions or theories with regard to newly
discovered facts – research is a continuous search of knowledge and understanding of
the world around us
Mouly (1978) defines research as a process of arriving at effective solutions to
problems through systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data
Purposes of Research
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The main purpose of research is to discover new knowledge – it means to get new
facts with their correct interpretation. Though other sources are available, but research
is the most efficient and reliable one
To describe a given phenomenon – accurate identification of any event will involve
giving detailed description like the color, weight, height, change over time, and size
It enables prediction - this is the ability to predict event A given event B e.g the
movement of the moon, sun, and earth helps us identify accurately lunar and solar
eclipses
Enables control – in laboratory experiments, one phenomenon is manipulated in order
to exert control over another (Usually a drug is administered to a given sample and
another one (control group) is left at normal conditions)
Enable explanation of a phenomena – this is achieved through accurate observation
and recording of a given phenomenon and explain the factors that cause its
occurrence
Enables theory development – formulating concepts, laws, and generalization about a
given phenomenon
Sources of Knowledge
Research is an important source of knowledge – this is because it is objective and
follows a systematic procedure
Experience is another common source of knowledge – human beings learn through
experiences of life although no two human beings have the same experiences in life
Tradition is another source of knowledge – we all have a culture which we adopt when
we are born
o Acquisition of this knowledge is through indoctrination and socialization
o In computing, knowledge can be passed through company policies and
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and we get them through orientation
o Authority as a source of knowledge
o Experts are the common source where they give their expert opinions about
something
o We are likely to accept the opinion of computer security experts about using
biometrics security system than when a computer vendor tells us
o Intuition has also been said to be another source of knowledge – intuition is the
perception, or explanation or insight into a phenomena by instinct
Research and Science
The terms research and science are often used interchangeably
They have different meanings
We have stated that research is a critical examination or inquiry to discover facts
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Science is defined as
o a systematic knowledge of natural or physical phenomena;
o truth that is ascertained through observation, experiment, and induction
o Ordered arrangement of facts known under classes or heads
o Theoretical knowledge as distinguished from practical
o Knowledge of principles and rules of invention, construction, and mechanism as
distinguished from art
o This shows that research and science are concerned with the discovery of new
facts
o In research, facts are often collected to serve a useful purpose; the focus is on
the application – hence we talk about applied research
o In science, facts are collected to test or develop theory – the focus is basic
research
When research is done to solve an issue, it is “action research” for example doing
research to look for a way to improve security in bank ATMs
In other times, research is done in order to test theoretical concepts in real situations
so that generalizable application can be developed – this is usually referred to as
“applied research”
Research that is theory-guided is referred to as basic research
Research and Scientific Theory
Scientific method assumes that phenomena are orderly and that their causes are not
only discoverable but can also be manipulated
The assumptions form the basis of scientific theory
A theory is defined as a system of explaining phenomena by stating constructs and the
laws that interrelate these constructs to each other
A construct is a concept, abstraction or idea drawn from a specific
o – For example in Maslow‟s Theory of Motivation, human behavior is assumed to
be goal-oriented.
o Basic food, safety, social, and self-actualization are the constructs in the theory
o Maslow proposed that the constructs are related to one another in an invariant
sequence
o Each level has to be fulfilled before the next level manifests itself
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Types of Research
There are different types of research that include:
o Exploratory
o Descriptive
o Analytical
o Predictive
Exploratory research
This research is most appropriate when few or no previous studies exist
The aim is to look for patterns, hypotheses, or ideas that can be tested and will be
form the basis for further research
The appropriate research techniques that will be most appropriate here would include
case studies, observation, and reviews of previous related studies and data
Descriptive research
This study is useful when one wants to identify and classify the elements or
characteristics of the subject, e.g amount of money lost because of post-election
violence
The most appropriate technique that is used to collect, analyze, and summarize data
in this type of research is quantitative
Analytical research
In this research, there is an extension of the reasons why some phenomenon is
happening.
The researcher might want to understand why something is happening.
In this type of research, we would be interested in explaining reason behind something
like explain why there was post-election violence, why many computer programs fail in
a certain department
One important feature for this kind of research is to be able to identify the different
factors or variables that are involved
Predictive research
In this kind of research, there is an intelligent inquiry into a future possibility of some
phenomenon happening.
The future possibilities are based on analysis of current evidence of cause and effect
Example is predicting of possibility of future election violence
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Research approach
There three ways in which research can be done
1) It can be quantitative/qualitative
2) Applied/Basic
3) Deductive/Inductive
In many cases, research will combine a number of approaches. A research can be
both quantitative and qualitative
Quantitative Research
The emphasis of this research approach is on collecting and analyzing numerical data
The main concentration is measuring the scale, range, and frequency.
