Research Methodology in IT

Chapter 1: Overview of Research

Chapter 2: FORMULATION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Chapter3: Research process
Chapter 4:Research Design
Chapter 5: Analysis and Presentation of Data
Chapter 6: Current Research Topics in IT
Chapter 7: Ethics in Research

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 Chapter 1. Overview of Research

• Chapter 1. THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF

RESEARCH
• What is research?
• Why Research?
• Research and Theory
• Attributes of Research
• The Scientific approach in Research
• Types of Research
 Chapter 1. Overview of Research

• “The world has countless unanswered

questions and unsolved problems? Yet there is
no single and standard method to find the best
solutions/answers OR to achieve the most
feasible solution; try your own way”
Dr. DP Sharma
Contd…
 Attributes of Research?
Three Attributes of Research-
• New (contemporary),
• Unique (contemporary),
• Innovative (contemporary),
Research & Theory
• Three Tiers of Scientific Research-
1. Theory,
2. Experiment,
3. Computation
 What is Research?

• Research is a diligent enquiry and careful search for new

knowledge through systematic, scientific and analytical
approach in any branch of knowledge. The search of new
knowledge also helps to accept, reject or modify existing facts
or knowledge.
 Other Definitions

• 1. “Research is the application of human

intelligence to problems whose solutions are
not available immediately”- Hertz

• 2. “Research is creative and original

intellectual activity carried out in library,
laboratory or in the field in the light of
previous knowledge”- Klopsteg
Why Research/Aims of Research ?
The general Aims of Research are:
1. →To Answer the un answered questions or to solve
unsolved problems
2. To solve the problems
3. To develop the domain & gain new knowledge
4. →Observe and Describe
5. →Predict the phenomenon Causes and proving or
Determining the Causes
6. →Explain or Explore the knowledge about phenomenon
7. →Extend or Reject the existing knowledge and create
New knowledge
 Elements of Research
Scientific Research Elements are:
1. Characterization
How to understand a phenomenon
• Decide what to observe about a phenomenon
• How to define the research problem
• How to measure the phenomenon
2. Hypothesis and Theory
• The research questions before performing research
• Often based on earlier research
3. Prediction
• Reasoning and logic on cause, effect relationship for future repetition
4. Observation or Experimentation
[Body is the biggest lab for research]
• Testing characterizations, hypothesis, theory and predictions
• Understanding a phenomenon better & Drawing Conclusions
 Characteristics of Research
Research originates with a question or a problem→

1. Clear articulation of a goal→

Clear, unambiguous, critical, precisely and
grammatically complete & correct sentence with
intellectual honesty and relevance
2. Specific plan for proceeding
3. Divide and Conquer
The principal problem into more manageable sub
problems [ top down bottom up]
4. Specific research problem, question or hypothesis-
Research is guided by problem, question or hypothesis
→ A hypothesis is a logical supposition, a reasonable
guess, an educated conjecture. It provides a tentative
explanation for a phenomenon under investigation.
 Contd…
Note: Hypothesis is not unique. ( Eg. Enter into your Home;
switch on Bulb and no light. At this point you construct a
series of guesses-hypotheses- to explain Bulbs failure )

Note: In general practices, research hypothesis are

rarely proved or disproved Instead they are supported
or not supported.
5. Research accepts certain critical assumptions [
phenomenon under investigation, cause-effect
relationship]
6. Research requires collection and interpretation of data
in attempt to resolve the problem
7. Research is by its nature , cyclical or, more exactly
helical
 Dialectics of Research (Dialectical Research /
Dialectical Inquiry / Dialectical Investigation )

• It is a form of qualitative research which utilizes

the method of dialectic, aiming to discover truth
through examining and interrogating competing
ideas, perspectives or arguments.
• Indeed Bertell Ollman (1993) argues that all
research is either dialectical or non-dialectical.
• Dialectical research may also be thought of as the
opposite of empirical research, in that the
researcher works with arguments and ideas,
rather than data.
 The Dialectic of Research
• Thesis

This presents the original statement of an idea. Very few

research contributions can claim total originality. Most
borrow ideas from previous work, even if that research has
been conducted in another discipline.
• Antithesis

This presents an argument to challenge a previous thesis.

Typically, this argument may draw upon new sources of
evidence and is typically of progress within a field.
• Synthesis

This seeks to form a new argument from existing sources.

Typically, a synthesis might resolve the apparent contradiction
between a thesis and an antithesis.
 When IT OR Computer Research is to be conducted?
The question refers to the feasibility of research
assignment/project/Idea:

• The research topic should be researchable

• The research problem should be new
• The expected research result should be ACHIEVABLE AND
SIGNIFICANT.
• Sufficient time should exist
• The data and resources to the research problem should be
easily available.
• The methods and procedures of data collection and analysis
should be manageable.
• The research problem should be technologically, financially
and operationally feasible.
• Optimum administrative facilities with minimum discomfort.
 Generalized Scientific Method in Research
• George Lundbery defines scientific research as –
“One consisting of systematic observation, classification and
interpretation of data. “
• Observation, hypothesis, and verification are the three
important components of scientific enquiry.
The following are the general steps in scientific research;
1. Observation: what to be studied
2. Recording: recording all relevant things observed
3. Classification: systematic arrangement of data collected in a
logical manner
4. Experimentation: To the experiments required with the data
collected and analyze after experimentation
5. Generalization: Draw a conclusion and generalize it
6. Verification: the generalization made should be tested for its
validity whether to accept or reject.
 Contd..
• The two general traits characterize any
research are;
• Validity: It is the characteristic used to
describe that measures what it claims to
measure. { How much strength it will give}
• Reliability: It is characteristic that allows
repeating the experiment again and again by
any researcher- always with the same results.
{ Every time result will be same}
• E.g. experiments conducted in laboratories.
Pictorial form of Scientific method in
Research
 Types of Research in IT & CS
Two general categories of research: Basic research and Applied research.

