Introduction to Research Methodology

For Information Technology Students[cf. Martin Olivier 1997]

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”

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

Introduction to Research Methodology

Strategies for conducting research1. 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.

2. Solve a problem for which no known (or apparent) solution exists.

3. 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.

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

Introduction to Research Methodology

Identify Problem Establish present situation

Describe unsolvedAspects of problem

Or limitations

Find potentialSolution(s)Evaluate found

solutions

Add new knowledgeTo body ofknowledge

Your choiceLiterature survey

Literature survey and receptive mind

Various researchmethodsCritical analysisPublish

Summary

This lesson has provided an overview of

What research constitutes,Culminating in the

Research Cycle

in relation to Information Technology.

Next Steps

Next we shall explore:

The tools for designing your project, Project design.

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