This research type is highly detailed and structured and results can be easily collated
and presented statistically
Qualitative Research
In this research approach, it is more subjective than quantitative research
It involves examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a research subject
like values, attitudes, and perceptions
Because this research is easier to start, it can be easier to interpret and present the
findings
The findings can also be challenged easily
Basic/Applied Research
The main objective of research is to improve knowledge generally
There is no particular applied purpose in mind at the onset
Applied research is designed from the start to apply the findings to a particular
situation
Many students in school of management are required to undertake applied research
for a particular problem
Deductive
In the deductive approach, it will move from general/theories to specific particular and
situations.
The particular phenomenon is deduced from the general phenomenon
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From this approach, one would be required to have a clear theoretical position prior to
collection of data
If we have an example of a situation where we would like to learn what the word
professional means to a range of people
You might want to research the subject and learn a number of definitions from a
number of professional associations
You could then test this definition on a range of people using a questionnaire,
structured interviews, or group discussion
Still in our research, we could decide to select the range of people basing on gender,
age, or occupation
The data that has been collected could then be collated and the results analyzed and
presented
This approach offers researchers a relatively easy and systematic way of testing
established ideas on a range of people
Inductive
In this approach, you might start by talking to a rage of people on how they understand
„professional‟
From this discussion you could start to assemble the common elements and then start
to compare these with definitions gained from professional associations
The data gathered can then be collated and the results analyzed and presented
This approach might lead you to come up with a new definition of the word – or it might
not!
Good when looking for a new way of looking at a subject
Research Philosophies
There are two main research philosophies or positions
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1) Positivistic – can also be referred to as quantitative, objectivist, scientific,
experimentalist, or traditionalist
This approach is founded on the belief that the study of human behavior should be
conducted in the same way as studies conducted in the natural sciences
2) Phenomenological – can also be referred to as qualitative, subjectivist, humanistic,
interpretative
Phenomenological approaches is concerned with understanding behavior from the
participants own subjective frames of reference
Positivistic Methodologies
Survey - surveys involve selecting a representative and unbiased sample of subjects
drawn from the group you wish to study
The main methods of asking questions are by face-to-face or telephone interviews
There are two types of survey – descriptive survey is where there is concern about the
identifying and counting the frequency of a particular response among the survey
group or an analytical survey which concerned with relationship between different
elements (variables) in a sample group
Experimental studies
Done in carefully controlled and structured environments and enable the causal
relationships of phenomena to be identified and analyzed
The variables can be manipulated or controlled to observe the effects on the subjects
studied
Studies done in laboratories tend to offer the best opportunities for controlling the
variables in a rigorous way, although field studies can be done in a more real-world
environment
In the laboratory experiment, the artificiality of the situation can affect the response of
the people that are studied
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In the field studies, the researcher does not have control of the variables that are being
observed
Longitudinal Studies
These are studies that are done over a long period of time to observe the effect that
time has on the situation that is being studied and also to collect primary data of these
changes
This type of study takes a long period of time
It might not be possible to be done in a short taught courses
Cross-Sectional Studies
It involves at looking at data from a population at one specific point in time
An example is a survey of stress-management levels of the youth and adults
This is like a snapshot of the results that someone might be interested
Phenomenological Methodologies
The methods here include:
o Case studies
o Action research
o Ethnography
o Participative inquiry
o Feminist perspective
o Grounded theory
Case Studies
Case studies offer an opportunity to study a particular subject for example one
organization in depth, or a group of people, and usually involves gathering and
analyzing information.
The information gathered could either be qualitative or quantitative
Case studies could be used to formulate theories or be:
o Descriptive, where the current practice is described in great detail
o Illustrative – where the case studies illustrate new practices adopted by an
organization
o Experimental – where the difficulties of adopting new practices or procedures
are examined
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o Explanatory – where the theories are used as a basis for understanding and
explaining practices or procedures
o Researchers are increasingly using autobiography as a means of collecting
information from small groups or respondents to seek patterns, and underlying
life issues. An example is where it can be used to trace the influence of
variables such as social class, gender and educational experience on career
development and career progression, or lack of it, within an organization. It can
be time-consuming as it requires trust to be developed between the researcher
and participants
Action Research
Action research involves intervention by a researcher to influence change in any given
situation and to monitor and evaluate the results
The researcher, who will be working with the client, will identify the objective, and
explores ways that this might be done
The researcher will enter into the situation with new techniques
It requires active involvement between the two
Ethnography (Participant Observation)
This research evolved from anthropology and the close study of societies
It is more known as participant observation
It is where the researcher will normally become a working member of the group
situation that is being observed
The main aim is to be able to understand the situation from the inside
The researcher will share the same experience with the participants and is effective in
small groups
Ethnography could be overt (when everyone knows it is happening) or covert (when
the subject(s) being observed for research purposes are unaware it is happening)
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Further E-Resource Readings
Lune, H., & Berg, B. L. (2016). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Pearson Higher Ed.
7.0 REFERENCE JOURNALS
Lazar, J., Feng, J. H., & Hochheiser, H. (2017). Research methods in human-computer interaction. Morgan
Kaufmann.
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