Basic Research: Core

Also known as pure research, it is usually conducted to develop
principles, theories and models and is used to expand the limits of
knowledge. It is mostly used for elder scientists and professors.

Applied Research: Action research

Also known as Action research, development research, empirical
research conducted when decisions must be made about a specific real
life problem. Applied research has a problem-solving emphasis. It is
mostly done by younger teachers and scholars.

Therefore basic research tries to extend the knowledge in a given field

and applied research tries to solve problems.
Applied research is directed much more to making immediate scientific
or managerial decisions.
 Types of Applied Research:
• Technique (Methods)
1. Experimental,
2. Survey and Observation.
• Purpose (Function)
1) Exploratory,
2) Descriptive
3) Causal.
 Contd…Technique (Methods)
• Experimental: (or controlled experiment):
A researcher would at first create two matched
groups as similar as possible to test his/her
hypothesis. One group is considered as the
experimental group, while the other would be
designated as the control group. The experimental
group is the one on which the tests are conducted.

• Survey (Case study): It represents a comprehensive

description and explanation of many components
of a given social system

• Observation: The researcher seeks to become a

member of the social event or group under study.
 Contd… Purpose (Function):
1) Exploratory, 2)Descriptive 3) Causal.

1. Exploratory Research:
New Idea floating Research
E.g.- Adoption Strategy of Cloud Computing
• It is an initial research conducted to clarify and define the nature of
an ambiguous problem.
• It is conducted to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve
new insights into it.
• The researcher aims at formulating more precise questions that
future research can answer, and discovering new insights.
• It may be the first stage in the sequence of studies. Its result may
not be used as conclusive evidence to determine a particular course
of action.
• It is usually conducted with the assumption that subsequent research
will be required to provide conclusive evidence.
• It uses qualitative data and tends to be more open using range of
evidence and discovering new issues.
 Contd..
• Techniques of Exploratory Research
• Experience survey
• Secondary data analysis
• Case study
• Pilot survey
 Contd...
• Descriptive Research:
• It attempts to give answer to questions like who,
what, when, where, how.
• Unlike exploratory research, descriptive studies are
based on some previous understanding of the
nature of the problem. Its purpose is to describe
the state of affairs, as it exists at present.
• The researcher has no control over the variables,
but only reports what has happened or what is
happening.
• He/She does not cover “ Why”
 Contd..
• Causal Research:
• To identify the cause or effect relationship
between variables where the research problem
has already been narrowly defined.
• Ex: Relationship between fertilizers application
and land productivity.
• Ex: Price of Software and Quality
 Other basis for Research classification
3. Quantitative Vs Qualitative Research:
• Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantitative figure
or quantity or amount. i.e., it is applicable to phenomenon that can be
expressed numerically.
• Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e.,
phenomenon relating to or involving quality or kind.
• Ex: All kinds of motivation research, all kinds of attitude research or opinion
research are different qualitative research studies. It is particularly important
in behavioral sciences where the underlying motive is to discover the
underlying motive of human behavior.
4. Conceptual Vs Empirical research:
This classification is similar to the fundamental Vs applied research.
• Conceptual research is related to some abstract or theory, it is conducted by
philosophers to develop new ideas or reinterpret the existing ones.
• Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, without due
regard to system or theory. It is data base research or also called
experimental research, coming up with conclusions, which are capable of
being verified by observations or experiments.
Logic in Research
• Logic in Research: research is usually conducted in two modes, i.e.,
• Inductive reasoning approach
• “particular to General”, Ex: to know whether a patient is suffering
from malaria the physician uses a drop of the blood of the patient
and concludes that the patient is suffering from malaria. i.e., a
generalization of the disease throughout the body is made on the
basis of the single drop of the blood (sample). To induce is to draw a
conclusion from one or more particular facts or pieces of evidence.
• deductive reasoning approach
• “General to particular”, It involves studying the entire population
(census) for drawing conclusions. Deduction is the form of
inference that purports to be conclusive- the conclusion must
necessary follow from the reasons given.
• The way a logical conclusion can be drawn from the following
statements would make the concept clear.
• E.g.. 1. All regular employees can be trusted.
• 2. John is a regular employee
• Conclusion: John can be trusted.
 The Dialectic of Research
• Thesis

This presents the original statement of an idea. Very few research

contributions can claim total originality. Most borrow ideas from previous
work, even if that research has been conducted in another discipline.

• Antithesis

This presents an argument to challenge a previous thesis. Typically, this

argument may draw upon new sources of evidence and is typically of
progress within a field.

• Synthesis

This seeks to form a new argument from existing sources. Typically, a

synthesis might resolve the apparent contradiction between a thesis and an
antithesis.